Castle Ruins and Samurai Stones

Ueda, a city shaped by quiet resilience, is set in eastern Nagano. Ueda City is a place where castle ruins still hold their ground, and a slower pace flows gently across hillside terraces. Tradition and creativity live side by side without drawing too much attention to themselves.

At the center of it all is Ueda Castle, or rather, what remains of it. Built in the late 16th century by the legendary Sanada clan, the castle never boasted the grandeur of some others, but it had grit. Twice, its defenders repelled the powerful Tokugawa army, and that underdog spirit still runs deep in Ueda’s identity. The main keep is long gone. But the stone walls and gates still stand, framed by cherry blossoms that bloom brightly in spring. A statue of Sanada Yukimura, sword in hand, keeps watch, still facing down impossible odds.

The Inagura Rice Terraced Fields

Just beyond the city center, the landscape softens. The Inagura Rice Terraces unfold across the hillsides like a living patchwork of green. In spring, water-filled paddies reflect the sky. By summer, the fields sway with maturing rice, shifting gently with the wind. It’s a place that still moves to the rhythm of the seasons. Some local farms welcome visitors. And depending on when you go, you might catch a glimpse of farmers planting by hand or gathering the harvest with slow, deliberate care.

Ueda isn’t stuck in the past. The city has quietly built a reputation for artisanal workshops, cozy cafés tucked into renovated storehouses, and soba that stands out in a region already famous for noodles. Just a short trip away, Bessho Onsen offers a peaceful hot spring retreat, with centuries-old temples and open-air baths that look out over the surrounding hills.

A short 30 minutes from Nagano City by train, Ueda City makes for an easy day trip or a rewarding overnight stay if you’re looking for a more grounded, textured slice of Nagano. It doesn’t try to impress. And that’s exactly what makes it memorable.