浜松城
Hamamatsu Castle
Présentation
Hamamatsu Castle is where Tokugawa Ieyasu grew from a young warlord into the architect of Japan's final era of peace. He entered the castle in 1570 at age 29 and remained for 17 formative years — years that included his greatest defeat: the Battle of Mikatagahara in 1572, where Takeda Shingen's superior forces routed Ieyasu's army, forcing him to flee back to the castle in humiliation. Legend holds that Ieyasu commissioned a portrait of his own terror-stricken face as a lifelong reminder to never be reckless — the famous 'Shikamizo' ('grimacing portrait'). The castle's nickname, 'Castle of Advancement,' reflects the tradition that its lords — including many who became Edo-period senior councillors — consistently rose to prominence. The 2023 NHK taiga drama 'Dōsuru Ieyasu' brought renewed nationwide attention to this formative chapter of Ieyasu's life. Modern Hamamatsu is equally renowned as the birthplace of Yamaha, Kawai, Honda, and Suzuki — the practical manufacturing spirit of the city echoing Ieyasu's own pragmatic genius.
Lien avec les sabres
Hamamatsu Castle's sword connections flow directly from Tokugawa Ieyasu — Japan's greatest single patron of the sword as political institution. The 17 years Ieyasu spent at Hamamatsu were the crucible in which his leadership philosophy was forged: the humiliating defeat at Mikatagahara forced him to rethink strategy, weapons, and discipline from the ground up. This period of reflection shaped his later approach to sword culture as statecraft — the Edo-period regulations governing blade length, production standards, and ceremonial sword-wearing that defined samurai identity for 250 years all trace their philosophical origins to Ieyasu's thinking. His most sacred personal blade, 'Sohaya no Tsuruki,' a legendary ancient sword enshrined at Kunōzan Tōshōgū in Shizuoka, symbolizes his identity as the sword-bearer of Japanese civilization. The castle museum displays Ieyasu-related armor and weapons; the nearby Kunōzan Tōshōgū, reachable in under an hour, holds the most important physical sword relics of the Tokugawa heritage.
Points d'intérêt
- Replica tenshu and Hamamatsu Castle Park History Museum — displays Ieyasu-related armor, weapons, and a replica of the famous 'grimacing portrait'
- Mikatagahara Battlefield — about 15 min by car from the castle; the site of Ieyasu's greatest defeat and the birth of his most important lesson
- 'Castle of Advancement' prayers — a steady stream of modern visitors seeking good fortune in career advancement and examinations
- Lake Hamana eel cuisine — Hamamatsu's most famous food; savory kabayaki eel at historic restaurants near the castle
- Yamaha and Suzuki corporate museums — experience the origins of world-famous musical instrument and motorcycle brands
- Kunōzan Tōshōgū — about 1 hour by car in Shizuoka City; Japan's oldest Tōshōgū shrine enshrining Ieyasu, home to the sacred sword Sohaya no Tsuruki
* Les horaires d'ouverture et les tarifs sont susceptibles de changer. Veuillez consulter le site officiel avant votre visite.
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