Usual hours and prices, checked 2026-09-15 against the sources under “What this place is”. They can change for holidays and events — confirm before you go. Official site
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Our guide
Takeda Castle was a Sengoku-period castle in Asago, in the north of Hyōgo Prefecture, north of Himeji. It was destroyed in that same period, and only its foundations and stone walls remain, some 353 m above sea level — which is why it is often called, locally, the “Machu Picchu of Japan”. The ruins have been a National Historic Site since 1943.
The opening hours tell you what the place is known for: from June to early December the site opens at 5:00, and mid-September to early December is described as the sea-of-clouds season. It closes completely for winter from 4 January to the end of February, and you must start up the trail at least 30 minutes before closing (an hour before on the south trail). Takeda Station on the Bantan Line is about 600 m away in a straight line.
Written by japan-spots.com (2026-09-22) from the sources credited on this page. Distances are straight lines between map positions.
Photos
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, each under its own licence — see credits
- 竹田城 — Wae35244 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- TakedaCastleFrom — Ippukucho · CC BY 3.0 · source · resized
- TakedaCastle4 — Ippukucho · CC BY 3.0 · source · resized
- TakedaCastle3 — Ippukucho · CC BY 3.0 · source · resized
- TakedaCastle2 — Ippukucho · CC BY 3.0 · source · resized
- TakedaCastle1 — Ippukucho · CC BY 3.0 · source · resized
- Flickr - bullets95 - DSC01859 — bullets95 · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source · resized
What this place is
Takeda Castle (竹田城, Takeda-jō) was a Sengoku period Japanese castle located in the Wadayama neighborhood of the city of Asago, in the northern part of Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. It is located north of Himeji, and north-west of Kyoto, and is situated some 353 metres above sea level It is often referred to locally as the "Machu Picchu of Japan". The castle was destroyed during the Sengoku period, only its foundations and stone walls remain. The ruins have been protected as a National Historic Site since 1943.
Visitor information checked: 2026-09-15 · Takeda Castle Ruins (Asago City): entry hours · Takeda Castle Ruins (Asago City): admission
Background text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
What to expect at this type of place: Castle
Nearby station
Nearby station: Takeda (Bantan Line), about 600 m from the spot in a straight line.
Worked out on 2026-09-14 from this place’s map position, using HeartRails Express station data and station names from Wikidata. The distance is a straight line, not a walking route, and says nothing about buses, transfers or timetables — plan the trip on Google Maps.
Where to stay nearby
Hotels near Takeda Castle Ruins on Agoda
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