Hamamatsu Castle

Hamamatsu Castle is a famous castle where the shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, who ruled the country, served as lord for a long time. It's also known as the castle where Ieyasu, who was defeated by the famous warlord Takeda Shingen in the Battle of Mikatagahara during the Warring States period, fled to. After Ieyasu left, many of those who served as lords of Hamamatsu Castle were promoted to important positions in the shogunate, earning it the nickname "Castle of Success". Although it was destroyed and abandoned after the Meiji Restoration, a reinforced concrete tower was rebuilt in 1958. In 2017, it was selected as one of Japan's Top 100 Castles.

It's recommended to set aside about an hour to visit Hamamatsu Castle. The castle interior has been turned into an exhibition hall where you can learn about the history of Hamamatsu Castle from the time before Tokugawa Ieyasu became lord of the castle, through the Battle of Mikatagahara, and up to the time after Ieyasu left the castle. As the castle isn't particularly large, you can take a leisurely stroll around the castle and even take a commemorative photo with the statue of Ieyasu, which is considered a symbol of Hamamatsu Castle, or enjoy the view of Hamamatsu city from the top of the castle tower, all within an hour!

Hamamatsu Castle is located within Hamamatsu Castle Park. While entry to the park is free, admission fees are required to enter Hamamatsu Castle. The fee for adults (high school students and above) is 200 yen, while children in junior high school and below, and those aged 70 and above can enter for free. Members of the "Hamamatsu Tourism Volunteer Guide Association" will guide you through Hamamatsu Castle. Reservations are required, but the guide fee is free, so we recommend making a reservation in advance if you're interested! (Currently, the guides are temporarily suspended. Please check the official website for details.)