There are still a few castles remaining in Shizuoka Prefecture although all of them are ruins or rebuilt or both.
Bear in mind that the Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu spent a long time at different periods of his life in the Prefecture (actually 4 of them at the time) leaving his mark here and there.
One of them is the Hamamatsu Castle whose ruins can still be visited in Hamamatsu City!
Just go to Hamamatsu Castle Park/Hamamatujyo Kouen/浜松城公園 (refer to the details at the end of this article) at any time of theyear to enjoy the sights although my preference is late Autumn when the leaves change color!
A pleasurable stroll!
Most information is bilingual including the very useful map at the entrance of the castle domains!
You do have to negotiate a few slopes!
Enormous camellia tree!
Getting near the entrance!
Bilingual sign introducing the Honmaru/main building! Make a point to read all those signs! They are not only great study but very well translated!
A statue of the younger Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Actually the castle was built by the Imagawa Clan before they lost power and became the masters of ceremony of the Tokugawa Clan.
The entrance to the main building from down below!
A great spot for photography buffs!
A side view of the castle!
The last climb and the torii gate of the Shinto Shrine looking after the place!
Great explanations of the building of the walls!
Succinct but very precise historical introduction!
This was a castle conceived for defense during the Japan Feudal Era!
A must read explanation of the castle foundations, citing that the castle was rebuilt in 1958 but on a smaller scale!
The back entrance?
Great explanation on the well that any castle needed to provide water safely to its occupants!
I would have liked to be an enemy tying to climb that wall!
Even if one had succeeded climbing the wall he didn’t stand much a chance passing through the entrance!
This is only a very short introduction to local history! There is plenty more to discover and there is also a park around the castle to spend the day!
HAMAMATSU CASTLE (RUINS)
Inside hamamatsu Castle Park/浜松城公園
430-0946 Hamamatsu City, Naka Ku, Motojyou, 100-2
Opening hours: 08:30~16:30
Tel.: 053-453-3872
RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES
So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pie
rre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,
Must-see tasting websites:
-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery
Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents
SHIZUOKA TOURISM 