Japanese Castle guide in Japan castle Historical site Statue Introduction.

[Name]
Ueda Castle

[Description]
Ueda Castle was a Teikakushiki-style flatland castle in Ninomaru Ueda-shi, Nagano.
Masayuki Sanada, the head of administrative of Sanada Casle in Chisagata Shinano,
started building Ueda Casle in 1583, and construction took eight years to complete.

This castle is known for its history of defeating the Tokugawa force twice. At the siege of Ueda, in 1585 and in 1600, Masayuki Sanada only had an army half the size, but defeated the Tokugawa force and prevented the castle from falling.

However, the Nishi force which Masayuki Sanada was contributing to, lost at the battle of Sekigahara against Ieyasu Tokugawa. Masayuki was convicted and sent to Kudoyama
Kishu and Ueda Castle was partially destroyed after the battle.

Nobuyuki Sanada, the first son of Masayuki, was not charged because he supported the
Tokugawa force at the battle of Sekigahara, so the Sanada clan kept possession of Ueda Castle and Numata Castle. Although Nobuyuki asked the Edo government for a permission to repair the castle for several times, his requests were denied and ended up relocating to Matsushiro Shinano in 1622.

The Sengoku clan took over the castle after the Sanada clan left there. The Edo
government finally approved the Sengoku clan to repair the castle, and the reconstruction began in 1626. The way Ueda Castle is today had been designed at this time. Unfortunately, the castle reconstruction was stopped due to the death of TadamasaSengoku. By the final years of Edo era, the Sengoku clan was relocated and the Matsudaira clan took over the title.

The Ueda Ninomaru* ruin is now Ueda-jo Ato Park (the Ueda Castle ruin park), and there is Sanada Jinja (shrine) at the Ueda Honjo** ruin. Hoarding gates and fences are restored and maintained at the ruin, as well.

[Location]
6263- I Ninomaru Ueda-shi, Nagano (Uedajo-ato Park)

[Map]