Matsuyama Castle — Hilltop Fortress with Original Keep

Matsuyama Castle occupies the 132-meter summit of Mt. Katsuyama in central Matsuyama City, one of only twelve Japanese castles retaining an original tenshu (main keep) from the Edo period. Built in 1603 by daimyo Kato Yoshiaki and completed in 1627, the castle complex includes 21 important cultural properties spread across multiple baileys connected by defensive gates and stone walls.

Visitors can reach the castle by ropeway, chairlift, or 20-minute hiking trail through cherry tree groves. The keep's top floor provides 360-degree views over Matsuyama City, the Seto Inland Sea, and on clear days, Shikoku's mountain ranges.