The castle withstood two sieges by the Tokugawa army, which outnumbered the defenders by approximately 30,000 to 2,000.
The Sanada clan utilized a sophisticated system of moats that could be flooded by diverting the nearby Yada River during an attack.
The massive stone at the entrance of the West Turret gate is known as the Sanada Stone, weighing roughly 12 tons.
The castle was originally built on a plateau surrounded by deep ravines to provide a natural geographic advantage.
The castle is the setting for the popular Sanada Maru historical narratives, reflecting the clan's influence in the Sengoku period.
Ueda Castle is historically renowned for its two successful repulsions of the Tokugawa shogunate's massive army during the Siege of Ueda in 1600 and 1614. Built in 1583 by Sanada Masayuki, the site is currently designated as the Ueda Castle Ruins Park. Although the original main keep was dismantled following the Tokugawa victory, the park features reconstructed turrets and gates. The castle grounds are protected by significant stone walls and deep moats that originally served as a defensive river diversion system. It serves as the primary municipal park for Ueda, housing the Ueda City Museum and the Sanada Shrine. The grounds contain approximately 1,000 cherry trees, making it a prominent regional site for hanami (cherry blossom viewing). Its unique earthen fortifications, known as hori, remain partially intact as a testament to 16th-century Japanese military engineering.
The view of the East Turret framed by cherry blossoms in spring or the bright red torii gates at Sanada Shrine.
Prioritize walking the perimeter of the moats to see the scale of the original defensive fortifications.
Combine your visit with a walk through the nearby Yanagimachi area, which preserves Edo-period merchant houses.
Check the park map near the entrance to ensure you visit all three remaining reconstructed turrets.
Do not attempt to climb or walk on the original stone walls as they are fragile and pose a safety risk.
The Ueda City Museum is typically closed on Wednesdays; the park grounds remain open year-round.
Maintain silence inside the reconstructed turrets and remove footwear if entering the museum sections.
