Okazaki Castle Travel Guide: Tokugawa Ieyasu and Beautiful Cherry Blossoms

The history of Okazaki Castle dates back to its construction by Saigo Yoritsugu. The original castle stood at a different location from the one seen today and is believed to have been built around present-day Myodaiji.
Later, Matsudaira Kiyoyasu, the grandfather of Tokugawa Ieyasu, relocated the castle to its current site, where it came to be known as Okazaki Castle.
Also known as “Tatsuga-jo,” Okazaki Castle has a long association with dragons. According to legend, when Takechiyo-the childhood name of Tokugawa Ieyasu-was born, a golden dragon appeared amid black clouds and strong winds before ascending into the sky.

At Mikawa Bushi no Yakata Ieyasu-kan, the permanent exhibition is divided into five sections tracing the life of Tokugawa Ieyasu from his birth to the unification of Japan. The museum also hosts seasonal special exhibitions.
Swords, armor, and other artifacts are on display, along with hands-on exhibits where visitors can try on armor and experience the weight of a samurai helmet. Together, these exhibits offer a vivid glimpse into the lives of the samurai who lived during Ieyasu’s time.

When Takechiyo, who would later become Tokugawa Ieyasu, was born at Okazaki Castle, water from Toshogu Ubuyu no Ido is said to have been used for his first bath.
Because Ieyasu went on to achieve great success, the well came to be associated with good fortune and is believed to bring luck and career success.
Visitors can draw water from the well and touch it themselves, making this a unique spot to experience a legend connected to Ieyasu.

Modeled after Tokugawa Ieyasu, the Shikami Statue is distinctive for its grimacing expression and pose, with one cheek resting on his hand. The statue was created by a sculptor from Okazaki City and donated in 2007.
It is based on a famous story associated with the Battle of Mikatagahara, one of the three great hardships in Ieyasu’s life. According to the story, after suffering defeat and fleeing the battlefield, Ieyasu had an artist paint a portrait of him and kept it as a reminder of the experience.
The Shikami Statue brings the portrait from this story to life in three dimensions, reflecting the image of Ieyasu as a man who sought to learn from his failures.
However, many aspects of the story have been called into question, and there is growing doubt that the episode actually took place.

Seikai-bori was named after Seikai Nyudo, the Buddhist name of the castle’s original builder, Saigo Yoritsugu. This dry moat was designed to help prevent enemies and animals from entering the castle.
During the Sengoku period (1467-1615), castles with stone-lined moats were relatively rare. Today, the stone walls stand approximately 9 meters high, though they are said to have once reached 12 meters.
Another distinctive feature is the moat’s inward-curving shape. Standing before its massive stone walls gives visitors a vivid sense of how formidable an obstacle it would have been to anyone attempting to approach the castle.

Located in Okazaki Park next to Okazaki Castle, Tatsuki Shrine enshrines Tokugawa Ieyasu and Honda Tadakatsu as its deities and is believed to bring blessings for career success and good fortune.
In 1876, Toshogu Shrine, which enshrined Tokugawa Ieyasu within Okazaki Castle, and Eisei Shrine, dedicated to Honda Tadakatsu, were combined to establish Tatsuki Shrine, and new shrine buildings were constructed.
The shrine’s stately and imposing appearance is one of its highlights. It attracts many worshippers throughout the year and becomes especially lively during the New Year period.

Nagoya Castle is one of Japan’s largest castles, built in the early Edo period by order of Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of the Edo shogunate. Atop its five-tiered castle keep gleam a pair of golden shachihoko-one male and one female-which have become iconic symbols of Nagoya.
Another highlight is Honmaru Palace, built in 1615 as the residence of the domain lord and a center of political administration. The palace was destroyed by fire along with the castle keep in 1945 during World War II. Its reconstruction using traditional wooden construction techniques began in 2009, and the restored palace was completed and opened to the public in 2018.

The castle keep is one of only five in Japan designated as National Treasures. Believed to be the oldest surviving castle keep in Japan, it is also known for its early watchtower-style architecture.
Inuyama Castle is said to have been built in 1537 during the Muromachi period by Oda Nobuyasu, an uncle of Oda Nobunaga. Perched on a small hill with the Kiso River providing a natural defense to the rear, the castle was strategically positioned to protect against attacks.
Together with its surrounding castle town, Inuyama Castle developed into an important center of trade, politics, and commerce. Its location on the border between the former provinces of Owari and Mino also made it strategically important during the Sengoku period. Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu all sought control of the castle, and it changed hands repeatedly during this turbulent era.

Tokugawa Art Museum preserves and displays a remarkable collection of treasures passed down through generations of the Owari Tokugawa family. It opened in 1935, founded by Tokugawa Yoshichika, the 19th head of the family, with the aim of preserving daimyo culture for future generations.
The museum houses more than 10,000 artifacts and works of art, including fine swords, armor, tea utensils, Noh-related objects, and other treasures passed down from Tokugawa Ieyasu to the Owari Tokugawa family. The collection also includes cherished personal belongings of successive heads of the family and their wives.

This long-established restaurant, founded in the mid-Meiji period, is said to be the birthplace of kamaage udon. Its highly praised noodles are made with an original flour blend and carefully kneaded, with the amount of water and salt adjusted according to the day’s temperature and humidity.
The noodles are made fresh each day so that customers can enjoy them at their best.
The signature kamaage udon pairs chewy, piping-hot noodles with a richly flavored dashi broth. A variety of other options are also available, including tororo kamaage udon and tempura kamaage udon.

This sushi restaurant is conveniently located just a five-minute walk from Meitetsu Higashi-Okazaki Station. Its renovated interior features a modern, chic design with a color scheme of white, black, and red.
With both counter seating and sunken kotatsu-style tatami seating, the restaurant is welcoming to a wide range of guests, including solo diners and families with children.
At lunchtime, the reasonably priced sushi set meal, which includes seven pieces of nigiri and rolled sushi, is especially popular with locals.
The evening sushi set meal is equally generous, featuring eight pieces of nigiri along with simmered fish, chawanmushi, red miso soup, and ice cream for a satisfying meal.

This is the flagship restaurant of Totomaru, a gourmet conveyor-belt sushi chain that originated in the Mikawa region and operates multiple locations, mainly in Aichi Prefecture.
Based on the concept of “freshly cooked, freshly cut, freshly made,” the restaurant sources fresh seafood daily from local fishing ports and has it delivered the same day. Buyers also carefully select quality ingredients from across Japan, which are cut and prepared in the restaurant to preserve their freshness.
Attention is also paid to the details that complement the seafood, including sushi rice seasoned with an original blend of vinegar and a specially made dipping soy sauce designed to pair well with the toppings. Despite this focus on quality and freshness, the sushi is offered at reasonable prices.

Opened in 1936, this hotel boasts the longest history and tradition of any hotel in Nagoya. Known as the “State Guest House of the Chubu region,” it has welcomed numerous distinguished guests and VIPs from Japan and abroad.
One of its greatest appeals is the attentive service refined over its long history, helping make every stay a memorable one.
Guest rooms range from functional accommodations for business travelers to spacious rooms for families and luxurious options, catering to a wide variety of needs. High-quality amenities, including organic cotton linens, add an extra touch of comfort for a relaxing stay.

Located just a 10-minute walk from Nagoya Station, this lifestyle hotel offers a calm and relaxing atmosphere.
The interior feels like a gallery, with traditional crafts from the Tokai region, such as Arimatsu shibori and Mino ware, displayed throughout the hotel. Original background music further enhances the atmosphere, creating a relaxing setting for your stay in Nagoya.
All guest rooms are spacious at 30 square meters, giving them an open and airy feel. Each room is equipped with a high-quality GENEVA Bluetooth® speaker, a BALMUDA kettle, and a 49-inch 4K TV, while the beds feature mattresses designed for a restful night’s sleep.
With so much comfort, you may find yourself wanting to spend even more time in your room.

This business hotel reopened at a new location in December 2021 and offers eight room types to suit different travel styles.
In addition to standard, twin, and double rooms, it also offers triple and quad rooms, which are relatively rare among business hotels in central Nagoya, making it a great choice for families and groups.
Another highlight is the range of functional and thoughtfully designed in-room features, including tablets that provide travel information in one convenient place and easy-to-use drip coffee machines.