Sights
Bicchu Matsuyama Castle
Takahashi City
The “Castle in the Sky” floating on a sea of clouds
Built in 1240, Bicchu Matsuyama Castle is both an Important Cultural Property of Japan and is counted among Japan’s top 100 castles. The castle is located atop a mountain at an altitude of 430 m, making it the highest fortress with an existing castle tower in Japan. Visitors to the castle are treated to a spectacular sight, especially in the early mornings of fall and winter when the clouds spread out to form a “sea of clouds” around the castle. Also in fall, when the trees change color, the landscape becomes painted in a deep vermilion as if the castle walls were aflame, offering visitors a truly majestic sight.
Basic information
- Address
- 1, Uchisange, Takahashi City, Okayama Prefecture
- Access
- 15 min by tourist share taxi from JR Bitchu-Takahashi Sta. to “Fuigo Toge,” and then 20 min on foot *Reservation required for the share taxi.
- Business Hours
- 9:00am – 5:30pm (April – September) / 9:00am – 4:30pm (October – March)
- Closed
- December 29 – January 3
- Admission
- General 500 yen; students 200 yen (elementary and junior high)
- Tel.
- 0866-22-1487
- Website
- http://takahasikanko.or.jp/modules/spot/index.php?content_id=1(Japanese)