Between Nagoya and Osaka is this castle town where Iga ninja spies originated. The town's tourism theme revolves around ninjas. The Kintetsu Pass covers this journey, and paying the additional Limited Express supplement has its benefits.
Iga-Kambe is the transfer point between the Kintetsu trains and the Iga Tetsudo Line.
The connecting train is located a platform away. It is a much more modest local train, albeit kept immaculately clean.
Then it rumbles through the countryside and small towns for about half an hour to Uenoshi.
The town doesn't look very impressive.
The Danjiri Museum hosts the large floats that parade down the streets during the Ueno Tenjin Festival in the fall. Stop by the tourist information centre here for maps.
The ascent to the castle begins across the street. It is not a strenuous climb and the grounds is home to several attractions.
A guided tour is necessary to see first part of the Iga Ninja Museum, where you are shown the secret chambers in a typical ninja house and how they monitor visitors or intruders' movements.
Next door, Haiseiden was built to celebrate the 300th anniversary of poet Basho.
Ueno Castle was built in the 17th century and it has the highest stone walls in Japan, standing at about 30m.
Leaving the castle grounds, the neighbourhoods are quiet and lowrise.
East of the train station, Tera-machi Street is lined with many temples.
Linear Mode
