Explore Sumpu Castle, which had the largest keep in Japan and dates back nearly 500 years to the Warring States Period.
Ieyasu was the founder and first shōgun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan, which effectively ruled Japan from 1603 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868.
Ieyasu, who had spent part of his youth in Sumpu, present Shizuoka City as a hostage, eventually went on to build Sumpu Castle in 1585 and take up residence there for a number of years, preparing for the famous battle of Sekigahara in 1600. After this famous battle he established the longest period of peace and isolation in Japan’s history, known as the Edo period and created the city that is now known as Tokyo.
After creating Tokyo and establishing the Tokugawa Shogunate (which would rule Japan for 265 years) Ieyasu again returned to Sumpu Castle to retire until his death in 1616.
So it could be argued that Sumpu Castle is one of the most historically significant heritage sites in Japan – at least in terms of the past 500 years and the establishment of much of current-day rule of law.
Today, Sumpu Castle is surrounded by a beautiful park and sits in the centre of Shizuoka City. The keep of the castle was the largest in Japan, even bigger than its more famous cousin, Edo Castle.
However, because of war, fire and the castle changing hands over the centuries, many of the buildings have had to be recreated.
Sections made from wood, such as the East Gate that were destroyed in a 17th century fire, were reconstructed in 1996 to exact specifications, even using the original hinoki timber, along with beams made from entire tree trunks, as they were when the castle was originally constructed in 1589.
Other reconstruction projects in 1989 recreated the Tatsumi Yagura sections, so even visiting the castle today, one can still enjoy the atmosphere of the original design along with the smells of hinoki timber as if it were constructed yesterday.
Visiting the castle is easy. The Tokaido Shinkansen, which travels between Tokyo and Osaka, stops at Shizuoka Station, and the castle and surrounding attractions are a short 10-minute taxi ride or a leisurely 20-30 minute walk through parks and shops, making a great half-day excursion. See other attractions in Shizuoka city and plan to explore.
Information
Address: 1-1 Sumpujokoen, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka-shi, Shizuoka
Hours: 9:00-16:30 for charged facilities
Closure of the charged facilities: from December 29 to January 3 and Mondays (facilities are open if Monday is a national holiday)
For more Information check – Sumpu Castle Website
