Understand Hamamatsu Castle’s History Through 2 Periods of Construction
The meaning of Hamamatsu Castle’s remains becomes clearer when you distinguish the period when Tokugawa Ieyasu developed it as a base for ruling Tōtōmi from the period when Horio Yoshiharu remodeled it as a castle with stone walls and a main tower.
Do not assume that the main tower, gates, and stone walls visible today all date from Ieyasu’s time. Keep in mind that the underground remains, surviving stone walls, and reconstructed buildings represent different periods.
Ieyasu Moves His Base in 1570
In 1570, Tokugawa Ieyasu moved his base from Okazaki Castle to Hikuma Castle, greatly expanded the fortress, and renamed it Hamamatsu Castle.
He shifted the castle’s center to the area around the present main tower and incorporated the old Hikuma Castle into the new grounds, expanding the site while making use of the existing base.
Hamamatsu Serves as His Base for 17 Years
Before moving to Sunpu Castle in 1586, Ieyasu spent 17 years in Hamamatsu, developing the castle and castle town during a tense period that included conflict with the Takeda clan.
Historical reconstruction studies suggest that the center of the castle in Ieyasu’s time did not yet have stone walls or a main tower, but instead contained compounds enclosed by earthen ramparts and residences with wooden-shingle roofs.
Horio Yoshiharu Transforms It into a Stone-Walled Castle
After entering Hamamatsu Castle in 1590, Horio Yoshiharu built high stone walls, tile-roofed turrets and gates, and a main tower, converting the castle’s core to stone defenses.
The surviving stone walls and archaeological findings show how Ieyasu’s earthen castle was transformed into an early-modern fortress by the next lord.
The table organizes what changed in each period.
| Period | Form of the Castle | Evidence to Examine |
|---|---|---|
| Before Ieyasu | Hikuma Castle | Old castle grounds |
| Ieyasu period | Earthen ramparts and compounds | Underground remains |
| Horio period | Stone walls and main tower | Stone walls and excavations |
| Present day | Rebuilt and reconstructed features | Buildings and exhibits |
Explore the Terrain and Defenses of the Main Tower Enclosure
A separate main tower enclosure, or tenshu kuruwa, was created around the tower apart from the main bailey, and its complex layout survives in stone walls that follow the natural contours of the hill.
Instead of focusing only on the tower, observe the gates, turns, and changes in the height of the stone walls as one continuous defense to understand the castle’s three-dimensional design.
Trace the Polygonal Enclosure from the Outside
The main tower enclosure is described as a complex polygon measuring 56m east to west and 68m north to south, with stone walls that preserve early features reflecting the natural shape of the hill.
Rather than trying to see every corner at once, follow each place where a bend in the stone wall blocks your view and the next face appears to experience the effect of the polygonal layout.
Compare the Roles of the Front and Rear Approaches
The Tenshumon Gate, the formal entrance, stood on the east side of the main tower enclosure, while the rear approach and Uzumimon Gate were located on the west side.
Comparing the formal route through the imposing gate with the smaller rear route used for administration and movement during emergencies reveals how routes within the castle differed according to status and function.
Connect the Elevation Changes to the Castle Town
At Hamamatsu Castle, built on the edge of the Mikatahara Plateau, the terrain descends from the elevated compounds toward the castle town to the east, a relationship that influenced both defense and urban development.
Do not end your visit with the view from the tower. Check the direction in which the city extends from the hill, and it becomes easier to consider why the castle served as a center of transportation and politics.
See It as a Rare Type of Enclosure
This form of main tower enclosure has few parallels in Japan and resembles layouts at castles built during the Toyotomi period, including Kakegawa Castle and Wakayama Castle.
Comparing it with enclosures at other castles helps you understand more precisely how Hamamatsu Castle’s layout used the natural terrain.
Read the Details of Hamamatsu Castle’s Stone Walls
Hamamatsu Castle’s stone walls let you compare the irregular character of largely unshaped natural stones with the different techniques visible at corners and in gaps.
Do not judge strength by stone size alone. Observe the wall faces, corners, filler stones, and slopes separately to see how the stonework was assembled as a single structure.
Study the Outline of Nozurazumi Stonework
In the stone walls, the irregular outlines of minimally worked stones are fitted together, forming the wall face while making use of each stone’s natural shape.
Look beyond the large stones for those that create contact points around them, stones laid lengthwise, and stones extending deep into the wall to imagine the stability hidden behind the surface.
Understand the Role of Aishi Filler Stones
The small stones visible in the gaps between larger stones are called aishi. They help even out the face of the stone wall but are not considered the stones that support its structural strength.
Do not assume that more small stones make the wall stronger. First look at where the main stones support one another, then view the aishi as supplementary elements.
Find Sangi-zumi at the Corners
At projecting corners, the sangi-zumi technique alternates the ends and sides of rectangular stones, creating a pattern unlike that on the flat wall faces.
Move from the front face of the wall to a corner and follow how the long sides of the stones alternate direction to understand the stacking method used to reinforce the bend.
The table organizes viewing positions and key details.
| Viewing Position | Stones to Notice | What to Read |
|---|---|---|
| Center of wall face | Natural stones | How shapes fit together |
| Gaps between stones | Aishi | How the face is evened out |
| Projecting corner | Rectangular stones | Sangi-zumi |
| Lower slope | Large stones | How loads are supported |
Distinguish the Rebuilt Main Tower from Historical Evidence
The present main tower was rebuilt in 1958 as a modern structure; it is not the original tower from the castle’s earlier era.
Rather than equating its rebuilt status with a lack of value, consider its modern roles in preserving the stone walls, shaping the postwar park, presenting historical exhibits, and providing views.
Compare the Main Tower Base with the Building
The present tower was built smaller than the large tower base dating from Horio Yoshiharu’s period.
Look beyond the tower walls to the open portions of the base not occupied by the building, and the difference from the scale of the structure once envisioned becomes visible.
Connect Ieyasu and the Castle Town Through the Exhibits
Inside the tower, historical materials and arms related to Tokugawa Ieyasu and the castle town of Hamamatsu are displayed, while the observation deck overlooks the city.
Link the information about the castle grounds and town from the exhibits with directions seen from the observation deck, and the explanations on the map align with the cityscape today.
View the Rebuilt Tower as Postwar History
The rebuilt tower was created as Hamamatsu Castle Park developed into a public park, returning the castle’s symbol to the urban landscape.
Rather than expecting only a recreation of the Sengoku period, identify which parts are archaeological remains and which are rebuilt or reconstructed. This makes for a visit that conveys the history accurately.
Look for Archaeological Evidence in the Reconstructed Tenshumon Gate
The Tenshumon Gate protected the front of the main tower enclosure throughout the Edo period, but it was dismantled in 1873 and later reconstructed in wood based on archaeological excavations and historical drawings.
Look beyond the white walls and tile roof to the pillar positions, foundation stones, and connections with the stone walls to see the evidence used to recreate the lost structure.
Examine the Upper and Lower Structure of the Turret Gate
Tenshumon is a turret gate with a turret above the entrance and an upper building extending toward the stone walls on both sides.
Before passing through, view the spacing between the pillars and the roof from the front, then look back at the rear after entering to understand the vertical relationship used to watch and defend the entrance.
Check the Foundation Stones and Pillar Positions
Archaeological excavations found foundation stones and extraction pits, providing clues to the arrangement of the gateposts and the size of the gate doors.
For the reconstruction, new foundation stones and pillars were reportedly placed almost directly above the surviving underground stones, indicating the building’s position while protecting the buried remains.
Combine Drawings with Physical Traces
A drawing of Hamamatsu Castle from 1854 depicts Tenshumon, the surrounding earthen walls, and earthquake damage, and it was compared with excavated roof tiles and traces of plaster.
Instead of determining the structure’s appearance from a single drawing, make the reconstruction method itself part of your visit by considering how plans, archaeological remains, excavated objects, and comparable examples were combined.
The table shows the relationship between visible features and their supporting evidence.
| Visible Feature | Main Evidence | Point to Check |
|---|---|---|
| Gateposts | Foundation stones and extraction pits | Arrangement |
| Tile roof | Excavated tiles and drawings | Shape and roofing method |
| White walls | Plaster traces | Extent of walls |
| Earthen walls | Drawings and stone walls | Continuity |
Explore Beyond the Castle in Hamamatsu Castle Park
Hamamatsu Castle Park includes not only the castle’s historical zone but also a Japanese garden, a lawn plaza, trees, and layers of history as an urban park.
After viewing the remains, move into the park’s open spaces to sense how the hill changed from a military base into a place of relaxation for local residents.
Read Multilingual Information Signs
The park’s information signs are available online in English, Portuguese, Chinese, and Korean.
Review the terms you want to know before your visit, then connect the on-site positions of the stone walls, main tower enclosure, gates, Uzumimon Gate, and other features with their explanations to make the site easier to understand across language differences.
Rest Your Eyes in the Japanese Garden and Lawn
After concentrating on the stone walls and exhibits, shift your gaze to distant views in the Japanese garden or central lawn plaza to rest while organizing what you have learned.
Do not directly associate the park’s plantings with the castle’s historical periods. Enjoy them separately as a landscape where a historic site and the functions of a modern park coexist.
Check Visitor Information Before You Go
The main tower and Tenshumon Gate have opening hours and admission conditions that may change for events or severe weather, so check the visitor information for the day of your visit.
On stone steps and slopes, watch your footing first. Do not climb the stone walls or touch the aishi, and observe the historic site from a distance that will not damage it.
Hamamatsu Castle Summary
Hamamatsu Castle brings together multiple periods: the castle of earthen ramparts and compounds built by Tokugawa Ieyasu, the castle to which Horio Yoshiharu added stone walls and a main tower, the postwar rebuilt tower, and the Tenshumon Gate reconstructed from archaeological findings.
Follow the terrain of the main tower enclosure, the stone walls that use natural stones, the open portions of the tower base, and the gate’s foundation stones in sequence to read changes in the castle that its buildings’ exteriors alone do not reveal.
Distinguish the archaeological remains, rebuilt structures, reconstructed buildings, and modern park, and explore Hamamatsu’s history by connecting the explanations with traces visible on the site.
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