[2025 Matsuyama Attraction] Travel Guide for Shiroyama Park (Updated May)

At Matsuyama Shiroyama Park, history and hanami blend in perfect harmony. As I wandered beneath the fluttering cherry blossoms with Matsuyama Castle perched majestically above, the scene felt like a postcard from a dream. Every petal whispered tales of samurai and spring. The soft rustle of blossoms in the breeze accompanied the distant clang of the castle bell. Climbing up to the keep, I was rewarded with panoramic views of pink treetops stretching across the city. The contrast of ancient stone and fleeting sakura was mesmerizing. Spring in Shiroyama is more than scenic—it’s a poetic time capsule. #cherryblossom25

#cherryblossom2024 The cultural heart of the city Shiroyama Park is located in the center of Matsuyama City, on the territory of the castle of the same name. There are many museums in the park, and most city events are held here. On weekends and holidays, you can almost always find a food fair, a flea market or another festival. Recommended Visit Matsuyama during one of the festivals and take part in it Get to the remote villa Bansuiso — the pearl of European architecture Explore local art at the Ehime Prefectural Art Museum How to get there The park is located in the heart of Matsuyama City, so it is very easy to find. It is only a 15-minute walk from Matsuyama Station. From there, you can also take the tram to the Minami-Horibata stop: you will find yourself right next to the entrance to the Ehime Art Museum. Shiroyama is located on the grounds of Matsuyama Castle. Three impressive fortress walls can be seen in the park. Paths lead to the castle, along which lush trees are planted. The walk will take about half an hour. Sakura blossoms in the park in spring. Two hundred cherry trees are dressed in a magnificent outfit of petals. So grab a lunch bento at the nearest Takashimaya supermarket and go ahead, explore all shades of pink! Visit the Ehime Art Museum. There are works by both local artists and recognized masters of the national level. Special attention should be paid to watercolors with local landscapes and traditional Japanese paintings in scrolls. The museum even has works by Cezanne and Monet. Exhibitions dedicated to a variety of topics are regularly organized here: animated films by Studio Ghibli, paintings by Salvador Dali, the work of Leonardo da Vinci and anything else. European architecture Go to a free concert or lecture at the Bansuiso Mansion, a huge building built in the style of French architecture of the XIX century. This house belonged to one of the descendants of the Matsuyama clan. Among the traditional Japanese surroundings, the classic French mansion looks quite unusual. Walk through the rooms to look at the bizarre candelabra and exquisite stucco, so strikingly different from the usual forms of Japanese architecture. Literary heritage The Saka-no-Ue-no-Kumo Museum is right next to Shiroyama Park. Architect Tadao Ando designed the museum building, inspired by Retaro Shiba's novel "Clouds over the Hill" ("Saka-no-Ue-no-Kumo"), which takes place in Matsuyama. It contains a precious collection of documents and artifacts from the Russian-Japanese and Sino-Japanese wars, which are narrated in the novel. Festive celebrations The second weekend of August is the time of the Matsuyama Summer Festival. It is dedicated to the birth of Japanese baseball, which was played here for the first time in Japan. Groups of dancers march through the streets of the city, performing rousing dances on baseball themes.

#thingstodo It's probably the only castle with a real English exhibition! Inside and outside are interesting, beautiful, and very informative. In my opinion, it is better than Himeji because it isn't so empty. One of the best castle in Japan with a great view from the top. You can get there by cable cars or foot. Either way, it's a great experience. There is also a park near by with a certain entrance fee. The castle is definately worth the visit!