[1] It is located north of Himeji, and north-west of Kyoto, and is situated some 353 metres above sea level[2] It is often referred to locally as the "Machu Picchu of Japan".

[5] Takeda Castle was built during this period by Otagaki Mitsukage, a retainer of Yamana Sōzen, in 1441; however, many details are unclear and this date is uncertain.

In 1468, a large Hosokawa clan army was defeated by Yamana forces led by Otagaki Mitsukage from Takeda Castle.

Yamana Suketoyo managed to escape to Sakai and was pardoned by Nobunaga in 1570, and allowed to return to his ancestral territory in Tajima.

[5] After the death of Hideyoshi, Akamatsu was initially loyal to the Toyotomi side, but after the Battle of Sekigahara, changed his fealty to Tokugawa Ieyasu.

Ordered to attack Tottori Castle, he was accused of setting fire to the jokamachi during the siege and was forced to commit seppuku.