Japan Castle Atlas

Mizunoya Katsumune

水谷勝宗

Second lord of the Bitchu Matsuyama domain. From 1681 he spent three years rebuilding Bitchu Matsuyama Castle, giving the surviving keep its present form.

Years: 1623–1689

Historical record

Story

As part of the rebuilding he set up a shrine on the keep's second floor, enshrining three sacred swords and ten deities, including Amaterasu, to pray for the domain's peace. The shrine is still in the keep.

Connected castles

The main enclosure, with the original Edo-period keep at the back right and turrets, gates and walls rebuilt in 1997 in front. Photographed in 2026.

In-depth article

Takahashi, Okayama

Bitchū Matsuyama Castle

備中松山城

Of the 12 original Edo-period keeps left in Japan, this is the only one that stands on a mountaintop.

Japan's 100 Fine Castles No. 68CastleMountain

高梁浩洋CC0Wikimedia Commons

rebuilt the castle in 1681–83Record source: article

The main enclosure, with the original Edo-period keep at the back right and turrets, gates and walls rebuilt in 1997 in front. Photographed in 2026.

In-depth article

Takahashi, Okayama

Bitchū Matsuyama Castle

備中松山城

Of the 12 original Edo-period keeps left in Japan, this is the only one that stands on a mountaintop.

Japan's 100 Fine Castles No. 68CastleMountain

高梁浩洋CC0Wikimedia Commons

BuiltRecord source: jokaku

The main enclosure, with the original Edo-period keep at the back right and turrets, gates and walls rebuilt in 1997 in front. Photographed in 2026.

In-depth article

Takahashi, Okayama

Bitchū Matsuyama Castle

備中松山城

Of the 12 original Edo-period keeps left in Japan, this is the only one that stands on a mountaintop.

Japan's 100 Fine Castles No. 68CastleMountain

高梁浩洋CC0Wikimedia Commons

Rebuilt / expandedRecord source: wikipedia

Sources

1
天守見どころ(備中松山城公式サイト)Checked: 2026-10-03
2
備中松山城の重要文化財(高梁市)Checked: 2026-10-03
3
水谷勝宗(補助資料・Wikipedia日本語版)Checked: 2026-10-03