Japan’s Fortress in the Clouds: The Takeda Castle Ruins

The stone foundations of the keep date back more than 400 years.

Takeda Castle floats above the clouds at dawn.

Just after 8:00, the morning sun dispels the last traces of mist.

Set low, Takeda Castle has inspired some imaginative admirers to compare it to a crouching tiger.

The castle’s foundation and walls appear as sturdy as when they were built.

In springtime, the castle ruins soar in the background as cherry trees bloom along the Maruyama River.

The Takeda Castle ruins.

The hiking trail to Takeda Castle.

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

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

A gate marks the trailhead of the Ōtemon course.

The ruins seen from Yamajiro no Sato.

The grounds of Takeda Castle.