Imabari Castle, one of the three largest water castles in Japan, with a sea bream swimming in the inner moat filled with seawater

Also known as "Fukiage Castle," built on a sandy hill

Imabari Castle stands proudly facing the Seto Inland Sea. It is said that Takatora Todo, who made his name in the Battle of Sekigahara, built the castle on a sandy hill facing the Seto Inland Sea around 1602 to 1608. Since this place was called "Fukiage-no-hama" (beach of fukiage), Imabari Castle is also known as "Fukiage Castle" (castle of fukiage). The inner moat is more than 50 meters wide, making it impossible to reach with a bow and arrow from outside the moat, and the stone walls are about 10 meters high, which is quite high for a castle built on sand.

The triple moats connecting to the sea make it "one of the best sea castles in Japan

Imabari Castle is said to be "one of the best sea castles in Japan" because of its three moats, the inner, middle, and outer moats, which connect it to the sea. Boats could enter and leave the castle from the sea through the moats, and it is said that the boat entrance became the present Imabari Port. It is rare for a "water castle" to incorporate seawater into the moat and to use boats for transporting goods, and is considered one of the three most famous water castles in Japan, along with Takamatsu Castle in Kagawa Prefecture and Nakatsu Castle in Oita Prefecture. Even today, the inner moat is connected to the sea by a waterway, so fish such as sea bream, horse mackerels, and stingrays can be seen swimming in the moat.

Imabari Castle," which has been reconstructed and retains its original appearance today

After the Meiji Restoration, most of the buildings of Imabari Castle were demolished. However, the stonewalls and inner moat remained as they were in those days, and the castle tower and gates were reconstructed in 1980 to their present form. Inside the five-story, six-story castle tower is a history museum, and from the top floor you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Imabari Plain and the Seto Inland Sea.

Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Closed: December 29 - December 31 (when necessary for operational reasons such as exhibition changes)