Cherry Blossoms at Takada Castle Site Park: Video Introduction

This video, titled "Cherry Blossoms at Takada Castle Site Park｜One of the Top 3 Nighttime Cherry Blossoms Spots in Japan｜Breathtaking Cherry Blossom Blizzards and Nighttime Cherry Blossom Viewing" (【日本三大夜桜 高田城址公園の桜 圧巻の桜吹雪と夜桜 - Takada Castle Cherry Blossoms 2022 in full bloom - (BMPCC6K)), was uploaded by "AQUA Geo Graphic."

Takada Castle Site Park is located in Joetsu, Niigata, in Japan's Koshin'etsu Region. This video was taken on April 12th, 2022, when the cherry blossoms were blooming beautifully. The flowers had fully bloomed just two days before the shooting! The contrast between the blue sky and pink and white flowers is simply magical. The cherry blossom blizzard is a view that will definitely catch your eye! The illuminated cherry blossoms here are so beautiful that it they have been chosen as one of the Top 3 Nighttime Cherry Blossom Spots in Japan. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the lovely cherry blossoms of Takada Castle Site Park!

What Is Takada Castle Site Park Like?

Photo：Takada Castle Site Park, Joetsu, Niigata

Takada Castle was built in 1614 by Matsudaira Tadateru, the sixth son of Tokugawa Ieyasu. The castle was built with a moat that utilized the river surrounding it.

The castle was built in the Edo Period over the span of four months by order of the shogunate.

In 1871, the castle was abandoned and converted into an army garrison. In 1908, the earthen mounds of the Ninomaru and Sanomaru (2nd and 3rd baileys) were removed and part of the moat was filled in. The moat and the restored three-story turret of Takada Castle are reminders of the castle's former glory.

Today, the ruins of Takada Castle are maintained as Takada Castle Site Park, and the entire area is designated as a historic site by Niigata Prefecture.
Takada Castle Site Park has many facilities, including the Takada Library, a history museum, athletic fields, and even a baseball field. Many citizens visit here because they can use both cultural and sports facilities. With a grass plaza and a promenade around the outer moat, visitors who take a stroll can enjoy the scenery of Japan's four seasons here.

Festivals, Cherry Blossom Illuminations, and More! Everything to See at the Takada Castle Site Park Cherry Blossom Viewing Party

Photo：Takada Castle Site Park illuminated, Joetsu, Niigata

The Takada Castle Site Park Cherry Blossom Viewing Party is one of the biggest events of spring in Joetsu, Niigata. During the festival, the cherry blossoms are at their peak! Trees will be lit up from dusk till 9:00 P.M.

In the year 1090 AD, approximately 2,200 cherry trees were planted here by local military personnel. In 1917, citizens were allowed to visit the area for leisure, and in 1926, the event was advertised nationwide and the first cherry blossom viewing party was held.

Today, around 4,000 cherry trees bloom around Takada Castle Site Park. Most of them are Someiyoshino cherries, and from the beginning of the video, you can see a beautiful cherry blossom blizzard like a scene from a movie. The reflection of the blue skies and snow-covered Mt. Myoko on the surface of the moat is truly incredible.
[Video] 0:59 - Cherry Blossoms and a Snow-covered Mt. Myoko

As we mentioned, Takada Castle Site Park is so famous for its nighttime cherry blossoms that it was chosen as one of the Top 3 Nighttime Cherry Blossom Spots in Japan. The three-story turret of Takada Castle is illuminated, and the illuminated cherry blossoms reflected on the dark surface of the moat creates a mystical scene.
[Video] 3:00 - The Illuminated Turret and Cherry Blossoms at Takada Castle

If you visit Sakura Road, you can pass through a tunnel of cherry blossoms. Sakura Road is illuminated at night, allowing visitors to take impressive photos, both during the day, and at night.

When do Cherry Blossoms Bloom at Takada Castle Site Park?

Photo：The Takada Castle Site Park Cherry Blossom Viewing Party, Joetsu, Niigata

The cherry blossoms are usually at their best at the beginning of April each year.

On April 10, 2022, two days before the video was filmed, the cherry blossoms in Takada Castle Ruins Park were in full bloom, and a beautiful cherry blossom blizzard was observed during the shooting.However, in 2023, cherry blossoms were in full bloom at the end of March, which is earlier than usual.
[Video] 0:00 - A Cherry Blossom Blizzard and the Three-story Turret of Takada Castle

The Takada Castle Ruins Park Kanzakura-kai, which will be held in accordance with the cherry blossom season, is scheduled from March 29th to April 14th, 2024.The contents of the event during the period will be announced as soon as it is decided, so please check the website of the Joetsu Tourist Convention Association before going out.

Summer at Takada Castle Site Park – Beautiful Lotuses

In summer, the outer moat of Takada Castle Site Park will be filled with lotuses. At the beginning of the Meiji Period (1868-1912 AD), people grew lotus roots to rebuilt the economy of the Takada Domain. This eventually led to the lovely views of lotuses we see today.

The outer moat of Takada Castle was built using the nearby Sekikawa River (関川, Sekikawa). Although the eastern side has been filled in, it is still as large as approximately four Tokyo Domes. Every year, from the end of July to the middle of August, green leaves fill all the surface of this moat, while pink flowers bloom atop them. The scale and beauty of the blooms is said to be the best in the East.

Lotus flowers tend to open at dawn or early morning and close around noon. To see the lotus flowers in full bloom, we recommend visiting early in the morning.

A Brief Introduction to Niigata, Japan

Niigata Prefecture is the fifth largest prefecture in Japan and is divided into three regions: Joetsu, Chuetsu, and Kaetsu (Upper, Middle, and Lower Niigata). With a population of nearly 2.2 million, it's the 15th most populated city in Japan.

Niigata is known for its beautiful rice fields which yield delicious rice and make for great sake. Situated along the coast of the Sea of Japan, it also has delicious seafood.

Additionally, Niigata is one of the snowiest regions of Japan, which make it a great place to enjoy skiing and snowboarding, but it's also known for its summer festivals, such as the Niigata Festival, which features dancing, parades, portable shrines, fireworks, and more.

Summary of Takada Castle Site Park's Cherry Blossoms

Photo：Cherry blossoms illuminated in Takada Castle Site Park, Joetsu, Niigata

A collaboration of approximately 4,000 cherry trees, historical sites, stunning views of cherry blossoms and Mt. Myoko, and a beautiful tunnel of cherry blossoms at night. The cherry blossoms at Takada Castle Site Park are nothing short of spectacular.

Most of the cherry trees at Takada Castle Site Park are Someiyoshino cherries, but the large weeping cherry tree at the end of Sakura Road is a must-see.

During the Takada Castle Site Park Cherry Blossom Viewing Party, many stalls and vendors are set up around the area and the park can become quite crowded. This is a major event at a famous sightseeing spot, but there are some restrictions in place to prevent the spread of infectious disease. Be sure to research them before you go.

◆Takada Castle Site Park◆
[Address] 44-1, Motoshiro-cho, Joetsu-shi, Niigata
[Access]
Train: Approximately 15 minutes on foot from Takada Station on the Echigo Tokimeki Railway's Myoko Haneuma Line
Bus: Approximately 1 minute on foot from Takada Joshi Koen Iriguchi (高田城址公園入口) by Kubikino Bus
[Closures] None
[Admission Fee] Free
[Parking] Available (Prices vary by parking lot)

【Official Website】Takada Castle Site Park

【TripAdvisor】Takada Castle Site Park