Okazaki, Core city in Aichi Prefecture, Japan
Okazaki is a core city in Aichi Prefecture, located about 22 miles (35 kilometers) southeast of Nagoya in central Japan. The city spreads across a wide area that includes residential neighborhoods, commercial zones, and several parks along the Yahagi River, with a reconstructed castle complex as a landmark in the center.
The area served as the seat of the Matsudaira clan from the 16th century, which later transformed into the Tokugawa family that ruled Japan for over two centuries. The castle was abandoned in the early 17th century and rebuilt only in the 1950s to recall its earlier role.
The name derives from an old castle town where Tokugawa Ieyasu was born, and today the legacy lives on through museums and memorial sites. The streets around the castle grounds still follow the layout of a historic feudal seat, with temples and traditional shops along the former approaches.
Trains from Nagoya reach the main station in about 30 minutes, and the city center is within walking distance or accessible by local buses from there. The castle and most museums are close together in the central zone, making visits easy to manage on foot.
The region produces more than 70 percent of Japan's fireworks, and several workshops offer tours that show the making of rockets and stars. The annual river fireworks competition in summer draws professionals from across the country who present their latest techniques.
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