Marugame Castle is one of Japan’s twelve castles to retain its original wooden keep, and though the keep itself is one of the smallest, the castle is famous for something else: its stone walls. Rising in tiers up the hill of Kameyama, the ramparts are among the tallest and most beautifully curved in Japan, sweeping upward in graceful concave lines to a total height of around 60 metres — a masterpiece of Edo-period stone-fitting. The little three-storey keep crowns the summit, from where there are lovely views over the city, the Sanuki plain and the islands of the Seto Inland Sea. A climb up through the great stone walls to the keep makes Marugame a rewarding stop for castle and history lovers.
🗓️ At a Glance
| Location | Marugame, Kagawa |
| Hours | Keep ~9:00–16:30 |
| Admission | Small fee |
| Time needed | 1–1.5 hours |
| Best time | Cherry blossom spring; clear days |
What to See
- Some of Japan’s tallest, most beautiful stone walls.
- One of the twelve original wooden keeps (a small one).
- Graceful concave ramparts up Kameyama hill.
- Views over the plain and Seto Inland Sea islands.
Combine Your Visit
- Combine with honetsuki-dori bone-in chicken in Marugame.
- Pair with Kotohiragu Shrine nearby.
- Read our Kagawa overview .
Getting There
- By train: JR to Marugame, then a walk to the castle hill.
- On foot: a climb through the stone walls to the keep.
Tips
Come for the extraordinary tiered stone walls as much as the small original keep, taking the climb up through them to appreciate their scale and curve. Wear comfortable shoes for the ascent, come in cherry-blossom season when the hill is at its prettiest, and try Marugame’s famous bone-in grilled chicken (honetsuki-dori) afterwards.
