The recent popularity of the ruins of Takeda Castle, located atop a mountain in Asago, Hyogo Prefecture, and looking as if they are floating in the sky, has given impetus to the efforts of other sites across Japan that may boast similar scenery.
With its popularity on the rise, the number of tourists who visited Takeda Castle in fiscal 2013 exceeded 500,000.
The castle first gained its recognition among Internet users who gave it the name "Castle in the Sky," reminiscent of the view depicted in Hayao Miyazaki's animated movie "Castle in the Sky."