All Reviews of Uwajima Castle

The most moving part of visiting Uwajima Castle in Ehime, Shikoku, was seeing firsthand the rustic beauty of one of Japan's precious twelve original castle keeps. This historic castle, first built by renowned castle architect Todo Takatora and later renovated by the Date clan, perfectly preserves the wooden craftsmanship of the Edo period and exudes an elegance and composure refined over time.

I slowly made my way to the top along the lush stone steps and walked through the old-growth forest of Shiroyama Park, where the gentle breeze helped ease much of my fatigue. Upon entering the three-story castle keep, I was greeted by the scent of wood. From the top floor, there were sweeping views of the streets of Uwajima and the blue waters of the Uwa Sea. The scenery of the mountains and sea together was refreshing and uplifting.

Uwajima Castle is one of Japan's 12 surviving original castle towers and No. 83 on the list of Japan's Top 100 Castles! Although the small keep doesn't have much information on display, its old wooden structure is its most precious treasure. Walking on the floorboards and hearing them creak feels like sharing the same moment in time with people from long ago. The view from the top floor of the keep is also captivating! Even more surprising, admission is only JPY 200. There aren't many tourists or much of a commercial atmosphere, and it's as peaceful as a neighborhood park. Besides the keep, the stone walls are another major highlight. Anyone who enjoys exploring castles or studying stone walls should definitely take their time! I spent about 2 hours there and unexpectedly got so much out of it〜

When you reach the top floor and look down, you can see the whole bay and the city streets. It's really beautiful!

It's one of Japan's Top 100 Castles and one of the 12 original castle towers still standing. Uwajima Castle is really well preserved.