Takeda Castle

Takeda Castle, located in Wadayama-chō, Asago City, Hyōgo Prefecture, is a historic Japanese mountain castle. Because its layout resembles a crouching tiger, it is also known as the “Castle of the Lying Tiger” (Torafusu-jō). It has been designated as a National Historic Site. Standing atop the mountain peak, the castle ruins often appear and disappear amidst the river mist of the Maruyama River, earning it the nicknames “Castle in the Sky” and “Japan’s Machu Picchu.” When the sea of clouds rises, the massive stone walls look as if they are floating above the clouds, creating one of the most iconic landscapes of the region.

Takeda Castle was constructed on the 353.7-meter-high Mount Kojo (also known as Mount Torafusu). Its terrain is strategically steep, with a commanding view of the Ritsuun Gorge to the east. The entire structure is massive, stretching about 400 meters north to south and 100 meters east to west. At its center stands the main keep foundation (Tenshudai), surrounded by the Honmaru, Ninomaru, Sannomaru, and Minami-Ninomaru baileys. To the north and south are the expansive areas known as Kita-senjo and Minami-senjo, while the Hanayashiki compound was built to the northwest of the Tenshudai. Although abandoned for around 400 years, the stone walls remain well-preserved, making it one of the largest surviving mountain castles in Japan.

To preserve and promote the charm of Takeda Castle, Asago City established a dedicated “Takeda Castle Division” in 2012, which was responsible for its management and promotion. Although this division was merged into the Tourism Exchange Division and Cultural Properties Division in 2017, Takeda Castle remains the most important tourism resource and cultural symbol of Asago City.