Sunpu Castle

駿府城

Shizuoka

CastleFlatland castle (hirajiro)Japan's 100 Fine Castles No. 45

What makes this castle distinctive

Under the lawn of a city park, excavators found two keep bases built by Tokugawa Ieyasu in two different eras, one on top of the other.

Why?

Sunpu's keep base was torn down in the Meiji era and its soil used to fill the moat. When Shizuoka City began excavating in 2016, it found two keep bases built by Ieyasu: one from the Sengoku period (Tensho era) and a rebuilt one from the Edo period (Keicho era), lying on top of each other, along with gold-leaf roof tiles. The city is building an outdoor exhibit to show them on site, scheduled to open at the start of fiscal 2027.^[1][2][3]

Three things not to miss

The two overlapping keep bases

Where: The keep site in the northwest of the main enclosure (honmaru), now a construction zone for the outdoor exhibit.
What to look at: How the stone walls of the Sengoku-period and Edo-period keep bases overlap, the inner structure of the base, and the honmaru moat.
Why it's interesting: Ieyasu built a keep here twice, and the bases of both survived underground. The keep burned in 1635 and was never rebuilt, and the base was demolished in 1896, so excavation was the first chance to confirm its exact size and position. Some stones bear marks said to have been carved by the daimyo who took part in the construction.^{[1][2][3][13]}
Can you see it?: Not visibleThe excavation viewing zone and the Cassiru excavation info center closed on December 26, 2025, and the area is now under construction. The outdoor exhibit is due to open at the start of fiscal 2027 (spring 2027), and the neighboring guidance facility with a VR theater and finds is due in early summer 2027.

Tatsumi Yagura and Higashi Gomon

Where: The southeast of the second enclosure (ninomaru), across the middle moat by Higashi Gomon Bridge.
What to look at: The L-shaped floor plan of Tatsumi Yagura, and the exhibits inside the gate.
Why it's interesting: Tatsumi Yagura was rebuilt in 1989 and Higashi Gomon in 1996, the gate using traditional methods. The park says the turret's L-shaped plan is rare among castle turrets and made it strong for defense. Inside are finds from the park's excavations and a recreated study room where young Ieyasu is said to have been taught.^[4][5][6]
Can you see it?: Visible from outsideFree to see from outside. Entry is paid (adults 200 yen). Closed Mondays unless a holiday.

Hitsujisaru Yagura, opened up to its beams

Where: The southwest corner of the second enclosure.
What to look at: The open interior that lets you see from the ground floor up to the third-floor beams, and the glass floor panels showing the structure below.
Why it's interesting: Rebuilt with traditional methods in 2014, this turret has had its floors and ceilings deliberately left out so you can see the timber framework. Glass panels let you look at the structure beneath the floor, and there are videos of the reconstruction and a matchlock-style target game with rubber-band guns.^[4][5][7]
Can you see it?: Visible from outsidePaid entry (adults 100 yen). Closed Mondays unless a holiday.

At a glance for visitors

Nearest station: 15 min walk from JR Shizuoka Station
Climb: No climb
Time neededEditors' estimate: About 1.5–2 hours for the park and turrets.
Admission: Combined ticket for all three: adults 360 yen, elementary and junior high students 120 yen. Separately: Higashi Gomon & Tatsumi Yagura 200 yen, Hitsujisaru Yagura 100 yen, Momijiyama Garden 150 yen for adults; 50 yen each for children. Free for Shizuoka City residents aged 70+.
Hours: 9:00–16:30 (last entry 16:00)
Access: Partly open
Sunpu Castle Park is free to walk around. Higashi Gomon and Tatsumi Yagura, Hitsujisaru Yagura and Momijiyama Garden charge admission. The keep site is closed for construction (the outdoor exhibit is due to open at the start of fiscal 2027). The location of the Japan 100 Castles stamp is not confirmed.

Checked: 2026-10-03

View on map Open in Google Maps Sunpu Castle Park (official site)Sunpu Castle ruins and keep base excavation (Shizuoka City, Japanese)

The story of this castle

Historical record

Ieyasu's castle in the Imagawa capital

Sunpu had been the seat of the Imagawa clan, governors of Suruga province, since the Muromachi period, and their residence is thought to have stood around the castle site. Tokugawa Ieyasu, who had become lord of five provinces including Suruga, started building his castle here in 1585 and finished the area inside today's second enclosure by 1589.^[4]

Historical record

Ieyasu's last home after stepping down as shogun

After founding the Edo shogunate, Ieyasu handed the title of shogun to his son Hidetada in 1605 and moved to Sunpu. In 1607 he ordered daimyo from across Japan to rebuild it into a castle with stone walls and three rings of moats, a project known as tenka-bushin, with a keep said to have had five (or six) roofs and seven floors in the northwest of the main enclosure. The castle burned soon after completion but was rebuilt at once, and the keep was finished in 1610.^[1][4]

Historical record

A second center of government

While Ieyasu lived here, Japan was effectively governed from two centers, Edo and Sunpu, and the town thrived as a political and economic hub. From Sunpu Castle Ieyasu also handled trade and diplomacy with Asian countries and with the Netherlands, Spain and England.^[1][4]

Historical record

A keep that was never rebuilt

Ieyasu died in 1616. Tokugawa Tadanaga, younger brother of the third shogun Iemitsu, later became lord, but after he was punished in 1631 the castle had no lord and was run by a castle keeper until the end of the shogunate. A fire in 1635 destroyed the keep and most buildings. Turrets and gates were rebuilt, but the keep never was.^[1][4]

Historical record

The army arrives and the inner moat is filled

After the Meiji Restoration the castle was sold to the city, which in 1896 brought in the army's 34th Infantry Regiment. The keep base was demolished and its soil used to fill the moat around the main enclosure. The outer enclosure became land for government offices and schools, and the Shizuoka Prefectural Office still stands there. Much of the middle and outer moats, with their stone walls, survive.^[1][4][11]

Historical record

Rebuilt turrets and an excavated keep base

After the war the main and second enclosures became a park, and Tatsumi Yagura (1989), Higashi Gomon (1996) and Hitsujisaru Yagura (2014) were rebuilt. The keep base was excavated from August 2016 to March 2020, and the report came out in March 2022. The viewing zone closed in December 2025 for construction of an outdoor exhibit, scheduled to open at the start of fiscal 2027.^[1][3][4]

People of this castle

Builder, who spent his last years here after stepping down as shogun

Tokugawa Ieyasu

徳川家康

1543–1616

The first shogun of the Tokugawa (Edo) shogunate. He moved to the Kanto region in 1590, made Edo Castle his base, and began the expansion that turned it into a vast castle.

Later lord of the castle, son of the second shogun Hidetada

Tokugawa Tadanaga

徳川忠長

1606–1634

Son of the second shogun Hidetada and younger brother of the third shogun Iemitsu. He became lord of Sunpu Castle in 1624, after Ieyasu's death.

Lord

Tokugawa clan

徳川氏

Lord

Naitō clan

内藤氏

Timeline

1585
Tokugawa Ieyasu begins building Sunpu Castle^[4][10]
1607
Retired shogun Ieyasu has it rebuilt by daimyo from across Japan^[1][4]
1616
Ieyasu dies^[4]
1635
Fire destroys the keep, which is never rebuilt^[1]
1896
The keep base is demolished and the inner moat filled in^[1]
2016
Excavation of the keep base begins (to 2020)^[1]
2027
Outdoor exhibit of the keep bases scheduled to open (start of the fiscal year)^[3]

Buildings and remains

The keep today

Keep lost

Burned in 1635 and never rebuilt; the base was demolished in 1896. Excavation found two keep bases from the Tensho and Keicho eras. No reliable records show what the keep looked like.

The site today

The main and second enclosures are Sunpu Castle Park; the outer enclosure is a government district including the Shizuoka Prefectural Office. Much of the middle and outer moats and their stone walls survive. The keep site is under construction as an outdoor exhibit.

Main buildings

Not confirmed

Tatsumi Yagura (southeast turret)

Rebuilt in 1989 for the city's centennial (construction method not confirmed). L-shaped plan.^[4][6]

Rebuilt in wood

Higashi Gomon (East Gate)

Rebuilt in 1996 using traditional methods; open as an exhibition space.^[4][6]

Rebuilt in wood

Hitsujisaru Yagura (southwest turret)

Rebuilt in 2014 with traditional methods; floors and ceilings left open to show the framework.^[4][7]

Site only

Keep base (tenshudai)

Demolished in 1896; its buried walls were excavated and are being prepared for display.^[1][2]

Key facts

Type: Castle
Setting: Flatland castle (hirajiro)built on flat ground, defended by moatsEditorial article
Period: Early modern (1570s–1871)Editorial article
Keep (tenshu): Keep lostthe castle had a keep, but it no longer stands (its stone base may remain)Editorial article
Built by: Tokugawa IeyasuJapan Castle Foundation
Built: 1585Japan Castle Foundation
Main lords: Tokugawa clan, Naitō clanJapan Castle Foundation
Abandoned: 1869Wikipedia (ja)
Remains to see: Stone walls, Moats, Turrets or turret bases, Gates, Baileys / enclosures (kuruwa), Keep base (tenshudai)Editorial article
Selection: Japan's 100 Fine Castles No. 45Japan Castle Foundation

Visiting

Access

Partly open

Sunpu Castle Park is free to walk around. Higashi Gomon and Tatsumi Yagura, Hitsujisaru Yagura and Momijiyama Garden charge admission. The keep site is closed for construction (the outdoor exhibit is due to open at the start of fiscal 2027). The location of the Japan 100 Castles stamp is not confirmed.

Address

1-1 Sunpujo-koen, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka 420-0855^[5]

Checked: 2026-10-03

Nearest stations and how to get there

JR Shizuoka StationJR Tokaido Shinkansen and Tokaido Line

about 15 min walk · No climb

About 15 minutes on foot. By bus, get off at Kencho / Shizuoka Shiyakusho Aoi-kuyakusho-mae; Higashi Gomon and Tatsumi Yagura are a 3–5 minute walk.^[5]

Checked: 2026-10-03

Shin-Shizuoka Station (Shizuoka Railway)Shizutetsu Shizuoka-Shimizu Line

about 12 min walk · No climb

About 12 minutes on foot.^[5]

Checked: 2026-10-03

Hours and admission

Higashi Gomon & Tatsumi Yagura, Hitsujisaru Yagura, Momijiyama Garden

Hours: 9:00–16:30 (last entry 16:00)
Closed: Mondays (open on holidays, with no substitute closing day), December 29 – January 3
Admission: Combined ticket for all three: adults 360 yen, elementary and junior high students 120 yen. Separately: Higashi Gomon & Tatsumi Yagura 200 yen, Hitsujisaru Yagura 100 yen, Momijiyama Garden 150 yen for adults; 50 yen each for children. Free for Shizuoka City residents aged 70+.^[5][6][7]

Checked: 2026-10-03

By car / parking

About 17 minutes from the Tomei Expressway Shizuoka IC or 18 minutes from the Shin-Tomei Shin-Shizuoka IC. The park has no parking of its own; use nearby paid lots.^[5]

Checked: 2026-10-03

Grounds opening hours

Not confirmedChecked: 2026-10-03

Time neededEditors' estimate

About 1.5–2 hours for the park and turrets.

Steps, slopes and footing

A flatland site with few slopes, but the rebuilt turrets and gate have steps and narrow spaces inside.^[8]

Wheelchairs and strollers

Each facility has one wheelchair to lend (an outdoor one at Momijiyama Garden). At Higashi Gomon/Tatsumi Yagura and Hitsujisaru Yagura, visitors switch to indoor wheelchairs to protect the exhibits, and strollers are left at the entrance. The traditionally built structures have steps and narrow spots. Contact the Ninomaru management office (054-251-0016).^[8]Checked: 2026-10-03

Toilets and rest

Not confirmed

English signs / audio guide

The park website has English pages, and the city publishes an English version of its walking map of the castle remains.^[1][5]

Seasons

Not confirmed

Photography

Not confirmed

Works, closures and restrictions

The keep site is under construction for an outdoor exhibit (opening scheduled for the start of fiscal 2027; the guidance facility for early summer 2027). Repairs to the entrance path and outer lattice fence at Higashi Gomon & Tatsumi Yagura run September 28 – November 30, 2026 (planned), but the facility stays open as usual.^[1][3][9]Checked: 2026-10-03

Around the castle

Museum

Shizuoka City Museum of History

City history museum near the castle (Ote-machi, Aoi-ku), also one of the city's Sunpu Castle AR spots. Open 9:00–18:00.^[12][3]

Checked: 2026-10-03

Editors' guide

An editorial guide based on sources and confirmed information — not a first-hand visit report.

Who will enjoy it

For anyone interested in Tokugawa Ieyasu's final years, in how excavation reveals a lost castle, or in the timber framing of rebuilt turrets. It is walkable from the station.

What makes it interesting

The three rebuilt structures (Tatsumi Yagura, Higashi Gomon and Hitsujisaru Yagura) and the stone walls of the middle moat. In Hitsujisaru Yagura, look up into the exposed framework. The keep site is under construction, so it is worth returning after the outdoor exhibit opens in 2027.

Before you go

There has been no keep since 1635, and the keep site has been closed for construction since December 2025. The facilities close on Mondays (open on holidays). The combined ticket saves money.

Ways to enjoy it

Take the city's walking map and follow the moat walls to grasp how far the castle once spread beyond today's park. The city's Sunpu Castle AR, which overlays the old castle on your phone, is due to be installed at spots in and around the park during fiscal 2026.

Photos

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Open questions

Even official sources say the keep is 'said to have had five (or six) roofs and seven floors'; no reliable record of its form exists.
According to a secondary source, the city first announced the earlier keep base as built under Nakamura Kazuuji, a Toyotomi vassal, then revised its view to Ieyasu. Opinions differ on how far the Toyotomi were involved in the gold-leaf tiles.
Opening dates for the outdoor exhibit and guidance facility are plans and may change.
Park hours, toilets, seasonal highlights, photo rules and the stamp location could not be confirmed.