# Hamamatsu Castle

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Japanese castle ruin

Hamamatsu Castle 浜松城 Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan Keep of Hamamatsu Castle Site information Type Japanese castle Condition Reconstructed, serves as a museum Location Hamamatsu Castle Show map of Shizuoka Prefecture Hamamatsu Castle Show map of Japan Coordinates 34°42′42″N 137°43′30″E / 34.711802°N 137.724958°E / 34.711802; 137.724958 Height Three stories Site history Built Circa 1532, rebuilt 1958 Built by Imagawa clan Materials Wood, stone

**Hamamatsu Castle** (浜松城, *Hamamatsu-jō*) is a *hirayama*-style [Japanese castle](/source/Japanese_castle) ruin, with some replica castle buildings. It was the seat of various *[fudai daimyō](/source/Fudai_daimy%C5%8D)* who ruled over [Hamamatsu Domain](/source/Hamamatsu_Domain), [Tōtōmi Province](/source/T%C5%8Dt%C5%8Dmi_Province), in what is now central [Hamamatsu](/source/Hamamatsu), [Shizuoka Prefecture](/source/Shizuoka_Prefecture), [Japan](/source/Japan) under the [Edo period](/source/Edo_period) [Tokugawa shogunate](/source/Tokugawa_shogunate).[1] It is also called **Shusse Castle** (出世城, *Shusse-jō*).

## Background

Hamamatsu is at the edge of Mikatagahara plateau in the center of Tōtōmi Province, and was from ancient times a [post station](/source/Shukuba) on the [Tōkaidō](/source/T%C5%8Dkaid%C5%8D_(road)) highway connecting [Kyoto](/source/Kyoto) with the eastern provinces of Japan. During the late [Muromachi](/source/Muromachi_period) and [Sengoku period](/source/Sengoku_period), this area came under the control of the [Imagawa clan](/source/Imagawa_clan), a powerful warlord from [Suruga Province](/source/Suruga_Province). It is uncertain when the original Hamamatsu Castle was constructed; however, it appears that a fortification was built on what is now the [Hamamatsu Tōshō-gū](/source/Hamamatsu_T%C5%8Dsh%C5%8D-g%C5%AB), east of the present castle, by Imagawa Sadatsuke, the fourth head of the Enshū Imagawa clan from around 1504–1520. The early castle was called **Hikuma Castle** (引馬城 or曳馬城, *Hikuma-jō*) and was entrusted to Imagawa retainer [Iio Noritsura](/source/Iio_Noritsura). After the fall of [Imagawa Yoshimoto](/source/Imagawa_Yoshimoto) at the 1560 [Battle of Okehazama](/source/Battle_of_Okehazama), [Iio Tsuratatsu](/source/Iio_Tsuratatsu) rebelled against [Imagawa Ujinao](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Imagawa_Ujinao&action=edit&redlink=1), but was defeated. However, the greatly weakened Imagawa clan was unable to withstand the combined forces for [Tokugawa Ieyasu](/source/Tokugawa_Ieyasu) from [Mikawa](/source/Mikawa_Province) and [Takeda Shingen](/source/Takeda_Shingen) from [Kai](/source/Kai_Province). The former Imagawa territories in Tōtōmi were divided between the Tokugawa and Takeda in 1568. In December of the same year Tokugawa Ieyasu laid siege to Hikuma Castle and took it from [Otazu no kata](/source/Otazu_no_kata). He relocated his headquarters from [Okazaki Castle](/source/Okazaki_Castle) to Hamamatsu in 1570, and started construction of a new castle on a site which partially overlapped that of the original Hikuma Castle.

## Layout

Hamamatsu Castle was approximately 500 meters north–south by 450 meters east–west. The location has few natural barriers, but the castle utilizes the natural slope of the Mikatagahara plateau, with the [donjon](/source/Donjon) at the highest point in the northwest. To east was the [inner bailey](/source/Inner_bailey), followed by the second bailey and third bailey roughly in a straight line to the southeast. The stone walls were constructed in the *nozura-zumi* style using unshaped stones, with the ruins of the fortifications of the original Hikuma Castle also forming part of the outer defenses.

## History

Print of [Utagawa Hiroshige](/source/Utagawa_Hiroshige)

Tokugawa Ieyasu spent 17 years at Hamamatsu Castle, from age 29 to 45. The [Battle of Anegawa](/source/Battle_of_Anegawa), [Battle of Nagashino](/source/Battle_of_Nagashino), and [Battle of Komaki and Nagakute](/source/Battle_of_Komaki_and_Nagakute) were all fought when Hamamatsu was his seat. After his defeated at the [Battle of Mikatagahara](/source/Battle_of_Mikatagahara), Ieyasu was forced to retreat here for what he thought would be his final stand. However, the tide later turned for Ieyasu and he survived. He renamed Hikuma Castle "Hamamatsu Castle" in 1577.

Ieyasu relocated to [Sunpu Castle](/source/Sunpu_Castle) in 1586, entrusting Hamamatsu Castle to [Horio Yoshiharu](/source/Horio_Yoshiharu), who was followed by his son [Horio Tadauji](/source/Horio_Tadauji). Under Horio Yoshiharu, the castle was renovated in line with contemporary advances in stone ramparts, and was expanded in size. Contemporary records indicate that the castle was never built with a [*tenshukaku*-style keep](/source/Tenshu). Throughout its history, a two-story *[yagura](/source/Yagura_(tower))* located within the second [bailey](/source/Ward_(fortification)) served as a substitute keep.

After the [Battle of Sekigahara](/source/Battle_of_Sekigahara), the Horio clan was relocated to [Izumo Province](/source/Izumo_Province) and Hamamatsu was briefly ruled by [Tokugawa Yorinobu](/source/Tokugawa_Yorinobu), followed by a succession of *[fudai daimyō](/source/Fudai_daimy%C5%8D)* through the remainder of the [Edo period](/source/Edo_period). Assignment to Hamamatsu was considered a very prestigious appointment due to the castle's association with Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate. Most of the 25 *daimyō* who ruled Hamamatsu were assigned to Hamamatsu for only a short period, before being transferred to another domain, usually with a higher *[kokudaka](/source/Kokudaka)* ranking. Many also went on to hold high offices within the shogun administration, including five *[rōjū](/source/R%C5%8Dj%C5%AB)*, two *[Kyoto Shoshidai](/source/Kyoto_Shoshidai)*, two *[Osaka-jō dai](/source/Osaka-j%C5%8D_dai)* and four *[Jisha-bugyō](/source/Jisha-bugy%C5%8D)*. For this reason, Hamamatsu Castle gained its nickname of *Shusse Castle*, meaning "Castle of promotion.

With the [Meiji Restoration](/source/Meiji_Restoration), the remaining military structures of the castle were destroyed, outer moats filled in, and outer baileys sold off. The central portion was retained by the city of Hamamatsu as a park after [World War II](/source/World_War_II)

In 1958, a faux donjon was constructed out of reinforced concrete on top of the original stone palisade built by Tokugawa Ieyasu. The reconstructed structure has three stories with an observatory affording a view of the [Pacific Ocean](/source/Pacific_Ocean) at the topmost level. There is a small museum inside which houses armor and other relics of the [Tokugawa clan](/source/Tokugawa_clan), as well as a miniature model of how the city might have looked at the start of the Edo period. Surrounding the museum is Hamamatsu Castle Park which is planted with numerous [sakura](/source/Cherry_blossom) trees. A large bronze statue of [Tokugawa Ieyasu](/source/Tokugawa_Ieyasu) also stands in the park.[2] The castle was listed as one of the [Continued Top 100 Japanese Castles](/source/Continued_Top_100_Japanese_Castles) in 2017.[3]

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Connolly, Peter (1998). [*The Hutchinson Dictionary of Ancient and Medieval Warfare*](https://archive.org/details/hutchinsondictio0000benn/page/213). New York: Routledge. pp. [213](https://archive.org/details/hutchinsondictio0000benn/page/213). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-57958-116-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-57958-116-1).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Statue of Tokugawa Ieyasu"](https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g303148-d555401-Reviews-Statue_of_Tokugawa_Ieyasu-Hamamatsu_Shizuoka_Prefecture_Chubu.html). [TripAdvisor](/source/TripAdvisor).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["続日本100名城"](https://web.archive.org/web/20191202170315/http://jokaku.jp/japan-top-100-castles/best-100-castles-of-japan-2nd-selection/) (in Japanese). 日本城郭協会. Archived from [the original](http://jokaku.jp/japan-top-100-castles/best-100-castles-of-japan-2nd-selection/) on 2 December 2019. Retrieved 25 July 2019.

## References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Hamamatsu Castle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Hamamatsu_Castle).

- De Lange, William (2021). *An Encyclopedia of Japanese Castles*. Groningen: Toyo Press. pp. 600 pages. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-9492722300](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-9492722300).

- Schmorleitz, Morton S. (1974). [*Castles in Japan*](https://archive.org/details/castlesinjapan00schm/page/144). Tokyo: Charles E. Tuttle Co. pp. [144–145](https://archive.org/details/castlesinjapan00schm/page/144). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-8048-1102-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-8048-1102-4).

- Motoo, Hinago (1986). *Japanese Castles*. Tokyo: Kodansha. p. 200 pages. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-87011-766-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-87011-766-1).

- Mitchelhill, Jennifer (2004). *Castles of the Samurai: Power and Beauty*. Tokyo: Kodansha. p. 112 pages. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [4-7700-2954-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/4-7700-2954-3).

- Turnbull, Stephen (2003). [*Japanese Castles 1540–1640*](https://archive.org/details/japanesecastles00turn). Osprey Publishing. p. [64](https://archive.org/details/japanesecastles00turn/page/n33) pages. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-84176-429-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-84176-429-9).

## External links

Media related to [Hamamatsu Castle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Hamamatsu_Castle) at Wikimedia Commons

- [Hamamatsu Castle guide](https://www.japan.travel/en/spot/1297/)

- [Guide to Japanese Castles site](https://web.archive.org/web/20080229154013/http://www.jcastle.info/castle/profile/42-Hamamatsu-Castle)

- [Japanese Castle Explorer - Hamamatsu Castle](http://www.japanese-castle-explorer.com/castle_profile.html?name=Hamamatsu)

v t e Continued 100 Fine Castles of Japan by region Hokkaidō Shinori Date Katsuyama Date Tōhoku Namioka Castle Kunohe Castle Shiroishi Castle Wakimoto Castle Akita Castle Tsurugaoka Castle Yonezawa Castle Miharu Castle Mukaihaguroyama Castle Kantō Kasama Castle Tsuchiura Castle Karasawa Castle Nagurumi Castle Numata Castle Iwabitsu Castle Oshi Castle Sugiyama Castle Sugaya Yakata Moto Sakura Castle Ōtaki Castle Takiyama Castle Odaiba Kozukue Castle Ishigakiyama Ichiya Castle Kōshin'etsu Shinpu Castle Yōgaiyama Castle Tatsuoka Castle Takashima Castle Murakami Castle Takada Castle Samegao Castle Hokuriku Toyama Castle Masuyama Castle Torigoe Castle Fukui Castle Ōno Castle Kuniyoshi Castle Genbao Castle Tōkai Gujō Hachiman Castle Naegi Castle Kaneyama Castle Ōgaki Castle Kōkokuji Castle Suwahara Castle Takatenjin Castle Hamamatsu Castle Komakiyama Castle Furumiya Castle Yoshida Castle Tsu Castle Tage Kitabatakeshi Jōkan Tamaru Castle Akagi Castle Kansai Kamaha Castle Hachimanyama Castle Fukuchiyama Castle Akutagawayama Castle Iimoriyama Castle Kishiwada Castle Arikoyama Castle / Izushi Castle Kuroi Castle Sumoto Castle Kōriyama Castle Uda Matsuyama Castle Shingū Castle Chūgoku Wakasa Oniga Castle Yonago Castle Hamada Castle Takamatsu Castle Mihara Castle Niitakayama Castle Kōnomine Castle / Ōuchi-shi Yakata Shikoku Shōzui Castle Ichinomiya Castle Hiketa Castle Noshima Castle Kagomori Castle Okō Castle Kyūshū Kokura Castle Mizuki Castle Kurume Castle Kii Castle Karatsu Castle Kaneda Castle Ishida Castle Hara Castle Kikuchi Castle Yatsushiro Castle Nakatsu Castle Tsunomure Castle Usuki Castle Saiki Castle Nobeoka Castle Sadowara Castle Shibushi Castle Chiran Castle Okinawa Zakimi Castle Katsuren Castle

Authority control databases VIAF

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Hamamatsu Castle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamamatsu_Castle) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamamatsu_Castle?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.