Matsue Castle
Matsue Castle
4.5
Historic SitesPoints of Interest & LandmarksCastles
8:30 AM - 6:30 PM
Monday
8:30 AM - 6:30 PM
Tuesday
8:30 AM - 6:30 PM
Wednesday
8:30 AM - 6:30 PM
Thursday
8:30 AM - 6:30 PM
Friday
8:30 AM - 6:30 PM
Saturday
8:30 AM - 6:30 PM
Sunday
8:30 AM - 6:30 PM
About
Matsue symbol Matsue Castle is said to be one of the national treasures and one of the only orthodox towers among the 12 towers that exist throughout the country. Matsue Castle can be proud, please enjoy.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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  • Martina1888
    Inverness, United Kingdom506 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Favourite Castle
    Matsue Castle is one of the 12 original Castles of Japan and absolutely worth a visit! It does look impressive from the outside and it's the same inside. I could really feel the history within its walls. There are intriguing exhibitions on each floor with displays also in English. The view from the top floor is, of course, amazing. My favourite castle!
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 5 November 2023
  • Nativeutah
    Lehi, Utah88 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    If I were Shogun I’d live here.
    I’ve been to numerous castles all over Japan and this one is my absolute favorite. It is one of very few wooden castles still standing and it’s easy to see why the construction is amazing. Was able to view each level uncrowded to see every inch of this fortified behemoth. Top floor has stunning views of the city. Was well worth going to see. It only takes a few hours to see the castle and grounds so be sure to put in your itinerary.
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 23 May 2024
  • MomRocco
    Chicago, Illinois539 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Castle Commands Its Domain
    The Castle and the construction of the other buildings nearby is very interesting. The Castle itself commands your attention. You can get a good sense of the Castle from walking around its exterior. For those who want to go inside, shoes must come off, and you have to climb a series of very steep ladder-like steps in your stocking feet. Our guide kept warning us about slippery stone steps and problems going up and down the steps, so we opted not to risk an injury. Those who did climb the steps and lived to tell about it said it did have a nice view, but that they feared falling as they came down the ladders.
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 24 May 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles1,536 reviews
Excellent
686
Very good
716
Average
126
Poor
5
Terrible
4

These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
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jeffreygalino
Hiroshima, Japan71 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
If you are into history and culture, you should visit this castle. The structure is still in its original form. It looks unique compared to other Japanese castles for its black color. Discounted ticket price is given to foreigners. A panoramic view of Matsue City is seen from top.
Written 14 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

jeffreyrg
Manila, Philippines51 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
One of the few Japanese castles in its original wooden structure. There is a well inside the castle itself, making it unique among other castles. The view of Matsue City at the top of the castle is stunning. There is a shrine and a palace within the castle grounds.
Written 7 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

HotRodHeart
France137 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2019
This is a really nice Castle to check out. And the city too.

Being one of the only original wooden castles left in Japan, it is definitely something to see.

The stairs are really steep, so be careful on your way down.

It is close to Izumo, so you can visit in a day trip if you are around!
Written 2 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jambaldorj Altaa
7 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Friends
This is my first unforgettable experience to see the ancient castle and its surroundings. I felt that I was in the 17th century in Japan because they could preserved well it. The most attractive view in the castle was the European style modern palace of the emperor. After entering, it made me feelings in the western-style reception hall that I saw in “ The last emperor” which is one of the famous Chinese movies.
Written 27 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Wingfield73
Chiang Mai, Thailand1,012 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2023
The cheerful atmosphere of this attractive castle complex make it Matsue's main "don't miss" sight. The castle itself is at the top of a steep rise surrounded by lawns (lots of family picnickers) and a wide moat/river with nice river boats. I was sad that because of my great age I was unable to get into them as you sit on the floor - no seats. There are plenty of handrails on the way to the top making it easy for me to get to the castle garden/platform with good views over the city. Half way up there is a small temple and the castle itself is small too. All ow 1-2 hours.
Written 9 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MomRocco
Chicago, IL539 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2024 • Couples
The Castle and the construction of the other buildings nearby is very interesting. The Castle itself commands your attention. You can get a good sense of the Castle from walking around its exterior. For those who want to go inside, shoes must come off, and you have to climb a series of very steep ladder-like steps in your stocking feet. Our guide kept warning us about slippery stone steps and problems going up and down the steps, so we opted not to risk an injury. Those who did climb the steps and lived to tell about it said it did have a nice view, but that they feared falling as they came down the ladders.
Written 24 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

鶴田 直己
Japan8,402 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2024 • Solo
I visited for sightseeing in Matsue. On my way to the keep, I was surprised and impressed by the splendid construction of Matsue Castle. The keep is a traditional wooden structure with five stories. It was very hard to climb up and down the stairs, so I grabbed onto the handrail and slowly. Also, since there was no air conditioning and only a fan in summer, it felt very hot inside. Even indoors, hydration is essential.

On each floor up to the fourth floor, there was the construction of Matsue Castle and exhibits of materials, and it was easy to understand with video commentary. And on the 5th floor observation floor, we had a 360 degree view around the keep and enjoyed a very good view⭐︎ And the wind blowing through was pleasant. There is also an exhibition of designated national treasures, which are also worth a visit. After a tour of the castle tower, head to Kounkaku in the park for free. This building is also recommended to stop by if you have time.
Automatically translated
Written 11 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Martina1888
Inverness, UK506 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Solo
Matsue Castle is one of the 12 original Castles of Japan and absolutely worth a visit! It does look impressive from the outside and it's the same inside. I could really feel the history within its walls. There are intriguing exhibitions on each floor with displays also in English. The view from the top floor is, of course, amazing. My favourite castle!
Written 5 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Nativeutah
Lehi, UT88 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2024 • Couples
I’ve been to numerous castles all over Japan and this one is my absolute favorite. It is one of very few wooden castles still standing and it’s easy to see why the construction is amazing. Was able to view each level uncrowded to see every inch of this fortified behemoth. Top floor has stunning views of the city. Was well worth going to see. It only takes a few hours to see the castle and grounds so be sure to put in your itinerary.
Written 23 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Yoko N
Tokyo Prefecture, Japan86 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2024 • Family
I've visited this castle several times, but I never had time to climb it. This time, I was so thrilled that the cherry blossoms were in full bloom! It's a precious castle that has survived the war, including the castle town. There are also some interesting stories about it. Apparently they didn't have enough money, so they used the ingenuity of stacking many continuous pillars to build the castle with the wood they needed. The stone walls were only completed halfway, and in response to the Meiji era's castle abolition order, wealthy farmers and samurai from the neighborhood bought it back, leaving only the castle tower. It was a fun castle to climb.
Google
Written 4 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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MATSUE CASTLE (2024) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos) - Tripadvisor

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