This palace or fortified home was likely built around the same time as the Sanadahonjo Castle. The palace was where the Sanada lived and developed out the Sanada town from this location. The castles on the surrounding mountains, especially the Sanadahonjo Castle, are the forts that would have been used to escape to in times of unrest. It was likely abandoned in 1585 when the Sanada moved to Ueda Castle. The size, location, and design of Sandashikan has many similarities to the Tsutsujigasaki Yakata of the Takeda in Kofu. The route between the Oteguchi and Karamete gates and even their design is similar to Tsutsujigasaki. The position of the palace is on high ground that sets the pattern from which the castle town below spreads out. Sanada Masayuki was raised as a hostage at Tsutsujigaki so he would have known it well, but the fact that Takeda allowed him to build a palace so similar is also a sign of Takeda's trust and faith in the Sanada. Recent excavations around the Tsutsujigasaki Palace in Kofu have found other structures outside the main compound. Perhaps if more excavations are conducted around this site we'll find more to it as well.
If you're in the area visiting Sanada related sites, The Sanada Palace is a must. There are few remains but it was the location of the Sanada residence and has a nice little museum. It is also closely connected to the nearby castles, especially Sanadahonjo Castle. During the Sengoku Period we often see a fortified lowland residence and a nearby mountaintop castle which is used as a lookout and fortification during times of unrest.
If you don't have a car the best way to get around the Sanada historic sites in the Sanada Township area is by electric bicycle. Electric bicycles can be borrowed for free at the Yukimura Yume Kobo. This tourist information center also has all the maps and other information you'll need. I highly recommend stopping here before exploring the area. During the peak tourism season there is also a local tourist bus that circles through all the major historic sites you're likely to see. If there is something not on this route, then try a bicycle too.
|English Name||Sanada Palace|
|Alternate Names||Oyashiki Kouen|
|Castle Type||Fortified Manor|
|Castle Condition||Ruins only|
|Historical Period||Pre Edo Period|
|Features||trenches, stone walls|
|Access||Ueda Sta. (Shinano Railway, Nagano Bullet train), 25 minute bus to Yukimuranosato bus stop (Sugadaira bus from #3 bus stop at Ueda Sta), 30 min walk from bus stop|
|Visitor Information||Museum is open 9-4 except July-Sept open 9-5. Closed Tuesdays, except during May and August, when Tuesday is a holiday, closed the following day. 200 yen admission. The ruins are open any time and do not require museum admission.|
|Time Required||30 mins (60 mins with museum)|
|Location||Ueda, Nagano Prefecture|
|Coordinates||36° 25' 52.32" N, 138° 19' 0.77" E|
|Visits||December 14, 2015|
|Added to Jcastle||2016|