Ueda Castle
| Ueda Castle 上田城 |
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|---|---|
| Ueda, Nagano Prefecture, Japan | |
Ueda Castle
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| Coordinates | Coordinates: 36°24′15″N 138°14′39″E / 36.40413°N 138.24427°E |
| Type | hilltop-style Japanese castle |
| Site information | |
| Open to the public |
yes |
| Condition | partially reconstructed |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1583 |
| Built by | Sanada Masayuki |
| In use | Sengoku - Edo period |
| Demolished | 1874 |
Ueda Castle (上田城 Ueda-jō?) is a Japanese castle located in Ueda, northern Nagano Prefecture, Japan. At the end of the Edo period, Ueda Castle was home to a junior branch of the Matsudaira clan, daimyō of Ueda Domain, but the castle is better known for its association with the Sengoku period Sanada clan. It was also called Amagafuji-jō or Matsuo-jō.
Ueda Castle is located on a hill overlooking a branch of the Chikuma River at the northeast edge of the Nagano plain, which forms part of its southern defences and acts as a moat.
The Central Bailey (Hon-Maru) [1] originally had seven two-story yagura, but no donjon and was protected by a moat as well as stone ramparts. The Central Bailey is also surrounded by a Second Bailey (Ni-no-Maru) [2], also with moats and earthen ramparts. The adjacent Third Bailey (San-no-maru) [3], had additional yagura, of which only the foundation bases remain, and contained the main residence of the daimyō [R] (which was also protected by a moat), gardens [G] and work area [A], and the main gate (Ōtemon) of the castle [H]. Most of the area of the former Third Bailey is now occupied by the Ueda High School.
During the Sengoku period, the area around Ueda was under the control of the Sanada clan, a minor local warlord in the service of the Takeda clan. After the fall of the Takeda clan to the combined forces of Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu, the Sanada switched side with bewildering rapidity between the Uesugi clan, the Late Hōjō clan, Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi in an effort to preserve their territory and independence. Ueda Castle was constructed in 1583 by Sanada Masayuki with the assistance of his then-ally, Tokugawa Ieyasu as a stronghold against Uesugi Kagekatsu; however it came under attack by the Tokugawa in 1585 after Masayuki switched sides again join the Uesugi. The greatly outnumbered Sanada defeated the forces of Tokugawa Ieyasu in the Battle at Kami River, which greatly enhanced Sanada Masayuki’s reputation.
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