Marugame Castle: A Famous Castle Known for Its Stone Walls as One of 12 Castles with Original Keeps

Marugame Castle: An Original Keep with Japan's Highest Stone Walls

Marugame Castle in Marugame City, Kagawa Prefecture, is a castle built by Ikoma Chikamasa in 1597, one of the "12 surviving original keeps" with the keep constructed in the Edo period still standing. The castle has four tiers of stone walls reaching a combined height of 60 meters (Japan's highest), known as "Japan's highest stone walls."

Four-Tier Stone Walls and Castle Structure

Marugame Castle's stone walls are steeply sloped, with the technique called "fan slope" used where the upper sections become progressively steeper. The appearance of the small yet elegant three-story keep standing atop the uppermost stone walls represents the pinnacle of Japanese castle beauty. Spectacular views of the Sanuki Plain and Seto Inland Sea spread from the keep.

Honey-Glazed Chicken and Marugame Cuisine

The specialty cuisine of Marugame City, "Hone-tsuki-dori (bone-in chicken)," is a specialty dish of chicken thighs (bone-in) grilled with special spices and salt. "Ikkaku" is famous, with the crispy grilled skin and tender meat being exceptional. A must-eat when visiting Marugame City.

Paper Fan Production Area

Marugame City is also famous as a "paper fan production area" producing approximately 90% of Japan's domestic paper fans. At "The Port of Uchiwa Museum," the history and manufacturing process of paper fans as traditional crafts can be learned.

Access

Approximately 10 minutes on foot from JR Marugame Station. Excellent access approximately 20 minutes by train from Takamatsu city.