Nagoya Castle

Background

In 1610, to establish the authority of the Owari Tokugawa family, Tokugawa Ieyasu mobilised daimyō from across the land to build this enormous castle; its stone walls, deep moats and ingenious layout are hailed as the pinnacle of early-modern castle architecture, and in 1952 it was designated a Special Historic Site. The air raids of 1945 burned down the keep and the Honmaru Palace; the palace was fully restored in 2018 from old plans and photographs, its gold-leaf Kanō-school panel paintings recreating the splendour of Edo. The pair of golden shachihoko on the roof have long been regarded as guardian creatures that ward off fire and disaster, and are a symbol of Nagoya.

Local customs

• To visit the Honmaru Palace, remove your shoes at the entrance and step in bare feet or socks into a shoin-style interior from more than 300 years ago — tread softly. Don't use flash in front of the panel paintings
• just look closely at the brushwork of the 'Bamboo Grove, Leopards and Tigers'. Nagoya people are hospitable and love their food, so before or after the castle do as the locals do and have miso katsu or tebasaki (fried chicken wings) in the castle town to experience 'Nagoya meshi' culture. The Ninomaru Garden is best enjoyed slowly — it's the back garden where residents take their morning exercise and unwind.

Religion & beliefs

• The castle is a historic site, not a religious place, and the heart of visiting etiquette is 'protecting the wooden buildings'. Don't run in the palace, touch the panel paintings or carvings, or eat and drink. The keep has been closed since 2018 over earthquake-resistance concerns and is surrounded by hoardings — don't climb over or lean on them. Occasionally there are rites or Noh performances offered at the castle
• if you come across one, watch quietly from the designated area and don't enter the ceremony area.

Travel tips

• Spring cherry blossom (Meijō Park) and the autumn chrysanthemum show are the best seasons. Access: from 'Nagoya-jō' station on the Meijō subway line it's a short walk to the East Gate, or take the Me~guru sightseeing loop bus from Nagoya Station, about 25 minutes. Admission: from 1 October 2026, JPY 1,000 for high-school age and above (the first increase in 32 years
• previously JPY 500), free for junior-high pupils and younger
• open 9:00–16:30 (buildings last entry 16:00), closed 29 December – 1 January. Wooden reconstruction of the keep is expected to be completed after 2032 — check the official website for what's open before you go.

Maps & transport notes

• '名古屋城' (Nagoya Castle
• the subway station is '名古屋城駅'
• the Honmaru Palace is inside the castle — use '本丸御殿' as the keyword for navigating the grounds).