Takeda Castle (竹田城跡, Takedajō-seki) is a ruined castle in Asago City, Hyogo Prefecture, that is also known as the “castle floating in the sky” because of the way it appears to be floating on a sea of clouds on foggy autumn mornings.
The castle was originally built in 1411 and was later conquered by Toyotomi Hideyoshi on one of his western campaigns to reunite Japan. The castle’s forces fought against the Tokugawa clan during the battle of Sekigahara in 1600, and the castle was abandoned not long after. It then gradually disintegrated over the centuries until the ruins were restored in the 1970s and 80s and the castle opened as a tourist site.
No buildings are left standing on the castle grounds, but the foundations are still largely intact, making it easy to see the castle’s layout with a central fortress and three wings emanating from it. Visitors follow a marked-off, one-way walking course, and there are various locations around the grounds with great views of the surrounding mountains and the town below.
The spectacle of the ruins atop the mountain in the clouds often appears on cold mornings in autumn and winter.
From this year, the Asago city chamber of commerce and industry began lighting up the castle ruins, which are designated by the government as a historical site, not only at night but also in the predawn hours.
* The best time to view the floating castle is in October and November around sunrise (6:00 to 6:30) *
Photo: Hyogo, Japan photo trip
Source: Japan Guide
Period:
Spring: From 1 March ~ 31 May 2017(8am~6pm)
Summer: From 1 June ~ 31 August 2017(6am~6pm)
Autumn: From 1 September ~ 30 November 2017(4am~5pm)
Winter: From 1 December ~ 3 January 2018 (10am~2pm)
Sea of clouds bus (special early bus):
16 September from (Sat) ~ 26 November (Sun) ( Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays)
*8 October 2017 (Due to the festival, no bus will be operated to the castle.)
Time: Every 20 minutes from 4 am to 6:20 am (departure station: Wadayama Aeon)
Fees: Adults: one way 500 yen, Children: one way 250 yen