Bitchū Matsuyama Castle
Bitchū Matsuyama Castle, Hilltop castle in Takahashi, Japan.
Bitchū Matsuyama Castle is a wooden fortification on a hill in Uchisange near Takahashi, designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan. The main keep rises at 430 meters above sea level, making it the highest preserved castle structure in the country.
Construction of the fortress began in 1240 under the leadership of Akiba Shigenobu, who recognized the strategic value of the mountain for controlling trade routes. Later renovations in the 17th century gave the complex its present form and reinforced its role as an administrative center for the region.
The name refers to the historical province of Bitchū, which once covered this area, while today the structure stands as one of the rare surviving examples of medieval wooden construction. Visitors can experience traditional carpentry work inside the main keep, with visible wooden beams and narrow staircases typical of 17th-century building techniques.
Travelers reach the site by train to Takahashi Station, then take a taxi to Fuigo Pass, from where a walk of about twenty minutes leads to the entrance. The climb follows a narrow forest path that can become slippery in wet weather and requires sturdy footwear.
Under certain weather conditions in the early morning hours, the fortress appears to float above a sea of clouds when viewed from the Unkai Observatory. This natural phenomenon occurs mainly in autumn and winter, when cool night air meets warmer valleys and creates dense fog.
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