[Nagoya Castle Travel Guide] A Must-Read for Anyone Who Wants to Make the Most of It!

Construction began in 1610 by order of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the shogun who founded the Edo shogunate.
Its two purposes were to deter the Toyotomi family and other daimyo who could threaten the regime, and to serve as a defensive base to protect the Kanto region.
The construction of Nagoya Castle was entrusted to various daimyo, who took on the project with their pride on the line.
In 1615, the Honmaru Palace, which served as the residence of the Owari Domain lord (present-day Aichi Prefecture) and the center of administration, was completed.
The Honmaru Palace became a magnificent space adorned with beautiful wall paintings and decorative metal fittings.

After that, expansions and renovations continued, increasing its splendor and luxury.
Among them, the Jorakuden, expanded in 1634 when the third shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu traveled to Kyoto, is said to be the greatest masterpiece.
The fusuma paintings, ceiling panel paintings, and carved transoms are all highly valuable as works of art, and the “Teikan-zu” and “Setchubai Chikuchozu” painted by Kano Tan’yu are especially prized.
After the 1871 abolition of domains and establishment of prefectures, the Owari Domain became Nagoya Prefecture, which led to parts of the castle being removed. However, calls to preserve Nagoya Castle grew, and it was permanently preserved.

Although stone walls collapsed in earthquakes and the keep was burned down in air raids, it was rebuilt with donations from Japan and abroad.
Due to seismic and aging issues, the keep has been closed since 2018.
Research is underway toward restoring it in wood.

Nagoya Castle hours and admission are as follows.
The park is closed for four days, from December 29 to January 1, but it may also close on other days due to events, so be sure to check the Official website (Japanese) as well.
One of Nagoya Castle’s highlights, the main keep, is closed as of May 2024 due to aging and seismic upgrades, so please keep this in mind.

Built as the residence and administrative center of the Owari Domain lord, the Honmaru Palace also served as lodging for the shogun of the Edo shogunate.
Though it was destroyed by war, the City of Nagoya restored it over 10 years at a total cost of Approx. 15 billion yen.
The biggest draw of the Honmaru Palace is its dazzling splendor.
From the wall paintings by Kano Tan’yu to the carved transoms and decorative metal fittings, every detail is highly artistic, and you’re sure to be overwhelmed by the gold and vivid colors throughout.
Photography is allowed throughout the Honmaru Palace, but flash and tripods are prohibited, so please be aware.

The main keep is the symbol of Nagoya Castle.
A five-story structure with five levels above ground and one basement level, it boasts one of the largest total floor areas in history and was the first castle in Japan to be designated a National Treasure.
The two “Golden Shachihoko” on its roof are famously well-known.
A “shachihoko” is not a sea orca, but a mythical creature with the head of a dragon or tiger and the body of a fish.
Legend says it protects against fire, and it is enshrined as a guardian deity of buildings.

Nagoya Castle was built by various daimyo with their pride on the line.
This castle, often described as the pinnacle of early modern Japanese castle design, makes even its stone walls a highlight.
The total length of the castle’s stone walls is an incredible 8.2 km.
The stone wall of the most important base of the keep was built in under three months by Kato Kiyomasa, famed for his castle-building skills.
The stone walls of the entire castle are also said to have been built in just around a year, and it’s fun to look at the walls on-site and imagine the construction process.
Most eye-catching of all is the Kiyomasa Stone, the largest boulder used in Nagoya Castle’s stone walls, said to weigh an estimated 10 tons.

Ninomaru Garden lies to the north of the former Ninomaru Palace, where the lords of Nagoya Castle once spent their time.
It consists of three areas—Kita-oniwa, Mae-niwa, and Ninomaru East Garden—and covers an area of Approx. 30,000 m².
Kita-oniwa and Mae-niwa were designated scenic spots in 1953, and in 2018, nearly the entire garden was designated a scenic spot.
In Kita-oniwa, you can see the Gyokkan style, characterized by a waterfall flowing between artificial hills and a stone bridge over the top of the falls.
Gardens where you can see this Gyokkan style, modeled on landscape paintings by the famous Song-dynasty ink painter Gyokkan, are rare nationwide.

While major highlights like the Honmaru Palace and main keep were destroyed by fire and later restored, three corner turrets remain as they were from the original construction and are designated Important Cultural Properties.
The Southwest Corner Turret in the southwest corner of the Honmaru, the Southeast Corner Turret in the southeast corner, and the Northwest Corner Turret in the northwest corner of Ofukemaru each differ in structure and size, so it’s worth comparing them.

A comprehensive park spread across a vast area of Approx. 80 hectares.
With flower beds where seasonal blooms appear, grassy lawns, Ofuke Pond with a full view of Nagoya Castle, sports facilities such as a baseball field, and more, it’s a relaxing place for Nagoya residents.
Meijo Park Flower Plaza features an atrium and sunny room filled with natural light, and hosts various exhibitions related to flowers and greenery.
There’s also an attached cafe where you can enjoy tea time surrounded by flowers.

The current Nagoya City Hall main building is the third city hall building.
A 53.5-meter-tall clock tower rises in the center. At the top of the tower are shachi facing all four directions, a design that emphasizes a distinctly Nagoya feel.
It is highly regarded for clearly showcasing early Showa-era architecture, skillfully blending Western architectural styles with Japanese elements. In 2014, together with the adjacent Aichi Prefectural Government Main Building, it was designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan.

Built as the “Nagoya TV Tower” for sightseeing and TV broadcasting transmission, this symbol tower of Nagoya was completed in 1954.
After large-scale construction in 2020, the tower’s interior was renovated. A hotel also opened on the 4th and 5th floors. From May 2021, it relaunched under its new name, “Chubu Electric Power MIRAI TOWER.”
From the indoor observation deck “Sky Deck” located 90 meters above ground, you can take in panoramic views of Nagoya and distant mountains. The night view is recognized as part of the “Japan Night View Heritage,” and the scenery reflected in mirrors installed on the deck’s ceiling and floor is a must-see.

Located near Nagoya Castle, “Shirakawa Joshin (Main Branch)” is a long-established restaurant famous for hitsumabushi.
Hitsumabushi is a Nagoya specialty made with grilled eel cut into strips and served over rice.
Shirakawa’s eel is carefully selected for the season and grilled with their secret sauce, used for decades.
It’s crispy and aromatic on the outside, and plump and tender on the inside.

A coffee shop in Shikemichi, a merchant district created along with the construction of Nagoya Castle, where you can see scenery lined with white-walled earthen storehouses. It carries on the legacy of the renowned “Coffee Poppy,” founded at Nagoya Station in 1977.
With its tower-like loft seating, the interior is designed to evoke Japan’s classic Showa-era kissaten (traditional coffeehouse), and every angle is photogenic.

“yoake” is a Japanese-style cafe restaurant in the Nakono area of Nishi Ward, a bit away from the bustle.
It’s on the first floor of “Nagono Campus,” renovated from the former Nagono Elementary School after it closed. It’s a space where “Japanese” and “modern” meet.
The menu changes between morning and lunch hours. Breakfast focuses on toast, and the “Nagoya specialty! Ogura toast” is also one of their signature items.

A hotel with well-equipped shared facilities, including the large communal bath “Rakuda no Yu” with a jacuzzi and sauna.
The spacious sauna room is set to Approx. 194°F, so you can really work up a sweat.
There’s also a properly chilled cold bath, making sauna fans very satisfied.
In 2020, a ganbanyoku (hot stone spa) facility opened, making it an even more comfortable stay.

A highly convenient hotel located an 8-minute walk from Nagoya Station.
It can be used for all kinds of trips, including business, family travel, and solo travel.
On the second floor, the hotel has a large communal bath with a sauna.
It also offers family-friendly services, including bath chairs and wash basins for children.

A hotel facing Nishiki-dori, the main road running east-west through central Nagoya and connecting Nagoya Station and Sakae.
With an excellent location within walking distance of central Sakae and Hisaya-odori, plus extensive facilities and services, it has many repeat guests.
One of its features is the large communal bath using natural hot spring water brought from Gifu Prefecture.
The alkaline, silky-smooth water is said to dissolve dead skin cells and leave your skin looking beautiful.