Sunpu Castle

静岡県

The castle where Ieyasu ruled as retired shogun and died at 75 — heart of the Tokugawa legacy

Founded

1585

Type

Castle

Visited

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Access

About 15 min walk from JR Shizuoka Station

Sunpu Castle Park, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka

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Info

Castle

Founded 1585

441 years

Overview

A castle in Sunpu built by Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1585. After opening the Edo shogunate, Ieyasu returned here as Ogosho (retired shogun) and died at age 75 at this castle of the supreme ruler. The Ninomaru Higashi-gomon Gate, Tatsumi Yagura, and Hitsuji-Saru Yagura have been reconstructed, and the site is now beloved as Sunpu Castle Park. Ongoing excavations have confirmed stone walls from the Toyotom…

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Origins

The Sunpu area flourished as the stronghold of the Imagawa clan, and the young Tokugawa Ieyasu spent part of his childhood here as a hostage. In 1585, Ieyasu constructed a castle in Sunpu, establishing a base in this strategic location in the Tokai region. In 1590, when Toyotomi Hideyoshi ordered Ie…

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Pilgrimage Courses

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Tokugawa Ieyasu Historic Sites

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Related Figures
— 3

Imagawa Yoshimoto

Ruler of the Tokaido, Guardian of Suruga

Age 66 at founding (posthumous)

The predecessor of Sunpu Castle was the Imagawa mansion, original headquarters of the Imagawa clan. Yoshimoto ruled here as the greatest daimyo of the Tokai region, holding the young Takechiyo (Ieyasu) as a hostage in Sunpu. After Yoshimoto's death at Okehazama in 1560, Imagawa power collapsed and Sunpu eventually became Ieyasu's base.

Tiger of Kai — Furinkazan

Age 64 at founding (posthumous)

Takeda Shingen launched his invasion of Suruga in 1568, driving out Imagawa Ujizane and occupying Sunpu. Suruga then came under Takeda control, incorporated into Shingen's domain. After Shingen's death, Ieyasu recaptured it and later developed it into a major castle.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi

Taiko, Ruler of All

Age 48 at founding

In 1590, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, having unified Japan after the Siege of Odawara, ordered Tokugawa Ieyasu to relocate to the Kanto region. As a result, Ieyasu left Sunpu Castle, which was thereafter governed by castellans aligned with the Toyotomi clan — a decision by Hideyoshi that shaped the castle's fate.

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Visiting Information

Hours

Higashi-Gomon Gate & Tatsumi-Yagura Turret: 9:00 AM–4:30 PM (last entry 4:00 PM). Closed Mondays (open if a public holiday) and Dec 29–Jan 3.

Admission

Higashi-Gomon & Tatsumi-Yagura only: adults ¥200, elementary/junior high ¥50. Combined ticket for 3 facilities: adults ¥360, students ¥120.

As of 2026-07-17. Subject to change.

Also Worth Visiting

Shizuoka Sengen Shrine

Sunpu's grand shrine revered by Hideyoshi and Ieyasu — 25 Important Cultural Property buildings in a single precinct

Family temple of the Imagawa clan, preserving the burial mound of Yoshimoto killed at Okehazama

Rinzai Zen temple where the young Ieyasu studied statecraft under Imagawa strategist Sessai

Nichiren temple guarding the demon gate of Sunpu Castle, where Oman no Kata was buried

A Zen temple where ancient tradition meets modern art and practice

The Sunpu memorial temple enshrining the mother of shogun Hidetada

Shizuoka Tenmangu

A shrine in Aoi Ward, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka

A shrine in Aoi Ward, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka

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