Bitchu Matsuyama Castle

Bitchū Matsuyama Castle (Bitchū Matsuyama-jō), also called Matsuyama Castle or Takahashi Castle, is located on Mount Gagyū in Takahashi City, Okayama Prefecture. It is one of Japan’s twelve surviving original castles, and the only one that is a mountain castle. Since “Matsuyama Castle” exists in various regions of Japan, it is usually referred to specifically as Bitchū Matsuyama Castle to avoid confusion. It is listed among the “100 Famous Japanese Castles” and is considered one of the “Three Great Mountain Castles of Japan.”

The castle grounds are spread across the four peaks of Mount Gagyū. The honmaru (main bailey), ni-no-maru (second bailey), and san-no-maru (third bailey) are arranged in a terraced formation on Komatsuyama Peak, while ruins remain on Ōmatsuyama, Tenjinmaru, and Maeyama. The existing tenshu (main keep) is located on Komatsuyama at an altitude of about 430 meters. From the castle town at the foot of the mountain, it takes around 1,500 meters—or about an hour on foot—to reach the honmaru. Due to its rugged terrain, the castle primarily functioned as a wartime fortress (tsume-no-shiro), with limited use in peacetime.

During the Edo period, because mountain life was inconvenient, the feudal lords and their retainers resided at the foot of the mountain in the Otokogoya Residence, which served as the administrative center of the Bitchū Matsuyama Domain. Today, its site is occupied by Okayama Prefectural Takahashi High School. In the Edo period, the Bitchū region was divided into several small domains, with additional shogunate-controlled territories such as Kurashiki. The domain of Bitchū Matsuyama had a kokudaka (stipend assessment) of about 60,000 koku.

Today, the castle ruins are designated a National Historic Site. The Edo-period tenshu, a two-story yagura (turret), and sections of earthen walls are designated Important Cultural Properties. In addition, its grand stone walls, reconstructed turrets, gates, and walls have been preserved. The towering mountain castle combined with massive stone fortifications creates a seamless blend of natural and historical landscapes, making Bitchū Matsuyama Castle a symbol of Japanese mountain fortresses. In autumn and winter, it is often surrounded by a sea of clouds, earning it the nickname “Castle in the Sky.”