駿府城

Ieyasu's Final Residence: The History of Sunpu Castle

Sunpu Castle stands in present-day Shizuoka City (formerly Suruga Province), the fortress Tokugawa Ieyasu developed as his retirement castle in his later years. Ieyasu's bond with Sunpu was deep — as a boy, he spent years here as a hostage of the Imagawa clan (1547–1560). After the Imagawa's fall, he renovated Sunpu in 1585 as his main base, laying the foundations of national unification through battles including Mikatagahara and Nagashino.

Following his victory at Sekigahara (1600), Ieyasu was appointed shōgun in Edo in 1603, then abdicated in 1605 to pass the title to Hidetada. Yet rather than retiring to Edo, he returned to Sunpu and governed as the Grand Minister (ōgosho) until just before his death. In 1607 he rebuilt Sunpu Castle on a grand scale, completing a seven-story tower said to rival Edo Castle in magnificence (later destroyed by fire).

Sunpu O-wakemono: Ieyasu's Vast Sword Collection Distributed

From the perspective of sword culture, Sunpu Castle holds extraordinary significance. During his years at Sunpu, Ieyasu accumulated an enormous collection of property, art, and swords. After his death, this estate was distributed to daimyō across the country as the Sunpu O-wakemono ("Sunpu Division of Goods"), becoming the origin of famous blades now in daimyō collections across Japan.

The Sunpu O-wakemono included numerous outstanding swords by the greatest smiths — Masamune, Yoshimitsu, Yoshihiro — that became the founding treasures of daimyō families across the country. By distributing his estate strategically, Ieyasu simultaneously secured daimyō loyalty and spread the sword culture cultivated by the Tokugawa throughout Japan. This system is one of the most important reasons why high-quality swords are found in daimyō collections nationwide.

Ieyasu as a Person: 73 Years and the Japanese Sword

Born in 1542 in Mikawa Province (present-day Okazaki, Aichi), Ieyasu spent his early years as a hostage of the Imagawa. During this time in Sunpu he was exposed to the Imagawa clan's cultural refinement, deepening his appreciation for swords and the arts. As an adult, he fought in numerous campaigns under Nobunaga and Hideyoshi, understanding the practical significance of swords through firsthand experience. Many of his swords bear combat marks — chips at the kissaki — testifying that these were true battle weapons, not ornaments.

After destroying the Toyotomi at the Osaka Summer Campaign of 1615, Ieyasu returned to Sunpu and died there in 1616 at age 75. The castle where he spent his final years holds special historical weight as the place where the founder of 265 years of Tokugawa rule completed his life's work.

Sunpu Castle Today: Excavations and Park Development

The site is now developed as Sunpu Castle Park. Major excavations begun in 2016 have revealed the stone walls of Ieyasu's era in excellent condition, receiving high academic acclaim. Portions of the excavation are open to view, allowing a face-to-face encounter with 400-year-old stonework. The reconstructed Higashi Gomon gate and Tatsumi Yagura turret are open as visitor facilities, and the park contains "Aoi no I" — a well associated with Ieyasu. The Shizuoka City Museum also houses numerous objects connected to Ieyasu.