"Takeda Castle Ruins", located in Asago City, north of Hyogo Prefecture. It is a scenic spot where you can enjoy cherry blossoms in the spring, fresh green in the early summer, autumn leaves and clouds in the fall, and the scene of snow in the winter. It is famous for being the location for movies and TV dramas, and it is called "castle in the sky" because of the landscape that floats within the sea of clouds. There are many tourists that visit.
About Takeda Castle Ruins
History and Layout
Takeda Castle Ruins is a mountain castle built on the top of Mount Kojo, which has an elevation of 353.7 meters. It is also known as "Torafusujo" because the mountain as-a-whole looks like a lying tiger. There is a three-sided soil and stone barrier placed radially around the castle and citadel with Tenshudai and Honmaru being in the middle, similar to Y-shape. Being about 100m east to west and about 400m north to south, it boasts as being the largest scale "Ishigaki remains still in existence" in Japan. It is believed that the castle, which was protected by clay walls at the time of construction, was renovated by the last owner of the castle into the castle with stone walls it is today.
The Nickname “Castle in the Sky”
In this region, heavy fog can occur on an often clear and sunny autumn morning. The mist surrounds the Takeda Castle Ruins and it looks as if it is floating in a sea of clouds, which gave it the nickname "castle in the sky". The observatory spot "Ritsuunkyo", located in the middle of Mount Asago, opposite to the Takeda Castle Ruins, is recommended if you want a panoramic view of the Takeda Castle Ruins.
Access
The nearest station, Takeda Station, can be accessed by foot, bus, or taxi. If going by foot, there are three mountain trails, but the easiest route is the mountain trail behind the station, which takes about 30 to 40 minutes. On sunny days, you can enjoy a pleasant hike in the forest, but it is dark and cold early in the morning, so taking a flashlight, warm clothes, and shoes that are easy to walk in, is recommended. If you’re taking the bus or taxi, you will need to stop at the parking lot, and it is approximately a 20-minute walk to the Takeda Castle Ruins from there. In addition, getting to the observation spot Ritsuunkyo is about 45 minutes on foot from Takeda Station or about 10 minutes by taxi.
Spot information
- Spot name: Takeda Castle Ruins
- Street address: 169 Kojo-zan, Wadayamacho Takeda, Asago-shi, Hyogo
- Access: Get off at Bantan Line Takeda Station, walk the mountain trail for approx. 30-40 minutes.
Takeda Castle Ruins during the Winter Season
In the winter season, viewing time is between 10:00 am to 2:00 pm from December 1st to January 3rd (final castle entrance is 1:00 pm), and is opened conditionally. Castle entrance is only possible from the mountain trail “Yamajiro no Go mountain trail”, and you can climb it on foot or take a taxi or chartered bus and get off at a taxi stop in the middle of the Takeda Castle Ruins, where from there, you can climb. Please note that the shuttle bus does not operate during the winter. It will be deemed unsafe if a weather warning has been issued or if there is snow or ice in the castle ruins or mountain trails, and you will not be able to enter the castle. The special viewing time on New Year's Day is extended.
The Conditions in which the fantastic "Castle of the Sky" can be seen
The conditions under which you can see the fantastic scenery of the Takeda Castle Ruins wrapped in the morning mist are as follows. You might be lucky enough to see an amazing view on a day when these are met.
- Between September and November, dawn to around 8 am
- High humidity and sufficient radiative cooling
- Sunny
- There is a big difference between the temperature of that morning and the temperature of the day before
- The wind is not strong
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