Matsue Castle Tower — Attraction in Matsue

I enjoyed the Matsue Castle Tower on a windy day in early winter. For those who are concerned with details, it was 25 December, around 1 o’clock in the afternoon, which I have heard may be considered to be a holiday in some countries . . .

After climbing up the levels of the Ninomaru, enter the Honmaru and face north to see the magnificent castle tower. Actually, when I think of it, Horio Yoshiharu decided on the placement of Matsue Castle on Kamedayama after the death of his son, Tadauji, because his son insisted on it. Due to the excellent position of the castle, it can still be seen from the south shore of Lake Shinji despite the modern buildings. I wish I could imagine how impressive it would have looked 400 years ago. For stonework lovers, consider viewing the western walls, which have the most uniform appearance.

As for the overall impression, Matsue Castle Tower has a solemn feeling of a castle that was built with serious consideration for defense in a time of war, and strengthens the feeling of the Sengoku period. Even though he was unable to attend Sekigahara after being injured while killing Kaganoi Shigemochi at a drinking party in August, the spirit of Horio Yoshiharu, who fought in many battles in service of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu, shows in the defensive construction of the Castle Tower. As for the keep itself, it is a four story, five floor building, with one basement floor hidden in the foundation. It uses a watchtower style construction, with the third and fourth floors as watchtowers on top of the first and second floor. It uses a fukugou-shiki (combined structure) with the attached turret at the south side forming the entrance. The first and second stories are completely clapboarded, with the upper stories partially clapboarded, and the dark black ink on the clapboards (made from soot and persimmon tannin) contrasts with the white shikkui plaster on the gables for a serious appearance. When I gaze on the tower, it has the feeling of the dignity of an old samurai, and I think about Horio Yoshiharu.

When I enter, of course take your shoes off. Immediately the defensive genius of Horio is apparent, with four turns required for entering forces just to leave the attached turret. The entire path for the attackers has opportunities to counterattack from all sides, and from above. As for my wife, in the winter she was attacked from below, with the cold wood chilling her feet, but she was prepared with heating pads in her socks! Once in the basement floor, the massive beams for supporting the tower are impressive, and the dedication to defense is apparent from the 24 meter basement well (the basement was also used to store rice and salt, so a very long siege is possible). The basement also holds the original wooden shachi, the tallest wooden shachi in all Japan! Since the tower never burned down, it seems they were very effective. Moving from the basement to the first floor, at the top of the stairs a heavy wooden panel can slide in to block the stairs, increasing the defense.

With only a small number of exhibits, the floors of the castle are recommended for castle architecture lovers to appreciate the carpentry and the steel bands holding the parquet columns together due to the lack of large timbers at the time. I especially appreciated the single triangular gap for a musket facing north, on the fourth floor, as an interesting addition among the many square and rectangular loopholes. In the winter, my wife recommends standing in a sunshine spot, where the sun can warm your feet! When I reach the fifth floor watchtower, take the view in slowly, and think of Horio Yoshiharu. It seems originally a veranda was planned, but due to the frequent rain of the San’in region, it was brought inside, and sliding doors can be opened to examine the surrounding area.

Overall, I think it is recommended for lovers of castle architecture, as well as Horio Yoshiharu fans. A true national treasure that gives the solemn feeling of the Keichou era.

Thank you for your...

コンパクトに纏まっていて綺麗なお城でした。入城料金500円ちょっと。本丸しかないのでお城興味ない方には高く感じるかもしれませんが、現存するお城で国宝ですし見ておいて損はないかと。色々とユニークなお城でした。

「松江城」の方にも書きましたが見どころ書きます。公園入口から順に。↓

▼堀尾公の銅像 すぐ近くの観光ガイド所で棒を貸してくれます。堀尾公と同じポーズで記念撮影すると思い出になります。（無料ガイドが空いていれば、ガイドをお願いできると思います。）

▼本丸はあるけど門はない 当時の本丸は残っているのに門や二の丸は全く残っていません（明治期に売却されたため）。 残っていないのは残念ですが、それを偲ぶ石垣はあるので、「ここに門があったのか」とか思いながら進むといいです。

▼ハート型の石垣 観光地によくある露骨なハート型ではなく、言われてみれば？な自然なハート型の石垣があります。全然アピールされていないので、事前に調べていかないと場所わからないと思います。（写真）

▼石垣入り口地下内部の井戸 本丸内に井戸があるお城はめづらしいです。 浜松城も同じですが向こうは鉄筋コンクリート製になっちゃってます（汗）

▼補強された柱 鉄板で補強された合材のような柱は非常にユニークです。他の城では見かけません。

▼ハート型のような木目 二箇所ありますが、これも全然アピールされていないので事前に調べないと場所わからないと思います。（写真）

▼天守閣への階段の踊り場 踊り場のあるお城はめづらしいです。 吹き抜けになっているので四階が見下ろせます。

▼天気が良いと天守閣から大山が見える 天気が良いだけでは駄目で、黄砂やガスも晴れてないと見れませんが、見える時は見えます。見えました。（写真）

二の丸三の丸や門が無いので少し寂しい感じはしますが、コンパクトで周り安いと思います。1〜2時間程度で公園入口から天守まで回れると思います。（展示物を見る場合は、もっと時間必要かも。）

当時のままの内装なのでエレベーターとかありませんし、...

One of the best castle visits! A must-do in Shimane if you are a tourist looking for things to do. Come learn the history of this place and the treasures that lie in here ❤️. The views are excellent and...