“Geo” focused guided tour of castle ruins with no remaining buildings
Takato Castle, one of Japan’s top 100 castles, no longer has any castle buildings. It was a natural fortress chosen because of its topography and location on a river terrace between two tributaries of the Tenryu River. The castle is also known for a renowned battle in 1582, during the warring state period, when samurai were battling over territories. It was a bloody conflict fought in vain, as the defenders were outnumbered 3,000 to 50,000 and the castle was overtaken. The tour looks at the castle from the perspective of its geographical features, such as the steep cliff that protects the castle, and the valley that is used as a moat. Enjoy learning about the castle’s physical features while hearing how it was built by samurai. You will also visit museums that tell tales of the samurai lifestyle, such as their schooling and medical practices.
Nature/Culture/Activity
・VR experience of the tragic history of Takato Castle and the fighting samurai.
・Learn how natural features were used to build the castle.
・Stamp of Takato Castle scarlet seal (go-jyo-in).
・Visit museums and learn about samurai lifestyle, education, medicine, and more.
・Feel the sense of “wabi-sabi” from Buddhist statues made by Takato’s Edo-era stone masons.
・Lunch: a healthy lunch made from local ingredients in an old, traditional Japanese house.
6 to 15yr : 11,000 JPY~
16yrs and above : 11,800 JPY~
Heartland Japan
09:30/12:30
09:30-09:40 Meet at JR Bus Takato Station Tour briefing
09:40-10:00 Walk to Takato Town History Musuem / valley view from a bridge
10:00-11:00 Takato Town History Museum with VR experience
11:00-12:00 Walk to Takato Castle Ruins Park, explore the castle ruins
12:00-12:20 Walk to the samurai school, Shintokukan, visit Shintokukan
12:20-12:30 Walk the samurai route towards the castle
12:30-13:00 Visit the historical house of an eye doctor for samurai
13:00-13:30 Walk to Kenpukuji Temple, observe the stone Buddhist statues
13:35-14:20 Walk to Tamakiya (for lunch) Lunch at Tamakiya
14:20-14:50 Shopping time in Takato Castle Town
14:50 Finish at JR Bus Takato Station
Takato Station (JR Bus) （30 mins by bus from Inashi Station on JR Iida Line ）
Takato Station (JR Bus) （30 mins bPlease contact us for information on nearby parking lots.y bus from Inashi Station on JR Iida Line ）
Late-April ~ Mid-November
6 yrs and above
14 days prior
Minimum 4 Maximum 10
Rain gear (coat/pants), drinks (optional)
2
-The course is about 4.6km in total (about 60 minutes of walking).
-From Takato Station to the history museum (about 20 minutes), the path is slightly uphill.
2
Please be careful on the stairs.
English guide fee, VR viewing activity, entrance fees of visited facilities, Takato Castle go-jyo-in
(a scarlet seal), lunch
Ordered drinks at lunch, transportation to/from the meeting point, insurance (please purchase travel insurance in your own country), anything else not specified in “what is included” above.
(The bank transfer fees are responsibility of the participants)
N/A
[Cancellation at customer’s convenience]
-3 or more days prior 20%
-Day before 50%
-Same day/No show 100%
[Cancellation at the discretion of the organizer]
-If stormy weather is forecasted, the activity may be canceled. In this case, contact will be made by
the evening of the day before and there will be no cancelation fees.
-If weather becomes bad after the activity starts and it is determined that the activity cannot continue, the activity will be changed or canceled. In this case, no refund will be given.