Agatsuma

Agatsuma lies among the hills of western Kōzuke, along the river of the same name. Iwabitsu Castle commanded the district from a steep mountain stronghold. In 1563 forces led by Sanada Yukitaka attacked it during the Takeda advance into western Kōzuke. The castle became a centre of Sanada authority in Agatsuma and served as a base before the family established itself at Ueda across the mountains in Shinano.