Futamata Castle Ruins

Futamata Castle Ruins stands on a strategic hilltop at the confluence of the Tenryū River and Futamata River in Tenryū-ku, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture. Originally built in 1503 by the Imagawa clan, this fortress became a critical battleground during Japan's turbulent Sengoku period. The site earned recognition as a National Historic Site in 2018 together with the adjacent Tobayama Castle.

The castle witnessed numerous conflicts between the powerful Imagawa, Takeda, and Tokugawa clans throughout the 16th century. In October 1572, Takeda Shingen captured the castle after a month-long siege in which his forces destroyed the garrison's water supply system by sending rafts down the Tenryū River to smash the water-scooping tower. The fortress finally returned to Tokugawa control in 1575 after a six-month siege. The castle holds particular historical significance as the place where Tokugawa Ieyasu's eldest son and heir, Matsudaira Nobuyasu, was ordered to commit seppuku in 1579 on suspicion of conspiracy with the Takeda clan. The castle was abandoned in 1600 after its commander was transferred to another province.

Today, visitors can explore the well-preserved stone walls and earthwork fortifications that showcase the castle's evolution from a medieval structure to a more modern fortress. The main attraction is the Honmaru (main bailey) site, which features remaining stone walls and offers views of autumn foliage. The ruins include earthworks, moats, and the Asahigaoka Shrine located in the Kitakuruwa northern enclosure. The site displays impressive nozurazumi stonework including the main keep foundation, and visitors can observe how earthwork defenses were upgraded with stone walls during later renovations.

The castle is accessible from Tenryu Futamata Station on the Tenryu Hamanako Line, approximately 10 minutes walk northeast from the station. Visitors traveling from Hamamatsu should take the Enshu Line to Nishikajima Station (22 minutes), then transfer to the Tenryu Hamanako Line. The site includes parking facilities and restrooms. Admission to the ruins is free and the site is open year-round. The recommended visiting time is 1-2 hours.