Overview

About the Castle

Marugame Castle is renowned throughout Japan as the "Castle of Stone Walls," a celebrated fortress of Sanuki. Its four-tiered stone walls, rising approximately 60 meters in total height, are the tallest stone walls among all Japanese castles. These overwhelming stone walls impress upon any who approach the castle a sense of awe before the towering walls, and their gently curved lines, called the "fan gradient," represent the pinnacle of stone wall architecture. The surviving three-story tower stands approximately 15 meters high, making it Japan's smallest extant castle tower, yet perched atop the 60-meter stone walls, its form radiates a dignity that pierces the heavens, despite its diminutive size.

History of Construction

Lord Ikoma Chikamasa, daimyo of Sanuki Province, began construction in the second year of Keichō (1597). In the 18th year of Kan'ei (1641), Yamazaki Ieharu was appointed daimyo and undertook the castle's restoration, and subsequently Kyōgoku Takakazu, appointed in the first year of Manj (1658), completed the castle to its present form. The Kyōgoku clan, a prestigious branch of the Ōmi Genji, held the honor of the samurai caste, having served as Chief of the Samurai-dokoro (military police commander) during the Muromachi shogunate. Despite ruling a minor domain of 600,000 koku, Kyōgoku Takakazu demonstrated the prestige of his illustrious house by constructing this magnificent castle with its colossal stone walls. From the tower, the entire Sanuki Plain unfolds, with views extending to the islands of the Seto Inland Sea and even the grand expanse of the Seto Ōhashi Bridge.

Architecture and Structure

During the heavy rains of western Japan in the 30th year of Heisei (2018), a large section of stone walls in the southwestern part collapsed, and restoration work is currently underway. This collapse has become a valuable opportunity to further study the structure of the stone walls, and public viewing tours of the restoration process are also being conducted. The castle ruins, developed as Kameyama Park, are also renowned as a cherry blossom viewing spot, and can be enjoyed alongside sanuki udon, a local culinary specialty. Marugame Castle's stone walls are said to have been built by stonemasons following the lineage of the Anao group, a collective of skilled engineers from the castle's construction period, and their exquisite craftsmanship continues to support the castle even after more than 400 years.

Development of the Castle Town

In terms of the beauty of its stone walls, no castle surpasses Marugame, and it stands as what might be called the "holy site" for stone wall enthusiasts. The "Marugame Kaidō" (Marugame Route), by which pilgrims traveled from Marugame Port by boat to visit Konpira Shrine, was the pilgrimage route during the Edo period. Marugame is also known as a center of production for traditional fans (uchiwa), and the traditional craftsmanship of Marugame fans continues to transmit a facet of castle town culture to the present day. Stone walls of beauty, the Seto Inland Sea, sanuki udon, and the land of fans—despite being a small town, Marugame is filled with diverse charms. The town of Marugame is also nationally known as a sacred site for sanuki udon, and a tour of udon restaurants after viewing the stone walls is a particularly special pleasure.

Tourism and Experience

"Bone-in chicken" is also a signature dish of Marugame, and the combination of castle and cuisine enriches a visit even further. Marugame Castle is most beautiful at dusk when its "fan gradient" stone walls are illuminated by the setting sun, making it a supreme photography moment for enthusiasts.

Connection to Swords

Sanuki Province (Kagawa Prefecture) had active swordsmiths from ancient times, and Sanuki swords were known for their steadfast style that prioritized practicality over ornamentation. Geographically positioned across the Seto Inland Sea from Bizen Province—Japan's largest sword-producing center—Sanuki played an important role as a distribution hub for Bizen swords. From the late Heian through the Muromachi period, blades forged in Bizen were distributed through maritime routes across the Seto Inland Sea to Shikoku, Kyushu, and Kinai regions, with Sanuki ports functioning as relay stations in this trade. The Kyōgoku lords of Marugame were a most prestigious clan, claiming direct descent from the prestigious Ōmi Genji and the Sasaki clan. During the Muromachi period, they wielded great power as major daimyō, simultaneously holding the provincial governorships of Izumo, Oki, and Hida, and their warrior tradition was reflected in their deep knowledge of swords. The Kyōgoku family inherited a high-quality collection of swords, including heirlooms from the Muromachi era, and despite being a small domain of 60,000 koku, they possessed cultural accumulation befitting their prestige. Sanuki thrived as the gateway town to Kompira-san (Kotohira Shrine), and through pilgrimage traffic, armor and swords from various regions across the country were distributed. The route from Marugame Castle across the Seto Ōhashi Bridge to the Bizen Osafune Sword Museum is a journey through which one can experience the history of sword distribution via maritime routes across the Seto Inland Sea, and it is one of the sword journeys recommended by TOUKENAZA. At the Marugame City Museum, visitors can encounter Sanuki's history and armor related to the Kyōgoku family. The journey across the calm sea of the Seto Inland Sea to Bizen is a precious experience of retracing the historical routes of sword distribution from ancient through medieval times. Sanuki Province is also known as the birthplace of Kūkai (Kōbō Daishi), and the culture of the Shikoku pilgrimage is deeply rooted in this spiritually profound land. Sanuki, where martial culture and the culture of faith coexist, is a region that symbolizes the multifaceted nature of Japanese culture.