Imabari Castle has two distinguishing features: its coastal location that makes it possible to survey the traffic on the Inland Sea and its defensive moats, fed by tidal water. The keep (rebuilt in 1980) houses armour, sabres and historic documents; stunning view from the sixth storey. Built by Todo Takatora, the castle represented an architectural reference in its time (early 17C) to such an extent that the original keep was transferred near to Kyoto in 1610.