Hamamatsu Castle

Hamamatsu Castle, The Small Hill Castle Where Tokugawa Ieyasu Lived For 17 Years Before He Became Shogun, Known As The Castle Of Success, A 1958 Rebuild Of The Keep With A Park And A Stone Wall. A Short Stop In Hamamatsu. · Hamamatsu, Shizuoka

Hamamatsu Castle is a small hill castle in the middle of Hamamatsu, between Nagoya and Tokyo on the Tokaido corridor. Tokugawa Ieyasu lived here for about 17 years, from 1570 to 1586 - confirm the dates - before he moved on to Sunpu and later became shogun. That is why it is called Shussejo, the castle of success: several later daimyo and officials who served here are said to have risen to high rank, confirm. The keep is a 1958 concrete rebuild with a small museum, and a good view from the top. The real draw is the stone wall in a rough style called Nozura-zumi, which uses unworked stones and gives the walls a raw look. The grounds are a pleasant park with a Japanese garden and cherry trees in late March. It suits a short history stop of about an hour, and it is worth it if you are changing trains in Hamamatsu, less so if you want a grand castle with original wooden buildings or a long visit with much to see.

100-2 Motoshirocho, Naka-ku, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, a short walk from Hamamatsu Station by bus or about 20 minutes on foot, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan

The park is open all day and free. The keep and its museum commonly open from about 8:30 or 9:00 until about 16:30, with last entry earlier and a closing day in some months - confirm. The Japanese garden and some park buildings may follow separate hours. From Hamamatsu Station, take a bus for about 10 minutes or walk for roughly 20 minutes. IC cards work on most city buses, but bring some cash for the small fee at the keep and for the shops. No booking is needed. Cherry blossom evenings in late March and the Kite Festival in May bring extra crowds and special events.

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