Marugame Castle

It is also known as Kameyama Castle, is a hilltop castle in Marugame City.

It has a commanding view of the city below and overlooks one of the narrowest parts of the Seto Inland Sea. Marugame Castle is one of only twelve castles remaining in Japan that have survived the post feudal ages (since 1868) with their keep buildings intact.

It was originally constructed from 1597 to 1602 by Ikoma Chikamasa, the feudal lord who also built Tamamo Castle in nearby Takamatsu.


However, due to a new policy by the shogun that limited the number of castles per province to just one, The Castle was abandoned again just 13 years after its completion. The castle was rebuilt in 1660 after the province had been split into two. 

Over the centuries many of the castle buildings were destroyed by fires, and now only the original keep and several of the castle gates remain.