Takashima Castle

Visit the Suwa Taisha shrines around Lake Suwa while you are in the area. They are some of the oldest shrines in Japan and designated Important Cultural Properties.

History

The castle was built by Lord Hineno from 1592 to 1598. It is the highest elevation flatland castle ever constructed in Japan. The castle is also known as a the "Floating Castle" because it was built on a small island in the lake that was connected to the shore by a narrow path of land. The lake now since a couple blocks West of the castle and is periodically dredged to maintain a consistent shoreline.

The Suwa clan had ruled over the area around Lake Suwa for hundreds of years but lost control in 1542. In 1601 they regained control and continued to rule until 1869. In the 1870's the castle was dismantled by order of the Meiji government.

Field Notes

Visit the Suwa Taisha shrines around Lake Suwa while you are in the area. They are some of the oldest shrines in Japan and designated Important Cultural Properties.

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Gallery

• 

  main keep, moat and gate
• 

  yagura
• 

  Kabuki Gate
• 

  moat
• 

  main keep
• 

  moat
• 

  gate
• 

  main keep
• 

  main keep and moat
• 

  gate, moat, donjon, bridge
• 

  Kabukimon gate
• 

  main keep
• 

  view from the top of the main keep
• 

  ART - Onsenji Hondou / Noh Stage
• 

  ART - Onsenji Sanmon (relocated gate)

Castle Profile
English Name	Takashima Castle
Japanese Name	高島城
Alternate Names	Suwa no Ukijiro, Takasaki-jo
Founder	Hineno Takayoshi
Year Founded	1592
Castle Type	Flatland
Castle Condition	Reconstructed main keep
Designations	Next 100 Castles
Historical Period	Edo Period
Main Keep Structure	3 levels, 5 stories
Year Reconstructed	1970 (concrete)
Features	main keep, gates, turrets, bridges, water moats, stone walls, walls
Visitor Information
Access	Kamisuwa Sta. (Chuo Line), 10 min walk
Hours
Time Required
URL	Castle Website
Location	Suwa, Nagano Prefecture
Coordinates	36.0398, 138.11198
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2007
Contributor	Eric
Admin Year Visited	2007
Admin Visits	Nov 17, 2007
Friends of JCastle
Malcolm Fairman Photography - Takashima Castle

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