Takashima Castle, Japanese castle in Suwa, Japan
Takashima Castle rises on stone foundations near Lake Suwa, showing a three-story tower with dark wooden beams and white plaster facades. The compound opens to a small park with views toward surrounding mountains and water.
Hineno Takayoshi ordered the fortress built in 1592 to govern the Suwa region. After more than a century of use, it was torn down in 1875 and later reconstructed.
Inside, the museum holds objects from the time when local lords governed from here, including written records and reproduced screens. Visitors walk through rooms that once combined administration and defense under one roof.
A short walk of about ten minutes leads from JR Shimosuwa Station to the compound. Opening hours shift between spring and autumn, with longer visiting windows in summer.
Water once surrounded the compound on all sides, making it appear to float on the lake. This unusual setting earned the fortress its floating nickname before land reclamation changed the shoreline.
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