19 Castles in Nagano worth your time

Ueda Castle: a reconstructed Edo period castle with historical significance and cherry blossoms.

What it is

• A castle built by Sanada Masayuki, started in 1583.
• Destroyed in 1601, then rebuilt from 1626.
• Reconstruction by Sengoku Tadamasa in the early Edo period.
• Designated a National Historic Site in 1934.

What to see

• Three yagura (turrets) in the honmaru (main enclosure).
• Two relocated yagura returned to original positions.
• Ueda Castle Park.
• Views from a castle north of the Ueda Basin.

When to go

• Cherry blossom season for viewing in the park.

Official site

www.ueda-cb.gr.jp

Read more about Ueda Castle

Explore the ruins of a Sengoku period fortified residence and its historical park.

What it is

• A fortified residence of the Takanashi clan.
• Also known as Takanashi Castle or Nakano Castle.
• Construction began in the early Sengoku period.
• Designated a National Historic Site in 2007.

What to see

• Takanashi Yakata Ato Park, 130m east-west, 100m north-south.
• Excavated remains of a gate.
• Foundations of five stone buildings.
• Foundations of seven pillar buildings.

Getting there

• Free parking lot at Takanashi Yakata Ato Park.

Read more about Takanashi clan fortified residence

Explore a historic hill castle site with a shrine, park, and scenic views.

What it is

• A hirayama-jiro, a castle built on a hill.
• Founded as a branch castle of the Takanashi clan.
• Rebuilt in 1564 by Uesugi Kenshin as a front-line base.
• Became the seat of the Iiyama Domain during the Edo period.

What to see

• The castle site is surrounded by the Chikuma River and mountains.
• Aoi Shrine stands on the former main keep area.
• The second bailey is maintained as a castle park.
• Stone walls, rebuilt in 1849 after an earthquake.

Read more about Iiyama Castle

Explore Komoro Castle, a unique castle ruin built into a valley, now a scenic park.

What it is

• A Japanese castle ruin in Komoro City, Nagano Prefecture.
• Also known as Suigetsu Castle, Anajo, and Hakuro Castle.
• Believed to be built by Ohi Mitsutada in 1487.
• Designated as a ruined castle in 1873.

What to see

• Renovated into a modern castle with stone walls.
• Uses the deep valley of Mount Asama as a dry moat.
• Otemon and San-no-mon gates are Important Cultural Properties.
• The castle ruins are now Kaikoen Park.

Official site

www.city.komoro.lg.jp

Read more about Komoro Castle

Haibara Castle is a mountain castle ruin in Matsumoto, offering a glimpse into samurai history.

What it is

• A Japanese castle ruin in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture.
• Part of the Ogasawara Clan Castle Ruins, a group of mountain castles.
• Originally a castle of the Haibara clan, vassals of the Ogasawara clan.
• Attacked and captured by Takeda Harunobu in 1550.

What to see

• Current ruins are from a renovation by Ogasawara Sadayoshi.
• Some stone walls remain on the site.
• Earthworks are also visible.

Read more about Haibara Castle

Iida Castle is a historic castle site now home to a shrine and art museum.

What it is

• A Japanese castle in Iida City, Nagano Prefecture.
• Built by the Banzai clan in the early 13th century.
• Served as the administrative center for the Iida Domain.
• A hirayamajiro, built on a hill in a plain.

What to see

• The Sakuramarugomon gate is in its original location.
• The castle site hosts the Nagahime Shrine.
• The Iida City Museum of Art is on the site.

Read more about Iida Castle

Explore Hayashi Castle, a mountainside ruin and National Historic Site, for a glimpse into samurai history.

What it is

• Hayashi Castle was built in 1459.
• It was a residence of the Ogasawara clan.
• It is designated a National Historic Site.
• Ogasawara Nagatoki lost the castle in 1550.

What to see

• The castle consists of Hayashi Ojiro and Hayashi Kojiro.
• Hayashi Ojiro has remains of kuruwa, dorui, and stone walls.
• Hayashi Kojiro has remains of dorui and stone walls.

Read more about Hayashi Castle

Takashima Castle, a rare lake castle, offers a glimpse into Edo period engineering and history.

What it is

• A flatland castle, also known as Suwa no Ukishiro.
• Built by Hinenoya in the late 16th century.
• Once a water castle protruding into Lake Suwa.
• One of Japan's Three Great Lake Castles.

What to see

• All-stone walls, eight turrets, and six gates.
• A three-story keep built with advanced techniques.
• Evidence of reclamation that changed its appearance.

Official site

www.suwakanko.jp

Read more about Takashima Castle

Tatsuoka Castle is a rare star-shaped Edo-period fortress, a nationally designated historic site.

What it is

• One of two star-shaped fortresses in Japan.
• Built between 1864 and 1867.
• Served as the administrative center for Tatsuoka Domain.
• Also known as Tatsuoka Goryokaku or Kikyo Castle.

What to see

• Castle ruins, including stone walls and a moat.
• A kitchen building remains on the site.
• Main hall of the palace relocated to Shisoji Temple.

Read more about Tatsuoka Castle

Explore a large mountain castle, a historic command center of the Sanada clan.

What it is

• A Japanese mountain castle, also called Matsuo Castle.
• A command center for surrounding mountain castles.
• Construction dates back to the Tenbun era (1532-1555).
• May have been a base until the move to Ueda Castle.

What to see

• A relatively large castle with good visibility.
• Excavation traces of use since the Kamakura period.

Read more about Sanada Main Castle

Explore a reconstructed mountain castle, once home to the Yamada clan, now a historic park.

What it is

• A Japanese castle, also known as Shinto Castle.
• Second wooden reconstruction of a mountain castle in Japan.
• Designated as a historic site by Chikuma City.
• Maintained as Chikuma City Shiroyama Historic Park.

What to see

• Earthen embankments, dry moats, and stone walls remain.
• Used as a filming location for NHK Taiga Dramas.

Read more about Arato Castle

Tsumago Castle was a mountain fortress with a strategic location, notable for its defensive features.

What it is

• Mountain fortress, purely defensive structure.
• Never served as a daimyo lord's residence.
• Destroyed in 1616 by Tokugawa shogunate policy.

What to see

• Traces of old defenses: ditches, walled areas, earth mounds.
• Site of huts, sheds, and a watchtower in the citadel.
• Strategic location 420 meters high.

Read more about Tsumago Castle

Explore the ruins of a mountain castle, once home to the Kiso clan.

What it is

• A Japanese mountain castle.
• Also called Kiso Fukushima Castle.
• Built by Kiso Yoshiyasu.
• Kiso Yoshimasa also resided here.

What to see

• Earthen embankments remain.
• Moats are still visible.
• Stone walls can be seen.

Getting there

• 40-minute walk from Kiso-Fukushima Station.

Read more about Fukushima Castle

Explore the historic ruins of Igawa Castle, a 14th-century flatland castle.

What it is

• A Japanese flatland castle.
• Built in 1334 by Ogasawara Sadamune.
• A former residence of the Ogasawara clan.
• Designated a National Historic Site with Hayashi Castle.

What to see

• The castle site is now fields.
• One tree stands on the site.
• Atamanashi River flows nearby.
• Anada River flows nearby.

Read more about Igawa Castle

Explore Yamabe Castle ruins, a mountaintop fortress with stone walls and historical significance.

What it is

• A Japanese castle, also known as Nakairi Castle.
• Part of the Ogasawara clan castle ruins.
• Built by a branch of the Suwa clan.
• Designated a Nagano Prefecture historic site.

What to see

• Two fortresses built on mountain peaks.
• Stone walls remain at the castle site.

Read more about Yamabe Castle

Takatō Castle is a historic site in Ina, Nagano, famous for its cherry blossoms.

What it is

• A former castle, also known as Kabutoyama Castle.
• Designated as a National Historic Site.
• An important military base against Oda and Tokugawa forces.
• Selected as one of Japan's Top 100 Castles in 2006.

What to see

• The castle site.
• Famous cherry blossoms.

Read more about Takatō Castle

Explore a historic flatland castle with moats, a National Historic Site built in 1559.

What it is

• A ring-style flatland castle.
• Designated as a National Historic Site.
• Construction began in 1559, completed in 1560.
• Renamed Matsushiro in 1711.

What to see

• Inner and outer moats.
• Selected as one of Japan's Top 100 Castles.

Official site

www.sanadahoumotsukan.com

Read more about Matsushiro Castle

Explore Maruko Castle, a historic mountain castle park in Ueda City.

What it is

• A former Japanese mountain castle.
• Also known as Yoda Castle.
• Now a historic park.
• Withstood attacks after the Battle of Ueda Castle.

What to see

• The historic park grounds.
• Confluence of the Yoda River and Uchimura River.

Read more about Maruko Castle

Explore a mountain castle ruin, once home to the Murakami clan, with historical significance.

What it is

• A Japanese mountain castle.
• Residence of the Murakami clan.
• Site of the Battle of Katsurao Castle.

What to see

• Murakami Yoshikiyo's grave below the castle.
• Mansenji Temple, former mansion of Murakami Yoshikiyo.

Read more about Katsurao Castle