Takato castle ruins from Nagano?

I was hoping to visit Takato Castle ruins during cherry blossom season from Nagano, but I'm reading on their website that there is only a bus from Inashi station, and not from Chino station, which is easier to access.
http://www.inacity.jp/shisetsu/koenshisetsu/takatojoshikoen.html

I know this website also mentions the Chino website. I also checked tripadvisor reviews, but the latest ones are from 2019 and did mention there not always being a bus from Chino. Getting there from Inashi station seems significantly longer. Any thoughts or recent experiences?

The buses to Chino run temporarily during the peak of the season. Last year they ran from April 2 to 12. I could not find the dates for 2023 yet.

According to the information in Japanese, it will operate from April 5th to April 11th in 2023.
https://takato-inacity.jp/2023/access-seasonal_bus
Adult 1420 yen, Child 710 yen
IC cards such as PASMO and SUICA, and 2000, 5000, and 10,000 yen bills cannot be used.
https://takato-inacity.jp/2023/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2023.pdf
Chino Station - Takato Station Timetable�iŠ�–ì‰w�`�‚‰“‰w�@Žž��•\�j
JR rapid bus�iJR‰õ‘¬ƒoƒX,JR Kaisoku basu)
Depart from JR Chino Station(JRŠ�–ì‰w”­)
Arrive at Takato Station(�‚‰“‰w’…)
Departure from Takato Station(�‚‰“‰w”­)
Arrive at JR Chino Station(JRŠ�–ì‰w’…)
The platform at JR Chino Station is the JR bus stop in front of the police box at the west exit.(JRŠ�–ì‰w‚Ì�æ‚è�ê‚Í�¼ŒûŒð”Ô‘OJRƒoƒX�æ‚è�ê‚Å‚·�B)
The platform at Takato Station is along the Takato Station national highway.(�‚‰“‰w‚Ì�æ‚è�ê‚Í�‚‰“‰w�‘“¹‰ˆ‚¢‚Ì‚è‚΂ł·�B)
It takes about 20 minutes on foot from Takato Station.

thanks for finding the info. seems like theyre also predicting a short and early season this year. I'll be too late for this unfortunately and I'm not sure I'd want to make the long trip from Inashi station if the petals will be falling. oh well.

According to the Japan Weather Association's announcement at 17:00 on March 13, 2023, Ina City: Takato Castle Ruins Park's expected flowering date is April 2nd, and the expected full bloom date is April 7th.
https://tenki.jp/sakura/expectation/

According to Weather Map (another weather information service), according to the information as of March 13, the forecasted flowering date for Nagano is April 2nd, and the full bloom date is April 6th. It's becoming
https://sakura.weathermap.jp/area.php?city=Nagano
Depending on the weather, it may be earlier, so it's better to check just before, but the timing of the bus from Chino Station is the timing of the full bloom so far.

Hard to think the bus dates will be pushed back though given the trend thus far for warm days. Seems like getting from Nagano to Inashi station is essentially 3 hours plus the bus ride to the park. That and the fact that my dates will be 5-6 days post full bloom.

I'm still debating between going to Nagano or Yoshino (or even Sendai) for the first part of my trip, hence this question. I'm also interested in Takada in Joetsu but it looks like that is peaking 4/3 - 4/5 by most estimates so even sooner than Takato.

I forgot when you will come to Japan.
If viewing cherry blossoms is your main theme, it might be better to go to Tohoku.
However, Sendai is scheduled to be in full bloom on April 4th, so I think Aomori, Akita, or Iwate prefectures in the north would be good.
https://hanami.walkerplus.com/list/ar0202/
https://hanami.walkerplus.com/list/ar0205/
https://hanami.walkerplus.com/list/ar0203/
On Mt. Yoshino, Okusenbon is scheduled to be in full bloom on April 14th.
https://www.town.yoshino.nara.jp/kanko-event/kanouki/kaika/

No worries, wouldn't expect you to remember. I am in Tohoku Apr 17 - 25.
Based in Fukushima 17 - 20, Morioka 20 - 22, and Aomori 22- 25. The Fukushima portion might be too late already too as it seems like southern Tohoku is quite warm this year. Was going to go to Aizu/Nicchu, and Yamagata on the Fukushima days.
14 - 17 is Mt Fuji
11 - 14 is Nagano or Kyoto/Yoshino.

Note that the buses from Chino will start running already from April 1 (because it looks like another very early season).

I abandoned the idea of going, wont be worth it. Maybe another year..