Day 16 - Matsuyama Castle and the Yosen Line

This morning we investigated Matsuyama Castle, fearing it might be a mock-up, Osaka-style; concrete and an elevator inside. 

Well, the castle sits on a hilltop overlooking the city, so it has a natural defensive advantage. Although it doesn't have an elevator inside the Castle, it does sport a quaint cable car to get you from street level up to the lower grounds of the castle, or if you're more of a thrill-seeker, a chair lift (no belts or restraining bars). Once at the top of the 'ropeway' - as the Japanese refer to cable cars - there's still a healthy climb to the top.

There are at least three zig-zag gateways, natural killing zones, that an attacker would have to break through to reach the castle itself. Admittedly, the castle was rebuilt in 1852 (of course) after a fire, but it was rebuilt in wood which means it has a lovely old feel to it, and it's not hard to imagine stepping back in time.

Arrow slips and loop holes give out into the courtyards below. The maze of low beamed rooms and steep wooden ladders lead one up and up...

Once at the top, there are spectacular views over the city and the bay area beyond. 

And that was the morning done. In the afternoon, we took a 3 hour train journey to Takamatsu along the coast, looking out onto the Seto Inland Sea on the left, and in towards the mountains in the centre of the island on our right...

And some of the scenery was like this...

...and some of it was like this...