Takamatsu Castle (Tamamo Kōen)

photo by Yoshio Kohara · CC BY 3.0

photo by 先従隗始 · CC0

Moats of seawater, not river water; it is the largest sea castle in Japan.

The castle, from 1590, stands on the coast with three moats fed by the Seto Inland Sea, not by a river: ships came right inside the walls, and sieges by draining the water did not work – the first and largest sea castle (水城) in Japan. Of the original three-storey tenshu only the stone base remains; the Tsukimi turret, built for moon viewing, opens its interior only on Sunday mornings and afternoons.

Founded in 1590 by Ikoma Chikamasa and enlarged from 1642 by Matsudaira Yorishige, it was the centre of the Takamatsu domain for two and a half centuries. The tenshu, built by the Matsudaira in 1669, was dismantled in 1884. What remains are the Tsukimi turret, the water gate, the covered gallery and a corner turret, Important Cultural Properties since 1947; the Hiun-kaku building, the former Matsudaira residence, has been one since 2012, and its garden has been a national Place of Scenic Beauty since 2013. It is castle number 77 of the 100 Famous Castles of Japan (since 2006).

ℹ️ Seasonal opening hours, roughly from 5:30/7:00 to 17:00/19:00 depending on the month. Ticket 200 yen adults, 100 yen children; free 1–3 January. The Tsukimi turret (Important Cultural Property) opens its interior only on Sundays, 9:00–12:00 and 13:00–15:00. 5 minutes' walk from JR Takamatsu Station; boat rides on the moat for a fee.

🚉 Takamatsu-Chikko · 4 min walk

Sources: ja.wikipedia.org · city.takamatsu.kagawa.jp

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