Marugame Castle in Kagawa: Fan-Shaped Walls and an Original Keep

Updated October 25, 2026 | By Tokyo Paul

On the island of Shikoku, a small hill rises from the middle of the city of Marugame, and its slopes are wrapped in tall, curving stone walls. At the top sits a compact wooden keep that has stood for centuries. Marugame Castle in Kagawa Prefecture is not a sprawling fortress, yet it rewards visitors who like to slow down and study how a castle was actually built.

This guide covers the castle's history, the look and technique of its walls, what the keep and gates offer, how to get there and how to plan a respectful visit. Hours, fees and access arrangements change and are reported differently on different pages, so confirm the current details with official sources before you go.

Where the Castle Stands

The castle is in the city of Marugame, Kagawa Prefecture, on Shikoku, in the former Sanuki Province. It sits on Kameyama hill in the middle of the city, and under the Edo-period Kyogoku clan it was the seat of Marugame Domain.

Marugame itself lies in north-central Kagawa, facing the Seto Inland Sea to the north.

Kameyama hill rises 66 meters above the surrounding flat land, and the castle is also known as Kameyama Castle.

A Short History

The first builder was Ikoma Chikamasa, who began work after Hideyoshi awarded him Sanuki Province in 1587 and who passed the castle to his son, Ikoma Kazumasa. In 1615, under the one-castle-per-domain law, Marugame Castle was ordered abolished.

Other pages give different years for the first construction and the rebuilding, so the exact early dates vary by source.

After the Ikoma clan was demoted in 1640, Yamazaki Ieharu rebuilt the castle with 20-meter stone walls. The Yamazaki line died out in 1658, and a cadet branch of the Kyogoku clan from Tatsuno Domain took over. The current three-story keep was built in 1660, and the castle was considered complete in 1670. The Kyogoku ruled from here until the end of the Edo period.

Survival After the Samurai Era

The Meiji period was a difficult time for the castle. A fire in 1869 destroyed the daimyo palace and the Inui Yagura turret, and in 1870 the outer moats were filled in. In 1872 the remaining structures were put up for auction for demolition, but the Imperial Japanese Army claimed the site and the sale was cancelled.

By 1876 most of the turrets and walls had been destroyed, yet the keep and the central section survived. The site opened as Kameyama Park in 1919, and the Marugame City Museum opened in 1972.

Reading the Stone Walls

The walls are the reason many visitors come. They are known for a gently curving, sloping profile called "ougi no kobai," meaning a slope like a folded fan.

The wall on the north side of Sannomaru is the highest, at over 20 meters. At the corners, a technique called "sangidumi" stacks rectangular stones with their long sides alternating at right angles, which adds strength.

Nippon.com describes Marugame as the most representative example of stone-wall construction, a technique that peaked in the early Edo period, and says its four stacked walls rise to a total height of 60 meters. It also notes two methods: loose, sturdy "nozurazumi" and the more regular "sangizumi." One further page calls the 60 m of walls from the inner moat to the keep Japan's tallest, a claim this guide cannot independently confirm.

Because the sources describe heights in different ways (a single wall versus the stacked walls from moat to keep), treat the figures as indications of scale and check the official sources for the measurement you need.

How to Look at a Wall

Stand back first and see the long curve of the slope, then walk closer.
Look at the corners, where the alternating stones of the sangidumi pattern are easiest to see.
Notice how the stones are fitted, and how the wall flows upward as it nears the top.
Take your time: the pattern of the stonework is easier to appreciate when you slow down.

A photo caption on one page mentions that walls damaged by a typhoon were being restored, and that the page does not confirm whether the work is finished. If you plan to photograph a specific section, check for current notices about restoration or closures.

The Keep and the Gates

The wooden keep was built in 1660 and is well preserved. It is about 15 meters high and has three stories, and it is described as one of only 12 original castle keeps in Japan.

Nippon.com's overview of original keeps notes that five of the twelve are National Treasures and seven are Important Cultural Properties, with Marugame's keep dated 1660 and listed among the latter. It adds that the keep is not especially large.

Heritage status is layered. The keep has been an Important Cultural Property since 1943, the two Ote gates have been Important Cultural Properties since 1957, and the castle site has been a National Historic Site since 1953. In 2006 the castle was listed among Japan's Top 100 Castles by the Japan Castle Foundation.

The Ote Ichi-no-mon and Ote Ni-no-mon are masugata-style gates, both built in 1670.

The main gate is a two-story yagura mon gate that Fun! Japan describes as built of magnificent pillars and beams, and inside the Ote Ichi no Mon visitors can see equipment once used to drop stones on attackers.

From the top floor of the keep, the view takes in the Seto Inland Sea and the Great Seto Bridge. Inside, the small tower displays samurai helmets, swords and armor.

Getting There and Getting Around

The castle is about a 15-minute walk from JR Marugame Station on the JR Shikoku Yosan Line, while other pages say about 10 minutes.

From Takamatsu Station, the fastest limited express takes about 25 minutes.

Marugame has only a few hotels, and Kotohira, about 11 kilometers away, has more options, so it is wise to plan where to stay in advance.

The official site for the castle is marugame-castle.jp. Check it for the latest information.

Hours and Admission: Check Before You Go

Different pages report different keep hours and entry fees, which is a good reminder that figures change over time. One page lists the grounds as always open and free, while the keep has its own hours and fee. Another notes occasional temporary closures of the keep. Information on site may be in Japanese only, and some pages say credit cards are not accepted.

The simplest approach is to carry some cash, confirm the keep's hours and fee on the official site before you travel, and leave extra time in case of a temporary closure.

Seasons on Kameyama Hill

Spring is the best-known season. The grounds are a park with hundreds of cherry trees, and in spring they are covered in cherry blossoms.

One page says each season brings an event, with the castle lit up in different colors and local food booths, and that the castle is lit up at night. Event dates are not fixed in the pages consulted, so check local listings.

The hill also gets a mixture of weather like any outdoor site. In hot weather bring water and a hat, and in cold or wet weather wear shoes with good grip, because the approaches climb the slope. Check the forecast before you set out.

Combining the Castle with Other Stops

The grounds include a small zoo and a children's playground, which makes the park comfortable for families. The Marugame City Museum sits at the foot of the hill and, according to one page, is free and closed on Mondays and public holidays.

Nearby sights listed include the Nakazu Banshoen garden, the Marugame Museum of Art, and Shikoku pilgrimage temples 76 to 78.

Just east of the railway station is the Marugame Genichiro-Inokuma Museum of Contemporary Art, known as MIMOCA, which houses works by Genichiro Inokuma.

Visiting Respectfully

A castle site is both a park and a protected heritage monument. Please stay on marked paths, avoid climbing on or touching the historic stone walls, keep to areas open to visitors and take rubbish with you. Gentle behavior helps historic stonework last. In the keep, follow staff instructions on photography, footwear and crowd flow, and be patient on narrow stairs.

Quick Answers

Is the keep original? It was built in 1660 and is described as one of 12 original castle keeps in Japan.

How tall is the tallest single wall? The wall on the north side of Sannomaru is over 20 meters, while other pages describe the stacked walls as reaching 60 meters in total.

How far is it from the station? About 10 to 15 minutes on foot, depending on the source.

Is entry to the grounds free? One page lists the grounds as always open and free, while the keep has its own hours and fee, so confirm both on the official site.

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Tokyo Paul shares Japan walks on YouTube, which is a good way to get a feel for a place before you go. Watch Tokyo Paul on YouTube