Takeda Shrine

During the Muromachi Age (1336 - 1573) , the area of current Yamanashi Prefecture was "Kai" Province and was governed by the TAKEDA Clan. TAKEDA Shingen (1521 - 1573) , the nineteenth generation, was the most well known and had the most brilliant success among TAKEDA's Clan head.

If you go straight to the north from Kofu Station, you will arrive at Takeda Shrine. The location of Takeda Shrine used to be their castle, named "Tsutsujigasaki" Castle. The castle was originally built in 1519, by TAKEDA Nobutora (1494 - 1574) , who was farther of TAKEDA Shingen.

Moat remains at the south and the west sides of the Takeda Shrine.

These battel banners show the following battle policy of TAKEDA Shingen (1521 - 1573) ;
"as fast as the wind, as quiet as the forest, as daring as fire, and as immovable as the mountain"
These words are very well known to Japanese as "FURINKAZAN".

Takeda Shrine was built in 1919. The shrine enshrines TAKEDA Shingen.

TAKEDA Shingen lived in the latter half of the Muromachi Age. This age is called the "Sengoku" Age, which means the age of provincial wars. His way of wars, described on the banners, was very much frightening to other feudal lords and he expanded his territory to the east south part of "Mino" Province, currently Gifu Prefecture and to the southern half of "Shinano" Province, currently Nagano Prefecture.

A huge platter was displayed in front of the shrine building. The letters of "FURINKAZAN" were printed on the platter. Four diamonds shaped symbol at the center of the platter is the family crest of TAKEDA Clan.

When TAKEDA Shingen was the castle lord, the main gate was located to the east of the castle. The excavational investigations were conducted at the site of the main gate in 2006. Stone walls of the main gate was rebuilt based on the results of the investigations.

From the main gate, you will see the top of Mt. Fuji. I guess TAKEDA Shingen also had seen this scenery.

Banks and moat at the main gate were also rebuilt as they were. Compared with TAKEDA Shingen's strongth, the structure of the castle was simple and the defensive structure of the castle seems not strongly fortified.

It was said that the strongness of TAKEDA Shingen was because of his united retainers. "People are stone walls and people are the castle". This is also very well known phrase of TAKEDA Shingen.

This is the scenery to the north of Takeda Shrine. Takeda Shrine is surrounded by mountains and is located near the border of mountains and flatland, "Kofu Basin".

TAKEDA Shingen lost his life with a sudden illness in 1573 on his way to Kyoto, to be a "Shogun" to govern all of Japan. If he did not catch the illness, the history of Japan would have been different. The TAKEDA Clan was ruined in 1582, at the generation of TAKEDA Katsuyori (1546 - 1582) . When the TAKEDA Clan was ruined, almost all retainers left from TAKEDA Katsuyori.

How to get there
Take a Limited Express "Super Azusa", "Azusa" or "Kaiji" from Shinjyuku to Kofu. Take a bus from the number 2 bus stop at the north exit of Kofu Station to Takeda Shrine. It takes you eight minutes.

Other Historical Sites near by:
Ruins of Kofu Castle
Erinji Temple
Shosenkyo Gorge
Ruins of Shinpu Castle