Among the gates in this castle town, this one is remarkably large. With a width of 13 meters, a depth of 3.7 meters, and a height of 6.8 meters, this gate belongs to the residence of the Yazawa Family, another Sanada Family confidant. The roof is decorated with six coins, reminiscent of a castle gate.
This road used to be the official road to the castle during the Edo period, therefore, the houses of important vassals, including the Yazawa Family, were lined up on both sides of the road. The founder of the Yazawa Family is a distant relative of the Sanada Family. The relationship between the two families began before the Sanada’s rule of Matsushiro. As the Sanada Family grew, the Yazawa Family grew in prominence.
Throughout the Edo period, the Yazawa Family continued to be the best amongst the vassals. We can see that 250 years of relationship nurtured the Sanada Family’s trust in the Yazawa Family, as well as Yazawa Family’s loyalty.
