Matsue Castle

Matsue Castle, located in the city of Matsue in Shimane Prefecture, Japan, is a must-see destination for any traveler visiting the region. This grand castle, also known as “Plover Castle,” is one of the few remaining original castles in Japan and offers a glimpse into the country’s rich history and culture.

Matsue Castle is one of the 12 castle castles standing, surviving the test of time, natural disasters, the brutality of feudal Japan, and times of war.  Matsue Castle is a true relic of time, celebrated today for it’s beauty. 

Built in 1611 by feudal lord Horio Yoshiharu, the castle is five stories tall and sits on a hill overlooking the city of Matsue and over Lake Shinji – only 800m away from the castle. With a large moat around the castle, Matsue Castle was built to survive the test of time, and never saw combat. Today, Matsue castle still stands mostly in the same state as it did when it was first built, with having had some renovations done to preserve the life of the castle. It was designated a National Treasure of Japan in 2015.

Many people visit Matsue castle in the spring, as the castle is ranked as one of the top 100 places in Japan to view cherry blossoms during Cherry blossom season.