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Takatenjin Castle

Travel Information

Takatenjin Castle (高天神城) is the ruins of mountain castle located in Kakegawa, Shizuoka. It was originally built around Muromachi period by Imagawa Clan. Because it is located between Suruga and Toutoumi, this castle had been involved many battles especially between Takeda clan and Tokugawa clan. It was one of the strongest castle during Sengoku Period.
Even Takeda Shingen, the one of the great fuedal lords, couldn't defeat this castle. It has great view of Enshu area.

Tourist Info.
There is a parking and restoorm.

Access
0. at Hamamatsu Station
1. use JR Tokaido Line to Kakegawa
2. use local bus to Takatenjinjo


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Map around Takatenjin Castle

Detailed Travel Guide

Takatenjin Castle

Type: Mountain Castle.
Built in: early 16th century.
Class: Ruins.

The mountain is 132m high. It is not a huge mountain as mountain castle, but the most of the side of the mountain are hard cliffs and baileys are practically placed in this castle.

Up until 1569, Imagawa clan controlled Takatenjin Castle. After the fall of Imagawa Yoshimoto at Okehazama, Ogasawara clan who was rulers of the castle betrayed Imagawa to Ieyasu. Ieyasu settled this castle as one of the most important castle to protect his Hamamatsu Castle.

In 1571, Takeda Shingen brought 25,000 armies and surrounded Takatenjin Castle, but he couldn't defeated. In 1574, Katsuyori, the son of Shingen, finished defeated Takatenjin Castle and disfurnished from Ieyasu.

After the victory of Nagashino Shitaragahara in 1575, Ieyasu decided to take the castle back. In 1580, Ieyasu sent his armies and starved the castle's soldiers into surrender. katsuyori was not able to send his rescue forces. In 1581, the castle has been defeated. Because Katsuyori casted off the castle's soldiers, he lost the loyalty from his samurai, and this might coursed the ultimate fall of Takeda clan. However, this story was written by Nobunaga's conspiracy. Katsuyori gave the order to surrender, but Nobunaga gave the order to Ieyasu that never accept the surender from the castle so that everyone believe Katsuyori cast off his samurai.

After this battle, this castle was abandoned.