Matsuyama Castle Ten-Bay Corridor

A Long Defensive Corridor

The Matsuyama Castle Ten-Bay Corridor (松山城十間廊下) 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 117 square metres; registration number 38-0138.

A Tamon Turret Linking the Corner Turrets

The Matsuyama Castle Ten-Bay Corridor is a long single-storey tamon turret linking the South and North Corner Turrets, with a simple gabled tiled roof (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Its plastered and clapboarded walls continue those of the two turrets, and three roofed stone-dropping openings project from the west face.

Inside is a single room with no ceiling, so the Japanese-style roof framing is exposed, and loopholes are set in an orderly row along the outer west wall (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 it as a key point in the defence of the keep, and registered it for its contribution to the historic landscape.

What to Look For

Look for the exposed roof framing and the orderly row of loopholes on the west wall (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.