高島城（諏訪の浮城）
Takashima Castle (Floating Castle of Suwa)
Overview
Takashima Castle was built in 1593 by Hine Takayoshi, a Toyotomi retainer, on the shores of Lake Suwa in Nagano Prefecture. Nicknamed the 'Floating Castle of Suwa,' it appeared to float on the lake's surface. The Suwa region is home to Suwa Taisha, one of Japan's oldest shrines, venerated as a god of war and hunting — making it a sacred site for warriors throughout Japanese history. Takeda Shingen deeply revered the shrine and conquered the Suwa clan in 1542, setting the stage for his Shinano campaigns. After Sekigahara, the Suwa clan recovered their domain (30,000 koku) and governed until the Meiji era. The reconstructed three-story tower stands on the lakeshore as a beloved symbol of Suwa.
Connection to Swords
Takashima Castle's sword culture is inseparable from the Suwa Taisha shrine, one of Japan's oldest and most revered military shrines. Warriors from across Japan offered swords before battle and after victory, making Suwa Taisha one of the greatest repositories of historical blade offerings. Takeda Shingen, who conquered the Suwa domain in 1542, was an avid sword collector whose patronage supported Shinano Province's swordsmithing tradition. Practical, battle-hardened blades were the hallmark of Shinano swordsmiths serving the mountainous region's warriors. After Sekigahara, the Suwa clan's official swordsmiths continued the tradition with aesthetically refined pieces suited to the peaceful Edo period. The castle tower museum and Suwa Taisha Treasure Hall preserve domain swords and historic blade offerings.
Highlights
- Takashima Castle tower (1970 reconstruction, Suwa domain history museum)
- Suwa Taisha (four shrine precincts — one of Japan's oldest shrines, military god)
- Suwa Taisha Treasure Hall (swords and arms offered by warriors)
- Lake Suwa 'Omiwatari' (ice ridges on the frozen lake surface, a millennium-old sacred phenomenon)
- Katakura-kan bathhouse (Important Cultural Property, Roman-style communal bath from 1928)
- Lake Suwa fireworks festival
* Opening hours and admission fees are subject to change. Please check the official website before visiting.