Nagoya Castle, Japan

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Nagoya-jō

Nagoya


The original structure, built between 1610 and 1614 by Tokugawa Ieyasu for his ninth son, was levelled in WWII. Today's castle is a concrete replica (with elevator) completed in 1959. Renovations are ongoing. On the roof, look for the 3m-long gilded shachi-hoko (legendary creatures possessing a tiger's head and a carp's body). Inside, find treasures, an armour collection and the histories of the Oda, Toyotomi and Tokugawa families. Free English tours run every day at 1pm from the castle's east gate.

The beautiful year-round garden, Ninomaru-en (二の丸園) has a number of pretty teahouses.

Transportation

  • subway: Shiyakusho, exit 7

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Nagoya attractions

1. Nagoya City Archives

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Built in 1922, this grand Taisho-era Court of Appeal now houses the city archives. While the archives themselves are difficult to navigate for non…

2. Nagoya TV Tower

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Nagoya's much-loved TV tower, completed in 1954, was the first of its kind in Japan. The tower's central location makes its 100m-high Sky Balcony a great…

3. Noritake Garden Gallery

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The pleasant Noritake Gallery, in Noritake Garden, exhibits paintings, sculptures and ceramic works.

4. Noritake Garden

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5. Noritake Craft Centre & Museum

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6. Oasis 21

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8. Tokugawa Art Museum

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A must for anyone interested in Japanese culture and history, this museum has a collection of over 10,000 pieces that includes National Treasures and…

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