The Shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu, was born in Okazaki Castle in 1542 during a period of significant civil unrest. At that time, the Tokugawa, then known as the Matsudaira, controlled the rice-rich Mikawa plains of what is now eastern Aichi Prefecture. This fertile region was highly coveted by surrounding warlords. Ieyasu, a shrewd leader and brilliant tactician, managed to maintain and expand his territories. Following in the footsteps of other national unifiers, Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Ieyasu emerged victorious at the decisive Battle of Sekigahara in 1600. In 1603, he was invested as Shogun, a title he made hereditary, enabling the Tokugawa family to rule Japan for the next 250 years.
Okazaki Castle was originally built in 1455 by the warrior Saigo Tsugiyori near the present site of Myodaiji Temple. Initially, it was likely just a small wooden fort. Ieyasu's grandfather, Matsudaira Kiyoyasu, captured the fortress and rebuilt Okazaki Castle on its current site in 1531, utilizing the Otogawa River and its tributary as a natural moat. Over the years, the castle was expanded and its defenses strengthened, making it one of the nation’s most respected castles. It served as the stronghold of the Tokugawa clan for over 350 years.
During the Edo Period, Okazaki prospered as a significant castle town located along the Tokaido Highway, the main route between the capital, Kyoto, and Ieyasu’s later stronghold, Edo (modern-day Tokyo).
In 1868, Japan ended its feudal system, and the samurai caste was abolished eight years later. In 1873, Okazaki Castle, like many other castles across Japan, was demolished, leaving only the moat and sturdy stone walls. The main keep, annex, and well-house were reconstructed in ferro-concrete in 1959.
Today, the castle grounds are a tree-filled park, popular for cherry blossom and wisteria viewing in spring. Visitors enter through the striking Otemon gate. The remaining rough-hewn stone walls, once formidable defensive structures, are now softened by lush moss and ferns.
The grounds feature several statues of Ieyasu and a smaller one dedicated to Honda Tadakatsu, a loyal Tokugawa retainer. There is also the oldest municipal Noh theatre in Japan, various shrines, small eateries, an ancient teahouse, and a well from which Lord Ieyasu's first bath was supposedly drawn. One of the castle’s yagura watchtowers has been rebuilt in the traditional manner and is open to the public.
Another notable attraction is the Ieyasu and Mikawa Bushi (warrior) Museum. The main highlight, however, is the castle keep. The reconstructed castle’s second, third, and fourth floors house a museum displaying samurai armor, weapons, daily items, and local history and cultural exhibits. The fifth-floor observatory offers a panoramic view of the surrounding Mikawa region, the area that Tokugawa Ieyasu first ruled.
See also
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Kokura Castle
Kokura Castle is traditionally considered to have been founded by Hosokawa Tadaoki (1563–1645), although by the time the Hosokawa clan came to control these lands, the fortification had already existed since at least 1569 and was most likely built by members of the Mori clan.
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Ikeda Castle
In 1334, Ikeda Noriyoshi built a small fort on this site, which over time was repeatedly expanded and rebuilt. During the Ōnin War of 1467–1477, the Ikeda clan supported the Western Coalition. As a result, Ikeda Castle was attacked and captured by the forces of the Eastern Coalition, but it was soon recaptured, allowing it to avoid serious destruction.
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Aizu-Wakamatsu Castle
Aizu-Wakamatsu is the most powerful and at the same time the oldest castle in the Tōhoku region in the north of Honshu Island. Its history begins in the 14th century and is closely connected with the Ashina clan, whose members claimed descent from the legendary Taira family.
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Maruoka Castle
Maruoka Castle is located in the central part of the former city of Maruoka, which is now part of the city of Sakai. This area lies in the northeastern part of Fukui Prefecture. The castle was built on the bank of the Kuzuryu River, on the side opposite Fukui City, which once served as the administrative center of the former Echizen Province. Thanks to its location, Maruoka held significant strategic importance, as it controlled two major routes at once: the Hokurikudo highway leading from Kaga Province and the Mino Kaido road connecting these lands with Mino Province.
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Marugame Castle
Marugame is part of the so-called “Authentic Dozen,” a group of twelve castles whose donjons have survived to the present day without major reconstructions since the Edo period.
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Iyo Matsuyama Castle
Historically, the center of Iyo Province—corresponding to today’s Ehime Prefecture on the island of Shikoku—was the city of Imabari, while the Matsuyama area was regarded as an agricultural hinterland with broad plains and low hills. During the Muromachi period, the central part of the province was governed by the Kano clan from Yuzuki Castle. With the onset of the Sengoku period, however, this clan lost its former influence and was forced to survive in the shadow of the more powerful Mori and Chōsokabe clans. After Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s forces conquered Shikoku in 1587, the northern part of Iyo Province was granted to Fukushima Masanori, one of the so-called “Seven Spears of Shizugatake.” In 1595, Masanori was transferred to Kiyosu Castle, and the lands around Matsuyama were given to another of the Seven Spears, Katō Yoshiaki, who received Masaki Castle and an income of 60,000 koku of rice.
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Kanazawa Castle
Construction of Kanazawa Castle began in 1580 on the orders of Sakuma Morimasa, a vassal of Oda Nobunaga. The castle was built on the site of the Ikko-ikki sect's Oyama Gobo temple, which is why it is sometimes called Oyama Castle. Morimasa managed to build several moats and begin construction of a castle town. However, after his defeat at the Battle of Shizugatake in 1583, he was executed, and ownership of the castle passed to Maeda Toshiie (1538–1599).
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Nakatsu Castle
Kuroda Yoshitaka (1546–1604) was one of the closest advisors to the legendary military commander Toyotomi Hideyoshi. He took part in key military campaigns of the late 16th century, including the campaign against Shikoku in 1585 and the campaign against Kyushu in 1587. Later, during the second campaign in Korea, Yoshitaka served as chief advisor to the commander of the invasion forces, Kobayakawa Hideaki. After Hideyoshi's death, he swore allegiance to Tokugawa Ieyasu, thereby securing his influence and patronage under Japan's new leader.
