Matsuyama Castle Taiko Gate

The Key to the Main Approach

The Matsuyama Castle Taiko Gate (松山城太鼓門) is a timber turret gate of 1972 in Marunouchi, Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on December 3, 2024 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

The Agency records a timber gate with a tiled roof, 5.0 metres wide, with a building area of 21 square metres and a side door; registration number 38-0190.

A Turret Gate Guarding the Main Approach

The Matsuyama Castle Taiko Gate forms a strong box-shaped gate court with the Tsutsui Gate and is the key to the defence of the main approach (Agency for Cultural Affairs). It is a turret gate with a side door between stone walls, its upper floor joined to the North and South Turrets.

Windows open on the front and back of the upper floor and loopholes around the front, and the walls are clapboarded below the lintel line to match the other turrets (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

The Agency records that it was rebuilt in timber in 1972. According to Matsuyama City's conservation plan, it was lost in the air raids of 1945.

Why It Was Registered

The Agency registers it as the turret gate at the heart of the main approach's defences, for its contribution to the historic landscape.

What to Look For

Look for the gate court it forms with the Tsutsui Gate and the loopholes on the front of the upper floor (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

Visiting

According to Matsuyama City, the paths up the castle hill are steep and the thresholds of the gates and turrets remain high. Opening hours, fees and access are covered on the Matsuyama Castle group page.