Asago, Hyogo
Takeda Castle Ruins I forgot to blink at the stone walls above the clouds
On a chilly morning, I looked across at the Takeda Castle Ruins from the mountain on the other side of the valley. The moment I saw the stone walls above the clouds, I forgot all about the cold.
One autumn morning at Ritsūnkyō, I watched the castle ruins appear to float above the sea of clouds. As I watched, I struggled to find the words I'd use to describe it back home.
AutumnDawn in early November
Hands tucked into my sleeves, I watched the castle above the clouds
At Ritsūnkyō, I stood facing the castle ruins and tucked my hands into my sleeves. It was early November. I exhaled and looked up: above the clouds filling the valley, I could see the stone walls of the Takeda Castle Ruins. 'Wait, they really look as if they're floating!' I thought, and found myself staring.
I followed the stone walls with my eyes, from the taller section to the long line of lower walls stretching off to the side. I'd seen pictures before, but from where I stood they seemed almost tucked between the clouds and the mountain. I blinked, wondering if I'd imagined it—but there they were. It made me laugh a little.
When I laughed, the hands tucked inside my sleeves shifted a little. I'd meant to warm them, but it seemed I'd been clenching my fists without noticing. I relaxed my grip and looked again. Then I noticed a tree poking up above the clouds. There was more to see than in that first moment of surprise, and that made me happy.
I meant to take a photo to show my driving friend, but before I could, I was gazing at the view again. I wanted to commit the scene to memory first, and I couldn't tear my eyes away. Soon I couldn't tell whether I'd come to take a photo or simply to keep looking. In the end, I decided to enjoy the view with my eyes first.
Beyond the clouds, the mountains rose in layers, and the stone walls stood in front of them. Little by little, I started to see the ruins for what they were: a place on the mountain, not something floating above it. What would the view be like from beside those walls? I even found myself wondering how far away the mountain opposite was.
At last, I took a photo and tucked my hands back into my sleeves. When I get home, I'll explain it properly to my driving friend: the castle wasn't floating; it only looked that way. But the moment I show her the photo, I'm sure she'll make the same face I did at first. That morning, when I spotted the stone walls above the clouds, I wanted to stay and keep looking a little longer.
The story sections are fiction inspired by this location. For accurate information, please consult official tourism and information websites.
Local specialty
Asago Gyūmaki (Beef Sushi Roll)
One of Asago City's specialities is gyūmaki, a sushi roll made with Tajima beef grilled in a sweet-and-savoury sauce. The Asago Tourism Bureau features it as a speciality at Kotobuki in Santo. After taking in the sea of clouds, I start wondering what to eat—and find myself wanting to spend a little longer in Asago.
Highlights
Stone walls stretching across the mountaintop
The Takeda Castle Ruins sit on a mountaintop at 353m. From the mountain opposite, you can see the taller walls and the lower ones stretching away to either side. When I spotted their outline above the sea of clouds, I kept blinking to make sure I was really seeing them.
Look across at the castle ruins from Ritsūnkyō
To see the castle ruins in full, head to Ritsūnkyō across the valley. The walk from the car park to Viewpoint 1 is listed as about 810m and roughly 30 minutes. The moment I saw the view after that walk, all I wanted was to stay a little longer. I couldn't even find the words to describe it.
Getting there
Getting to Ritsūnkyō for a view of the Takeda Castle Ruins
- Route
- 10 minutes by car from Wadayama Interchange / about 810m and roughly 30 minutes on foot from the car park
- Where to start the walk
- From the Ritsūnkyō car park to Viewpoint 1
The directions to Ritsūnkyō say to turn left at Takeda Intersection; it's a 10-minute drive from Wadayama Interchange. From the car park, it's about 810m and roughly 30 minutes on foot to Viewpoint 1. After that walk, the view felt all the more precious.
For this trip to see the castle ruins from across the valley, the walk starts at the Ritsūnkyō car park. You can see the route from town to the viewpoint on the map below and on Ritsūnkyō's official website.
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