Hamamatsu Castle

Castle Profile
English Name	Hamamatsu Castle
Japanese Name	浜松城
Alternate Names	Hikuma-jo
Founder	Tokugawa Ieyasu
Year Founded	1570
Castle Type	Hilltop
Castle Condition	Reconstructed main keep
Designations	Next 100 Castles
Historical Period	Edo Period
Main Keep Structure	3 levels, 3 stories
Year Reconstructed	1958 (concrete)
Features	main keep, gates, stone walls
Visitor Information
Access	Hamamatsu Station (Tokaido Honsen), 15-20 walk, or short bus ride
Visitor Information
Time Required
Website	http://www.city.hamamatsu.shizuoka.jp/lifeindex/play/park/parks/hamamatsujou/siro1.htm
Location	Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture
Coordinates	34° 42' 42", 137° 43' 29"
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Admin
Year Visited	1999
Visits	May 1999
Added to Jcastle	1999

History

A castle was first built on this site around 1532 by a vassal of the Imagawa clan. This castle was called Hikuma-jo. In 1568 Tokugawa Ieyasu conquered the castle and in 1570 he moved his permanent headquarters here from Okazaki-jo . In 1577 Tokugawa renovated and expanded the castle, renaming it Hamamatsu-jo. Ieyasu spent 17 years here and engaged in some of his most well known battles from this castle.

While the main keep of Hamamatsu-jo is a reconstruction, the stone palisade it stands on is the original one built by Tokugawa Ieyasu. This palisade is built in an old style called nozura-zumi which refers to the way the stones are fit together.

Visit Notes

The castle is in a quiet little park a short bus ride from the station. I visited this castle on one trip from Fukushima to Nagoya. On the same day I also stopped at Odawara and Kakegawa before going to Hamamatsu.

Gallery

main keep
donjon

2.78

(18 votes)

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ARTHatamoto

4 days ago

Score 0

The hachimaki-style ishigaki walls of Hamamatsujō are of interest. They zig-zag (byobu-ore), and have short inward projecting wall sections (irizumi) and short outward projecting wall sections (dezumi). There is an embedded gate (uzumi-mon) set in the curving southern wall segment (watori) west of the main bailey; there are few examples remaining elsewhere of these curvy walls. Zig-zagging walls, the strategy for which was called yokoyagakari (probably ‘sideways arrow attacking’), eliminated blind spots in the defensive perimeter. On the dezumi projections turrets were constructed.

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SuupaahiirooAshigaru

3 months ago

Score 1

There are distant views of Mount Fuji, only if the sky is clear of course. The keep is a concrete reconstruction and not really interesting, though I liked the model of the castle and its surroundings, which did a good job at explaining the location of various castle-related and Tōkaidō-related places. The gate has been reconstructed with original materials. Nothing spectacular about this castle site, but I only paid 200 yen to enter both the gate and the keep.

Not really related, but still: for people interested in the history of the Edo Period and the Tōkaidō, I would highly recommend nearby Maisaka, Arai and Futagawa, where original honjin (本陣), wakihonjin (脇本陣), sekisho (関所) and hatagoya (旅籠屋) can be explored. All easily accessible by local JR trains.

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Kiddus i2003Ashigaru

26 months ago

Score 0

At the time of my visit a lot of running repairs was being carried out to various walls. Interesting little castle, but more could be done to make it interesting.

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BryanbaierPeasant

75 months ago

Score 0

Small, not that authentic but a great place to enjoy Japanese gardens and sakura

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UsagiAshigaru

76 months ago

Score 0

There are numerous castles in this area that can be viewed in combination with a car. From Tokyo this is about a 3 and a half our drive each way if the roads stay clear. Again well worth the drive for the views of Fuji in the winter particularly with the sun setting behind her. The castle is located at the back of the ward office and while small runs information tours and has a considerable amount of historical information and photos of the area.

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Alamo6400Peasant

88 months ago

Score 0

hamamatsu `castle that hamamatsu castle reminds me of the battle of mikatagahara takeda army forced the tokugawa forces to retreat back to hamamatsu castle

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KrisGunshi

91 months ago

Score 0

I visited Hamamatsu in January; the blue skies certainly helped make it more photogenic. There is a statue of Ieyasu out the front which can make for interesting photos. Speaking of interesting photos; the ground floor has two replica katana you're allowed to hold and pose with; you don't even have to request them. The well in the basement was interesting; the views from the top were average.

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FurinkazanHatamoto

95 months ago

Score 0

I was a little disappointed by this castle. The location isn't very nice and the armors inside are replicas.

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FurinkazanHatamoto

106 months ago

Score 0

I visited this castle in april, just after visiting Kakegawajo and Sunpupark. I was a little bit disappointed by this one. It is a concrete reconstruction which, in mine opinion, is a negative point, and the sight from and around the castle isn't very pleasing. It is easy to walk to the castle from the station. There are signs indicating the way.

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Castle Profile
English Name	Hamamatsu Castle
Japanese Name	浜松城
Alternate Names	Hikuma-jo
Founder	Tokugawa Ieyasu
Year Founded	1570
Castle Type	Hilltop
Castle Condition	Reconstructed main keep
Designations	Next 100 Castles
Historical Period	Edo Period
Main Keep Structure	3 levels, 3 stories
Year Reconstructed	1958 (concrete)
Features	main keep, gates, stone walls
Visitor Information
Access	Hamamatsu Station (Tokaido Honsen), 15-20 walk, or short bus ride
Visitor Information
Time Required
Website	http://www.city.hamamatsu.shizuoka.jp/lifeindex/play/park/parks/hamamatsujou/siro1.htm
Location	Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture
Coordinates	34° 42' 42", 137° 43' 29"
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Admin
Year Visited	1999
Visits	May 1999
Added to Jcastle	1999