Takada Castle, Japanese flatland castle in Joetsu, Japan
Takada Castle is a flatland fortress in Joetsu that relies on wide moats and packed earth ramparts rather than stone walls. The reconstructed tower rises three stories above the central grounds and serves as the main architectural feature of the park.
The fortress was constructed in 1614 under the supervision of Date Masamune for Matsudaira Tadateru, the sixth son of shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu. Construction was completed in just four months, creating one of the largest complexes of its kind in the region.
The castle grounds transform into a cherry blossom viewing destination with 4,000 trees illuminated at night, making it one of Japan's three great night cherry blossom spots.
The tower contains exhibition rooms and an observation deck that give visitors insight into the construction and function of the complex. Walking paths around the moats are easy to navigate and offer open views of the tower from several points.
Thousands of cherry trees line the moats and pathways, turning the grounds into one of Japan's most visited blossom sites each spring. Night illumination highlights the flowers and draws large crowds every year.
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