Matsue

Excellent castle with a rich history. An easy walk from the car park (700¥). 1100¥ entrance fee. No tourists and a moderate amount of local famalies and school kids on a day trip. Access to all floors is allowed with an excellent view from the top. Very friendly staff. You have to remove shoes and the staff put them in a plastic bag which you carry with you. The floorboards are cold but very smooth. 2 pairs of socks did the job. Highly reccommended for a visit.

The parking ticket validation machine is imby the ticket collection point inside the castle. No shoes allowed inside, so I suggest you wear two layers of socks during winter as the floorboards are very cold. The castle grounds are great and there was a really cute tabby cat roaming the grounds. View from the top of the castle is stunning.

Japan is a nation of castles, reflecting its past divided into multitudes of competing fiefdoms. Some castles are reconstructed, others are much more original but few are as glorious as Matsue Castle (Kumamoto and Himeji castles are in the same "glorious" neighbourhood). Matsue combines amazing architecture, stunning grounds and a combination with the nearby Shinji Lake to provide amazing views. It makes it easy for us to do a little imaginary time traveling. Samurai Sinay says: The museum inside the castle contains a variety of artefacts but don't forget to notice the pillars, masonry and woodwork...and the stunning views. Almost makes you want to be a samurai for a day😉

A visit to Matsue Castle should be high on your list of priorities when you visit Japan. It is one example of an original and well preserved castle (the other eleven being Himeji, Matsumoto, Hikone, Inuyama, Maruoka, Marugame, Kochi, Matsuyama, Uwajima, Bitchu-Matsuyama, and Hirosaki). Matsue Castle is one of five castles that are designated as National Treasures of Japan (the other four being Himeji, Matsumoto, Hikone and Inuyama). Matsue Castle also displays black lacquer walls, a feature that only a small handful of Japanese castles share. There is a small museum inside the keep that contains displays of armor, artifacts and weapons. Be sure to climb up to the top for a view of nearby Lake Shinji, but be careful as the stairs going up to the top are incredibly steep. If you have time, you can check out the nearby Matsue History Museum and even step back in time at an old samurai residence on the north side of the castle.

Beautiful castle with scenic views from outside and the top floor. There are many, many stairs and it is not handicap accessible. There was also a shrine and western house. It was definitely worth the stop!