The design of the castle is concentric, with the Central Bailey (Hon-Maru) protected by walls, and containing the tenshu in its northwest corner, which was later replaced by a yagura.

The palace structures, or residence and official offices of the daimyō, were located adjacent to the main fortifications in the Hana-no-Maru enclosure.

Takeda Shingen used the castle for the ongoing conflict with Uesugi Kenshin for control of the northern part of Shinano Province.

Following the establishment of the Meiji government and the abolition of the han system, most of the remaining structures of the castle were dismantled in 1871, and what was left was burned down in an act of arson in 1873, leaving only the stone foundations.

[1] On the current site, several of the gates were authentically reconstructed in 2003 using traditional construction methods, with designs based on documents and photographs of the originals.

[1] Near the castle are a number of Edo period former samurai residences, the former Matsushiro Literary and Military School and a museum dedicated to the Sanada clan.