Toishi Castle Ruins

"In Ueda City, Nagano Prefecture, there are ruins of a famous castle that still conveys the tension of the Sengoku period. Its name is Toishi Castle Ruins. Built on a high ridge, this mountain castle was a strategic stronghold valued by the Murakami and Sanada clans, and was designated a prefectural historic site in 1969.

Toishi Castle is a sturdy mountain castle built on a ridge where a branch of Mount Higashitaro juts south along the Kamikawa River. It is a compound mountain castle consisting of three subsidiary castles: Masugata Castle, Toishi Castle, and Yoneyama Castle, centered around the main castle. Collectively, these castles are known as Toishi Castle.
• The main castle is the largest, with the topmost main bailey leading to the second and third baileys, and a crescent-shaped bailey and a group of band baileys on the east side. Multiple terraced baileys remain along the castle trail through the valley, believed to have been the main entrance, revealing the rigorous defenses of the time.
• Masugata Castle was built at the highest point, 800m above sea level, and is a sturdy fortress with its masugata gate, from which it takes its name.

Toishi Castle to the south is a fortress with a deep moat that is 9m wide, and the view from the 20m square enclosure is breathtaking.

During the turbulent Sengoku period, many fierce battles were fought over this area. The Sanada clan in particular used it as their base, making Toishi Castle an essential setting for history buffs.

Today, the castle ruins have been developed, and a walk along the ridge allows you to imagine the scenes of Sengoku warlords galloping through them. This historic site is recommended not only for castle fans, but also for those who enjoy hiking and historical walks.

Visiting this site in conjunction with Ueda Castle will give you a deeper understanding of the Sanada clan's strategic ingenuity."

にこちゃんパパ

"Toishi Castle is a mountain castle about 500m long and consists of, from south to south, Toishi, Yoneyama, Honjo, and Masugata.
Toishi is a flat, square area about 20m wide and built at the southernmost point.
From the free parking lot with information board and toilets on the south side of the castle grounds, climb past the tower and, with the ridge that branches off to Yoneyama Castle on your right, climb the steep slope to Toishi, where you'll find information boards and a view.
It took about 15 minutes from the parking lot to reach the castle ruins.
If you head north from Toishi, you'll head towards Honjo. If you've come this far, there are plenty of things to see and do in the nearby Honjo Castle."

けいじょう

"Toishi Castle was built at the southern end of the ridge. It's confusing, but the so-called Toishi Castle is made up of Toishi Castle, Main Castle, Masugata Castle, and Yoneyama Castle, and these parts together make up Toishi Castle. Therefore, the Toishi Castle part does not form the core of the castle.

Toishi Castle has an open view to the south, and is thought to have served as a lookout point. It is a fairly spacious enclosure, and a moat has been cut into it to the north facing the main castle."

トレーズクシュリナーダ