Matsumoto Castle

History

Next to Himeji-jo, Matsumoto-jo is the next best extant castle main keep in Japan. Built by Ishikawa Kazumasa and his son Yasunaga in 1590, Matsumoto-jo is designated a National Treasure. After Hideyoshi took Odawara he stationed Ishikawa Kazumasa in Matsumoto to govern his eastern provinces. The history of Matsumoto-jo actually begins with a castle called Fukashi-jo which was built by Shimadachi Sadanaga in 1504. That castle was attacked and captured by Takeda Shingen in 1550.

Visit Notes

This was the first large castle and first original extant castle I ever visited. I was so impressed it sparked my future interest in castles.

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Castle Profile
English Name	Matsumoto Castle
Japanese Name	松本城
Alternate Names	Fukashijō (深志城)
Founder	Ishikawa Kazumasa
Year Founded	1590
Castle Type	Flatland
Castle Condition	Original main keep
Designations	Top 100 Castles, has National Treasures, National Historic Site
Historical Period	Edo Period
Main Keep Structure	5 levels, 6 stories
Artifacts	tenshu, Inui Kotenshu, Watariyagura, Tsukimi Yagura, Tatsumi Tsukiyagura
Features	main keep, gates, turrets, samurai homes, water moats, stone walls, walls, castle town
Visitor Information
Access	Matsumoto Station, 15 minute walk
Visitor Information	Open 8:30am-5:00pm; 700 yen; Closed Dec.29-31
Time Required	120 mins
Website	http://welcome.city.matsumoto.nagano.jp/contents03+index.id+3.htm
Location	Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture
Coordinates	36° 14' 19.10" N, 137° 58' 8.11" E
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	1999
Contributor	Eric
Admin Year Visited	1992, 2002, 2009, 2015
Admin Visits	August 1992; May 13, 2002; April 11, 2009; Oct 30, 2015
Friends of JCastle
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Nearby Samurai Homes

Kinoshita Residence

Takahashi Residence (Matsumoto)

4.86

(57 votes)

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ARTShogun

96 months ago

Score 1

The beautiful multi-storey architecture of the Tenshu (main keep) is clearly the highlight of Matsumotojō and its size makes it the second greatest castle site after Himejijō. Collectively I probably spent about 6 hours at Matsumotojō, including walking around the moat to see the castle at night and waiting in a queue for an hour to enter the tenshukaku (castle tower)! Throughout the duration of my visit it rained a lot and it was most heavy whilst I was inside the tower. I took over an hour to see all of the tower and exhibitions within. Of five-tiers and six-storeys – one hidden floor, the Tenshu of Matsumotojō rises 30 meters on a tenshudai (platform) of Nozura-zumi (style) ishigaki (stonewalls). It is accessed via the Ōteguchi (main entrance) or Tsukimi-yagura (11m) (moon-viewing turret), which was a later extension of the tower. Two adjoining turrets give the tenshu its “L” shape: Inui-kotenshu (17m) in the northwest and Tatsumi-Tsukeyagura (15m). The hidden floor is the 3rd floor and is almost windowless, it is the safest place in the tower as it cannot be identified from outside. It is very dark. The top floor is the look-out and enshrines Nijūrokuya-shin, God of 26 Nights. On the night of January the 26th, 1618, a young soldier on duty saw the vision of a beautifully dressed woman approach. Handing over brocade bag, she said that if the Lord of the castle dedicated 500kg of rice to her on the 26th night of every month, she would protect the castle from all harm. Goddesses got to eat, I guess. Anyway, this tradition continues today. The castle tower, after all, has survived for over 400 years.The Tenshu was scheduled to be abolished after the Meiji Restoration but outcry from the public and influential figures saved it. By 1904 the tenshukaku was leaning dangerously at an angle, but was saved through a funding campaign which led to the “Meiji Restoration”… as in the restoration of the castle during the reign of Emperor Meiji, from 1903-1913. The Shōwa Restoration ran from 1950-1955. A smaller Heisei Restoration was carried out after earthquake damage in 2011. In 1990 Kuromon was reconstructed and in 2002 Taikomon followed. Apparently they want to expand the park by re-digging some of the old moats currently on residential land.