Takanosu Castle, Hill castle in Hakone, Japan.
Takanosu Castle is a hill castle located on Mount Takanosu at about 834 meters elevation in the Hakone region. From this vantage point, it offers wide views across the surrounding mountains and valleys of the area.
The Hojo Clan built this fortification in the 1590s as a defensive position against Toyotomi Hideyoshi's forces during the Siege of Odawara. The castle served as one of several strategic outposts protecting the region during that conflict.
The elevated position reflects how Japanese builders used natural terrain as a defense strategy during the feudal era. The steep setting made the site difficult to approach, following patterns common to other mountain fortifications in the area.
Visitors can reach the castle site by walking the Yusaka trail from Hakone Yumoto station, covering roughly 850 meters of elevation gain over about 7 kilometers. The terrain is steep and requires proper hiking shoes and reasonable fitness.
Stone-paved sections of the original castle path remain visible along the hiking route, though they become particularly slippery when wet. These old stone segments reveal how carefully the historical pathways were constructed.
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