Ueda Castle
The third largest city in Nagano Prefecture, Ueda is home to Ueda Castle, once the home of the feared Sanada Clan of Samurai. Today its lack of a main keep means it is less famous than some other castles around, but those who visit will find a great spot to learn about Samurai history with museums, castle walls and gates, and beautiful trees. Not only just for fans of history, anyone can enjoy a relaxing stroll here with mountain scenery in the background.
— Ueda Castle and the Old Streets of Ueda
— Tours and Charters Around Ueda
On this page, we will introduce you to the appeal of Ueda Castle, as well as its surroundings and other things to do in Ueda City.
WHERE IS UEDA CASTLE?
Located in the heart of Ueda City, the castle is around a 10 minute walk from JR Ueda Station. Serviced by the Hokuriku Shinkansen, Ueda Station can be reached from Tokyo in just 1.5 hours, and from Nagano Station in only 15 minutes. Located in the northern half of Nagano Prefecture, Ueda can be combined with a trip to Nagano City, the Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, Shiga Kogen, or Utsukushigahara Kogen without much difficulty, especially if you have access to a car. It makes an especially great day trip for visitors staying in Nagano, or as a stopover on the way to or from Nagano and Tokyo.
UEDA CASTLE AND THE OLD STREETS OF UEDA
Built in 1583 by Sanada Masayuki, Ueda Castle is renowned as the fortification that allowed the fearsome Sanada clan to twice repel the even more legendary Tokugawa clan – the eventual rulers of Japan during the Edo Period (1603-1868)- in the years 1585 and 1600. Greatly outnumber by the Tokugawa forces, the Sanada clan used the imposing defences of Ueda Castle to repel an enemy accustomed to victory and thus establish their legend. The castle was partially demolished before being restored during the Edo Period and eventually entirely deconstructed during the Meiji Restoration when the castle grounds including its imposing foundation walls and moat system were transformed into a public park.
To this day, Ueda Castle Park is in every sense the true heart of the city and while the original castle no longer stands, the expansive park includes reconstructions of the East Gate and their defensive turrets. Other notable buildings within the park include Sanada Shrine and Ueda City Museum. Accessible at all times of day, the park boats hundreds of cherry blossom trees making it one of Nagano’s most renowned blossom-viewing spots and equally renowned for its beauty through autumn.
Around 10 minutes walk from Ueda Castle Park, Yanagimachi is a historic street once part of the Hokkoku Kaido – an important route that connected Ueda to Nagano and Niigata. The power of the ruling Sanada clan ensured the surrounding areas became important centers of commerce, accruing wealth and influence in their own right. Indeed he name Yanagimachi is listed on local maps dating from the early Edo Period, connecting its story to that of the castle itself. Today, the properly named ‘Hokkoku Kaido Yanagimachi’ remains in a beautiful state of preservation, lined with traditional merchant buildings housing a range of stores and eateries including Okazaki Sake Brewery, Takeda Miso Brewery Hishiya, Bakery Levain and Co. Labo Shop along with soba restaurants, cafes and more. Much more than just a dining and shopping street, Yanagimachi is a great destination for keen photographers or anyone wanting a glimpse of the Japan that once was. Opening times and days vary by shop with most operating from around 10:00 to between 16:00 or as late as 18:00.
25 THINGS TO DO AROUND UEDA
If you find yourself in Ueda for a couple days, rest assured that there is plenty to do beyond the castle in the city and its surroundings. Onsen towns, such as Bessho Onsen, mountains, and cycling roads dot the area and all travelers of any age or interest will be able to find something that draws their eye. In Spring, the blooming cherry blossoms and flowers around the valley will make for a great sight, and the colorful show of red and yellow leaves in fall is breathtaking. To learn more about what Ueda has to offer the traveler, please see our page ‘25 Things to Do Around Ueda / Bessho Onsen and Where to Stay‘ for more info.
TOURS AND CHARTERS AROUND UEDA
With so much to see in Ueda, taking part in a tour is a great way to make the most of your day. As Nagano’s No.1 Tour Provider, we are glad to offer our services in the way of group tours, private tours, and private charters, and will always do our best to make your visit unforgettable. For more information concerning these services, continue reading below.
1 Day Tour
| [Spring Only] 1-Day Tour: Snow Monkeys & Cherry Blossoms in Nagano | |
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| Period | April |
| Time | 09:35 – 17:30/18:30 |
| Meeting Place | Hotel Kokusai 21 Nagano Station |
| Adult Rate | ¥17,800 |
| Child Rate | ¥11,000 |
Combining Snow Monkeys and Cherry Blossoms, two of Japan’s biggest international hits, this tour is an easy way to enjoy the Spring season without worrying about confusing transport options. Our bus will take you to all of the destinations along the way, and our guides will make sure that you enjoy each stop. As the peak bloom of the blossoms is hard to predict, we change the location of the cherry blossom visit based on the day, and one of those locations is Ueda Castle. Although we cannot guarantee that the day of your visit will include Ueda Castle, we can guarantee that you will enjoy yourself no matter where we end up!
For a more personalized experience, private charters are also available. We can pick you up from a location of your choice anywhere in Central Japan, and bring you to your preferred destination. Airport pickup from Tokyo or Nagoya is also possible. Our services may be used for taking day trips that include a few hard to reach destinations as well, removing the hassle of using often infrequent public transport options. A guide can be requested for an additional fee to turn the day into a completely private tour, where you decide the itinerary and our guides show you around in a timely and engaging manner. For more information concerning pricing and availability, please see here.
