Tsuyama Castle

Tsuyama Castle was built between 1603 and 1616 by Mori Tadamasa, and at its peak ranked among Japan's largest fortifications with 77 turrets crowning its walls. Though the buildings were dismantled during the Meiji period, the stone walls remain remarkably intact, rising as high as 45 meters in places and creating one of Japan's most impressive castle ruins. The Bitchu Yagura turret was reconstructed in 2005, returning a sense of the castle's former scale. The grounds, now known as Kakuzan Park, are planted with over 1,000 cherry trees that transform the ruins into a sea of pink each April, earning the site recognition as one of Japan's top 100 cherry blossom viewing spots. During the Tsuyama Cherry Blossom Festival, food stalls line the paths, evening illuminations cast the blossoms in soft light, and traditional performances fill the grounds with music. From the hilltop ruins, panoramic views extend across Tsuyama city to the surrounding mountains.