Nagoya Castle is one of the three biggest castles in Japan.
It is well known that the castle tower of the castle has fabulous dolphinlike fish, called "Kin no Shachihoko" or "Kinshachi" in Japanese, on the top of the highest roof. Nagoya Castle was the capital of Owari Domain during the Edo Age and has been a symbolic landmark in the Aichi Area.

The origin of Nagoya Castle began with a fort built in 1555 by IMAGAWA Ujichika whose headquarter was in Shizuoka. In 1604, TOKUGAWA Ieyasu, who opened his government in Edo the year before, decided to build a castle to besiege Osaka Castle where TOYOTOMI Hideyori lived.
The location of Nagoya was very important for TOKUGAWA, because it is between Osaka and the Shogun's headquarter, Edo (currently Tokyo). Also the purpose of Nagoya Castle was to display the power of TOKUGAWA. All the feudal clans, except TOYOTOMI, were forced to support in building the large and gorgeous castle.

The east gate of Nagoya Castle is close to Shiyakusho (City Hall) Station on the Meijyo Line of Nagoya Subway. You will see a very large moat and stone walls.

After passing through the East Gate, you are in "Ninomaru" Bailey. During the Edo Age, the palace building was located at "Ninomaru" Bailey. The site of "Ninomaru" Bailey is now a wide grass field.

After passing through "Ninomaru" Bailey, you will arrive at "Honmaru", the Inner Bailey. "Uchibori", the inner moat, surrounds "Honmaru" and two corner towers protect the south side of "Honmaru".

The Omote-Mon gate was the entrance for the Inner Bailey of the Nagoya Castle. The Omote-Mon gate had "Masugata" style structure with a vallate square space and double gates. Double gates were a combination of a small gate in front and a two-storied gate inside of square space.

The small gate of Omote-Mon was named "Omote Ninomon" and is facing to the Inner Moat. "Omote Ninomon" and two corner towers are original buildings and designated as national treasures of Japan.

After passing through the Omote-Mon Gate, you will see the castle tower of Nagoya Castle.

The castle tower of the Nagoya Castle was the largest castle building in Japan. The original castle tower remained until 1944. It was the first national treasure of Japan designated in 1930. However, the treasure was destroyed by airstrikes during World War II. The current castle tower of Nagoya Castle was rebuilt in 1959. The appearance of the rebuilt castle tower was designed to be the same as the original one.

In front of the castle tower, the palace building was built in 1655 in order for the third "Shogun", TOKUGAWA Iemitsu to stay in Nagoya Castle on his way from Edo (currently Tokyo) to Kyoto.
The palace building also remained until 1944. It was also destroyed by airstrikes during World War II.

Currently, the wooden main palace building is being rebuilt using traditional crafts. It will be completed by 2018. The pictures of fusuma are also being remade.

To the northwest of Inner Bailey, "Ofuke Maru" Bailey is located. The Northwest Corner Tower is also an original building. It is said that the Northwest Corner Tower was the castle tower of Kiyosu Castle. The three-storied corner tower was larger than many other castle towers buildings.

As the location of Nagoya was very important for TOKUGAWA Bakufu, a son of "Shogun", TOKUGAWA Ieyasu was assigned as the first lord of the Nagoya Castle and Owari Domain was designated as one of the three branch TOKUGAWA families' domains.

How to get there
It is just a few minutes walk from Shiyakusho (City Hall) Station on the Meijyo Line of Nagoya Subway.
Also, take a "Meiguru" bus from Nagoya Station. The bus stop of "Meiguru" bus at Nagoya Station is on Sakura Dori Exit.

Official English Website: http://www.nagoyajo.city.nagoya.jp/
13_english/index.html

Other Historical Sites near by:
Outermost Region of Nagoya Castle
TV Tower in Nagoya Downtown
Osu Area