Bitchu Matsuyama Castle

Bitchu Matsuyama Castle, in Okayama prefecture, sits 430 meters above the ground. It is one of the 12 castles (and the only mountain castle) in Japan with a castle keep remaining in tact.
After being built in 1240 by a warrior, Akiba Shigenobu, the castle underwent many fires and wars. In the Meiji period (1867 – 1912), many of the buildings were re-built, and the keep, niju-yagura tower and earthen wall were designated as national important cultural properties.
The castle is also famous as a “castle in the sky”. In the early morning hours from late September to early April, you might be able to catch the view of the sea of clouds surrounding the castle. From late October to early December, the chances of seeing the view are slightly higher. You can take a special seasonal taxi to get to the nearby observatory to see the view.