大洲城

Ozu Castle is a castle located about a 25-minute walk from JR Yosan Line “”Iyo-Ozu Station.”” It is said to have been originally built in 1331 in the late Kamakura period by Toyofusa Utsunomiya, and stands facing the Hijikawa River. Although castle lords changed frequently, the Kato clan ruled for about 250 years during the Edo period; under the second Kato lord, Yasuoki, the name changed from “”Otsu Castle”” to “”Ozu Castle.”” Most of the castle was dismantled in the Meiji era except for four turrets and a few structures, but in 2004 a four-story keep was reconstructed. The reconstructed keep is noted for being Japan’s tallest wooden keep at 19.15 meters. The Sannomaru Minami-sumi Yagura is the oldest surviving structure in Ozu Castle, built in 1766. Ozu Castle also participates in welcoming the JR Shikoku sightseeing train “”Iyo-nada Monogatari”” by waving flags from the Honmaru as the train crosses a nearby bridge; this takes place on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays at around 15:16 and 16:25, free of charge for participants. On the third Saturday of each month from 14:00, there is a public firearms-unit practice session where visitors can see matchlock gun demonstrations.