Takeda

Hi,
I am going to Takeda next week. I have a few questions to ask:
1. Is Takeda still open to tourists? There are rumours that it is closed. Please verify.
2. Where can I take the photo of 'castle in the sky'? Those photos must be taken from somewhere high and far.
3. I am thinking of staying in Wadayama for 2 nights as I cannot get any accommodation in Kyoto and Osaka. Are there any interesting places around that area that are worth visiting?
Hope to hear from someone soon. Thanks.

I assume you are talking about this:
http://ja.japantravel.com/view/the-ruins-of-takeda-castle

As far as I can tell from this website, one of the hiking trails from the station is closed (two others are open), and the castle keep and its base are not open to public, as they are under renovation.
http://www.city.asago.hyogo.jp/0000003314.html

You can enter the castle site from Sept. 21 to Dec. 10, between 3am and 4 pm.

This page has some tips about getting good photos from/to the castle ruins looking down on Takeda town. http://www.city.asago.hyogo.jp/0000001274.html

The —§‰_‹¬ mentioned here (about in the middle of the page linked above) will get you good view of the Takeda castle ruins.

I have not been there myself, so I cannot provide any more details.