Iga Ueno Castle

Iga, Mie, Japan, Japan

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Iga Ueno Castle, also known as Ueno Castle or Hakuho (“White Phoenix”) Castle, is a historic hilltop castle in the city of Iga in Mie Prefecture, Japan, famous for its striking stone walls and its location in the region traditionally associated with Iga ninjas.

The castle was first built in 1585 by warlords Takigawa Katsutoshi and Tsutsui Sadatsugu, and later expanded by the noted castle architect Tōdō Takatora, who constructed stone walls rising about 30 meters, the highest of any castle in Japan. Its original five-story main keep was destroyed by strong winds in 1612 and not rebuilt, but in 1935 a three-story wooden keep was reconstructed using traditional materials rather than concrete, which makes it unusual among modern castle restorations.

The site has been protected as a National Historic Site since 1967, and the castle and its surrounding Ueno Park are now a popular tourist destination within walking distance of Iga-Ueno Station. Inside the main keep is a small museum displaying samurai artifacts such as armor, swords, helmets, and historical documents, although most explanations are in Japanese, and the castle grounds offer panoramic views of the city from the elevated hilltop position.

The castle is often linked with the nearby Iga Ninja Museum and other local attractions, reflecting Iga-Ueno’s reputation as the “ninja city,” and it has also been used as a filming location for parts of Akira Kurosawa’s film Kagemusha.