Nagoya Castle was built on the orders of Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1612 as the seat of the Owari branch of his family, and its keep — crowned with a pair of golden shachihoko, the mythical tiger-headed dolphins that became the symbol of the city — presides over broad moats and massive stone ramparts. The great prize of a visit today is the Honmaru Palace, destroyed in the war and painstakingly rebuilt using original techniques, its chambers lined with dazzling gold-leaf screens of tigers and pines and its fresh hinoki cypress halls among the finest examples of shoin-zukuri palace architecture anywhere in Japan.
🗓️ At a Glance
| Location | Naka Ward, Nagoya, Aichi |
| Hours | 9:00–16:30 (palace entry to 16:00) |
| Admission | ¥500 |
| Time needed | 1.5–2.5 hours |
| Best time | Spring for cherry blossoms; year-round |
What to See
- The keep crowned with golden shachihoko, Nagoya’s symbol.
- The rebuilt Honmaru Palace, gold-leaf screens and hinoki halls.
- Massive stone ramparts and broad moats of the Tokugawa era.
- Ninomaru Garden and seasonal cherry blossoms in the grounds.
Combine Your Visit
- Combine with Atsuta Jingu , Nagoya’s great shrine.
- Pair with Nagoya Meshi for lunch nearby.
- Read our Aichi overview .
Getting There
- By subway: Meijo Line to Shiyakusho Station, a short walk to the main gate.
- From Nagoya Station: around 20 minutes by subway or taxi.
Tips
Note that the main keep’s interior is closed for long-term earthquake retrofitting, but the Honmaru Palace more than fills the gap — allow a full hour for it alone and go early, as entry pauses when it’s crowded. The gold-leaf rooms photograph best in natural morning light, and spring pairs the ramparts with some of central Nagoya’s best cherry blossoms.
