Imabari Castle: The Sea Castle Floating in the Seto Inland Sea and Imabari Towel Production Area

Imabari Castle in Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture, is a flatland castle built by the master castle-builder Todo Takatora. Known as a sea castle that drew seawater from the Seto Inland Sea into its moat, it is counted as one of Japan's three great water castles. It is an unusual castle whose moat fills with seawater and where sea fish swim, and the white keep and stone walls seen across the moat present a castle scene unique to the Seto Inland Sea. As a symbol of Imabari, a major towel-producing area, it draws many visitors.

Highlights: A Masterpiece by Master Builder Todo Takatora

Todo Takatora, who built Imabari Castle, is known as a master castle-builder responsible for many famous castles. On this site facing the Seto Inland Sea, he built an innovative castle that made the most of the sea. The moat, into which seawater was drawn, was excellent for defense and is said to have also served as a harbor. The layout, skillfully arranging high stone walls and a wide moat, represents the essence of Takatora's castle-building technique and greatly influenced later Japanese castle construction. United with the sea, Imabari Castle was a castle full of functional beauty, serving the dual roles of war preparation and a base for water transport. The current keep was rebuilt in the Showa era, but remains such as the stone walls, moat, and the Kurogane-gomon gate preserve the appearance of that time in good condition.

Scenery Unique to a Sea Castle

Imabari Castle's greatest feature is, above all, its seawater-filled moat. The water level changes with the tides, and sea fish swim in the moat, an unusual sight not seen at inland castles. The rebuilt white keep is reflected on the moat's surface and, together with the stone walls, presents a beautiful figure. From the top floor of the keep, you can take in the townscape of Imabari, the Seto Inland Sea, and the bridges of the Shimanami Kaido, enjoying the same Seto view that Todo Takatora likely surveyed. Exhibits inside the castle introduce arms and local history, letting you learn about the castle's history and Imabari's culture.

Seasonal Enjoyment

The castle can be visited year-round. Spring, when the cherry blossoms bloom, is especially popular for the harmony of keep and blossoms. The sight of moatside cherry blossoms reflected on the water is exceptional. From clear-aired autumn into winter, the Seto view from the keep stands out even more. At summer dusk, the sunset reflected on the moat and the silhouette of the keep are beautiful, and visiting at different times reveals different expressions.

Access and Basic Information

About 15 minutes on foot from JR Imabari Station on the Yosan Line, or a few minutes by city bus or taxi. It is accessible by limited express train from the Matsuyama area, and can also be reached by car from the Honshu side across the Shimanami Kaido. The hours and admission for the keep and other facilities may change, so confirm official information before visiting. Imabari is known as a major towel-producing area, with abundant towel-related facilities and shops serving Seto Inland Sea seafood.

Practical Travel Notes

• The grounds have stone steps and slopes, and the keep is mainly navigated by stairs. Visit in comfortable walking shoes.
• Combining a visit with Imabari, the starting point of Shimanami Kaido cycling, lets you enjoy both the sea castle and the sea route in one day.
• Stopping by Imabari Towel flagship stores and the museum lets you choose fine towels as souvenirs.
• Sea fish swimming in the moat are a sight unique to Imabari Castle. The look changes with the tides, so allow time to observe.

One Piece of Advice

Imabari Castle has an appeal different from other castles as a rare water castle united with the sea. Beyond the view from the keep, turning your eyes to the sea fish swimming in the moat and the water surface changing with the tides reveals the special charm of this castle. Combine it with the Shimanami Kaido and Imabari as a towel town to enjoy travel that feels distinctly of the Seto Inland Sea.

📚 Sources

The information here is based mainly on the public guidance from Imabari city and its tourism division. The information for the exhibits inside the castle and the Kurogane Gate, and on-site information boards, are also useful references. Because the hours and admission for the keep and other facilities may change, please confirm the latest details on the official Imabari Castle or Imabari city information before you visit.

Visitor Checklist

• Estimated time needed: About 1 to 1.5 hours to tour the keep and grounds; allow a little more to slowly watch the fish in the moat and the changing tides.
• What to bring: Comfortable shoes, as the grounds have stone steps and slopes and the keep is mostly stairs. Cash is handy for admission and for buying Imabari towels.
• Suggested route: View the seawater-fed moat and the white keep, tour the Kurogane Gate and stone walls, and take in the Seto Inland Sea and Shimanami Kaido from the top floor. It combines well with Imabari, the starting point of Shimanami Kaido cycling.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Opening hours of Imabari Castle: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (last entry 4:30 p.m.)
• Closed days: December 29 to 31 (there are also occasional temporary closures for exhibition changes and the like). The historic site park section (Fukiage Park) is open free of charge 24 hours a day, all year round
• Admission: 520 yen for general visitors / 260 yen for students / free for high school students and younger and for anyone under 18 / 420 yen for visitors aged 65 and over. Groups of 20 or more pay 420 yen for general visitors and 210 yen for students. This is a combined ticket covering the keep, the Okane Yagura turret, the Yamazato Yagura turret, and the Kurogane Gomon gate and Bugu Yagura turret. Visitors with a disability certificate and one accompanying caregiver are admitted free of charge
• The view from the keep: From the observation deck on the 6th floor you can take in the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge, the Hiuchi-nada Sea, the Ishizuchi mountain range and the city of Imabari at a single glance. Access is by stairs only, so the building is not barrier-free
• Parking: Parking Lot 1 is available 24 hours at 100 yen per hour (the payment machine does not accept 10,000-yen, 5,000-yen or 2,000-yen bills). Parking Lot 2, reserved for buses, is open 8:45 to 17:15 and costs 520 yen for up to 2 hours and 260 yen for each additional hour, with reservations required. Motorcycles park free of charge
• Illumination: Every day from 30 minutes after sunset until 22:00. From the night of December 31 to the morning of January 4 the lights stay on all night. There is no illumination on June 21 and July 7
• Access: About 9 minutes from JR Imabari Station on the Yosan Line by Setouchi Bus bound for Imabari Eigyosho (Imabari Bus Office), getting off at Imabarijo-mae. About 10 minutes on foot from Imabari Port. By car, about 15 minutes from the Imabari-kita IC and about 20 minutes from the Imabari Yunoura IC
• History of the castle: Construction began in 1602 (Keicho 7) and the castle was completed around 1608 (Keicho 13). From 1635 (Kan'ei 12) the Matsudaira (Hisamatsu) clan took up residence. It was designated a prefectural historic site in 1953 (Showa 28). The keep, the Tamon Yagura turret and the Bugu Yagura turret were rebuilt in 1980 (Showa 55), the Okane Yagura turret in 1985 (Showa 60), the Yamazato Yagura turret in 1990 (Heisei 2), and the Kurogane Gomon gate and Tamon Yagura turret in 2007 (Heisei 19)
• Imabari Towel Main Store: 5-14-3 Tomon-cho, Imabari City (tel. 0898-52-3730). Open 9:30 to 18:00, all year round except the New Year holidays (changed as of April 15, 2021). The adjoining imabari towel LAB is open 9:00 to 18:00 and imabari towel CAFÉ 9:30 to 18:00 (last order 17:30; changed as of October 4, 2024)
• Access to the Imabari Towel Main Store: About 10 minutes by taxi from JR Imabari Station on the Yosan Main Line, about 7 minutes on foot from the Setouchi Bus Imabari Bus Office, and about 5 minutes by taxi from Imabari Port

* The walking time from JR Imabari Station to Imabari Castle is not published in official sources. * The number of parking spaces at Imabari Castle appears in two different forms on the official website: '66 spaces in Parking Lot 1 and 4 spaces in Parking Lot 2' and '56 spaces and 10 spaces'. (Sources: Imabari City official website, Imabari Towel Industrial Association official website)