Japan Travel: One of the Three Great Waterfront Castles is Takamatsu Castle in Takamatsu, Kagawa
【★024★Kagawa Takamatsu Castle】
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Lying along the coast of the Seto Inland Sea in Kagawa Prefecture is the Takamatsu Castle. This castle, also known as the Tamomo Castle, is one of the few castles built along the water. The moat of the Takamatsu Castle actually draws directly from the sea.
Built in 1590 by Ikoma Chikamasa, the Ikoma Clan were the original rulers of this castle. Relatives of the Tokugawa Shogun, the Matsudaira Clan overtook the castle 54 years later. The Matsudaira Clan ruled for the rest of the Edo Period. During the Meiji Period, the castle main keep was torn down. Currently, there is a strong movement to reconstruct this castle, known as one of the three Great Waterfront Castles in Japan.
Within the castle grounds, there are only a few of the castle’s original buildings. Originally twenty, only two turrets, the Ushitora Yagura and the Tsukimi Yagura, remain today. Visitors can also see the Asahimon Gate as well as the moats and walls to imagine how glorious Takamatsu castle was in its heyday. The castle garden is well maintained and visitors can appreciate the beauty of Japanese gardens here.
Hiunkaku building lies in the center of the castle park. With its large tatami mat rooms, this building is used as an exhibition space/community hall. Tea ceremony and flower arrangement classes are held here.
The hours of entry to the castle vary according to the month.
April to May: 5:50 to 18:30
June to August: 5:30 to 19:00
September: 5:30 to 18:30
October: 6:00 to 17:30
November: 6:30 to 17:00
December to January: 7:00 to 17:00
February: 7:00 to 17:30
March: 6:30 to 18:00
Closed: December 29th to 31st
Admission: 200 yen
Access Information:
Takamatsu Castle is located next to Kotoden Takamatsu-Chikko Station.
It is also a short walk from the JR Takamatsu Station.