The trip to meet the Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu- "Mr.Tokyo"!
You may have heard the name of Tokugawa Ieyasu who made Edo that was the base of Tokyo even you are lining overseas? The lord Ieyasu brought the Sengoku period (the age of sivil wars) to an end and unified the whole country. After that, he made a foundation of the peace that continues for 265 years. It's unlike any other in the world.
The lord Ieyasu was born in 1543 which was in the middle of the Sengoku priod at the Okazaki castle in Mikawanokuni (the east side of Aichi prefecture now) and his life was ended at the Sumpu castle in Shizuoka prefecture. Still today, over the 400 years since then, there are many places noted in connection with the lord Ieyasu in Aichi and Shizuoka prefecture. He had lived here in Hamamatsu during his youth period (from 29 to 45 years old).
Also, the popular drama series that is about the historical people called "Taiga drama" chose Tokugawa Ieyasu for broadcasting in 2023. It's said that contemporary business people can learn a lot of hints to live or think from Ieyasu's life.
Why don't you visit the places related to the Shogun Ieyasu and learn from him?
The lord Ieyasu was born in 1543 which was in the middle of the Sengoku priod at the Okazaki castle in Mikawanokuni (the east side of Aichi prefecture now) and his life was ended at the Sumpu castle in Shizuoka prefecture. Still today, over the 400 years since then, there are many places noted in connection with the lord Ieyasu in Aichi and Shizuoka prefecture. He had lived here in Hamamatsu during his youth period (from 29 to 45 years old).
Also, the popular drama series that is about the historical people called "Taiga drama" chose Tokugawa Ieyasu for broadcasting in 2023. It's said that contemporary business people can learn a lot of hints to live or think from Ieyasu's life.
Why don't you visit the places related to the Shogun Ieyasu and learn from him?
The life of Ieyasu
| 1542 | Born in Okazaki Castle |
| 1549 | Taken to Sunpu as a hostage of Imagawa Yoshimoto.（Sumpu-current Shizuoka city） |
| 1561 | Went back to Okazaki castle to be independent from Mr. Imagawa |
| 1570 | Moves to Hamamatsu and builds Hamamatsu Castle |
| 1572 | Defeated at the Battle of Mikatagahara |
| 1575 | Win the Battle of Nagashino |
| 1586 | Ieyasu moves to Sunpu Castle |
| 1590 | Ieyasu moves to Edo Castle |
| 1600 | Win the Battle of Sekigahara |
| 1603 | Establishes the Edo shogunate and becomes shogun |
| 1615 | Wins the Summer Siege of Osaka Castle |
| 1616 | Ended his life at the Sumpu castle |
The land tied to Ieyasu in Hamamatsu
① Hamamatsu Castle
② MotoshirochoToshogu Shrine
This is the shrine built at the ruins of the Hikuma castle and Ieyasu had lived there after coming to Hamamatsu until he built the Hamamatsu castle at the current place. It is called "Shusse (promotion) castle" because Toyotomi Hideyoshi had been there too and that means the shrine led two Shoguns to be the ruler of the country.
For more information：
https://www.city.hamamatsu.shizuoka.jp/miryoku/hakken/tanbo/201507.html(japanese)
For more information：
https://www.city.hamamatsu.shizuoka.jp/miryoku/hakken/tanbo/201507.html(japanese)
③ Saigagake Historic Battlefield
About the Raid of the Battlefield Saigagake:
https://www.inhamamatsu.com/culture/enshu-dai-nenbutsu.php
https://www.inhamamatsu.com/culture/enshu-dai-nenbutsu.php
④ The Historic Battlefield of Mikatagahara
"The battle of Mikatahara" is the one that young Tokugawa Ieyasu was defeated by Takeda Shingen. The tombstone of the ancient battlefield on the corner of the Mikatahara plateau shows that the area was the stage of the battle. Ieyasu used the lessons learned from this defeat later.
For more information：
https://www.city.hamamatsu.shizuoka.jp/miryoku/hakken/tanbo/201512.html(japanese)
For more information：
https://www.city.hamamatsu.shizuoka.jp/miryoku/hakken/tanbo/201512.html(japanese)
⑤ Kiga Barrier
Interesting name of the places related to Tokugawa Ieyasu
小豆餅【Azukimochi (Mochi dressed with bean paste)】
銭取【Zenitori (Taking money)】
銭取【Zenitori (Taking money)】
Ieyasu was defeated by Takeda army at the battle of Mikatahara and run away desperately from the battle field to Hamamatsu castle. On the way, he got tired and dropped by at the teahouse and ordered "Azukimochi". When he was having a break and eating Azukimochi, he found the pursuer was coming and run away hurriedly without paying money. The old lady of the teahouse looked and chased him, and made him pay when she caught him finally. Since then, the place where Ieyasu had Azukimochi became "Azukimochi" and the place where he paid the fee of Azukimochi became "Zenitori". *Another story exists
Model course you can walk around from Hamamatsu castle
Tokugawa Ieyasu's Promenade Walk
Tokugawa Ieyasu's Promenade Walk
It's a model course that takes you around the areas in Hamamatsu associated with Tokugawa Ieyasu. There are two routes : Jyonai (inside the castle) and Jyoka (land near the castle) route or the Kassen (battle) route.
Jyonai (inside the castle) and Jyoka (land near the castle) route
Full length: 6.3km
Time required on foot: 1 and half hours (except for the time of observation)
Kassen (battle) route
Full length: 5.8km
Time required on foot: 1hours and 15 minutes (except for the time of observation)
Please download the details of the route or map PDF from here.
https://hamamatsu-daisuki.net/ieyasu/walking.html
https://hamamatsu-daisuki.net/ieyasu/walking.html
The places related to Ieyasu in Shizuoka/Aichi/Other
① Okazaki Castle (Aichi Prefecture)
Japanese https://okazaki-kanko.jp/okazaki-park/feature/okazakijo/top
English https://travel.okazaki-kanko.jp/en/
② Sunpu Castle（Shizuoka prefecture）
Japanese https://sumpu-castlepark.com/
English https://sumpu-castlepark.com/en/
③ The historic battlefield of Nagashino (Aichi Prefecture)
Japanese https://www.okuminavi.jp/history/page.php?p=nagashino
English https://intl.okuminavi.jp/en/columns/detail/3/
④ Edo Castle (Tokyo)
Japanese https://www.env.go.jp/garden/kokyogaien/index.html
English https://www.env.go.jp/garden/kokyogaien/english/index.html
⑤ Sekigahara Battlefield Memorial Museum (Gifu Prefecture)
Japanese https://sekigahara.pref.gifu.lg.jp/
English https://sekigahara.pref.gifu.lg.jp/en/
⑥ Osaka Castle (Osaka Prefecture)
Japanese https://www.osakacastle.net/
English https://osaka-info.jp/en/spot/osaka-castle-park/
⑦ Nikko Toshogu Shrine (Tochigi Prefecture)
Japanese https://www.toshogu.jp/
English https://www.visitnikko.jp/en/spots/nikko-toshogu-shrine/
⑧ Kunozan Toshogu Shrine (Shizuoka Prefecture)
Japanese https://www.toshogu.or.jp/
English https://www.toshogu.or.jp/english/
2022.6.17 update
Content may be subject to change after publication. Please also note that we are not accountable for loses and damages that may occur as a result of said changes.
Content may be subject to change after publication. Please also note that we are not accountable for loses and damages that may occur as a result of said changes.