Marugame Castle in Kagawa Prefecture is one of Japan’s 12 remaining original castles, and its keep is designated as an Important Cultural Property. The castle has offered overnight stays for the past two years, but with bookings sluggish, it introduced a more affordable plan in September.

Previously, as with other castle-stay experiences, the price exceeded ¥1 million (about $6,400) for two people for one night. The new plan, however, starts at ¥275,000 (about $1,700) for two people for one night, excluding meals.

The national government is also supporting castle-stay projects aimed at attracting international visitors. Castles that survived the turbulent Sengoku, or Warring States, period are now facing a new challenge: competing as accommodation facilities.

Marugame Castle was built over five years beginning in 1597 by Ikoma Chikamasa and his son Kazumasa, retainers of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Its stone walls rise 60 meters (196 feet), making them the tallest in Japan. The three-story keep, completed in 1660, and the main gate are designated as Important Cultural Properties, while the entire castle is designated as a national historic site.

Sluggish Bookings

The Marugame Castle Experience, launched in July 2024, includes a stay at Enju-kaku Annex, a building in the castle’s Sannomaru area that was relocated from the former residence of the Kyogoku family, who served as feudal lords from 1658 until the abolition of the feudal domains in 1871.

The package also includes a rickshaw ride to and from Marugame Station and access to an exclusive night lounge in the castle keep.

The package costs ¥1.265 million (about $8,000) for two people for one night and two days, including two meals. However, partly due to its high price, only eight groups, totaling 20 people, had stayed under the program in the more than two years since its launch.

Enju-kaku Annex at Marugame Castle, which serves as accommodation for the castle-stay program, in Kagawa Prefecture. (Courtesy of Marugame City Board of Education)

In response, the city introduced a new plan in September, offering a lower-priced option focused primarily on accommodation. A one-night, two-day stay for two people costs ¥275,000 ($1,700) when staying only at the annex. 

Guests can also add optional services according to their preferences, including dinner starting at ¥40,000 for two, a welcome performance by the Marugame Taiko Preservation Society starting at ¥45,000, and a private cruise around the Seto Inland Sea starting at ¥135,000 for two.

According to the Marugame City Board of Education, some people said the original package was too expensive, while others felt it included too many activities and would prefer to spend their time at their own pace.

“We hope that by offering a new plan with greater flexibility, we will be able to attract a wider range of guests,” a city official said.

Castle Stays Across Japan

Castle stays are also available in other parts of Japan. Ozu Castle in Ehime Prefecture, whose keep was reconstructed in wood in 2004, was one of the first to launch a castle-stay program, beginning in April 2020. The stay costs ¥1.32 million (about $8,400) for two people for one night.

Guests can stay in the castle keep and experience a recreation of a feudal lord’s arrival at the castle, including a ceremonial welcome with rifle fire. Male guests can wear samurai armor, while female guests can dress in traditional Japanese clothing.

At Tsuyama Castle in Okayama Prefecture, a project is underway to renovate four historic buildings, including the former Tsuruyama-kan domain school within the castle grounds, as well as other historic buildings nearby, and turn them into accommodations spread across multiple locations. The project has also received support through crowdfunding and is scheduled to open next March.

At Shimabara Castle in Nagasaki Prefecture, guests cannot stay inside the castle buildings, but they can spend the night in camper vans within the castle’s main enclosure.

Promoting Historic Tourism

Government support has also played a role in the growth of these projects.

The Japan Tourism Agency has been promoting tourism initiatives that make use of historic resources to attract visitors to regional areas. As part of this effort, it has focused on castle and temple stays, providing subsidies to local governments and dispatching experts to support such projects. 

In addition to castles that already offer overnight stays, Nakatsu Castle and Usuki Castle in Oita Prefecture have also been selected for the program.

The agency says that offering accommodations at castles and temples, where visitors can experience uniquely Japanese culture, is expected to encourage longer stays and increase travel spending, particularly among international visitors.

(Read the article in Japanese.）

Author: Masahiro Fukutomi, The Sankei Shimbun

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