Matsuyama-jō Castle, Takamatsu, Japan

Matsuyama-jō 松山城 Castle overlooks the city of Takamatsu 高松 on the north-west coast of Shikoku, one of the four main islands that compose Japan. Originally built during the first half of the 17th century, it was -- like so many castles in Japan, built primarily of wood -- struck by lightning and the main tenshu-kaku 天守閣 (keep) destroyed by fire. Rebuilt in the 19th century, it has managed to survive to this day, despite losing a number of outer buildings to American bombing during WWII.

It makes for a pleasant visit: like most of Shikoku, the climate is warm and balmy and there are plenty of trees surrounding the buildings in which to take refuge if it ever does get too hot. But, as a former student of Japanese architecture, it is the castle itself which made me want to visit. Unlike the more famous castles in Japan -- Osaka 大阪城, Edo 江戸城, Hiroshima 広島城, Nagoya 名古屋城 etc. -- Matsuyama is less imposing, more horizontal and less vertical, and built more of wood than stone (or, rather, the wooden inner structure is left exposed). This makes for a more pleasant experience, more in keeping with the mood of the city and island: Shikoku is definitely more laid-back and hospitable than the big metropolises on Honshū 本州, the main island.

The main tenshu-kaku 天守閣 (keep) peeping through the surrounding woodland

The distinctive wooden-clad outer walls with part of the castle beyond

Another shot of part of the wooden-clad outer walls: I love the geometry here!

The gate to the castle gardens, complete with hand-calligraphed signs

One of the many gates in and around the gardens: with absolutely no indication of the current century, walking through feels like stepping back in time

Another gate: peeping through and catching glimpses of all these different perspectives reminds me of looking Through the Looking-Glass

A kasumi-dana 霞棚 ("mist-shelf," one of the staples of traditional Japanese interior architecture) in one of the tea-rooms in the castle grounds: so simple, so elegant, so timeless...

On my way around the gardens, I stumbled upon a happy couple having their wedding photos taken. Had it not been for the photographers, I could have seriously thought that I had somehow gone back in time

The sun setting over the city, with part of the castle in silhouette

As night fell and the moon came up, the white of the plaster walls and the black of the roof tiles became even more stunning than during the day

Architectural details on the roof gable-ends with the moon behind

A crow -- there are so many of them in Japan -- taking a rest from a hard day

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Nick Sikorski is an organic market gardener and permaculture designer originally from Scotland, trained in France and now farming in Nagano, Japan. When he's not obsessing over heritage varieties of vegetables & herbs, chasing off wild deer or otherwise running around the fields of his mountain farm, he's trying to beat the system, taking photos or trying to better understand cryptocurrencies. You can find his Steemit introduction here.