Ueda Castle, Medieval castle in Ueda, Japan
Ueda Castle is a flatland stone structure in the northern Ueda Basin, sitting on a terrace above the Chikuma River. The walls enclose several wooden gates, three of which were rebuilt in recent decades, along with one watchtower that dates to the Edo period.
Sanada Masayuki built the structure in 1583 and held it twice against Tokugawa attacks, first in 1585 and again in 1600. After the Sanada family fell, the fortress passed to other hands and was partly dismantled before being declared a protected site in the 20th century.
More than a thousand cherry trees transform the grounds each spring into a gathering place, while lanterns light the blossoms after dark. The area around the Sanada Shrine draws visitors who come to remember the defense against a much larger army.
The grounds include a museum, baseball field, civic center, and parking spaces for those arriving by car. Most areas are reachable on foot, though some sections involve uneven terrain that calls for sturdy shoes.
The West Tower is the only structure that still stands from the Edo period, while all other wooden buildings are more recent reconstructions. Archaeologists found remains of earlier defenses beneath the terrace, suggesting the site had been used before.
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