02/06/2026
History of Bitchu Matsuyama Castle and Mount Gagyu
Mount Gagyu is designated as a national forest and is renowned for its rich natural environment. It serves as a natural botanical garden, home to more than 1,000 species of plants.
Bitchu Matsuyama Castle is situated on Mount Gagyu at an elevation of 430 meters above sea level, making it the highest surviving mountain castle in Japan. The castle keep (donjon), turrets, and sections of the surrounding earthen walls have been designated as Important Cultural Properties of Japan.
The history of Matsuyama Castle began in 1240 when Akiba Shigenobu built a fort on Omatsuyama. Later, Takahashi Muneyasu, a local military commander, expanded the fort to include Komatsuyama, the site of the present castle.
When Mimura Motochika became the feudal lord of the region, the castle was further enlarged, eventually extending across the entire mountain. With the support of the Mori clan, Motochika succeeded in bringing the whole Bitchu region under his control. However, after the Mori clan discovered his betrayal, he was driven from the castle and later killed.
In 1600, Kobori Masatsugu and his son Masakazu were appointed administrators of the area by the Tokugawa Shogunate. They repaired and improved the castle as part of their efforts to develop Matsuyama into a castle town.
The next feudal lord, Mizunoya Katsutaka, reconstructed the castle keep, turrets, and other structures. He also built a government office on the southern side of Mount Gagyu and contributed greatly to the region’s development by reorganizing the castle town and expanding the surrounding districts.
In 1744, Itakura Katsuzumi became the lord of Matsuyama Castle. He was followed by eight successive lords of the Itakura family, who ruled the domain for a total of 126 years.
Following the Meiji Restoration, the government’s policy of abolishing castles led to the deterioration of Matsuyama Castle. In 1929, however, local citizens formed a preservation society to protect and repair the castle. Afterward, the city of Takahashi undertook additional restoration work on the castle keep, turrets, and earthen walls.
Matsuyama Castle was designated an Important Cultural Property in 1950, and in 1957 the Japanese government began a major restoration project to return the castle to its original appearance. The restoration was completed in 1960.
March 1990
Bitchu Matsuyama Castle Administration Office
