Hamamatsu Castle

Hamamatsu Castle is a historic castle in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, and is known as the “Castle of Promotion” because it served as an important base for Tokugawa Ieyasu on his path toward unifying Japan. In the first year of the Genki era (1570), Ieyasu ceded Okazaki Castle to his eldest son, Nobuyasu, and built Hamamatsu Castle on the southeastern edge of the Mikatagahara plateau, making it the center of his administration in Suruga and Tōtōmi. Recognizing the terrain, which overlooks the entire Enshū region, he also regarded it as an important stronghold in preparation for the invasion by Takeda Shingen.

The castle’s layout is characterized by a “teikaku-shiki” or stepped-terrace style, in which the baileys are arranged in tiers along the slope of the Mikatagahara plateau. The castle grounds measure approximately 500 meters north to south and 450 meters east to west. The main keep enclosure is located at the highest point in the northwest, with the honmaru and ninomaru to the east, and the sannomaru further to the southeast, aligned almost in a straight line. Because the enclosures are adjacent and connected in a step-like structure, the castle is well designed from a defensive standpoint as well.

Ieyasu spent about 17 years at Hamamatsu Castle, from the age of 29 to 45, and during this period he experienced many battles that would later lead to his rise to supremacy, including the Battle of Anegawa, the Battle of Nagashino, and the Battle of Komaki and Nagakute. Among them, the Battle of Mikatagahara in 1572 (Genki 3), in which the Takeda army led by Takeda Shingen clashed with the allied forces of Tokugawa and Oda, is said to have been Ieyasu’s greatest defeat in his life. There are various theories regarding the number of troops involved, but it is generally believed that the Takeda forces were vastly outnumbered in favor of the Tokugawa side, and the story is told that Ieyasu fled back to Hamamatsu Castle after the defeat. There is also an anecdote that he had a portrait made of himself immediately after the defeat as a lesson, and treasured it throughout his life. The 17 years he spent at Hamamatsu are thus seen as a period of trial that laid the foundation for the Tokugawa rule that would last 300 years.

Legends connected to the Battle of Mikatagahara remain in place names around Hamamatsu City. For example, “Azukimochi” and “Zenitori” are said to derive from stories such as Ieyasu eating rice cakes while fleeing, or escaping without paying for them. In addition, at Saigagake, where Ieyasu is said to have attempted a counterattack after the battle, stories have been handed down about a surprise attack on the Takeda forces and the origin of the place name “Nunobashi.” These are beloved as local historical traditions and remain one of the elements through which the region’s history can still be felt today. At Saigagake, the local performing art “Enshū Dainenbutsu” is dedicated every year on July 15 as a memorial service for those who died in the battle, and it has also been designated an intangible cultural property of Hamamatsu City.

After Ieyasu moved to Sunpu, Hamamatsu Castle was governed successively by hereditary feudal lords closely connected to the Tokugawa family. Many of the successive castle lords went on to hold important positions in the shogunate, such as rōjū, Osaka jōdai, Kyoto shoshidai, and jisha bugyō, and this background later led to Hamamatsu Castle being called the “Castle of Promotion.” During the 260 years of domain administration, many castle lords are said to have served there, and while the exact count may vary depending on how it is tallied, the castle continues to be remembered as a place associated with advancement. It is especially known for having been governed by Mizuno Tadakuni, who carried out the Tenpō Reforms.

After the Meiji Restoration, the castle buildings were demolished and fell into ruin, but in 1958 a new keep was reconstructed on top of the old stone base, and it was completed in 1959. The current keep is not an exact restoration of the original appearance, but rather a mock keep serving as a tourist and exhibition facility. Inside, visitors can view materials related to Ieyasu and the history of Hamamatsu, as well as armor and weapons, making it a place to learn about history. From the observation deck, one can enjoy a panoramic view of Hamamatsu City, and also stroll through the historic site while tracing the remaining stone walls and traces of the baileys.

In this way, Hamamatsu Castle is a valuable historic site where Tokugawa Ieyasu experienced hardship and growth in his youth, and it offers a vivid sense of the tension of the Sengoku period and a turning point in history. With its castle structures, legends of battles, and origins as the “Castle of Promotion,” it has many highlights and is an attractive destination not only for history enthusiasts but also for general visitors.