Hamamatsu Castle Travel Guide: Explore the Historic Castle of Tokugawa Ieyasu

The site was originally Hikuma Castle, built in 1514, but Tokugawa Ieyasu, who aimed to unify Japan, captured it in 1568.
In 1570, he built Hamamatsu Castle in a way that incorporated Hikuma Castle.
Tokugawa Ieyasu made Hamamatsu Castle his residence for 17 years, from age 29 to 45.
After gaining strength through various battles fought during that time, he acquired Suruga Province (now eastern Shizuoka Prefecture) in 1582 and moved to Sunpu Castle.
After Tokugawa Ieyasu unified Japan and established the Tokugawa shogunate, 13 of the castle lords who took charge of Hamamatsu Castle later assumed important posts in the shogunate, and the castle came to be known as the "Castle of Success."

The main keep was rebuilt in reinforced concrete in 1958 and renovated in 2021.
Based on the size of the stone base, the original main keep is estimated to have been 1.5 times larger than the current one. Try looking at it from the side to compare the difference between the stone base and the keep itself.
Its architectural style is a three-tier watchtower-style keep. This watchtower style is an older form seen from the Azuchi-Momoyama period to the early Edo period.
Today, it houses exhibits on remains from that time, as well as materials related to Tokugawa Ieyasu and Hamamatsu Castle.
The third floor of the main keep is an observation deck with sweeping views of Shizuoka.
At the gift shop on the first floor, you can buy souvenirs related to Hamamatsu Castle, such as commemorative castle stamps and success power cards, so pick one up as a memory of your trip.
Below is an overview of each floor, so please use it as a guide.

The stone walls of the main keep base were built using nozurazumi, a traditional construction method in which natural, uncut stones are carefully stacked together.
Small stones are wedged into the gaps to stabilize the larger ones, so be sure to take a closer look at the impressive craftsmanship.
Hidden among the stones are two heart-shaped rocks. They have become a popular attraction, with local legend saying that anyone who finds them will be blessed with good luck in love.

Tenshumon Gate is a massive turret gate measuring 9.4 meters high, 11 meters wide, and 5 meters deep.
It once served as a place to attack enemies with bows and guns from the turret when the castle came under attack, and it was also used to store weapons and food supplies.
Tenshumon Gate was originally built in the Azuchi-Momoyama period (1573-1603), but it was dismantled in 1873.
After archaeological excavations in the 2000s, it was restored to its current form in 2014.
On both sides are giant stones placed to reinforce the stone walls and demonstrate the lord's power.
If you visit Hamamatsu Castle, this striking gate is another sight you should not miss.

Tenshu kuruwa refers to stone walls built to protect a castle or fort.
At Hamamatsu Castle, the part that forms the base of the main keep is called the tenshu kuruwa.
The tenshu kuruwa of Hamamatsu Castle remains almost exactly as it was in those days.
The upper part of the slope uses hachimaki ishigaki, a style in which stone walls are built on top of an earthen embankment, and the stone walls bend at complex angles, creating a distinctive shape.
This rare tenshu kuruwa is another highlight you should not miss.

To the east of Tenshumon Gate stands a bronze statue of Tokugawa Ieyasu as a young man.
This statue was erected in 1981 by the Committee for the Construction of the Bronze Statue of Lord Tokugawa Ieyasu in His Youth.
Holding the fern emblem called "kachigusa" attached to his helmet, he stands with a dignified expression.
Tokugawa Ieyasu, who wished for peace in the world, was a warm and broad-minded figure.
As you look at the statue, take a moment to imagine the days he spent in this place.

To the east of the main keep lies a Japanese garden where visitors can enjoy traditional Japanese scenery that changes beautifully with the seasons.
Designed as a pond-centered stroll garden, it invites visitors to follow the paths around the water and discover a series of carefully composed views.
Highlights include a large waterfall cascading down the hillside and a stone bridge formed from two precisely cut slabs.
With its traditional pavilion, bamboo grove, wooden bridge, and bamboo fences, the garden beautifully reflects the refined aesthetics of Japanese landscape design and is well worth exploring.

Located about a 10-minute walk from Hamamatsu Castle Park, Wafu Dining Sakura Hamamatsu is a Japanese-style dining restaurant where you can enjoy high-quality basashi, or horse sashimi.
Horse meat is the specialty, but local diners also praise the restaurant for everything from seafood to grilled dishes and simmered dishes, making it a popular choice.
The first thing to try is, of course, the horse meat dishes.
The assorted horse sashimi platter comes in 3, 5, or 8 varieties, including rare cuts that are not easy to find. Each order is sliced only after it is placed, so the freshness is outstanding.

For a meal near Hamamatsu Castle Park, the buffet restaurant Champs Elysees inside Hotel Concorde Hamamatsu is a great choice.
The hotel's chefs prepare Japanese, Western, and Chinese dishes along with sweets by hand, all served buffet style, so you can enjoy as much of Hamamatsu's seasonal flavors as you like.
The buffet counter features dishes made with ingredients from the Hamamatsu and Lake Hamana area, with more than 40 all-you-can-eat options.

This specialty eel restaurant is located on the top floor (18th floor) of Hotel Concorde Hamamatsu, right next to Hamamatsu Castle.
Here you can enjoy eel dishes along with one of Hamamatsu's best panoramic views from 60 meters above the ground.
The eel used here is carefully selected and sourced from Lake Hamana.
Compared with regular eel, Lake Hamana eel is larger, richer in fat, and known for its consistent quality.

This shrine was founded in 1617 by the second shogun, Hidetada, to enshrine Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate.
It is said to have been built based on his final wish: "After my death, bury me on Mount Kuno."
The shrine buildings are in the gongen-zukuri style, with the main sanctuary and the worship hall connected by a stone chamber.
Lacquered throughout and decorated in lavish detail, it is a representative structure of the early Edo period and was designated a National Treasure building in 2010.

This park is built around the ruins of Sumpu Castle, originally constructed in Tensho 13 (1585) by Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate. After retiring as shogun, Ieyasu spent his later years here as the retired shogun (Ogosho).
Located in the heart of Shizuoka City, the park is surrounded by double moats and impressive stone walls. Today, it serves as both a popular public park and one of the city's leading sightseeing destinations.

Shizuoka Sengen Shrine is the collective name for three shrines-Kambe Shrine, Asama Shrine, and Otoshimioya Shrine-and is affectionately known as "Osengen-san."
For centuries, it has been revered as the provincial shrine of Suruga Province. It is also said to be the place where Takechiyo, the childhood name of Tokugawa Ieyasu, celebrated his coming-of-age ceremony, and it was especially revered by the Tokugawa family.
The current shrine complex was built by the Tokugawa shogunate over a period of 60 years beginning in 1804. All 26 shrine buildings are designated Important Cultural Properties of Japan.