Matsue Castle, Medieval fortress in Matsue, Japan
Matsue Castle is a wooden fortress on a hill in Matsue that rises through six levels and is surrounded by a moat. The structure reaches about 30 meters in height and shows a dark timber façade that stands out against the sky.
Horio Yoshiharu constructed the castle between 1607 and 1611 after gaining control of the region. The Matsudaira clan later took over and ruled the surrounding territory from here for more than two centuries.
The name Matsue means pine bay, and the dark wooden walls give the structure its nickname of black castle. Visitors today climb the steep interior stairs just as samurai once did, and watch Lake Shinji from the upper floors.
The site opens daily and welcomes visitors from 8:30 in the morning, with closing times that shift depending on the season. Guided tours are available and boat rides on the moat offer a different view of the walls and towers.
Only twelve castles in Japan retain their original wooden keeps, and this one ranks among the largest of them. It also stands as the only fortress from the feudal era still preserved in the entire Sanin region along the Sea of Japan.
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