Matsue Castle

Matsue Castle is in Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, and its keep was designated a National Treasure in 2015. It is one of only twelve surviving keeps in the country and counts among the five National Treasure castles alongside Himeji, Hikone, Inuyama and Matsumoto. The Agency for Cultural Affairs describes it as the only surviving keep in the Chugoku region with four roofs and five stories. The same commentary places it as a work representing the peak of early modern castle building, with distinctive methods such as through-pillars.

It was the Horio family who built the castle. The Horio became lords of Izumo and Oki in 1600 and at first took Tomita Castle, the former seat of the Amago, before moving to Kameda hill. Construction began in 1607 and was largely complete in 1611, and the present keep dates from this period.

What backed the National Treasure designation were two rediscovered prayer tablets, which showed that the keep was completed in 1611. Attached to the designation are the two tablets, four house-protection prayer tablets and three consecration objects. The keep became an Important Cultural Property in 1935 and was raised to National Treasure 80 years later.

The exterior has four roofs and the interior five floors plus a basement, with a single-story attached turret at the south serving as the entrance. In the official site's words, it is a watchtower-type keep and also a complex type with an attached turret at the entrance. The second and fourth roofs are hip-and-gable structures running east to west, and on the north and south of the second roof are projecting windows with hip-and-gable gables. The structural highlight is the pillars: through-pillars two stories long are used widely, and thick pillars and beams are bound firm with tie beams. Many pillars are also wrapped in boards fixed with nails, clamps and iron bands. Some members on the second floor and below bear the character 'Tomi' within a weight-shaped crest, and are thought to come from Tomita Castle in Yasugi. On the roof, the larger shachi is 2.08 meters tall and is regarded as the largest surviving wooden one.

The keep was a facility for emergencies, while the lord's daily life took place in the Ninomaru and Sannomaru. Among the twelve surviving keeps it ranks second in floor area and third in height. The official site also offers a combined ticket for Matsue Castle, the Lafcadio Hearn Memorial Museum and the samurai residence. A major Reiwa-era repair of the keep is currently under way, so check the official site for the latest situation before visiting.