“Nagoya Castle”, with its shining golden dolphins ornamentation – Kinsyachi, is one of the most famous landmarks in Nagoya.

Even the locals may often wonder how to explore the castle.

In this article, we would like to report on the highlights of Nagoya Castle, including the Nagoya Castle Honmaru Goten, which opened in 2018, and the tea ceremony room, which is perfect for a short break.

History of “Nagoya Castle”- the Residence of the Owari Tokugawa Family

Let’s start with the history of Nagoya Castle.

Nagoya Castle was built after the Battle of Sekigahara. In 1609 (Keicyo 14), Ieyasu Tokugawa decided to build Nagoya Castle as the final milestone in the unification of Japan. 1612 (Keicyo 17) saw the completion of the main and minor keep. The main tower was topped with two Kinsyachi, making them the symbol of the Owari Tokugawa family. Construction of the Honmaru Goten also began in the same year, and was completed in 1615 (Genna 1). After its completion, Ieyasu’s ninth son, Yoshinao, became the feudal lord and made the Honmaru Goten his residence.

Nagoya Castle Honmaru Goten, which was built with the most advanced techniques by craftsmen of the time, is considered as a masterpiece of the early modern castle palace and was designated as National Treasure No. 1. However, in 1945 (Showa 32), the castle keep, Honmaru Goten, and other major buildings were destroyed by fire in an air raid during the Pacific War.

Based on the voices of post-war citizens, reconstruction of the main keep commenced in 1957 (Showa 32). In 1959 (Showa 34), the main and minor keep and the main gate (Enokita-mon) were rebuilt using steel-reinforced concrete construction.

Access & Admission to Nagoya Castle

To get to Nagoya Castle, get off at Shiyakusho Station on the subway Meijo Line. Nagoya Castle has two entrances, the Main Gate and the East Gate, and visitors can enter from either gate. The distance between those two gates is approximately 800 meters, so please be careful when meeting someone at the entrance.

First, pay 500 yen at the ticket office to purchase a ticket. If you use a one-day pass or Donichi Eco Ticket, you can get a discount by presenting it at the counter.

Adult：¥500
Nagoya City senior citizens*：¥100
Junior high school students & under：Free

*Residents of Nagoya City aged 65 and older.Please bring documents that can verify your address, age, and identity.
e.g. Keiro Techo issued by Nagoya City, driver’s license, passport, etc.

▼For more information, please click the link.
https://www.nagoyajo.city.nagoya.jp/info/fee/

The ticket is also golden! Let’s go to the main tower with the golden ticket.

5 Key Points to Enjoy Nagoya Castle

① Admire the Kinsyachi at the Main Keep

Speaking of Nagoya Castle, the main keep is not to be missed.

It took about 10 minutes from the east gate to reach the main tower. It is quite impressive when seen up close! By the way, Kinsyachi is about 2.6 meters high. This gives you an idea of how big Nagoya Castle is.

Although the main keep is not currently open to the public, here are a few points of interest that can be viewed from the outside.

First, there is the “Kinsyachi” – golden syachihoko.  A shachihoko is an imaginary creature with the body of a fish and the head of a tiger. It is approximately 2.6 meters tall, and its entire body is covered with gold plates equivalent to 1,940 plates of the Keicyo Ooban (the largest gold coin of the Tokugawa family). It shows the power and wealth of the Tokugawa family at that time!

The next thing to note is the distinctive triangular roof.

This is called a “hafu,” or gable, and is one of the representative designs adorning the castle tower. Nagoya Castle in particular has 22 different types of hafu, including Irimoya hafu, Nokikara hafu, and Chidori hafu.

② Look for the “Engravings” of Feudal Lords’ Achievements Carved into the Stone Walls

Another point of Nagoya Castle that deserves attention is its stone walls.

Ieyasu Tokugawa had the construction of the stone walls carried out by 20 feudal lords across the country. If you look closely at the stone walls, you will see “carved crests” on the stones in places. This is said to be a remnant of the pattern that was left to distinguish which stone was brought by which feudal lord. This is a reminder of the achievements of the feudal lords.

The most notable thing about the stone walls is the “Kiyomasa-ishi”, located near the former Ninomaru East Nino Gate.

It is a huge stone measuring 6 meters wide by 2.53 meters high. This stone wall was the responsibility of Nagamasa Kuroda, but because it is a huge stone, it is said that Kiyomasa Kato piled it up.

③ Splendid! Restored “Nagoya Castle Honmaru Goten”

「Nagoya Castle Honmaru Goten」 was revived in June 2018 after a 10-year restoration project. It has been restored down to the pillars, roof, painted barriers, and detailed decorations.

Honmaru Goten was built in 1615 (Keicyo 20) as the residence of the first feudal lord, Yoshinao Tokugawa. However, it was lived in as a residence for only about five years. After that, it was used as a guest house.

Honmaru Goten is build in the architectural style of Shoin-zukuri and has a total area of 3,100㎡, consisting of 13 buildings and over 30 rooms.

Please also take note of the many wall and sliding door paintings that adorn the Honmaru Goten!

The reproductions of the paintings on the walls and sliding doors, based on valuable historical documents used in the restoration of the Honmaru Goten, were scientifically analyzed for pigments, materials, and other elements. The paintings have been meticulously restored according to the traditional painting methods of the painters of the Edo period.

④ Take a Break while Enjoying the Garden View at the “Ninomaru Teahouse”.

“Ninomaru Chatei (Teahouse)” near the east gate is recommended for a short break.

You can enjoy a relaxing cup of green tea with a view of the Ninomaru Garden, the first Daimyo garden in Aichi Prefecture to be designated a national place of scenic beauty.

The green tea is from Myoko-en, a long-established teahouse in Nagoya, started in 1916 (Taisyo 5). It is characterized by its rich sweetness and umami. Tea utensils are made of Mimaiyaki and Kizetoyaki ware.

The top sweets were seasonal wagashi from Kawaguchiya, a wagashi shop with a 300-year history dating back to Genroku 3, the year of its establishment.

When you order a drink such as coffee, a “Kinshachi Yaki” will be served with it!

A cup of coffee with a view of the Japanese garden is a moment of bliss.

⑤ Get Souvenirs at the Gift Shop & Museum Store!

At the end of the tour, you can get souvenirs at the gift shop & museum store!

Souvenirs can be purchased at three locations within Nagoya Castle. Each store has a different assortment of products, so be sure to visit them all.

In this article, we have introduced 5 key points to enjoy Nagoya Castle. Please keep these points in mind and enjoy strolling around Nagoya Castle!

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