Uedajo Castle Ruin Park : 上田城跡公園
Invincible Castle Famous for Twice Repulsing the Tokugawa Shogunate.
Eastern Nagano
Description
Ueda Castle, especially its original tower and impressive main gate, will impress you with its massive size and stonework. The castle grounds are famous for the cherry blossoms in April and the colorful foliage in the fall. Ueda City’s “Omotenashi Bushotai” samurai performances take place at scheduled times throughout the year. Two of the recreated towers are open for touring (entrance fee required).
As with most similar castles in Japan, Ueda Castle was torn down after the Meiji Restoration. Many of its timbers were then repurposed to construct other buildings in the area. When civic leaders decided to rebuild, after an exhaustive search they tracked down many of those timbers and re-repurposed them for the castle's reconstruction. Despite being recreated relatively recently (the main gate was finished in 1996), the use of the original posts and beams adds an air of authenticity to the construction.
Also of note in the castle grounds is the water well which purportedly is connected to a secret tunnel that leads to a temple outside the eastern moat.
Details
60
5
- Date(s)
- Open year-round
- Reservations
- Not required
Notes
City museum: 8:30 to 17:00 (doors close 16:30) Admission: 250
Closes every Wed, the day after national holiday, and year-end and new-year holidays.
Ueda Castle Turret closes in winter (Dec to Mar).
Tel# is for the Ueda Convention Bureau.
Contact
Access / Location
- By Train
- From Ueda Station(JR Hokuriku(Nagano) Shinkansen), On foot: Go straight up from Ueda Station Castle Exit and turn left at the "Chuo 2 Chome" intersection. Approx. 12 min.
- By Car
- From Ueda Sugadaira IC, 12 min
- Address
- Ninomaru, Ueda 386-0026
Nearby Attractions
Sightseeing Spots
- Uedajo Castle Ruin Park : Invincible Castle Famous for Twice Repulsing the Tokugawa Shogunate, Secrets of Ninja and Ninja Training Center
- Yanagi-Machi Post Town : The Past Meets the Present in Ueda City’s Historical Post Town
- Ikenami Shotaro Sanada Taiheiki Museum Ninnindo : Sanada ninja’s mission and duty are introduced in a fun picture-story show.
- Ikushima-Tarushima Shrine : Distinct Vermilion-colored Shrine in Japan's Geographic Center
- Unno-juku Post Town : Post Town with Distinctive Architecture and Beautiful Streetscape
Accommodation
- Ueda Mahoroba Youth Hostel in Bessho Onsen : "At-Home" Youth Hostel convenient to Bessho Onsen.
- Hanaya in Bessho Onsen : Traditional Japanese Construction Built by Master Craftsmen with Western Accents for a "Taisho Romance" Feel.
- Uematsuya Ryokan in Bessho Onsen : Friendly Ryokan in the Center of Bessho Onsen.
- Izumiya Ryokan in Reisenji Onsen : Simple Onsen Inn Secluded in the Hills in Reisenji Onsen
- Hotel Platon : City Hotel Amenities at Reasonable Prices with Onsen Baths.
Restaurants
- Cafe Levian Table & Tatami-Cafe Eboshi : Artisan Bakery in a Sake Warehouse.
- Kokuzo : Natural Yeast Artisan Bread Shop in a 150-Year Old Farmhouse.
- Soba Hojyo-an : Locally Grown and Milled "Homecoming Soba".
- Ramen Kameya : Feel At Home with Kameya's Locally-Sourced Ramen.
- Daikokuya : Kamiyamada Onsen's Tiny Cafeteria Famous for Their Ramen and Garlic-Sauce Tonkatsu Pork.
Activities
- Volunteer Guide Tours in Ueda : Have a Volunteer English Guide Show You Ueda's Castle Town!
- Silk Weaving Experience (Ueda Tsumugi) : Sit at a 100-Year Old Loom and Make Your Own Ueda Silk Weaving.
- Shioda Plain Temple Walk : Take in the Historical Temples around Bessho Onsen with this 1-Day Tour.
- Zazen Meditation -- At Bessho Onsen's Historical Anraku-ji Temple : Attend a Zazen Meditation Session at Bessho Onsen’s Historical Anraku-Ji Temple.
- Hotto Stay Rural Visit : Rural Lifestyle Mini-Experience.
