Usual hours and prices, checked 2026-09-15 against the sources under “What this place is”. They can change for holidays and events — confirm before you go. Official site
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Our guide
Matsue Castle is one of the few feudal castles in Japan whose main keep survives in its original wooden form rather than as a modern concrete rebuild — like Matsumoto Castle, Hikone Castle and Inuyama Castle. It was built from 1607 to 1611 by Horio Yoshiharu, the first lord of the Matsue Domain, and later passed to the Kyōgoku and then, in 1637, to the Matsudaira, a junior branch of the Tokugawa. The Matsudaira gave it to the city in 1927. Built after the last great war of the feudal age, the keep has come through the earthquakes, fires and wars that destroyed so many others.
The grounds are free and open from 8:00; the keep charges, and from 1 July 2026 entry for elementary and junior high school students is free. Matsue Shinjiko-Onsen Station is about 950 m away in a straight line, and Shimane Art Museum is about 1.7 km off.
Written by japan-spots.com (2026-09-22) from the sources credited on this page. Distances are straight lines between map positions.
Photos
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, each under its own licence — see credits
- 080720 Matsue Castle Matsue Shimane pref Japan01s — 663highland · CC BY 2.5 · source · resized
- Matsue Castle in Japan, 松江城 Turrets — Mister99 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
- Matsue Castle Kita Somon — by Monado · CC BY-SA 2.5 · source · resized
- Matsue Castle Keep Tower 20230617 — KishujiRapid · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- Matsue Castle 03 — by Reggaeman · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
- Matsue Castle1 — 江戸村のとくぞう · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- Matsue Castle-5a — 江戸村のとくぞう · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- Matsue Castle-4a — 江戸村のとくぞう · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- Matsue Castle-3 — 江戸村のとくぞう · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- Matsue Castle-2 — 江戸村のとくぞう · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
What this place is
Matsue Castle (松江城, Matsue-jō) is a Japanese castle located in Matsue, Shimane Prefecture. Matsue Castle was constructed from 1607 to 1611 by Horio Yoshiharu, the first daimyō of the Matsue Domain, during the early Edo period. Ownership was passed to the Izumo branch of the Kyōgoku in 1633 and then the Matsudaira, a junior branch of the ruling Tokugawa clan, in 1637.The Matsudaira donated Matsue Castle to the city of Matsue in 1927.Matsue Castle is one of few remaining feudal Japanese castles that retains its main keep in its original wooden form and not a modern concrete reconstruction. Built after the last great war of feudal Japan, the keep has survived earthquakes, fires, wars and other causes that destroyed or damaged many Japanese castles.
Visitor information checked: 2026-09-15 · Matsue Castle: fees and hours
Background text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
What to expect at this type of place: Castle
Nearby station
Nearby station: Matsue Shinjiko-Onsen (Kitamatsue line), about 950 m from the spot in a straight line.
Worked out on 2026-09-14 from this place’s map position, using HeartRails Express station data and station names from Wikidata. The distance is a straight line, not a walking route, and says nothing about buses, transfers or timetables — plan the trip on Google Maps.
Where to stay nearby
Hotels near Matsue Castle on Agoda
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