Iga Ueno Castle is located in Iga City, Mie Prefecture. Mie? Iga? You might be wondering, “Where exactly is that?” However, many of you are likely familiar with the words ninja or shinobi. In Japan, the two regions most commonly associated with the origins of ninja are Iga and Koka.
Within the park grounds where Iga Ueno Castle stands, you’ll also find the Iga-ryu Ninja Museum. If your schedule allows, visiting both the castle and the museum will make for an even more enjoyable experience!
Address：106 Marunouchi, Ueno, Iga City, Mie Prefecture Google Maps
Nearest Station：Uenoshi Station on the Iga Railway Iga Line
Route from the Nearest Station：From Uenoshi Station, it’s a 5-minute walk to the park entrance where Iga Ueno Castle is located. The park has several entrances, but I recommend the one near the tourist information center. This entrance not only has restrooms nearby but also features panels of ninja-themed anime characters, making it a fun starting point for your visit. If you don’t have a specific route in mind, this one is a great choice!
The current Iga Ueno Castle is a fully reconstructed structure, completed in 1935. Its restoration was made possible thanks to the dedication and financial support of Katsumi Kawasaki, a Diet member from Iga. Kawasaki saw it as his mission to protect and foster local culture, a forward-thinking endeavor given the turbulent times of the 1930s, marked by conflict in various parts of the world. Even today, his efforts stand as a testament to the value of preserving history and culture, evoking both pride and admiration.
The original castle was first constructed in 1585. Later, in 1611, Tokugawa Ieyasu ordered Takatora Todo, a renowned castle architect, to renovate Iga Ueno Castle. Unfortunately, during construction in 1612, a massive storm destroyed the castle tower. However, not everything was lost. The stone walls—known for their impressive height—survived and remain intact to this day. These walls are considered among the tallest in Japan, rivaling even those of Osaka Castle.
If you visit Iga Ueno Castle, the stone walls are an absolute must-see. Their scale and craftsmanship offer a glimpse into the grandeur of the castle during its heyday!
The term ninja became widely recognized in Japan relatively recently, around 1955–1965. Historically, they were more commonly referred to as shinobi. Ninjas are believed to have been active between the 1400s and around 1640, with their peak activity occurring between 1540 and 1600, during Japan’s Sengoku period (1467–1615). This was a time of continuous warfare among feudal lords, known as Sengoku daimyo.
Ninjas were employed by these warlords to infiltrate enemy strongholds, gather intelligence, and conduct sabotage or night raids. Their primary mission was survival—returning alive to deliver critical information to their lords. The essence of their work lay in secrecy and stealth, making covert operations their specialty.
While ninjas existed throughout Japan, the most famous regions associated with them are Iga and Koka (modern-day Koka City in Shiga Prefecture). These areas were geographically close and, rather than being consistently adversarial, they often cooperated depending on the circumstances.
The modern global fascination with ninjas took off with the release of the American action film Enter the Ninja. This popularity was further amplified by the massive success of the manga and anime series Naruto, which brought ninja culture to audiences worldwide.
Inside the park where Iga Ueno Castle is located, you’ll find the Iga-ryu Ninja Museum.
It’s about a 5-minute walk from the castle to the museum. If you have some extra time, be sure to visit!
Unfortunately, due to time constraints, I couldn’t enter the museum on the day of my visit. However, I’ll share the official website link for your reference:
Looking at the reviews on Google Maps, it’s interesting to note that the number of reviews for the Iga-ryu Ninja Museum and Iga Ueno Castle are quite similar!
As of October 2024:
I had assumed Iga Ueno Castle would be the main attraction, but it seems the Iga-ryu Ninja Museum might be just as much of a highlight! In fact, the museum’s reviews are filled with comments from international visitors, which shows how exciting and engaging the museum truly is!
The nearest station to Iga Ueno Castle is Ueno-shi Station. The station building also displays the name “Ninja City Station” as a nickname, given the area’s strong connection to ninja history.
Haitopia Iga is a commercial building located in front of the station. Inside, you’ll find restaurants and other facilities. You can check more details on their website: http://www.haitopia-iga.jp/?page_id=29
When I asked the cafe staff, “Do a lot of tourists come to this shopping street?” they replied, “Not many, mainly locals use the shopping street.”
It seems that tourists might visit Iga Ueno Castle and the Iga-ryu Ninja Museum and then leave right after. The town itself has a very relaxed atmosphere, and it was such a comfortable place to be!
Iga Ueno Castle:
Iga-ryu Ninja Museum
Note that this information is accurate as of October 14, 2024.
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