Takatori Castle Ruins

This is the mountain castle ruins in Takatori Town at the center of Nara. During the Northern and Southern Courts Period, a local clan, Ochi Family, is said to have built the castle. Toyotomi Family’s subordinate, Honda Family, expanded it into a grand mountain castle.

From the castle town at the foot of the mountain to the castle tower, it is 446m-high, which is the greatest elevation as a modern castle. It is one of the best castles in Japan and designated as national historical remains and as one of Japan’s Top 100 Castles by Japan castle Foundation. It is also one of Japan’s Three Major Mountain Castles along with Bitchu Matsuyama Castle in Okayama and Mino Iwamura Castle in Gifu.

The highlight of Takatori Castle is the long stretch of stone walls on the mountain. Even though there is not much of a castle, the stone walls are preserved well, describing the glory back then.

Make sure to see the scenery from the Kunimi Turret ruins, etc. which is at the greatest height as a mountain castle. On a clear day, you can look over all the way to cities in the Keihanshin Region.