Château de Matsue

National Treasure designation: Matsue Castle achieved National Treasure status in 2015 (previously Important Cultural Property) after newly discovered documents confirmed its 1611 construction date. Only 5 castles hold National Treasure designation (others: Himeji, Hikone, Inuyama, Matsumoto). The designation increased visitor numbers significantly — expect more crowds than before 2015, especially weekends during cherry blossom season.

Authentic features: The castle interior preserves original features: steep staircases (63° angle), low ceilings (watch your head), stone-drop windows (ishiotoshi, 石落とし) for defending against attackers, and hidden compartments. The top floor wooden construction creaks audibly when walking — the sound is original 400-year-old wood, not modern reconstruction. The castle survived because it was sold to private owners in the Meiji era who preserved it (many other castles were demolished during this period).

Lake Shinji views: The top floor observation deck faces Lake Shinji (宍道湖) to the west, offering sunset views over Japan's seventh-largest lake. The lake is famous for its shijimi clams (freshwater clams used in miso soup). Time your castle visit to finish near sunset (18:00–19:00 in summer, 17:00–18:00 in winter) to catch the lake's golden-hour glow from the observation deck.