* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Takada Castle
高田城（関川城）
Takada Castle is a historic castle in Chūbu dating from the Built in 1614 (Keichō 19) under the national construction system (tenka-bushin), whose lord was Matsudaira Tadateru (sixth son of Tokugawa Ieyasu) / Sakakibara clan / Sakai clan.
Overview
Takada Castle was constructed in Keicho 19 (1614) as the seat of Matsudaira Tadateru, sixth son of Tokugawa Ieyasu, in the remarkable span of just four months. This rapid completion was made possible by the "tenka-bushin" (national construction system), a large-scale auxiliary system imposed on daimyo throughout the country. Daimyo and craftsmen gathered from all regions united their efforts in the construction.
The most distinctive feature of Takada Castle is that it lacks a main tower (tenshu)—it is a "tenshu-nashi-jo" (castle without a main tower). Regarding the reasons for not constructing a tenshu, which typically symbolized early-modern castle architecture, it is said either that the shogunate deliberately refused to authorize tenshu construction foreseeing Tadateru's eventual removal from his domain, or that time constraints from the accelerated construction permitted no such luxury. Instead, at the time of construction, a two-story turret served as a substitute for the main tower (the current three-story, three-stage turret was rebuilt following the Takada earthquake of Kanbun 5 [1665]).
The castle's layout is a rinkaishiki (encircling) flat castle surrounded by inner and outer moats, as well as water-filled moats dense with lotus. The moat in the present-day Takada Castle Ruins Park is abundantly populated with lotus; the summer lotus blossoms and the beauty of the autumn water surface have become attractions rivaling the "Takada's three great night cherry blossoms." In particular, the spring night cherry blossoms—approximately 4,000 Somei-yoshino trees—are nationally renowned as one of Japan's three great night cherry-blossom viewing sites.
Although Matsudaira Tadateru was Ieyasu's sixth son, his free-spirited nature and his marriage to the daughter of Date Masamune drew the shogunate's suspicion. He was removed from his domain in Genwa 2 (1616). Thereafter, the castle passed through the hands of the Sakakibara and Sakai families, continuing to function as the principal castle of Takada han until the end of the Bakumatsu period.
Connection to Swords
The relationship between Takada Castle and swords is deeply rooted in the castle's historical background and the warrior culture of Echigo. Matsudaira Tadateru, sixth son of Tokugawa Ieyasu, served as a daimyo during the early Edo period when sword culture flourished most prominently. Ieyasu himself was known as a sword connoisseur, and his son Tadateru likely shared a keen interest in swords. The Sakakibara clan, which entered Takada domain in Kanpō 1 (1741), was a prestigious hereditary house of the Tokugawa. Sakakibara Yasumasa, one of Ieyasu's Four Heavenly Kings, was known for the "Sakakibara Minamoto clan carriage" family crest and regarded swords as the warrior's soul. During Sakakibara rule of Takada domain, renowned blades by master smiths from Kyoto and Osaka were actively procured, establishing a high-quality collection in the domain's armory. After Tadateru's removal from office, the Sakai clan quickly entered the domain. During Sakai rule, a fusion with Echigo's local sword-making culture advanced, fostering a distinctive sword appreciation culture unique to the Takada (Joetsu) region. Echigo smiths were known for "Echigo-mono," practical blades forged in the harsh climate of the snowy region, which circulated throughout Japan. The warriors of Takada castle appreciated both the practical Echigo swords and the ornamental blades of Kyoto and Osaka, cultivating a rich soil for sword culture.
Highlights
- Reconstructed three-story turret (1993) — magnificently lit during the nighttime cherry-blossom season
- One of Japan's three great nighttime hanami — approximately 4,000 Somei-yoshino trees along the moat
- Summer lotus blossoms — the inner moat covered in lotus, earning the nickname 'Lotus Castle'
- Takada Castle Site Park — Joetsu's largest park, beloved across all four seasons
- Joetsu City Museum of History — systematic exhibits on Takada Castle and the domain
- Moat reflections — mirror-still water reflecting the turret, a prime photography location
* Opening hours and admission fees are subject to change. Please check the official website before visiting.