
Ai Nishimura
Administrator of the blog "My Diary," which began in 2004. A writer who has traveled to all 47 prefectures and loves local culture and history.
Author of Shimane's "Geography, Place Names, and Maps" Mysteries (Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha), My Town is the "Number One in Japan" Dictionary (PHP Institute), and Prefectures Explained in Neko Neko Japanese History (Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha). Official blogger for Suntory Gourmet Guide, official top user for Retty, and official platinum blogger for Excite.
- Okazaki, the town that raised Ieyasu, is a journey along the Vista Line to experience the "beginnings" of the warlord
- The 400-year story of Hatcho Miso told through giant wooden barrels
- Enjoy Hatcho miso even more! A miso gourmet tour of Okazaki
- "Okutono Jinya" - Experience the beauty of feudal lord culture woven by a small domain
Okazaki, the town that raised Ieyasu, is a journey along the Vista Line to experience the "beginnings" of the warlord
In the recent history boom, some people may think of "Okazaki" when they hear about Tokugawa Ieyasu. This place is the "starting place" of Ieyasu, the ruler of Japan. It is the "origin" that is essential to the story of his life.
Ieyasu was born in Okazaki Castle in Mikawa Province in 1542. Born in the age of warring states, he had a turbulent childhood, but his path to unifying Japan began in Okazaki. Even after he moved his base to Edo, it is said that his affection for Okazaki never faded throughout his life.
First, head to Okazaki Castle Park, where Okazaki Castle stands. This is a place of relaxation for the locals, and a historical park where traces of Ieyasu remain everywhere. There are many sights related to Ieyasu within the park, and it is also known as a good luck spot.
Okazaki Castle is well-maintained and can be visited comfortably by people of all ages. It retains its dignity while being friendly to everyone, allowing you to experience the history and culture of Okazaki.
Okazaki Castle is also known as "Dragon Castle." The name comes from many legends related to dragons. One of them is that when they first tried to build a castle on this site, a dragon living in an old well appeared and told the people to worship him as the dragon god, before disappearing after being showered with water gushing from the well. Another legend says that on the night of Ieyasu's birth, black clouds swirled above the castle, and a golden dragon appeared, calling the wind. The dragon is considered a symbol of the protection of Okazaki, and the city emblem is designed with a dragon's claws clutching a jewel.
At the Toshogu Shrine "Ryujo Shrine" inside the castle, pay attention to the ceiling of the worship hall. There you can see a majestic wooden dragon measuring 4 meters in length and 2.5 meters in width. The impressive carving, which is embodied in the craftsman's skill down to the smallest detail, is just like a guardian deity watching over this land. Why not visit Okazaki, the city of dragons, and receive some good luck?
If you want to take a break in the park, head to the restaurant "Ichikawa." The matcha parfait with Ieyasu as its motif is a local sweet with an eye-catching helmet-shaped cookie. It is a dish associated with Ieyasu that gives you a taste of the romance of the Warring States period.
Daiju-ji Temple, a must-see when visiting Okazaki, is the family temple of the Tokugawa clan, built by Matsudaira Chikatada, the fourth head of the Matsudaira clan. After being defeated in the Battle of Okehazama, Ieyasu barely made it back to Okazaki and decided to commit suicide at this temple, but was saved by the words of the head priest and dissuaded.
Later, Ieyasu's ninth son, Tokugawa Yoshinao, the first lord of Owari Nagoya, donated a life-sized memorial tablet in memory of his father. Today, the Treasure Museum (fee required) is lined with memorial tablets of successive shoguns, from the first Ieyasu to the 14th Iemochi, and is a must-see. It is a memorable place as the place where Ieyasu made up his mind to face his destiny.
The "Vista Line" in the title refers to the view that stretches in a straight line for about 3km from Daiju-ji Temple to Okazaki Castle. During the reign of Iemitsu, when the temple complex of Daiju-ji Temple was being developed, it was designed so that Okazaki Castle could be seen from the center of the main hall, mountain gate, and main gate. It is still carefully preserved as a view associated with Ieyasu.
Please take a walk through the town of Okazaki, where history and modernity blend seamlessly together, tracing the areas associated with Ieyasu.
Okazaki Castle Park
address | : | 561-1 Kosei-cho, Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture |
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phone | : | 0564-22-2122 |
Opening times | : | 9:00-17:00 (last entry: 16:30) |
Closed Day | : | Year-end (December 29th to December 31st) |
URL | : | https://okazaki-kanko.jp/okazaki-park/feature/okazakijo/top |
Ryujo Shrine
address | : | 561 Kosei-cho, Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture |
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phone | : | 0564-21-5517 |
URL | : | https://www.tatsukijinja.or.jp/ |
Okazaki Park Retirement Quarter Ichikawa
address | : | 561-1 Kosei-cho, Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture |
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phone | : | 0564-22-2479 |
Opening times | : | Weekdays 11:00-15:00 / Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays 11:00-16:00 |
Closed Day | : | Wednesday |
URL | : | https://okazaki-ichikawa.jp/ |
Daijuji Temple
address | : | 5-1 Hiromoto, Kamodacho, Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture |
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phone | : | 0564-21-3917 |
URL | : | https://daijuji.jp/ |

Matsudaira clan's castle, Okazaki Castle, is where Tokugawa Ieyasu (Takechiyo) was born.

There are a variety of exhibits that allow visitors to learn about the history of Okazaki Castle, Okazaki's industry and culture, and life in the castle town. The observation deck on the fifth floor offers a 360° view of Okazaki city.

A large-scale model of Okazaki Castle, which was meticulously restored based on records and testimonies from the time before it was demolished during the Meiji period.

"Ena Zuka" is said to be where Tokugawa Ieyasu's umbilical cord (placenta) was placed. It conveys the custom of that time of praying for the healthy growth of babies.

The old well "Dragon Well" is where it is said that the dragon god appeared when Ieyasu was born. It is said to bring good luck in career advancement and good fortune, and is visited by many worshippers.

Ryujo Shrine, a shrine associated with Okazaki Castle that enshrines Tokugawa Ieyasu

An impressive sculpture of a rising dragon decorates the ceiling of the worship hall

The symbol of Okazaki City is the dragon held by a jewel, which is also used in the city emblem.

Tokugawa family temple "Daijuji"

This is a temple that Ieyasu had a deep connection with since his childhood, and it houses the graves of the successive heads of the Matsudaira clan, Ieyasu's ancestors.

The Tahoto Pagoda, a precious wooden structure built in the late Muromachi period and a nationally important cultural property

The treasure hall houses the memorial tablets of successive Tokugawa shoguns.

In the treasure hall, life-sized memorial tablets of past shoguns, including Ieyasu, are enshrined. In front of the memorial tablets are portraits of the shoguns and their biographies, such as their birth and death years and achievements, which serve as historical documents.

Ieyasu was said to have been 159cm tall, and his life-sized memorial tablet visually conveys his authority to future generations even after his death.

A wooden statue dedicated by the third shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu, on the 33rd anniversary of Ieyasu's death

The "Vista Line" refers to the view of the Okazaki Castle tower in a straight line across the mountain gate of Daijuji Temple.

It connects historical buildings related to Ieyasu, preserves the old scenery and conveys the town's appearance to the present day.

Ichikawa's fun-looking parfait, named after Tokugawa Ieyasu, is a hot topic

An original cookie inspired by Ieyasu's helmet and a hearty local parfait made with plenty of Nishio matcha.

The name of the town "Kosei-cho" in the center of Okazaki City, just north of Okazaki Castle, comes from the fact that Ieyasu was born there.
The 400-year story of Hatcho Miso told through giant wooden barrels
When walking through the town of Okazaki, you might suddenly notice a fragrant aroma that makes you stop in your tracks. The aroma wafting through the air is that of "Haccho miso," a traditional flavor nurtured by the climate of Mikawa.
Hatcho miso is made in Hatcho-machi, Okazaki city. The name comes from the fact that it was made in "Haccho Village," about 870 meters west of Okazaki Castle.
Located between the Yahagi River and the Sugo River (Otsu River), Hatcho Village flourished as a key waterway transport point. With high humidity and an environment suited to the long-term aging of miso, and with salt being easily available, it was the perfect place for making miso. Raw materials and finished products were also actively transported by boat along the river.
Two long-established miso breweries in this area, which have been in business since the Edo period, continue to uphold traditional methods to this day, using only soybeans and salt, and aging the miso slowly in wooden barrels for two summers and two winters (more than two years) to create a unique flavor.
I went on a tour of one of the miso breweries, "Kakukyu." You can participate in the tour without making a reservation on the day (reservations are required for groups).
Kakukyu was founded in the early Edo period. Even today, the miso is brewed using traditional methods and aged using weights placed on stacked stones. The cone-shaped river stones apply even pressure to the miso, allowing it to ripen slowly over time.
Another feature is the use of wooden barrels, which are now rare. The microorganisms that live inside the barrels promote gentle fermentation, giving the brewer a complex, mellow flavor.
During the tour, you can learn about the history of Hatcho miso, the manufacturing process, and the tools used by the craftsmen with the help of a guide. At the end, you can also try miso soup and konnyaku dengaku made with Hatcho miso.
At the restaurant "Okazaki Kakukyu Hatchomura" on the premises, you can enjoy dishes such as misonikomi udon and miso katsu, and you can also purchase souvenirs made with Kakukyu's miso at the shop. The soft serve ice cream made with miso powder is a unique dessert that can only be found here, with a creamy texture and a strong miso flavor.
I wanted to enjoy Hatcho miso to the fullest, so I decided to go on a gourmet tour. I'll tell you about that in the next chapter.
Kakukyu Hatcho Miso (Hatcho Miso Village)
address | : | 69 Hacchocho, Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture |
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phone | : | 0564-21-1355 |
Opening times | : | 10:00-16:00 (tours) 9:00-17:00 (shop) |
Tour start time | : | (Weekdays) Every hour on the hour (Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays) Every hour on the hour and 30 minutes *Please check at the store on the day for the 12:30 show. ◎Please see the announcements on our website for tours during the Obon and New Year holidays. |
Closed Day | : | December 31, January 1, January 2 |
URL | : | https://www.kakukyu.jp/ |

Hatcho Miso Street, lined with miso breweries with over 300 years of history, is a historical walking trail where you can experience Okazaki's food culture.

Kakukyu (Hatcho Miso LLC), known for its Hatcho miso, has its head office and historical museum registered as tangible cultural properties of the country.

At the restaurant "Okazaki Kakukyu Hatchomura" directly managed by Kakukyu, you can enjoy gourmet food made with plenty of Hatcho miso.

It was named "Haccho miso" because it was first made in a place about 870 meters away from Okazaki Castle. The land between the Yahagi River and the Sugo River is humid and well suited to aging miso.

A signboard that was hung at Okazaki Station during the days of the former Japanese National Railways. It depicts the story of Toyotomi Hideyoshi (Hiyoshimaru) and Hachisuka Koroku Masakatsu, who met at Yahagi Bridge.

The history and process of making Hatcho miso is realistically reproduced using life-sized dolls modeled after the craftsmen who actually worked there at the time.

To preserve the traditional taste and quality, wooden barrels are essential for making Hatcho miso. On the tour, you can see the actual barrels in use up close and experience the deep aroma that only comes with maturing miso.

There are also displays of ancient documents and materials unique to a brewery that has been in business since the Edo period.

Inside the solemn storehouse, rows of wooden barrels are lined up where miso is aged slowly and quietly, as if sleeping, for two summers and two winters (for a minimum of two years).

River stones are piled up in a cone shape on top of the wooden barrels to act as weights, allowing the miso to mature slowly.

No reservation is required for the tour (reservations are required for groups), and at the end you can enjoy a tasting of Hatcho miso.

The miso soft serve ice cream is lightly sprinkled with Hatcho miso powder, creating a perfect blend of the smoothness of the cream and the richness of the miso.
The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.