SilkCode LibraryCastles of Japan
No. 064ChugokuShimane

Matsue Castle

松江城

Original keep

An original keep with dark wooden siding rises on Kamedayama near Lake Shinji. Surrounded by the castle town and waterways, this National Treasure rewards a close look at its timber structure and defensive features.

Matsue Castle keep with its dark wooden cladding
Matsue Castle keep with its dark wooden claddingPhoto: 663highland · CC BY 2.5 · Resized and converted to WebP. Cards crop the display.This photograph shows the site at the time it was taken. Check the notes and official sources for current restoration work and access.

Get to know the castle

Castle at a glance

Site & layout
Hilltop castle
Origins
Construction began in 1607; keep completed in 1611
Builders & patrons
Horio family; later the Kyogoku and Matsudaira families
Other names
Chidori Castle
What remains today
Early Edo-period keep, stone walls and moats

THE STORY

The story behind the walls

The Horio family began building Matsue Castle in 1607, and the keep was completed in 1611. The project shifted their political base from Gassan Toda to a new castle and planned town. The Kyogoku and then Matsudaira families governed here, and the keep survived the removal of castle buildings in the modern era. Prayer boards rediscovered in 2012 supplied crucial evidence for its date; the surviving keep is now a National Treasure.

LAYOUT & ARCHITECTURE

Read the landscape and the buildings.

This hilltop castle combines a central enclosure with surrounding terraces, stone walls and moats. Its keep has four visible roof levels, five main floors and a basement, while gates and changes in level protected the main approach. The interior makes clear why the number of floors differs from the number of roof levels.

A CLOSER LOOK

Details worth a closer look.

01

Prayer boards and the completion date

Prayer boards discovered in 2012 bear a date corresponding to 1611. Matching nail holes in the basement pillars helped establish when the keep was completed.

02

A well and substantial timbers

A basement well provided water for a siege, while substantial pillars carry the floors above. The space explains how the castle could store supplies and secure water within its defences.

03

From the main approach to the central enclosure

The open space at the main approach was once enclosed by gates and walls. Following the route uphill reveals several layers of defence beyond the keep itself.

THROUGH THE YEARS

A short timeline

  1. 1607

    The Horio family began construction.

  2. 1611

    The keep was completed, as supported by dated prayer boards.

  3. 2012

    Prayer boards associated with the keep were rediscovered.

BEFORE YOU GO

A note before you go.

The keep contains stairs. As of September 2026, major repairs are scheduled for June 2027 through December 2030. For future visits, check the official repair timetable and which areas will be open.

Official visitor information ↗Find it on a map ↗

Information checked: 27 September 2026

Sources & official information

Some official sources are available in Japanese only.

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