Okazaki Park（History of Okazaki Castle）
The Honmaru, or main bailey of Okazaki Castle is located atop Mt. Ryuto at the top of the hill, and extended to Mt. Kabuto in the northeast. The first fortress was built in the 15th century by the warlord Saigo Yoritsugu. It became the Tokugawa clan base in the early 16th century, where Tokugawa Ieyasu was born in 1542. Ieyasu held Okazaki Castle until relocating to Hamamatsu Castle (Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture) in 1570. Okazaki Castle remained an important castle for the Tokugawa clan until 1590 when Ieyasu was transferred to the Kanto region.
At that time, the Toyotomi loyal daimyo, Tanaka Yoshimasa became lord of Okazaki. Under Tanaka the castle keep was constructed, the moats, earthen rampart walls and stone walls were extended, and other large-scale maintenance was undertaken. This continued until the mid-17th century.
In 1873, the tower keep and other structures were demolished by post feudal period decree. Parts of castle ruins became Okazaki Park in 1877. Okazaki Castle’s keep was rebuilt in 1959 and became an Okazaki City Cultural Property in 1962.
Okazaki Castle Outer Moat Enclosure >
Okazaki Park（History of Okazaki Castle）
The Honmaru, or main bailey of Okazaki Castle is located atop Mt. Ryuto at the top of the hill, and extended to Mt. Kabuto in the northeast. The first fortress was built in the 15th century by the warlord Saigo Yoritsugu. It became the Tokugawa clan base in the early 16th century, where Tokugawa Ieyasu was born in 1542. Ieyasu held Okazaki Castle until relocating to Hamamatsu Castle (Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture) in 1570. Okazaki Castle remained an important castle for the Tokugawa clan until 1590 when Ieyasu was transferred to the Kanto region.
At that time, the Toyotomi loyal daimyo, Tanaka Yoshimasa became lord of Okazaki. Under Tanaka the castle keep was constructed, the moats, earthen rampart walls and stone walls were extended, and other large-scale maintenance was undertaken. This continued until the mid-17th century.
In 1873, the tower keep and other structures were demolished by post feudal period decree. Parts of castle ruins became Okazaki Park in 1877. Okazaki Castle’s keep was rebuilt in 1959 and became an Okazaki City Cultural Property in 1962.