Iga Ueno Castle

Iga Ueno Castle stands in Iga City, Mie Prefecture, as one of Japan's most strategically significant fortifications. Originally constructed in 1585 by Takigawa Katsutoshi, the castle gained prominence when feudal lord Todo Takatora, renowned as Japan's foremost castle architect, extensively rebuilt it in 1611. Takatora designed the castle's stone walls to reach an impressive height of approximately 30 meters, making them among the tallest in Japan and a testament to advanced Edo-period defensive architecture. The original keep was destroyed by a storm in 1612 before completion, and the current three-story structure is a 1935 reconstruction built with private funds, making it one of Japan's first privately funded castle reconstructions.

The castle occupies a crucial position in Japanese feudal history, serving as a western defense point for the Tokugawa shogunate and overlooking the former province of Iga, famously known as the homeland of the Iga ninja clan. The imposing stone walls, constructed without mortar using a technique called nozura-zumi, demonstrate exceptional craftsmanship and have survived centuries virtually intact. The castle grounds are particularly celebrated during spring when approximately 800 cherry trees transform the area into one of Mie Prefecture's premier hanami spots.

Visitors can explore the castle keep's interior, which houses exhibits on the castle's history and the Todo clan, while the top floor observation deck provides panoramic views of Iga City and the surrounding mountains. The adjacent Iga-ryu Ninja Museum offers insights into the region's ninja heritage, and the castle park includes the Danjiri Hall, which displays ornate festival floats. Walking along the base of the towering stone walls offers perspective on their remarkable engineering.

Iga Ueno Castle is accessible from Uenoshi Station on the Iga Railway, requiring approximately 8 minutes on foot or a short taxi ride. From major cities, visitors typically travel to Iga-Kanbe Station via the JR Kansai Line from Nagoya (about 90 minutes) or from Osaka/Kyoto via Tsuge Station. Admission to the castle keep costs 600 yen for adults and 300 yen for children, with combination tickets available for multiple attractions in the castle grounds. The castle is located within Ueno Park, which also contains the Haiseiden cultural hall and a small art museum.