Ueda Castle

Welcome to Ueda Castle, a site that occupies a legendary status in the annals of Japanese military history. As you stand within these grounds in northern Nagano Prefecture, you are exploring a fortress that was never conquered in…

Our tour begins just outside the castle grounds at Ueda Station, where you are greeted by the magnificent bronze statue of Sanada Yukimura. Although his father, Masayuki, built the castle, it is Yukimura who has become a global…

We arrive now at the 'Higashi-koguchi-yagura-mon,' or the East Tiger Gate, the main entrance into the castle’s 'Honmaru' or inner sanctum. This gate, flanked by the North and South Turrets, is a classic example of Sengoku-period…

Within the heart of the inner ward stands the Sanada Shrine, a place of spiritual focus for the castle's history. Interestingly, the shrine was originally dedicated to the Matsudaira family, the final lords of Ueda, but in the…

While the North and South turrets we saw earlier were restored, the 'Nishi-yagura,' or Western Turret, is the only one that has remained standing in its original position since it was built in 1626 by the Sengoku family. This…

To truly understand why Ueda Castle was unconquerable, we must step down to the area known as 'Amagafuchi.' Today, this is a parking lot and a peaceful park, but in the Sengoku period, a branch of the Chikuma River flowed…

Our final section takes us along the 'Keyaki-namiki' or the Zelkova Tree Walkway. This beautiful, shaded path, lined with trees over 100 years old, follows the curve of what was once the 'Ni-no-maru' or second ward moat. …

As we conclude our exploration of Ueda Castle, I hope you feel the resonance of the 'unconquered' spirit that defines this site. We have walked from the modern station, through the deceptive gates of the Sanada, and along the…