Many centuries ago, Shizuoka had another name – Shunpu, which can be translated as «castle city». And it was logical because it began to form around a beautiful castle built by the local shogun in 1586.

One of the main features of Sunpu Castle was that part of it was built on water. While most Japanese castles were built on high embankments to make the walls impregnable. The craftsmen who built Sunpu Castle chose a different path. After studying the territory, they preferred the land, part of which was surrounded by a river. And it was here where they began the construction of the future luxury castle for their ruler. Besides, an ancient palace had already stood on this site before. It was destroyed, but part of the walls and stones of which it was made has remained. It was just another argument in favor of building the castle on the water.

As a result, the structure was not only very beautiful but also impregnable and safe. The main palace, several guard towers, residential houses, and living quarters, – everything was made in a single laconic style. The walls and roofs were decorated with the finest carvings and outlandish mythical creatures that were supposed to protect the house and its residents. Unfortunately, no magical animals and birds helped the inhabitants of the castle.

It so happened that almost all families who settled in Sunpu Castle immediately faced several problems: some were attacked by enemies, others had their power taken away from them, and some had children who suddenly began to die. And that's not counting regular fires, after which the castle was restored, rebuilt, and continued to be lived in.

The last straw in the series of misfortunes was the overthrow of the imperial family who lived in the castle in the 1860s. The new authorities not only expelled the old tenants but also tried to destroy the castle as much as possible to wipe out the relic of the past.

And only in 1949, a public park appeared on the site of the ruins. And in 1989 and 1996, thanks to historians, architects, and artists, it was possible to restore the main gate and the central palace of the castle, which was once the most beautiful part of the complex.