Takaten Shrine near Takatenjin Castle – Kakegawa, Japan

Takaten Shrine near Takatenjin Castle – Kakegawa, Japan

Takaten Shrine (高天神社) is a shrine located near Takatenjin Castle Ruins in Kakegawa City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.

Shrine was built as a shrine to protect Takatenjin Castle.

Takatenjin Castle Ruins (高天神城跡) are located on a mountain with sheer cliffs accessible only by a narrow pathway. The castle was traditionally held to be the “key” to the security of the province.

The layout of the castle is that of a letter “Z” consisting of the eastern and western peaks of a mountain with the saddle in between.

Both peaks were protected by terraces with dry moats and earthen ramparts. The total length of the castle was 400 meters by 200 meters wide. Although the castle did not have stonewalls, the mountain has very steep slopes and the castle was considered almost impregnable.

Takatenjin Castle Ruins have been protected as a National Historic Site since 1975, with the area under protection extended in 2007. On April 6, 2017, the ruins were selected as 100 famous castles in Japan.

Video Source: Takatenjin.mp4 from John Russo on Vimeo ⁄ CC BY