Matsuyama Castle

Located in central Matsuyama City, Matsuyama Castle stands atop Katsuyama Hill. It had superb defensive capabilities as a flatland-mountain castle with a "coalition grouping style" layout.

Matsuyama Castle has one of only 12 surviving castle donjons built before the Edo period. It was chosen as one of Japan's Top 100 Castles in 2006 and as one of the Top 100 Historical Sites of Beautiful Japan in 2007.

In addition, the Nohara Turret is Japan's sole surviving watchtower-style two-layer turret, and the "climbing stone wall" running from the Honmaru to the Ninomaru is a defensive method from Japanese castles built in Korea and only exists in Japan at Matsuyama Castle and Hikone Castle. Including the moated section, the entirety of Shiroyama Park is a National Historic Site and has also been designated as one of Japan's Top 100 Cherry Blossom Viewing Spots (1990) and one of Japan's Top 100 Historical Parks (2006).