Monuments

Takamatsujo AtoTakamatsu Castle Ruins

  • 写真01：Bird’s eye view from the southeast 1

    Bird’s eye view from the southeast 1

  • 写真02：Bird’s eye view from the southeast 2

    Bird’s eye view from the southeast 2

  • 写真03：Inner and central moat drawn with seawater

    Inner and central moat drawn with seawater

  • 写真04：Bird’s eye view from the southeast 3

    Bird’s eye view from the southeast 3

  • 写真05：Bird’s eye view from the southeast 4

    Bird’s eye view from the southeast 4

  • 写真06：Stone wall of the castle tower（Photo courtesty of the Takamatsu City Board of Education）

    Stone wall of the castle tower（Photo courtesty of the Takamatsu City Board of Education）

  • 写真07：Excavation of castle tower (1st basement floor)（Photo courtesty of the Takamatsu City Board of Education）

    Excavation of castle tower (1st basement floor)（Photo courtesty of the Takamatsu City Board of Education）

  • 写真08：Site of Sakura Gate（Photo courtesty of the Takamatsu City Board of Education）

    Site of Sakura Gate（Photo courtesty of the Takamatsu City Board of Education）

  • 写真09：Corner of the northern stone wall of the outer citadel（Photo courtesty of the Takamatsu City Board of Education）

    Corner of the northern stone wall of the outer citadel（Photo courtesty of the Takamatsu City Board of Education）

  • 写真10：Inner moat and seawater gate（Photo courtesty of the Takamatsu City Board of Education）

    Inner moat and seawater gate（Photo courtesty of the Takamatsu City Board of Education）

  • 写真01：Bird’s eye view from the southeast 1
  • 写真02：Bird’s eye view from the southeast 2
  • 写真03：Inner and central moat drawn with seawater
  • 写真04：Bird’s eye view from the southeast 3
  • 写真05：Bird’s eye view from the southeast 4
  • 写真06：Stone wall of the castle tower（Photo courtesty of the Takamatsu City Board of Education）
  • 写真07：Excavation of castle tower (1st basement floor)（Photo courtesty of the Takamatsu City Board of Education）
  • 写真08：Site of Sakura Gate（Photo courtesty of the Takamatsu City Board of Education）
  • 写真09：Corner of the northern stone wall of the outer citadel（Photo courtesty of the Takamatsu City Board of Education）
  • 写真10：Inner moat and seawater gate（Photo courtesty of the Takamatsu City Board of Education）
District Monuments Period ー
Set Content/Set Date Historical Site・西暦1955.03.02
Owner Takamatsu City, others Location 2-1 Tamamocho, Takamatsu, Kagawa

Takamatsu Castle is a water castle (sea castle) built facing the Seto Inland Sea. It is one of the top three water castles in Japan, with a complex inner moat system that draws in seawater. In addition to Edo-era architecture (1603-1867) such as Ushitora Yagura and Tsukimi Yagura turrets (Important Cultural Properties), there is also the spectacular Hiunkaku, a villa for the Matsudaira family completed in 1917.
The castle was originally built as the main castle of Ikoma Chikamasa, the lord of Sanuki Province (currently Kagawa Prefecture), in 1588 during the Azuchi-Momoyama Period. Its basic shape was completed in 1642 through renovation of the castle keep and the construction of north and east compounds by Matsudaira Yorishige, lord of the Takamatsu Domain.
　When the castle was built, it was surrounded by three moats for a more solid composition. However, urbanization since the Meiji Period (1868-1912) encroached upon the castle, and currently only the area inside the middle moat surrounding the main fortress is designated as a historical site.
　At Hiunkaku—the villa of the Matsudaira family—is Hiunkaku Garden (Place of Scenic Beauty), with a distinctive design and structure that includes the use of many trees, such as pine and sago palm, as well as large granite garden stones.