Shimane travel
Matsue Castle
Matsue Castle · 松江城
Enter Matsue Castle's historic wooden keep to see its structure up close. Walk through the surrounding Honmaru grounds for views of the castle.
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Visitor information
Admission
Keep admission is JPY 1,200 for adults, with primary and junior high school students free. Adult groups of 30 or more pay JPY 960 per person. Honmaru is free to visit. Keep fees were revised on 1 July 2026.
Opening hours
Keep hours are 08:30–18:00 from April to September and 08:30–17:00 from October to March, with last admission at 17:30 and 16:30 respectively. Honmaru opens 08:00–18:30 from April to September and 08:00–17:30 from October to March. The castle opens daily; events may affect hours.
What to see at Matsue Castle
Inside the wooden keep
Climb the interior stairs to examine the wooden building's structure. Add a keep visit if you want to see what lies inside the castle you have viewed from outside.
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Castle views from Honmaru
Walk around Honmaru and look at the castle. This area has no admission fee, so you can explore without entering the keep.
How to get to Matsue Castle
Take the Lake Line from JR Matsue Station and get off at National Treasure Matsue Castle (Otemae), 国宝松江城（大手前）. Follow signs inside the grounds to the keep. After your visit, take the loop bus from the same stop back to Matsue Station. If using a regular bus towards the prefectural office, check that route's fare and timetable separately.
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Before you visit
Before climbing the stairs
You must remove your shoes inside the keep, where the stairs are steep. If stairs are difficult, walk through Honmaru for castle views instead.
Passing the north gate
Access around the north gate may be restricted. Follow castle notices for your visiting day.
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Questions about Matsue Castle
Are the stairs inside Matsue Castle keep steep?
The keep has steep stairs and you enter without shoes. If climbing is difficult, you can walk through the free Honmaru grounds and view the castle from there.
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Official sources
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