Marugame Castle: Stay Where Stone and Time Intertwine

May 11

Introduction: To the Floating Castle in the Sky

In Marugame City, Kagawa Prefecture, a stately wooden keep rises above the landscape.
Marugame Castle is one of only 12 original wooden castles still standing in Japan — a rare and treasured gem of Edo-period architecture.

Perched atop Mt. Kame at 66 meters above sea level, the keep offers sweeping views of Marugame’s cityscape and the distant Seto Ohashi Bridge. Here, where samurai history meets modern town life, the view opens the heart with a serene sense of timelessness.

Photo courtesy of Marugame City Board of Education

The Elegant Tenshu Experience

Marugame Castle’s tenshu is an original three-tiered, three-story wooden keep. Though compact in scale, its dignified presence stands out — the contrast between its stately karahafu-style roof and the simplicity of the lower tiers exudes quiet elegance.

Throughout the seasons, the keep reflects nature’s rhythm. At dusk, the scene becomes especially ethereal — as if the castle and sky merge into one, transporting visitors across time.

Photo courtesy of Marugame City Board of Education

Castle Stay at Enjukaku Villa

In summer 2023, Marugame Castle launched its exceptional "Castle Stay" experience, allowing guests to spend the night inside Enjukaku Villa, a reconstructed residence of the Kyōgoku clan, former lords of the castle.

Originally built in 1933 with timber from the Kyōgoku’s Edo residence, this sukiya-style wooden villa offers a serene retreat overlooking a traditional garden.
Guests enjoy private access to the villa, enveloped in silence and elegance.

An exclusive nighttime experience even allows guests to reserve the castle keep as a lounge, sipping drinks within the illuminated tenshu — a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with history.

Photo courtesy of Marugame City Board of Education

The Art of Stone: Sannomaru Northern Wall

Marugame Castle is known as a "stone wall castle" because it has some of the tallest stone walls in Japan.
The Sannomaru Northern Stone Wall, in particular, showcases superb sangi-zumi (stacking blocks) technique, blending structural integrity with visual beauty.

From above, the gracefully curving wall unfolds like a sculpture, harmonizing with the slope of the land.
Standing before these stones, shaped by hands over 400 years ago, one feels the quiet persistence of time itself.

Photo courtesy of Marugame City Board of Education

Conclusion: A Journey for the Senses

Marugame Castle offers more than sightseeing — it offers an immersive, luxurious encounter with living history.
Sleep, walk, reflect, and connect with centuries past.

With its original keep, dramatic stone walls, and the refined hospitality of Enjukaku Castle Stay, Marugame welcomes discerning travelers in search of quiet grandeur.