Tokugawa Ieyasu: From Okazaki to Nikkō

Ieyasu's story starts here. He was born at Okazaki Castle on 31 January 1543. After the Imagawa defeated his clan in 1549, the boy was taken to Sunpu Castle as a hostage. The current donjon, reconstructed in 1959, holds exhibits including swords and armor. The park around it has a museum on Ieyasu's life and is known for cherry blossoms, wisteria and azaleas in season.

Visitor guidance: The castle park is open to visitors; the museum on Ieyasu's life is on the grounds.

On 21 October 1600 Ieyasu's forces met a coalition loyal to the Toyotomi clan, led by Ishida Mitsunari. Several commanders defected before or during the fight, and the result was a Tokugawa victory. Mitsunari's defeat is generally considered the beginning of the Tokugawa shogunate. It was fought in what is now Gifu Prefecture.

Location precision: The sources place the battle in the Sekigahara area of Gifu Prefecture; the pin marks the town of Sekigahara, not a specific field.

After Hideyoshi offered him eight eastern provinces, Ieyasu made Edo Castle his base. In 1603 he received the title of shogun, and Edo became the center of Tokugawa government. He even built a library in the castle in 1602. After the shogunate fell, the castle became the Tokyo Imperial Palace, and some of its moats, walls and ramparts survive today.

Visitor guidance: The grounds are part of the Tokyo Imperial Palace; surviving moats and ramparts can be seen from outside.

Ieyasu gave the title of shogun to his son Hidetada, then retired to Sunpu, where he set up a shadow government to rule from behind the scenes. Daimyo from around the country were called on to rebuild the castle in 1607. In 1613 John Saris and William Adams met Ieyasu here to exchange gifts. Today the castle grounds belong to Shizuoka City, and much of the moat system was filled in during the modern era.

Visitor guidance: The former castle grounds are a city park in Shizuoka.

Ieyasu died on 1 June 1616. The shrine at Nikkō was first built in 1617, while his son Hidetada was shogun, and Ieyasu is enshrined there with his remains entombed. Visitors see the richly decorated Yōmeimon gate; hundreds of stone steps then lead through the cryptomeria forest up to his grave.

Visitor guidance: Stone steps lead up to the grave.