# Matsue Castle

> A National Treasure known as the 'Black Castle', one of only 12 original castles and the sole surviving keep in the San'in region.

- Prefecture: Shimane
- Type: Castle
- Address: Matsue, Shimane, Japan
- Official site: https://www.matsue-castle.jp/

Only twelve castles in Japan still have their original keep, the wooden structure that was actually built for the warlord rather than poured in concrete in the 1960s. Matsue is one of them, finished in 1611 by Horio Yoshiharu, and since 2015 it has been a National Treasure. The upgrade came late because the documents proving the completion date were only found in 2012, on two wooden prayer boards stored in a nearby shrine.

It is a black castle. The upper walls are clad in dark weatherboarding rather than white plaster, which makes it look heavier and older than it is, and the local nickname is the plover castle for the shape of the gables. Inside, the stairs are original: steep, narrow, polished by four hundred years of feet, and there is a well in the basement, the only keep in Japan to have one. The top floor is an open watch room with the lake on one side and the town on the other.

Do the Horikawa boat tour. Small covered boats run a fifty-minute circuit of the moat, and at several bridges the roof has to be lowered hydraulically so everyone ducks. In winter there is a kotatsu heater under the seats. It is the best thing in Matsue and most visitors miss it.

On the north side, Shiomi Nawate keeps a row of samurai residences behind earthen walls, one of them the house Lafcadio Hearn lived in, with a museum next door. His writing is why the outside world knew anything about Meiji Japan's ghost stories.

Castle entry is around 680 yen. Sunset over Lake Shinji, ten minutes west, is the other reason to stay the night.

## FAQ

### What is the entry fee for Matsue Castle?

Adult admission to the castle keep is 680 yen. A combined ticket with the Horikawa Sightseeing Boat is available at a discount. The surrounding park grounds are free to enter.

### How do I get to Matsue Castle?

From JR Matsue Station, take the Lake Line bus to Matsue Castle (Kencho-mae) stop, about 10 minutes. Alternatively, it's a pleasant 20-minute walk through the city. The castle is centrally located and well-signposted.

### What else can I see near Matsue Castle?

Don't miss the Horikawa boat tour around the castle moat - boats pass under low bridges (passengers must duck!). The Shiomi Nawate samurai district has historic residences including the Lafcadio Hearn Memorial Museum. Lake Shinji is known for its sunsets.

### What local foods should I try in Matsue?

Try shijimi clams from Lake Shinji, prepared as miso soup or rice dishes. Izumo soba and wagashi sweets (Matsue is one of Japan's top three wagashi cities) are must-tries. The castle town area has many traditional restaurants.

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Source: Matsue Castle — Japan Voyage