Marugame Castle

One of only twelve surviving castles in Japan with an original wooden keep from the Edo period. The compact three-story keep from 1660 is also the smallest of the twelve, at just 15 meters. The castle sits on Kameyama hill above the city and is notable for its ramparts, the highest of which drops 22 meters from top to base, forming four terraces between the outer moat and the keep. Originally built between 1597 and 1602 by the Ikoma family, it was later held by the Kyogoku clan through most of the Edo period. The keep and two original gates are designated Important Cultural Properties.