Matsue Castle

Perched on a 29-meter tall hill in the flatlands near Shinji Lake, Matsue Castle was designated a Japanese national treasure in 2015. It was built some 400 years ago by Yoshiharu Horio, the lord of Izumo and Oki Provinces. The castle is sometimes nicknamed “Plover Castle” due to the castle gables resembling a plover bird with outstretched wings.

While it may appear to have 4-storeys, this 5-storey castle is home to both a basement floor and a top-floor “Tengu no Ma” watchtower featuring nothing but rails and no walls. From here you can see 360-degree panoramic views of the Matsue townscape and Shinji Lake below. It is one of 12 castle keeps still standing in Japan, and the third tallest after Himeji and Matsumoto Castles.

Flanking both sides of the stone stairs are the towering, layered stone walls leading to the main keep, famous for the fan and pentagram shaped carvings along the rock faces. Once inside the castle you’ll find a display documenting the history of Matsue township and castle or the heart mark in the natural grain of the pillar on the 1st floor. This is also the only place in Japan with an emergency stair made of paulownia tree wood. The wooden “shachihoko” (half tiger/half fish) ornament on top is as much as 2 meters tall, boasted as the oldest of its kind in Japan.

Whether a novice or full-on history buff, you won’t want to miss the “Matsue Castle Visit with a Cosplaying Japanese Private guide” tour (prior reservation required).