Walking from Inuyama Station toward Inuyama Castle, you’ll pass through a castle town shopping street full of traditional Japanese charm. The old-fashioned streetscape has been preserved, and each little shop has its own character, so you won’t get bored while strolling and browsing. I also ran into a lot of Taiwanese people along the way. Hearing familiar Chinese instantly made me feel at home 😂 It seems Inuyama Castle really is a popular stop for many people visiting Nagoya. There are also plenty of snacks and souvenirs to buy along the way. It’s very relaxing to pick up a small snack and eat it while walking.
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Inuyama Castle Town
A nostalgic townscape that still preserves traces of the past.
3.36
5
This castle town stretches south from Inuyama Castle, a famous castle built in 1537 and designated a National Treasure. Miraculously spared from the ravages of war for more than 480 years, both the castle and castle town still retain the original town layout based on the defensive castle structure known as sogamae. With its old-world atmosphere and manageable size, it is perfect for a leisurely stroll.
The street is lined with cafes housed in old machiya townhouses, along with shops selling stylish accessories and traditional crafts. It is especially famous for skewered street food, letting you enjoy a variety of tasty bites as you explore. Handmade gohei mochi and dango, both local specialties of the castle town, are also must-tries.
The Inuyama Festival, the annual festival of Haritsuna Shrine held on the first Saturday and Sunday of April, is also not to be missed. Thirteen lavishly decorated festival floats parade through the castle town, offering karakuri puppet performances to the sound of flutes and drums. At night, lanterns are lit on each float as they make their way through rows of cherry trees in full bloom.
Highlights
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A castle town stretching south from Inuyama Castle, which is designated a National Treasure.
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Cafes and shops housed in traditional old machiya townhouses line the streets.
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The magnificent Inuyama Festival, held on the first Saturday and Sunday of April, is also worth checking out.
Photos
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Enjoy a leisurely stroll through streets that still preserve their old-fashioned charm
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A great selection of skewered street food makes it fun to eat as you walk
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The Inuyama Festival, where 13 festival floats parade through the castle town, is also a must-see
Official FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions have been vetted and answered directly by each listing.
Q
Is there free Wi-Fi available in the area?
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Yes.
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Are there coin lockers?
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Yes.
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Is there a smoking area?
A
Yes.
Reviews
5
Some reviews are AI-translated.
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At Inuyama Castle, of course you can't miss Inuyama Castle Town, which is full of Edo-period charm! You can slowly stroll along the street and see traditional machiya townhouses, unique little shops, and snack shops. The whole street has a strong old-town Japanese atmosphere, and walking around really makes you feel like you're traveling.
What I liked most was that there was no need to rush. You can walk around, browse the shops along the street, and stop to buy any snacks that catch your eye. There are also plenty of photogenic spots along the street, and with the traditional buildings as a backdrop, even casual snapshots have a lot of character.
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If you're visiting Inuyama Castle, I definitely recommend stopping by Inuyama Castle Town too! It preserves the look and feel of the old castle town, with historic buildings lining both sides of the street. Walking through it feels like stepping back into old Japan.
The entire street is packed with food options, including many stands where you can grab something to eat while walking, which is very convenient if you're short on time. Of course, there are also plenty of restaurants where you can sit down and enjoy your meal at a leisurely pace. If you have enough time, it's a great place to eat and browse as you go. As you head toward Inuyama Castle, you'll also find many unique little shops where you can take your time hunting for interesting finds.
At the end of the food street, there's also the Dondenkan Museum, where you can learn about Inuyama's traditional festival floats. It's well worth a visit for anyone interested in Japanese history and traditional culture. If you want to avoid the crowds, I really recommend coming early in the morning! There are far fewer visitors then, making it more comfortable to take photos. You can leisurely explore the old streets before slowly making your way toward Inuyama Castle.
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Inuyama Castle Town is the main route to the National Treasure Inuyama Castle, and it still has a strong Edo-period streetscape. Walking through it feels like stepping back in time.
There are lots of unique dessert shops, cafés, and souvenir stores along the way. Eating while you stroll is one of the best parts here. I especially recommend freshly grilled gohei mochi and chewy, fragrant dango—both are must-try local specialties in Inuyama.
If you visit on a weekday, there aren’t too many tourists, so it doesn’t feel crowded. You can take photos, enjoy the food, and slowly soak in the nostalgic atmosphere of the old street. It’s definitely worth setting aside half a day to a full day for a relaxed walk around the area.
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Inuyama Castle Town is similar to many historic streets in Japan, with traditional buildings that have been turned into charming shops. But the atmosphere here doesn’t feel overly commercialized, and the whole area feels much more relaxed.
As you walk along the old-fashioned streets, Inuyama Castle appears at the end of the road. Grabbing a local gohei mochi skewer, you can almost imagine that this is how people lived back in the Edo period.
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Details
- Name in Japanese
- 犬山城下町
- Postal Code
- 484-0081
- Address
- 14 Fujimicho, Inuyama, Inuyama City, Aichi Prefecture (Inuyama Station Tourist Information Center)
- Phone
- 0568-61-6000 (Inuyama Station Tourist Information Center)
- Closed on
- Open for free walking at any time
- Hours
- Open for free walking at any time
- Admission
- Free
- Access
- Get off at Meitetsu "Inuyama" Station from Meitetsu "Meitetsu Nagoya" Station. Approx. 10 minutes on foot
- Credit Cards
- Varies by facility
- Official website
- Official website (Japanese)