A Castle Experience Immersed in 400 Years of History and Romance

With a 400-year legacy, Marugame Castle is designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan. It is one of only twelve original castle keeps remaining in the country and boasts the oldest surviving wooden keep in Shikoku, the grand Ote Ichinomon Gate, and Japan’s highest-level stone wall craftsmanship. This is a truly unique and unforgettable castle stay experience.

As the lord of the castle, you will enjoy cultural experiences reminiscent of those once embraced by feudal lords, along with meals prepared using fresh ingredients from the Seto Inland Sea.

Immerse yourself in an extraordinary space where you can experience the richness of Japanese history and culture with all five senses.

Passing on Marugame’s History and Culture to Future Generations Through Experience

Marugame Castle, located on Mount Kameyama at an elevation of approximately 66 meters in western Sanuki, Shikoku, is renowned nationwide for its majestic stone walls—the tallest in Japan. With a 400-year history, a stay at Marugame Castle offers guests the rare opportunity to step into the era of the Kyōgoku family, who ruled the region for over two centuries.

Marugame City has been selected as one of the Top 100 Sustainable Destinations in the World in the Culture and Tradition category by the international certification body Green Destinations.

We invite you to enjoy a sustainable journey that supports both local culture and the community.

Itinerary for the Day

You will be welcomed at JR Marugame Station with a traditional rickshaw ride. Enjoy a guided journey to the castle with your rickshaw puller serving as your local guide.
Upon arrival at the castle, you will check in at the Ote Ichinomon Gate, an Important Cultural Property of Japan built in 1670.

As a warm welcome, enjoy a performance of Marugame’s traditional Japanese taiko drumming.

Climb “Mikaeri-zaka,” a slope showcasing Japan’s finest stone masonry, and you will be greeted by the majestic and dignified castle keep at the top.
Afterward, relax in the exclusive private night lounge or unwind at your accommodation in the Enjukaku Annex.

The following morning, visit Nakatsu Bansho-en, a designated scenic spot in the city.
Enjoy breakfast while gazing upon the magnificent “Great Umbrella Pine,” said to be around 650 years old.

Afterward, take part in hands-on cultural experiences such as traditional uchiwa (fan) making at Matsuhotei and enjoy a sencha tea ceremony at Kanchoro, the oldest known sencha tea room in Japan.

Nakatsu Bansho-en

Nakatsu Bansho-en is a daimyō (feudal lord) garden built in Nakatsu as a secondary residence by Takatoyo Kyōgoku, the second lord of the Kyōgoku Marugame Domain.

At the heart of the garden lies Hakkei Pond, designed to resemble Lake Biwa in Ōmi Province—the ancestral homeland of the Kyōgoku family.

As you stroll through the expansive grounds, imagine the longing of the lords for their homeland and enjoy the serene beauty of this historic garden.

Marugame Uchiwa—once a popular souvenir and a source of summer comfort for temple visitors—is a beloved local craft.
Take part in a hands-on uchiwa (traditional fan) making workshop, guided directly by a certified traditional craftsman.

You will also have the rare opportunity to learn the art of sencha (steeped green tea) at Kanchoro—Japan’s oldest sencha tea room, which is normally closed to the public.

In addition, a wide variety of other cultural programs are available for you to enjoy.

Enjukaku Annex

As part of the Marugame Castle Experience, guests will stay at the Enjukaku Annex, located within the historic Marugame Castle grounds.

The Enjukaku Annex preserves the ambiance of the past, incorporating architectural elements such as flooring, ceilings, beams, transoms, and decorative metal fittings that were relocated from the Kyōgoku family residence once located in Azabu, Tokyo.

Spend a serene and luxurious night, reflecting on the lives of the former lords of the castle.

Blessed with a warm, dry climate and abundant sunshine, Marugame is a treasure trove of culinary ingredients.
To the north lies the rich fishing grounds of the Seto Inland Sea’s Shiwaku area, while to the south stretches the fertile Sanuki Plain—both providing a wealth of fresh, nutrient-rich produce.

For dinner, you will be served using Sanuki lacquerware bearing the Yotsume-musubi crest of the Kyōgoku family. These exquisite pieces have been faithfully recreated by artisans in Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture.

Savor the finest local ingredients, nurtured by the region’s natural blessings, in the elegant setting of Enjukaku Annex, with a view overlooking the castle town.

Please refer to the PDF below for the Terms and Conditions.