Matsuyama Castle Entrance Tamon Turret

The Turret at the Keep Entrance

The Matsuyama Castle Entrance Tamon Turret (松山城玄関多聞櫓) is a single-storey timber tamon turret of 1967 in Marunouchi, Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on September 10, 2019 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

The Agency records a single-storey timber building with a tiled roof and a building area of 78 square metres; registration number 38-0136.

A Tamon Turret at the Entrance

The Matsuyama Castle Entrance Tamon Turret is a single-storey tamon turret joined to the east side of the North Corner Turret, with a tiled roof hipped and gabled at the east end (Agency for Cultural Affairs). The Inner Gate joins the southern half of its east side, and the Entrance Porch the western part of its south side.

Its plastered and clapboarded walls continue those of the North Corner Turret, with a roofed stone-dropping opening in the middle of the north face. Inside, a passage runs along the south with a room to the north (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

The Agency dates it to 1967. According to Matsuyama City, it was lost by arson in 1933 and rebuilt in timber to the basic designs and specifications for nine buildings drawn up by the Ministry of Education in 1935, the work being completed on May 27, 1968.

Why It Was Registered

The Agency notes that it shows how the entrance of the keep complex was arranged, and registered it for its contribution to the historic landscape.

What to Look For

Look at where the Entrance Porch and the Inner Gate attach, and the stone-dropping opening in the middle of the north face (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

Visiting

According to Matsuyama City, the keep is linked to the small keep and turrets by passages, and the stairs inside are steep. Opening hours, fees and access are covered on the Matsuyama Castle group page.