Kagawa | The 400-Year-Old Marugame Castle Ruins: The Smallest Keep and Japan's Tallest Stone Walls

Marugame Castle is the smallest of Japan's 12 remaining castle keeps, but it is also a distinguished castle that preserves both its keep and main gate, alongside Hirosaki and Kochi Castles. Facing the Seto Inland Sea, Marugame Castle occupies a strategic location as the gateway to Shikoku. This strategic importance led to the construction of Japan's tallest stone walls, reaching a total height of 60 meters—equivalent to laying the foundation for a 20-story building before constructing the castle above. Climbing through the stone walls and forest to reach the top is exhausting, and the castle's design likely aimed to prevent easy enemy attacks. The origins of this castle date back to the Muromachi period when Nara Motoyasu received the land and built a branch castle in Naka District, marking the earliest form of Marugame Castle. During the Keicho era, Ikoma Chikamasa, who was granted control of Sanuki Province, used Osaka Castle and Azuchi Castle as models to construct Marugame Castle. However, in the Edo period, the Tokugawa shogunate implemented the "One Castle Per Province" policy, leading to the dismantling of Marugame Castle while leaving Takamatsu Castle intact. In 1645, under the approval of the shogunate, the then-lord Yamazaki Ieharu rebuilt Marugame Castle, preserving its gracefully curved stone walls and three-story keep to this day. This smallest keep in Japan is entirely wooden and features a blend of Karahafu and Chidorihafu architectural styles, making it small yet exquisite. The second gate showcases craftsmanship with its massive wooden beams joined together. The castle also boasts a "Heart Stone" embedded in the stone walls, said to enhance romantic luck when touched, and wooden wishing plaques for fulfilling great desires, reflecting the local efforts to promote tourism. 📍Address: Ichibancho, Marugame, Kagawa 763-0025, Japan 🚗 Access: A 15-minute walk from JR Marugame Station along Tomachi Street.