Constructed over a period of 5 years from 1607 to 1611 by Yoshiharu Horio, a feudal lord and founder of Matsue. Currently it is one of the only 12 remaining original castles in Japan and the only one in the San’in region. It was designated as a National Treasure in 2015. The elegance of the castle’s swooping roofs and decor is often compared to the wings of a ‘chidori’ (plover bird) which has led to the castle’s nickname,’Chidori-jo’ (Plover Castle). The castle features an architectural design specifically chosen for battle, but retains a grand majestic appearance.
This small passenger boat will take you through the history, nature and people of Matsue. The moats surrounding Matsue Castle (National Treasure) remain unchanged from when it was first constructed over 400 years ago. This 50 min sightseeing boat guides you along the moats through the historical Japanese scape of the Matsue castle, the places related to Lafcadio Hearn, forests which have been there 400 years since the construction of the castle, charming changes of seasons and the beauty of moats itself.