Takada Castle

Takada Castle's triple-turreted keep sits within a wide moat that reflects the surrounding cherry trees in spectacular fashion every April, earning it a spot among Japan's top 100 cherry blossom viewing sites. The nighttime illumination of the blooming trees, with thousands of lanterns and the castle glowing above, is considered one of the three best night-viewing cherry blossom spots in the country. Beyond spring, the castle park serves as a pleasant green space in the heart of Joetsu. The reconstructed keep houses a small local history museum.