What is the greatest preserved castle ruin in mountains in Japan? One of the candidates is Takatori castle ruin. Because the new era was coming, Many castles had become “ruins” more than one hundred years ago. But some of them make us imagine what the old castle was like. Although Many things like buildings, walls, or towns had already been broken or damaged, even disappeared, castle ruins tell us it is much different from the figures used to be. Many historical stories make us fun if you investigate.

Takatori castle was established in 1332 and had been kept for almost 500 years thru the Sengoku era to the Edo era as one of the castles in Yamato county. But, in 1873, it was discarded because of the coming of a new era, Meiji. Conflicts within Japan were getting few, So Military facilities for defense were no more required in the new era. At that time, almost all traditional castles in Japan were destroyed and disappeared. But in the case of Takatori, therefore it exists in a deep mountain, it remained as it is in nature. Although buildings disappeared, and stone walls were damaged.

How lucky it is for us! You can feel the traditional figure of the castle. And you can see high vast stone walls at this Mt.Takatori. Yes, it places at the top of Mt.Takatori, and the only way to access there is by walking. It needs a bit, no it needs great effort to go up there. I recommend you to prepare outdoor or hiking equipment like a backpack, amount of water and food, nice shoes for hiking, etc. if you overcome steep hills, great stone walls and cute beer says welcome to you. Oh, I forgot to tell you, it might take 2 hours to go there by walking from the station nearby it.

If you choose a season, you would see Sakura (cherry blossom) at the top. You wii enjoy lunch time while seeing this Sakura tree. I am convinced that Great efforts made your lunch satisfied.