After a morning of highly informative meetings with students and faculty of Ehime University and a courtesy visit with the Superintendent of Schools, we trekked up to Matsuyama Castle.  Matsuyama Castle was built about 400 years ago.  It was constructed during a relatively peaceful period of Japan's history not so much as battle fortress but as a display of wealth and power.  The castle is designed with many clever defense features including raised door thresholds, small openings for arrow crossfire into a courtyard, and ports for throwing rocks.  The castle features a beautiful garden on the lower terrace.