Takeda Castle (竹田城 Takeda-jō) is a ruined castle in the city of Asago, in the northern part of Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan.[1] It is located north of Himeji, and north-west of Kyoto, and is situated some 353 metres above sea level[2] It is regarded as one of Japan's Top 100 Castles, and often referred to locally as the "Machu Picchu of Japan".[3]