Japanese Castle guide in Japan castle Historical site Statue Introduction.

[Castle name]
Iga Ueno Castle
Iga Ueno castle was built by Takatora Todo, to suppress the Toyotomi family.

[Explanation]
Iga Ueno castle was a flat mountain castle that existed in Uenomarunouchi in Iga, Mie prefecture. There was Nitsuki-shi’s residence on the Nishinomaru hill. Iga Ueno castle was a flat mountain castle that was built on top of Ueno hill, which was located in the center of Ueno basin, and on the north side of the castle there was Hattori river and Tsuge river, and on the south side there was Kume river, and on the west side there was Kizu river.

During Sengoku period, Iga no Kuni was an independent state where Gozoku (local ruling family) continued to show powers. In September 1579, Nobukatsu Oda attempted to invade Iga but he failed and he was rebuked by Nobunaga. In September 1581 he received supporter army from Nobunaga and succeeded to have Iga under his control.

Katsutoshi Takigawa, Nobukatsu Oda’s vassal, was appointed as the lord of Iga. When Toyotomi gained control after the incident of Honnoji Yasuharu Wakizaka became the lord of Iga in October 1584, but he was transferred to Settsu in May 1585.

After that Sadatsugu Tsutsui was transferred from Yamatokoriyama and built Ueno castle on where Byoraku temple burnt down at the battle of Tensho Iga. It is said that there was a castle tower during Tsutsui period at the north east corner of castle keeper’s residence.

In 1600 when the battle of Sekigahara occurred, Sadatsugu Tsutsui became a part of the East troops, Ieyasu Tokugawa’s side, and joined the war against Aizu. Genba Tsutsui stayed and protected Ueno castle while they were gone, but was attacked by Naoyori and Naosada Shinjo and ended up handing over the castle to them and Genba Tsutsui ran away to mount Koya. Sadatsugu Tsutsui returned after receiving Ieyasu Tokugawa’s permission, and retrieved the castle.

Naoyori Shinjo was subject to Kaieki after the battle of Sekigahara, and Sadatsugu Tsutsui took control under Iga Ueno. However, when Ieyasu Tokunaga needed to surround the Toyotomi family’s Osaka castle, he took the territory away from Sadatsugu Tsutsui in June 1608 and put him under Iwakigtaira castle’s Tadamasa Torii’s control.

After that in 1611, Ieyasu Tokugawa ordered Takatora Todo to transfer to Ueno castle and expanded it, but it was suspended when Toyotomi-shi was defeated. Honmaru and Ninomaru were unfinished and they were left as they were throughout Edo period. After Takatora Todo came back from Osaka, Tsu castle became the main castle due to its convenient location and Iga Ueno Castle became the branch castle.

Through Ikkoku-ichijo Rei (one castle per province) when Iga Ueno castle was allowed to continue to exist as Iga’s castle, Takakiyo Todo became the new owner, and after his death Motonori Todo became the owner, and in 1825 Takayuki Todo became the last owner of the castle. The 3 tiered 3 story castle tower has been replicated in the recent years, and the area around the castle has been established as Ueno Park and it has been registered as national historic site.

[Address,access]
106 Ueno Marunouchi, Iga-shi, Mie 518-0873

[Map]