Marugame Castle

Marugame Castle (丸亀城, Marugamejō), also known as Kameyama Castle, is perched atop a hill in the heart of Marugame City, offering stunning views of the city and the Seto Inland Sea. Originally constructed between 1597 and 1602 by feudal lord Ikoma Chikamasa, the castle was torn down just 13 years later due to a new shogunate policy limiting the number of castles per province. It was rebuilt in 1660 after the province was split. Today, Marugame Castle is one of the twelve original castles in Japan that has survived the post-feudal era with its keep intact.

The castle is located in Kameyama Park, which occupies the original castle grounds. Visitors can enjoy a scenic walk up steep stone walls to reach the small three-story keep, where they are greeted with panoramic views of the city and sea. The keep also houses a small museum. The park is particularly famous for its cherry blossoms, with nearly 1000 trees blooming every spring. The annual cherry blossom festival, held from late March to early April, attracts many visitors to the site.