Yamashiro no sato — Attraction in Asago

Those who travel by car have to park here or use the parking lot around Takeda Station. If you park here, you can take a shuttle bus or walk to the entrance of the castle ruins. If you're lucky, you might find a taxi. The parking lot is large and free. There is a tourist information center, a restaurant, a souvenir shop, a small museum, etc. here. The shuttle bus runs about twice an hour. Please note that the shuttle bus can only carry about 30 people. If many people get on at Takeda Station in Yamashita, there may be a limit to the number of people who can board from this parking lot. Even if you are waiting for the shuttle bus, you may not be able to get on. If you walk, there is a 40-minute, 1.5-mile uphill road waiting for you. The bus ride to the castle ruins entrance took about 10 minutes and cost 200 yen. You have to walk again from the bus stop. It's about 0.7 miles, about 20 minutes. The problem is getting back here after you finish visiting the castle ruins. Because this shuttle road is one-way, if you want to return to this parking lot by shuttle, you have to go down the mountain to Takeda Station and then come back to this parking lot. It takes about 40 minutes. We chose to walk back to this parking lot. It was a very easy walk downhill. There are toilets and drink vending machines near the castle ruins entrance bus stop. There are no toilets at the upper castle ruins, so we recommend...

(castles visited 50+)

The view from the top was great, the experience was not. It kinda defined logic. It's a 40 minute hike, but they have a bus! They have a bus that cuts off about 15 minutes of the hike, but it only runs every 90min or so. I am not sure I have seen such a pointless service. But the confusion continues. The place where the bus (or taxi) parks can hold about 30 cars. But only one bus (that comes every 90 minutes can park there). Farther up, about 20-30 minutes, there is another area that could be used for parking, or expanded to allow more parking than is already there... But nope.

I'm 99% convinced it's just becuase they couldn't fit an omiyage shop at either of these locations so instead they came up with this convoluted wait 1 hour for a bus that cuts 13 minutes of your 40 minute hike.

The views were great from the top despite the fog, it was still cool. Maybe even more majestic than...

Castle in the sky. We were unlucky to see the beauty of a floating castle in the cloud. However, visiting it is definitely a right decision. The buildings are destroyed ages ago but the rock foundations remained for hundreds of years. Absolutely great constructions from the mid of 15th centry. Gorgeous view from the top. Picturing yourself as the Lord of the castle looking down to see all the lands and towns beneath you is an experience on another level.

Free parking is at the middle of the hill. It takes a bit effort for about 20min to climb up the castle along the driveway. It takes about one hour to explore the entire castle. Totally...