Ueda Castle is a symbol of the town of Ueda in Nagano Prefecture. Sanada Yukimura’s father, Sanada Masayuki, built this castle in 1583 during the Warring States Period. There is a famous story in which Tokugawa’s army brutally attacked Sanada’s army, but Sanada and his men positioned themselves within the Ueda Castle and by careful tactics drove back Tokugawa in a brilliant surprise counterattack. It is no overstatement to say that the Sanada clan obtained glory and fame thanks to Ueda Castle. (Sanada and Tokugawa were two very famous generals during the Edo period.)Ueda Castle is unique among castles in Japan because it does not have elaborate decorations and pitched roofs on its towers, nor does it have a castle keep. The reason that these features are missing is because this castle was made mainly as a stronghold, and Masayuki saw no need for decorations, concentrating on its function in battle only. Apart from the West tower, most of Ueda Castle was demolished after the Meiji Restoration. The North and South towers were also disposed of, but restored to their original place after the Second World War. Today, the tower gate between the North and South towers has been rebuilt, as well. Ueda Castle today has been turned into a park, with a civic museum and a commemoration hall for Yamamoto Prefecture. Ueda Castle has also become a remarkable place to see cherry blossoms, and a place of relaxation and leisure for the citizens of Ueda.