on October 8, 2005
THE HISTORY OF THE CASTLE
Tradition has it that the 1st OKAZAKI CASTLE was constructed at the present site in SUGO, OKAZAKI around 1455 by the SAIGO family...
In the 1st half on the 16th century, the SAIGO family yielded possession of OKAZAKI CASTLE to MATSUDAIRA KIYOYASU, the 17th lord of the Matsudaira family(and the grandfather of IYEYASU)..that had risen into power in northern MIKAWA...
The prevailing belief based on recent research work, however, is that the 1st half of the 15th century, and that MATSUDAIRA KIYOYAU moved it over to the present site in 1531..
Incidentally, the original castle was most probably a fort of the main citadel today, on a small plot of land..
In 1590, TANAKA YOSHIMASA, then lord of the castle, enlarged the precincts surrounded with moats and LORD HONDA YASUNORI built a complex castle tower well worthy of the name...
For 3 centuries, OKAZAKI CASTLE, honored as the birthplace of the deified Iyeyasu and cradle of the TOKUGAWA Shogunate, was guarded successively by the hereditary vassal daimyos..
At the same time OKAZAKI was valued as a strategic point along the TOKAIDO HIGHWAY...
In the MEIJI RESTORATION PERIOD, the feudal clans were abolished and in 1873-1874 ,OKAZAKI castle was demolished, leaving only its moat adn stone wall..
In 1959, the triple-roofed , 5 story donjon, together with the annex and wellhouse , were reconstructed according to the original model..
OPEN..9am to 5pm
CLOSE....dec...29-jan...1
FEE....Okazaki castle.......adult...200 yen............child ..100 yen
Mikawa museum...adult..350yen........
Museum and Castle...adult..500.yen.......
on March 31, 2003
