Ueda, Castle town in Nagano Prefecture, Japan
Description
Ueda sits in Nagano Prefecture along the Chikuma River, surrounded by forested hills that mark the transition between highland and valley. The settlement spreads across both riverbanks and includes residential neighborhoods, commercial districts, and temple precincts that occupy quiet corners throughout the urban grid.
History
During the 16th century the Sanada clan built a castle here and defended it twice against attacks by Tokugawa armies. The settlement grew as a castle town throughout the Edo period and remained a trading center in the Shinano region.
Culture
The Ueda Sanada Festival features period-costumed processions and taiko drumming performances near the castle grounds, celebrating the region's samurai heritage.
Practical
The Hokuriku Shinkansen line connects Ueda Station directly to Tokyo and Nagano, making it a workable starting point for exploring the prefecture. Several local bus routes run to nearby hot spring villages and hiking trails in the surrounding mountains.
Did you know?
Anraku-ji temple holds the only surviving octagonal three-tiered pagoda in Japan, a medieval structure of rare form. Visitors can examine the finely carved wooden supports and curved roof up close, which differs from the usual four- or six-sided pagodas.
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Ueda Castle
518 m
Utsukushigahara
23.4 km
Mugonkan
7.7 km
Sugadaira Highlands
15.8 km
Mount Azumaya
21.4 km
Mount Minakami
17.1 km信州観光ホテル
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7.5 km
Kitamuki-kan'non
10.1 km
Utsukushi-ga-hara Open-Air Museum
21.4 km
Anraku-ji
10.2 km
Katsurao Castle
10.5 km
Château de Sanada Honjo
8 km
Shakusonji
14.6 km
Château d'Arato
13.3 km
Shinano Kokubun-ji
2.9 km
Zensan-ji
8.2 km
Daihō-ji
9.3 kmUeda Kotsu Moha 5250
9.5 km
Shioda Plain
8.9 km
Iwabana
4.2 km
Matsushiro Seismological Observatory
16.3 km
Eboshi-dake
12.9 km
Ueda Roman Bridge
5.2 km
Chōraku-ji
17.9 kmChâteau de Shiodashiro
8.4 km
Hijiri Aviation Museum
18.7 kmDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
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