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• furinkazan on My Page    April 11, 2012 at 07:16 PM
  

  I went today to this castle. Really a nice castle to go, even with bad weather, like i had. The castIe was surrounded by a cloud and from time to time i had to wait that the wind blowed a little bit to take a photo. I took a taxi up to the castle(1250yen). I didn't go to the ruins behind the castle, because the paths were too muddy and slippery. When i wanted to walk back, it was really heavily downpouring. I was actually fortune. A visitor(i saw 4 on the site) asked me where i was heading. He took me to the bukeyashiki, where i started a walk at the Old Orii residence to end at the Shorinji. The Orii home has very nice buildings with the one in the backyard having some arms and armors on display. This little town is a 'must go'.

• bryanbaier on My Page    February 13, 2012 at 10:05 PM
  

  Really cool. Definitely worth the hike

• Michelle    October 24, 2011 at 06:40 PM
  

  We went today to visit this castle and really enjoyed the whole experience. A small castle compared with others like Osaka Castle, but worth the climb up the mountainside. I recommend others take the time to visit this castle.

• Frank T. on My Page    September 21, 2011 at 11:36 AM
  

  This site is not as convenient as most of the other original castle sites, but it's worth a visit because of that. It was not at all crowded either time I visited. In fact, there were few other people. From that point of view, I would rather go to sites like this than the more popular ones that get the crowds.

• RaymondW on My Page    April 02, 2011 at 02:57 PM
  

  I went to this castle in the afternoon after going to Kinojo Castle earlier in the day. You can get in both Kinojo and Bitchu-Matsuyama Castle in one day, but you will have to either have a folding bike or use the taxi. Bitchu-Matsuyama Castle is a very nice castle to visit. It’s remote location and a lack of visitor means that you can really enjoy this little original castle in peace and quiet. When I went in March, part of the back section was still closed and so was the trail up to the Ohmatsu Castle Ruin (大松城跡) a further 500m or so up the trail.

• Steve Skubinna    February 22, 2011 at 06:13 AM
  

  Yamashiro literally means "mountain fortress" and as such applies to a specific early type of Japanese castle. However, the Imperial Japanese Navy named battleships after prefectures, some of which had obsolete, poetic names (as with Yamato). Yamashiro was one such name, not in use today.

• alicemacgee on My Page    November 07, 2010 at 05:18 PM
  

  This is the castle I simply fell in love with at first site. Great placement, good job done on the reconstruction department, and not so crowded with visitors, which makes a plus when you go there on some hot August day like me. Maybe, not so grand-looking like some of the bigger castles, but thanks to the height of the mountain, it gives a feeling of transferring to the old times and some kind of isolation from the outer world. Which is a good thing for an modern urban dweller, I think. Also, on my way back I took the footpath that meanders through the mountain forest instead of a taxi ride, and I think it adds immensly to the whole experience. So if you have time, I would recommend to take it as a must-do :) You'll be literally one with nature, just watch your steps!

• John    June 14, 2010 at 12:11 AM
  

  I have been in many european castles, and I can tell you that they are on a whole, not even CLOSE to as interesting as the Japanese kind! the Japanese might have been more primitive during that era, but they certainly made cooler looking buildings. PS: the Japanese named a WWII battleship Yamashiro, if that's what you were wondering about, Yasmina.

• Yasmina Ip    May 25, 2010 at 07:01 AM
  

  John, what are you talking about? Bitchu Matsuyama Castle is one of Japan's few original castles! I'm not a big fan of voting for the best castles. I enjoy seeing the nominees, but none of the interesting ones ever get enough votes. There's just too much of a European bias (many people don't even know that there are castles outside of Europe). Bitchu Matsuyama Castle has the charm that the large, flashy castles lack, because they are so touristy. The surrounding area of this castle is beautiful, as well. For those who just want to see BIG castles, then Japanese castles are not worth it as a whole, especially if they want authentic castles. Even Himeji Castle's interior is non-impressive compared to the decorated European castles, but making these comparisons bars one from really appreciating Japanese castles and perhaps even Japan itself. I think Bitchu Matsuyama Castle is worth the visit for any traveller to Japan who is able to fit it into their schedule. It's unique and charming; gaudiness, flamboyancy, and massive monuments are really not attune to Japanese aesthetics anyway.

• John    May 23, 2010 at 09:53 PM
  

  Yamashiro?!! NOW I Know what they named that ship after! But changing the subject, one can't help but wonder why they can't reconstruct the castles out of the same type of materials they were originally made out of

• Raymond    October 03, 2009 at 11:20 PM
  

  Hmmm...one of the world's best castles. That's putting this castle onto the premier league stage comparing it to some outstanding castles around the world like the Alcazar in Segovia, Tower of London, Alcazaba / Alhambra in Granada, Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria etc. I don't think Bitchu-Masayama is in the same class in terms of size, fortifications, and photogenicity as the castles above. Don't get me wrong. It is not a bad castle, I highly recommend that people visit this castle if you are in the Okayama area. Within Japan, I would say that this is one of the must-visit castles because it is a great original yamashiro castle, and only one of the twelve original castles left in Japan. However, when compared to some of the grander castles in Japan and worldwide, I don't think it is quite in the same league. My two yens' worth.

• Jane    September 26, 2009 at 05:22 PM
  

  Truly one of the world's best castles! Support it by voting it as the world's best: http://www.vote7.com/node/6374

• Raymond    August 07, 2008 at 04:40 PM
  

  This castle rocks. I was there around noon on a weekday in August, and I had the whole castle to myself for about 20 minutes before another two more visitors turned up. I went there from the Kansai area using the Japan Rail Seishun 18 (special discounted tickets on sale during the school holidays in early spring and summer) Bitchu-Takahashi Station on the JR Hakubi Line is about 52 minutes from Okayama Station via Kurashiki. I took a taxi from the station to the parking lot. It cost 1,250yen. On the return trip, I walked back down the hill to the station. It took around 50 minutes from the castle to get back to the station. Just a tip, I noticed that most few visitors just go to up the main castle keep, pop inside and then leave. Don't forget to walk around the back and suss out the rest of the fortifications.

• MM    March 16, 2008 at 07:10 AM
  

  This castle is a must, as it is the only surviving Yamashiro. It is also interesting to view the way in which the walls were built in successive levels.