A landscape coloring page of the Takeda Castle ruins, the hilltop stone fortress in Japan known as the “castle in the sky.” This free printable is made for adults, seniors, and care settings: the stone walls and the open sky leave plenty of room to play with depth and shading. Download and print the PDF free — no registration required.
🗣 Conversation Starters — for care activities and family time
Have you ever seen a photograph of the Takeda Castle ruins floating above a sea of clouds?
Do you have memories of sightseeing in Hyogo or elsewhere in the Kansai region?
How does a dreamlike view like this “castle in the sky” make you feel?
Are you interested in castle ruins or mountaintop castles?
Why are the Takeda Castle ruins called the “castle in the sky”?
The ruins stand 353 m above sea level in Asago, Hyogo Prefecture. On early mornings from autumn into winter a sea of clouds gathers below them, and the stone walls appear to float above it — which is why the site is called the “castle in the sky” and “the Machu Picchu of Japan.” The view from the facing slope of Mount Asago is especially striking and has drawn admirers from around the world.
When was Takeda Castle built?
Takeda Castle is said to have been built in the mid-15th century, during the Muromachi period, by the Otagaki family, powerful local lords of Tajima. It later passed to the Yamana clan and to Hashiba (Toyotomi) Hideyoshi, and it was abandoned around the time of the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600.
How are the stone walls of the Takeda Castle ruins looked after?
The site is designated a National Historic Site and an admission fee is charged. Access is sometimes restricted during the busiest periods to protect the stonework. The surviving walls remain much as they were some 400 years ago and show nozura-zumi, an old technique of stacking natural, undressed stones.
