Takeda Castle Ruins
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November 23, 2016 - Takeda Castle Ruins
The Takeda Castle Ruins are some beautifully preserved remains of the Izushi Castle - as it was originally named - on top of a 353meters high mountain. In the days that the keep was still standing it must have been impressive. Now the ruins are mainly known for the appearance that they only take a few times a year: as a castle floating on the clouds.
It was cold. Very cold and quite dark. Darker than you are used to in this country where screaming neon signs are never far away.
We were on our way to the gCastle in the Skyh, as the Japanese tend to name it after Mr. Miyazakifs movie (while he in turn might have based his design on the castle remains).
The Takeda Castle Ruins are not that hard to reach. However, people do say that the image of the castle floating in the air can only be seen in the early morning. And that makes it hard to reach at the correct timing.
So we took a nightly bus tour from Osaka that was set to arrive before early morning, in the dead of night.
While the idea behind such a bus tour is great, the timing was somewhat off. We arrived way too early. The positive thing is that we arrived when the ruins were still illuminated. Lights go out at around 5:30AM to prepare for a beautiful sunrise. At least thatfs the intention. In reality we walked the ruins once while illuminated, and when the lights were turned off there was nothing but darkness. And rain. Cold rain. So due to this rain it was also impossible to enjoy any sunrise, nor the shrouding in clouds. Mind you, the mist created almost the same gloomy atmosphere. But herefs the other pickle: youfre standing ON the ruins, not at a panorama platform to admire themc
Let me be honest, even in this horribly cold and wet weather, the ruins were beautiful and had something mesmerizing and mysterious. There were already quite some tourists present before darkness turned to light, but the ruins are spacious enough so it didnft become a bother. In this sense I can definitely recommend taking a detour to this place. I know I will definitely go back to admire them from a panorama view and maybe to hike a bit in the surroundings. But unfortunately this trip at this particular moment will be mainly remembered as being cold. So very, very cold.
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List of Posts:
2017/03/11 - Reversible Destiny at Yoro & Ogaki 2017/01/28 - Miyama - Kabuki-no-Sato - 2016/11/26 - Yatsubuchi-no-Taki 2016/11/23 - Takeda Castle Ruins 2016/11/19 - Menfudo Limestone Cave 2016/07/31 - Wagashi in Kyoto 2016/07/23 - Norikura Heights 2016/07/01 - Hakodate 2016/06/30 - Onuma Park 2016/06/29 - Exploring part of the Shikotsu-Toya National Park 2016/06/28 - To central Hokkaido 2016/06/27 - Historic Village of Hokkaido 2016/02/03 - Himeji: the real castle and the fake one 2015/09/25 - Izu Peninsula: Atami, Shimoda & Cape Irozaki 2015/07/23 - Sendai 2015/07/22 - Mount Zao 2015/07/21 - Matsushima 2015/05/30 - Climbing Mount Iwawaki 2015/03/22 - Beppu 2015/03/21 - Kunisaki Peninsula 2015/03/20 - Takachiho 2015/03/19 - Kumamoto 2015/01/12 - Satsukiyama - Minoh hike 2014/11/01 - Aizu-Wakamatsu 2014/10/31 - Sadogashima 2014/10/30 - Kurobe Gorge 2014/01/25 - Fushimi Inari hike 2014/01/04 - Hidden Nachi Falls |
