It is a castle located in the Bicchu district of Okayama Prefecture, the village of Bicchu Kagura.
Due to its high position, a sea of clouds appears, and it is said to be a castle in the sky.
Bitchu Matsuyama Castle is designated as a national important cultural property as the highest mountain castle in Japan.
The first photo is the castle tower, which is built on Mt. Gagushi at an altitude of about 480m. The castle tower is about 11m high, which is the lowest among existing castle towers.
Although it looks like a three-storied building, it is actually a two-storied building. There is an irori (hearth) on the first floor, and there is a higher room called the Shozoku-no-ma, where only the lord of the castle can enter.
The cat in the foreground is the lord of Bitchu Matsuyama Castle, and his name is Sanjuro.
This cat is gentle and familiar with people.
The second picture is Niju Yagura, a two-story turret built behind the castle tower. This is also a national important cultural property.
The floor of the first floor is 7.9m x 5m, and the height to the building is 8.4m.
The irimoya-zukuri roof is tiled, and a pair of shachihoko is placed on both ends of the large ridge, and the gables are decorated with plum bowl hanging fish.
The double turret is open to the public several times a year.
Masks of Bicchu Kagura can be purchased from this page.>>here