# Takeda Castle > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Takeda_Castle > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Takeda_Castle.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takeda_Castle > Source revision: 1302126913 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{short description|Castle ruins in Asago, Japan}} {{Infobox military structure | name = Takeda Castle | nativename-a={{lang|ja|竹田城}} | partof = | location =Asago, Hyōgo, Japan | image = 竹田城.JPG | image_size = | caption = Takeda Castle | map_type = Japan Hyogo Prefecture#Japan | map_alt = Location in Japan | map_relief = 1 | map_caption = Takeda Castle |coordinates = {{Coord|35|18|00|N|134|49|44|E|region:JP-27|display=inline,title}} | type = [Mountaintop-style castle](/source/Japanese_castle) | height = | ownership = [Yamana clan](/source/Yamana_clan) | controlledby = | condition = ruins | built = c.1441 | builder = Otagaki Mitsukage | used = | materials =Stone walls | demolished = 1600 | battles = | past_commanders = | garrison = | occupants = | events = |footnotes = {{box|background=white|align=center|wide=yes|border size=3px|border color=brown|text align=center|[National Historic Site of Japan](/source/Monuments_of_Japan)}} {{maplink2|type=point|frame=yes|plain=yes|zoom=14|frame-align=center|frame-width=200|coord={{coord|35|18|00|N|134|49|44|E}}}}}} thumb|right|250px|Ruins of Takeda Castle {{Nihongo|'''Takeda Castle'''|竹田城|Takeda-jō}} was a [Sengoku period](/source/Sengoku_period) [Japanese castle](/source/Japanese_castle) located in the [Wadayama](/source/Wadayama%2C_Hy%C5%8Dgo) neighborhood of the city of [Asago](/source/Asago%2C_Hy%C5%8Dgo), in the northern part of [Hyōgo Prefecture](/source/Hy%C5%8Dgo_Prefecture), Japan.{{cite web|url=http://www.jcastle.info/castle/profile/11|title=Takeda Castle|publisher=Jcastle - Guide to Japanese Castles|access-date=1 April 2014|archive-date=15 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170615072405/http://www.jcastle.info/castle/profile/11|url-status=dead}} It is located north of [Himeji](/source/Himeji), and north-west of [Kyoto](/source/Kyoto), and is situated some 353 metres above sea level{{Cite web|url=http://www.city.asago.hyogo.jp/kankou/eng/TakedaCastle.html|title=Asago City {{!}} Takeda Castle Ruins|website=www.city.asago.hyogo.jp|language=ja|access-date=2018-05-05|archive-date=2022-10-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221022114834/http://www.city.asago.hyogo.jp/kankou/eng/TakedaCastle.html|url-status=dead}} It is often referred to locally as the "[Machu Picchu](/source/Machu_Picchu) of Japan".{{cite web |url=http://www.visitjapan.jp/en/article/?id=88takeda |title=The Machu Picchu of Japan, Takeda Castle ! | JAPAN VIDEOS - DISCOVER the SPIRIT of JAPAN |access-date=2014-11-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129152252/http://www.visitjapan.jp/en/article/?id=88takeda |archive-date=2014-11-29 }} Accessed 2014-11-25 The castle was destroyed during the [Sengoku period](/source/Sengoku_period), only its foundations and stone walls remain. The ruins have been protected as a [National Historic Site](/source/Historic_Sites_of_Japan) since 1943. {{cite web|url=https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/heritages/detail/161758|title=竹田城跡 |work=Cultural Heritage Online|publisher=Agency for Cultural Affairs|language=Japanese|accessdate=15 September 2021}} ==History== Takeda Castle is located on Mount Shiroyama at a strategic location commanding the intersection of the San'indo highway from [Tanba](/source/Tanba_Province) to [Inaba Province](/source/Inaba_Province) connects with the road south to [Harima Province](/source/Harima_Province) and the [Seto Inland Sea](/source/Seto_Inland_Sea). The castle is also close to the [Ikuno mine](/source/Ikuno_mine), one of the largest silver mines in Japan during the [Muromachi period](/source/Muromachi_period). {{cite book |last1=Isomura |first1=Yukio |last2=Sakai |first2=Hideya |title=(国指定史跡事典) National Historic Site Encyclopedia |date=2012 |publisher=学生社 |isbn=978-4311750403}}{{in lang|ja}} The area came under the control of the [Yamana clan](/source/Yamana_clan), a cadet branch of the [Nitta clan](/source/Nitta_clan), in the [Muromachi period](/source/Muromachi_period). The Yamana clan had close relations with the [Ashikaga shogunate](/source/Ashikaga_shogunate) and was one of four clans with hereditary rights to the position of ''[Samurai-dokoro](/source/Samurai-dokoro)''. The Yamana leveraged their position to eventually claim the position of ''[shugo](/source/shugo)'' over 11 of the 66 provinces of Japan. However, the Ashikaga grew fearful of the expanding power of the clan, and Shogun [Ashikaga Yoshimitsu](/source/Ashikaga_Yoshimitsu) encouraged internal conflicts within the clan and sponsored the [Hosokawa clan](/source/Hosokawa_clan) in its position of ''[kanrei](/source/kanrei)'' to offset the Yamana. By the middle of the 15th century, the power the Ashikaga shogunate began to decline, and a succession dispute within the shogunate led to the [Ōnin War](/source/%C5%8Cnin_War) from 1467 to 1477. Takeda Castle was built during this period by Otagaki Mitsukage, a retainer of [Yamana Sōzen](/source/Yamana_S%C5%8Dzen), in 1441; however, many details are unclear and this date is uncertain. The year 1441 is the year when [Shogun](/source/Shogun) [Ashikaga Yoshinori](/source/Ashikaga_Yoshinori) was assassinated by the [Akamatsu clan](/source/Akamatsu_clan). The Yamana clan and the Akamatsu clan went into war against one another, and Takeda Castle was constructed both to protect the Ikuno mine, but also to guard the border between Akamatsu-held Harima and Yamana-held Tajima. In 1468, a large [Hosokawa clan](/source/Hosokawa_clan) army was defeated by Yamana forces led by Otagaki Mitsukage from Takeda Castle. The Ōnin War weakened the Yamana clan as the conflict extended into decades. Even within their strongholds Tajima itself, the Yamana mostly became nominal overlords as local retainers (such as the Otagaki) gained much independence. Under these circumstances, the clan was defeated in 1576 by [Toyotomi Hideyoshi](/source/Toyotomi_Hideyoshi). [Yamana Suketoyo](/source/Yamana_Suketoyo) managed to escape to [Sakai](/source/Sakai) and was pardoned by Nobunaga in 1570, and allowed to return to his ancestral territory in Tajima. Although he served Nobunaga loyally, in 1580 when Toyotomi Hideyoshi was fighting the Mōri clan, the Otagaki clan, defected to the enemy. Hideyoshi charged the Yamana with treason, and attacked [Arikoyama Castle](/source/Arikoyama_Castle), ending the power of the clan. Hideyoshi assigned the area to his younger brother, [Toyotomi Hidenaga](/source/Toyotomi_Hidenaga). Hidenaga appointed his general [Kuwaharu Shigeharu](/source/Kuwaharu_Shigeharu) (1524-1606) as castellan, but after Hidenaga was transferred to [Yamato Province](/source/Yamato_Province), Hideyoshi placed [Akamatsu Hirohide](/source/Akamatsu_Hirohide) (1562-1600) as a governor of this castle. Under Hirohide, Takeda Castle was significantly reconstructed. Akamatsu retained the basic layout: from the summit of the mountain, three ridges extend outwards, and each ridge was shaped by [enclosures](/source/kuruwa) which made extensive use of the natural terrain. Akamatsu added stone walls and dry moats. After the death of Hideyoshi, Akamatsu was initially loyal to the [Toyotomi side](/source/Toyotomi_Hideyori), but after the [Battle of Sekigahara](/source/Battle_of_Sekigahara), changed his fealty to [Tokugawa Ieyasu](/source/Tokugawa_Ieyasu). Ordered to attack [Tottori Castle](/source/Tottori_Castle), he was accused of setting fire to the [jokamachi](/source/jokamachi) during the siege and was forced to commit [seppuku](/source/seppuku). Takeda Castle was destroyed at this time, but the foundations and stone walls were allowed to remain relatively intact. {{cite web |url=http://www.jcastle.info/castle/profile/11 |title=Takeda Castle |publisher=jcastle.info|access-date=2014-04-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140210123149/http://www.jcastle.info/castle/profile/11 |archive-date=2014-02-10 }} Due to its mountaintop location, often above the cloud layer, the castle ruins have become a popular tourist attraction. It is located a 60-minute walk from [Takeda Station](/source/Takeda_Station_(Hy%C5%8Dgo)) on the [JR West](/source/JR_West) [Bantan Line](/source/Bantan_Line), but the climb is very steep. Takeda Castle was listed as one of [Japan's Top 100 Castles](/source/Japan's_Top_100_Castles) by the Japan Castle Foundation in 2006.[https://web.archive.org/web/20141117152607/http://www1a.biglobe.ne.jp/nihonjokaku/ Japan Castle Foundation] ==Gallery== 竹田城.JPG|Takeda Castle Takeda castle 04.JPG|Stone wall of Hanayashiki compound Takeda castle 44.jpg|Gate of Tenshu tower Takeda castle 17.JPG|Honmaru compound Takeda castle 09.JPG|Minami Senjojiki compound Takeda castle 33.jpg|Stone wall of Mitsukeyagura tower == Literature == *{{cite book |title=An Encyclopedia of Japanese Castles | last=De Lange |first=William |year=2021 |pages=600 pages|publisher=Toyo Press |location=Groningen |isbn=978-9492722300}} ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== {{Commons category-inline|Takeda Castle}} * {{Official website|http://www.city.asago.hyogo.jp/kankou/eng/index-en.html}} *[https://www.hyogo-tourism.jp/spot/846 Hyogo Tourism official home page] {{100 Fine Castles of Japan}} {{Authority control}} Category:Castles in Hyōgo Prefecture Category:Historic Sites of Japan Category:Tajima Province Category:Asago, Hyōgo Category:Ruined castles in Japan --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Takeda Castle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takeda_Castle) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takeda_Castle?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.