Hello, everyone!

Last week, I typed a bit about the town I used to live in called Ikuno. Today, I will talk about one of the more recent popular attractions in the city that Ikuno is part of - the Takeda Castle Ruins in Asago. It is on a mountain and it overlooks the city. The actual castle was burned down a long time ago, and only the rock walls and ground remain.

The Takeda Castle Ruins have gained more coverage in news and tourist advertisements over the years. Ever since a movie that was filmed not too long ago and featured the remains, more and more visitors have come from all around Japan to see the place. Many visitors try to arrive early in hopes to seeing the clouds form around the ruins and experience being in a "Castle in the Sky". New shops and restaurants have been built nearby in hopes of boosting tourism within the the city.

However, the city is starting to be more cautious with the increased number of visitors. The grounds of the ruins are starting to lose strength and the city and conservationists fear that the grounds may crumble if nothing is done to take care of the area.

I have visited the castle ruins a couple of times before it became really popular, and it is really cool to see the farmlands, hills, and towns that the area overlooks. Hopefully, the city is able to create a solid plan to preserve the grounds for people to visit and enjoy for many years to come.

- Patrick