Takada Park

Takada Park

See a three-story turret and the beauty of the changing seasons

Closest station

Hokuriku Shinkansen, Joetsumyoko Station

Access

About 15 minutes by car from Joetsumyoko Station on the Hokuriku Shinkansen

Location

Joetsu, Niigata Prefecture

Opening hours

9:00-17:00

Great Stuff to See and Do!

An unusual castle without a tower or stone walls

Takada ParkTakada Castle was a flatland-style castle that was quickly built in four months in 1614 before the Winter Siege of Osaka. Its major characteristics were that it had no tower and was not defended by stone walls. Instead of a castle tower, it had a three-story turret. It was destroyed by fire but restored and rebuilt in 1993. Although the original castle is gone, you can still visit the rebuilt castle area as part of Takada Park.

4,000 stunning cherry blossom trees

Takada ParkTakada Park is famous for its cherry blossoms, and was selected as one of Japan’s top three cherry blossom night views as well as one of Japan’s top 100 cherry blossom viewing sites. The Takada Castle Million-Person Cherry Blossom Viewing Festival is held every year in April. It is an exciting event that is attended by many people and symbolizes spring in Echigo, the old name for Niigata Prefecture.

A moat covered with beautiful lotus flowers

Takada ParkLotuses grow in the moat that surrounds the castle site in Takada Park and are purported to be the most beautiful and on the largest scale in all of Asia. The Joetsu Lotus Festival is held when the flowers bloom between the end of July and mid-August and bustles with many sightseers.

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