The Takeda Castle was constructed on the mountain at 353 meters of altitude. It is one of the hundred most famous castles in Japan. In clear autumn mornings, thick fog can be seen surrounding the castle. This view creates an illusion of a floating castle. Hence the name, “Castle in the sky”.
At the moment, a great number of people have already experienced the magical scenery of the ruins. It is definitely one of the must-see sites in the Hyogo Prefecture!

It is very pleasant to take a walk in the old district of Takeda. You can visit temples, an old sake distillery, souvenir shops, the tourist office (inside Takeda Station) and the information center “Castle in the Sky” (Tenku no Shiro). All the information about the history of Takeda Castle and the history of Japanese castle are available in English.

Restaurants serve cuisine made with only the best locally produced ingredients, including the famous Tajima beef. You can also enjoy shopping for fun Tajima souvenirs and locally-grown vegetables. Information about Tajima is also available here. You can count on us!

A walk in Ikuno will unveil the beauty of the town. Itzutsu-ya was built in 1832. During the Edo era, it was forbidden for travelers to stay in the mine town. There were six inns exclusively for government officials visiting the mine town to stay in, Itzutsu-ya is one of them. Today, it is possible for tourists to visit Itzutsu-ya, which has been converted into a craft shop where many souvenirs in the shape of a salamander can be found. Indeed, the giant Japanese salamander research center is situated in Ikuno. Free entrance and closed on Mondays.

The exploitation of Ikuno silver mine started in 1542. The mine has been controlled by feudal lords such as Nobunaga Oda, Hideyoshi Toyotomi and Ieyasu Tokugawa during the Muromachi and Edo periods.
After the unification of Japan, the Ikuno mine came under the direct control of the government, then under the jurisdiction of the imperial estate after the restoration of the Emperor. The mine went through various modernizations with the presence of the French engineer Jean-François Coignet. A great quantity of silver and mineral has been extracted while the mine was in activity. The Ikuno silver mine is one of the greatest industrial heritage of Japan that it is possible to visit! Come to learn more about the story and the industrial heritage of the Ikuno Silver Mine.