How to Get There and What to See

The Takeda Castle ruins.

The two most popular ways to see Takeda Castle are by climbing to the ruins themselves and by viewing it from observation areas located on the other side of the valley. The standard course involves an early morning climb to Ritsuunkyō, where there are three observation points, to enjoy the ethereal scene of Takeda Castle floating in the clouds, then crossing the valley and hiking up to the keep itself.

The hiking trail to Takeda Castle.

The Ritsuunkyō Observation Points

The three viewpoints at Ritsuunkyō are midway up Mount Asago, a 756-meter peak opposite Takeda Castle, and are reached by a steep track. At the trailhead is the Ritsuunkyō parking area, which is a 40-minute walk from Takeda Station. The first viewpoint is just a few minutes’ hike from the parking area, but the best views of Takeda Castle are from two higher observation points a further 20 to 40 minutes away. It costs ¥200 to access the trail.

Takeda Castle at 6:20 am, about a half-hour past sunrise in mid-October.

The observation decks can be crowded during peak viewing season, which runs from September to December, with weekends being particularly busy. The Ritsuunkyō parking area has space for around 50 vehicles and fills up quickly. There is also parking in town, with most lots being around a 40-minute walk away. Some hotels offer ride services, and taxis are also available near the station.

The view from the first observation area at 7:00, as the morning sunshine gets stronger.

Hiking to the Ruins

There are multiple hiking routes leading to the Takeda Castle ruins, including two steep trails behind Takeda Station and another near Hyōmai Shrine. Other trails behind the ruins are accessible by bus, car, or taxi.

A gate marks the trailhead of the Ōtemon course.

Routes to the Ruins

  • Ekiura trail: Starting from behind Takeda Station, this is one of the most heavily trafficked trails. The climb is around 40 minutes.
  • Hyōmai Shrine trail: The climb, which includes a stone staircase, takes around 40 minutes.
  • Ōtemon course: Well-tended and not overly steep, its trailhead is a 15-minute hike from the Chūfuku Parking Lot.
  • Minami trail: Starting south of Takeda Station, it follows a paved, one-way road, usually closed to general traffic, up the mountainside that joins with the Ōtemon course. Total hiking time is around one hour.
  • Nishi trail: From the Yamajiro no Sato parking area the trail follows a paved road, closed to general traffic, that joins the Ōtemon course. Total hiking time is around 40 minutes. (The Nishi trail was damaged by the torrential rains of July 2018, but is expected to reopen in November following repairs.)
The ruins seen from Yamajiro no Sato.

The least strenuous way to visit Takeda Castle is by taking the Tenkū Bus or catching a taxi from the station to Yamajiro no Sato or the Chūfuku Parking Lot and then following the short walking path to the ruins. Whichever route visitors take, they should note that there are no toilet or other facilities above the trailheads; those climbing for early-morning views should also come prepared with flashlights or headlamps.

The grounds of Takeda Castle.

(Originally published in Japanese. Text and photos by Kuroiwa Masakazu. Banner photo: Takeda Castle floats on a sea of clouds.)