たいたいたいたいCC BY-SA 4.0Wikimedia Commons

Kagawa · Marugame

Marugame Castle

丸亀城

Marugame, Kagawa

CastleHilltop castle (hirayamajiro)Japan's 100 Fine Castles No. 77

What makes this castle distinctive

A small original keep, about 15 m tall, is lifted high by tier upon tier of stone walls, walls that collapsed in 2018 and are still being rebuilt today.

Why?

Marugame's keep is a wooden keep completed in 1660, one of only 12 original keeps left in Japan. Stone walls rise in tiers from the foot of the hill to the main enclosure, topping 20 m on the north side of the third enclosure. In 2018, after part of the walls gave way in July rains, the southwest walls collapsed on a large scale in October; the city aims to finish repairs by the end of March 2031.^[4][3][6][7]

Three things not to miss

An original Edo-period wooden keep

Where: The main enclosure (honmaru) at the top of the hill
What to look at: The three-tier, three-story form, the mix of curved and triangular gables, and the stone-drop openings and unpainted wooden lattices on the north side
Why it's interesting: The keep is about 15 m tall, and the city describes it as the oldest of the wooden keeps that survive in Shikoku. It is small, but standing on top of such high walls it can be seen clearly from below. You can go inside.^[4][5][13]
Can you see it?: Visible from outsideInterior entry is paid (adults 400 yen; free for junior high students and younger). Since September 2025 a protective panel stands in front of the first-floor west wall, and visitors are asked to keep away from it.

The keep and the tiers of stone walls seen from the foot of the hill. May 2019.

High stone walls with a fan-shaped curve

Where: The north side of the third enclosure, seen on the way up the Mikaeri-zaka slope or from the third enclosure
What to look at: Walls over 20 m high and the graceful curve of the corners, where long and short stones alternate (sangizumi)
Why it's interesting: The current shape of the walls dates from Yamazaki Ieharu's rebuilding of the castle in the 1640s. Around the castle you can compare different methods, from finely cut and fitted stones to walls of rough natural stone.^[3][4][2]
Can you see it?: Visible from outsideThe grounds are open 24 hours. The collapsed southwest section is under repair.

The collapse site and the restoration PR center

Where: The southwest side of the castle; the rooftop deck of the free Stone Wall Restoration PR Center
What to look at: The walls being rebuilt, plus displays on the work, stonemasons' tools and a model for trying stone stacking yourself
Why it's interesting: On October 8, 2018 the west face of the Obiguruwa (belt enclosure) wall collapsed, followed on October 9 by the wall under the former southwest turret of the third enclosure. Dismantling of the damaged walls was completed by fiscal 2023, and rebuilding began in fiscal 2024. Raising walls up to 31 m high is difficult work, and in 2025 the city extended the schedule to the end of March 2031.^[7][8][9][6]
Can you see it?: Partly visibleThe site can be viewed from the PR Center rooftop and nearby. The PR Center is open 9:00–16:30, free.

At a glance for visitors

Nearest station: 15 min walk from JR Marugame Station, South Exit
Climb: Steep climb
Time neededEditors' estimate: About 1.5 hours to walk up to the keep and back; 2 hours or more with the PR center and museum.
Admission: Adults 400 yen; free for junior high students and younger. 20% off for groups of 20+. Free for Marugame residents 65+ and for people with disabilities and a caregiver. Combined ticket with Nakazu Banshoen garden: 900 yen.
Hours: 9:00–16:30 (last entry 16:00)
Access: Open to visitors
The grounds are open 24 hours. The keep interior is paid; the interior of the main gate and the restoration PR center are free. The Japan 100 Castles stamp is inside the keep and at the city museum. The southwest walls are under repair.

Checked: 2026-10-03

View on map Open in Google Maps Marugame Castle (Marugame City)Stone wall restoration updates (Marugame City)

The story of this castle

Historical record

Built by the Ikoma, closed by decree

In 1597 Ikoma Chikamasa and his son Kazumasa, lords of Sanuki, began building a castle on a hill called Kameyama. In 1615, however, the shogunate's "one province, one castle" order forced the Ikoma to keep Takamatsu Castle and abandon Marugame.^[3]

Historical record

Rebuilt by Yamazaki Ieharu

In 1641 Yamazaki Ieharu became lord of western Sanuki, worth about 50,000 koku, and from 1643, with the shogunate's permission and financial support, he rebuilt the abandoned castle. The layout of the hilltop enclosures and the curved high walls seen today date from the Yamazaki era.^[3]

Historical record

The Kyogoku family's castle until 1868

After the Yamazaki line died out, Kyogoku Takakazu became lord of Marugame in 1658. The keep was completed in 1660, and around 1670 the main gate was moved to its present position on the north side. The Kyogoku family ruled Marugame until the Meiji era.^[3][4]

Historical record

The keep and gates survived

In 1869 the domain residence burned, and in the early Meiji era the turrets and other buildings were torn down. The keep and the two main gates survived. The keep was named a National Treasure in 1943 and, after full dismantling and repair, became an Important Cultural Property in 1950. The main gate was designated in 1957.^[3]

Historical record

The 2018 collapse and the repairs

Part of the walls gave way in heavy rain in July 2018, and on October 8 and 9 large sections of the southwest Obiguruwa and third-enclosure walls collapsed. Dismantling of the damaged walls was finished by fiscal 2023, and rebuilding began in fiscal 2024. Because more stones were broken than expected and more new stones had to be made, in 2025 it extended the schedule to the end of March 2031 and raised the budget to 8.6 billion yen.^[7][8][6]

People of this castle

Lord of Sanuki who first built the castle

Ikoma Chikamasa

生駒親正

1526–1603

A warlord who served Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Given the whole of Sanuki Province in 1587, he began building Takamatsu Castle on the shore the following year.

Lord who rebuilt the abandoned castle and its high stone walls

Yamazaki Ieharu

山崎家治

1594–1648

Became lord of western Sanuki (about 50,000 koku) in 1641 and rebuilt the abandoned Marugame Castle. Its high stone walls today date from the Yamazaki era.

First Kyogoku lord of Marugame, under whom the keep was completed

Kyogoku Takakazu

京極高和

1619–1662

Became lord of Marugame in 1658 after the Yamazaki line died out. The Kyogoku family then ruled Marugame until the Meiji era.

Lord

Ikoma clan

生駒氏

Lord

Yamasaki clan

山崎氏

Lord

Kyōgoku clan

京極氏

Timeline

1597
Ikoma Chikamasa and Kazumasa begin the castle^[3]
1615
Abandoned under the one-castle-per-province order^[3]
1643
Yamazaki Ieharu rebuilds the castle^[3]
1660
The keep is completed under the Kyogoku^[3][4]
1953
The castle site becomes a National Historic Site^[3]
2018
Southwest stone walls collapse on October 8–9^[7]
2031
Target date for completing the wall repairs (end of March)^[6]

Buildings and remains

The keep today

Original keep

A three-tier, three-story wooden keep completed in 1660; one of Japan's 12 original keeps and an Important Cultural Property.

The site today

The grounds are a city park open 24 hours, with the original keep, the main gates and the inner moat. The collapsed southwest walls are being rebuilt, with completion targeted for the end of March 2031.

Main buildings

OriginalImportant Cultural Property

Keep (tenshu)

About 15 m tall. Fully dismantled and repaired by 1950. Interior open (paid).^[3][4][5]

OriginalImportant Cultural Property

Ote Ichi-no-Mon (main gate)

A gatehouse built around 1670, also called the Drum Gate because a drum was beaten here to tell the time; the noon drum is still sounded daily. Interior open.^[4][3]

OriginalImportant Cultural Property

Ote Ni-no-Mon (outer main gate)

A koraimon-style gate built at the same time as the inner gate.^[4][3]

OriginalKagawa Prefecture Cultural Property

Goten Omote-mon gate, guardhouse and nagaya

The front gate of the lord's palace, built in the yakuimon style, unusual for a castle gate.^[4][3]

Original, relocatedRegistered Tangible Cultural Property

Enjukaku Annex

The guest suite of a 1933 reception hall built with parts of the Kyogoku family's Tokyo residence. Used since 2024 for castle stays.^[14][4]

Key facts

Type: Castle
Setting: Hilltop castle (hirayamajiro)built on a low hill rising from the plainEditorial article
Period: Early modern (1570s–1871)Editorial article
Keep (tenshu): Original keepthe keep (tenshu) itself survives from before 1868Editorial article
Built by: Ikoma Chikamasa, Kyogoku Takakazu, Yamazaki IeharuJapan Castle Foundation
Built: 1597Japan Castle Foundation
Main lords: Ikoma clan, Yamasaki clan, Kyōgoku clanJapan Castle Foundation
Abandoned: 1871Wikipedia (ja)
Remains to see: Gates, Stone walls, Moats, Baileys / enclosures (kuruwa), Turrets or turret basesEditorial article
Designation: National Historic Site (Marugame Castle ruins) (1953); Important Cultural Property (keep) (1950); Important Cultural Property (main gates) (1957)Editorial article
Selection: Japan's 100 Fine Castles No. 77Japan Castle Foundation

Visiting

Access

Open to visitors

The grounds are open 24 hours. The keep interior is paid; the interior of the main gate and the restoration PR center are free. The Japan 100 Castles stamp is inside the keep and at the city museum. The southwest walls are under repair.

Address

Ichiban-cho, Marugame, Kagawa 763-0025^[10]

Checked: 2026-10-03

Nearest stations and how to get there

JR Marugame Station, South ExitJR Yosan Line

about 15 min walk · Steep climb

About 15 minutes' walk from the South Exit to the main gate. From the main gate to the keep is about 20 minutes one way, up the steep Mikaeri-zaka slope.^[10][11]

Checked: 2026-10-03

Hours and admission

Marugame Castle keep

Hours: 9:00–16:30 (last entry 16:00)
Closed: Open daily (temporary closures for weather warnings, inspections, construction or events)
Admission: Adults 400 yen; free for junior high students and younger. 20% off for groups of 20+. Free for Marugame residents 65+ and for people with disabilities and a caregiver. Combined ticket with Nakazu Banshoen garden: 900 yen.^[5]

Checked: 2026-10-03

Stone Wall Restoration PR Center

Hours: 9:00–16:30
Closed: Open daily
Admission: Free^[9][4]

Checked: 2026-10-03

Ote Ichi-no-Mon (interior)

Hours: 9:00–16:30
Closed: Open daily
Admission: Free^[5][11]

Checked: 2026-10-03

By car / parking

Free parking south of the city museum inside the grounds (about 50 cars, 6:00–19:00) and at the Civic Plaza (about 20 cars). Paid city lots nearby give extra free time if validated at the museum, keep or tourist information center. About 20 minutes from Zentsuji IC or Sakaide IC.^[10][11]

Checked: 2026-10-03

Grounds opening hours

The grounds are open 24 hours.^[11][1]Checked: 2026-10-03

Time neededEditors' estimate

About 1.5 hours to walk up to the keep and back; 2 hours or more with the PR center and museum.

Steps, slopes and footing

From the main gate to the hilltop you climb a steep slope, the Mikaeri-zaka.^[4][11]

Wheelchairs and strollers

Wheelchairs can be borrowed free at the tourist information center and the city museum (museum use only). The slope up the hill is steep.^[11]Checked: 2026-10-03

Toilets and rest

Seven locations: the second enclosure, third enclosure, tourist information center, the foot of Mikaeri-zaka, Karamete-bayashi, the northeast of the grounds, and inside the city museum. An ostomate-friendly toilet is at the Civic Plaza north of the castle.^[11]

English signs / audio guide

Volunteer guides are available (English support not confirmed).^[11]

Seasons

Cherry trees grow in the second enclosure. The keep is lit in various colors from sunset until about midnight during certain periods.^[4][15]

Photography

Photos are allowed from the PR Center rooftop deck. Events and some photo shoots in the grounds require an application.^[9][4]

Works, closures and restrictions

From September 27, 2025, until further notice, a protective panel covers the keep's first-floor west wall because of cracks and loose plaster. The keep is open as usual, but visitors are asked to stay away from the west wall. Stone wall repairs are scheduled to finish by the end of March 2031.^[13][6]Checked: 2026-10-03

Suggested routes

From the main gate up to the keep 20 min

Pass through the two main gates and look at the large square courtyard (masugata)
Climb the Mikaeri-zaka slope
See the high north walls from the third enclosure
Continue through the second enclosure to the keep in the main enclosure

About 20 minutes one way from the main gate to the keep, according to the city. Time for the return trip and sightseeing is not included.

Around the castle

Museum

Marugame City Museum

A history and folk museum inside the castle grounds, built in 1972, holding materials of the Kyogoku lords of Marugame. It also has the 100 Castles stamp.^[4][11]

Checked: 2026-10-03

Garden

Nakazu Banshoen

A garden that began as a Kyogoku family villa built on a sandbar by the sea in 1688. A combined ticket with the keep costs 900 yen. Closed Wednesdays.^[3][5]

Checked: 2026-10-03

Editors' guide

An editorial guide based on sources and confirmed information — not a first-hand visit report.

Who will enjoy it

Good for anyone who wants to see a genuine Edo-period keep, stone wall enthusiasts, and those interested in how heritage repairs are carried out.

What makes it interesting

The stone walls are arguably the real star. Look up from the foot of the hill at the stacked walls with the small keep perched on top. The PR Center shows how the repairs have progressed since the collapse.

Before you go

Repairs from the 2018 collapse are scheduled to continue until the end of March 2031, so the southwest side is a construction site and may look different from older photos. Reaching the keep means about 20 minutes up a steep slope. A protective panel covers the keep's first-floor west wall.

Ways to enjoy it

Arrive at noon to hear the time drum at the main gate, and use the combined ticket to visit Nakazu Banshoen afterward. The repair work will take years, so repeat visits let you watch the walls rise.

Photos

Visitor reviews

Be the first to review

Have you visited this castle? We'd love to hear from you.

Write a review

Open questions

"The oldest wooden keep surviving in Shikoku" and "one of only 12 surviving wooden keeps in Japan" are Marugame City's descriptions.
The city says the well in the second enclosure "is said to be the deepest in Japan"; this is treated as tradition.
The repair schedule and budget (end of March 2031, 8.6 billion yen) are from the city's June 2025 announcement and may change.
English-language guidance could not be confirmed.