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Castle Nagoya Castle

This article is in the series Walking the Japanese Castles
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Nagoya Castle (名古屋城 Nagoya-jō) ranked among the three greatest Japanese castles and was built after the Battle of Sekigahara (1600) by Tokugawa Ieyasu as a defence against the Toyotomi who still had held significant power. Ieyasu appointed his son Yoshinao (徳川義直, 1601-1650), the founder of the Owari Tokugawa family, to hold this most important castle.

Nagoya Castle (名古屋城)

Ieyasu ordered Katō Kiyomasa (加藤清正, 1562-1611) and other western daimyōs to construct the castle. They began construction in 1610, and the castle tower, the turrets, Honmaru Palace and Ninomaru Palace was completed by 1617. To avoid confusion at the construction site, the master builders carved their own marks on their stones.

Nagoya Castle (名古屋城)

In addition, the second enclosure of the new castle held the old Nagoya Castle, which had been built by the Imagawa in the 1520s. In 1532, Oda Nobuhide captured it and made it his base until his son Nobunaga moved to Kiyosu Castle (清洲城) in western Aichi. After the Meiji Restoration, it became an army base and then came under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Household Ministry. Later, it was transferred to Nagoya City and opened to the public in 1931. Many buildings, like the castle tower and Honmaru Palace, survived and were designated National Treasures. However, many buildings, including the donjon, were destroyed in a U.S. air raid in the final years of World War II. After the war, the castle tower and the main gate were restored. Honmaru Palace was completely renovated in 2018.

Nagoya Castle (名古屋城)

The map was based on Google Earth. The location of the enclosures is based on my estimation.

We approached the front gate from Shiyakushomae Station on the Nagoya Subway Line. It is a magnificent castle; the stone wall and the (dry) moats spread out endlessly.

Nagoya Castle (名古屋城)

① Ninomaru Ote Second Gate

Nagoya Castle (名古屋城)

② Below, the main gate, where we paid and entered the site.

Nagoya Castle (名古屋城)

③ An old well at the western enclosure (西之丸).

Nagoya Castle (名古屋城)

The moat between the western enclosure and the Ofuke enclosure (御深井丸). Though Nagoya Castle is located on a plain, moats were set up everywhere.

Nagoya Castle (名古屋城)

④ Foundation stones of the castle tower. The stones were transferred here when the castle tower was rebuilt in 1959. Now, they have turned into a playground for children.

Nagoya Castle (名古屋城)

⑤ Here is Nagoya's symbol, its castle tower (天守). It consists of a large and a small tower.

Nagoya Castle (名古屋城)


Nagoya Castle (名古屋城)

The two towers are connected by the "Tsurugi Wall" (literally "sword wall"). It is so because sharp swords were aligned under its eaves to prevent the enemy from intruding.

Nagoya Castle (名古屋城)

There are many dioramas displayed in the castle tower. Here is a reconstructed model of old Nagoya City and Kinshachi ("Gold shachi"). Shachi are legendary creatures said to be able to summon water. They have been used as charms on rooftops to prevent fire. Nagoya Castle is very famous for its golden shachi.

Nagoya Castle (名古屋城)


Nagoya Castle (名古屋城)

⑥ Honmaru Palace (本丸御殿) was under restoration, but it reopened partly in 2018. It is built in its original style as faithfully as much as possible. There is no air conditioner inside.

Nagoya Castle (名古屋城)

The sliding paper doors covered in gold leaf and shining in the dim light are most impressive.

Nagoya Castle (名古屋城)

The construction was still ongoing, but visitors could observe the renovation works.

Nagoya Castle (名古屋城)

⑦ Kiyomasa Stone (清正石), a large stone two metres in height and six metres in width.

Nagoya Castle (名古屋城)

⑧ Former Ninomaru East Second Gate (Important Cultural Property): it was removed from Ninomaru Palace and rebuilt in the Edo Period.

Nagoya Castle (名古屋城)

⑨ Front Second Gate (Important cultural property). Its roofs are covered with steel sheets, and the gate is solidly constructed of thick timber.

Nagoya Castle (名古屋城)

⑩ Southeast Corner Turret (Important cultural property). The Northeast and Southwest turrets survived, too, and all of them were designated as Important cultural properties.

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⑪ The castle tower, as seen from the second enclosure.

Nagoya Castle (名古屋城)

⑫ The site of Uzumi gate. Covered in grass, we could not make it out easily, but there were stairs leading down to the bottom of the moat. It is said to be the emergency evacuation route.

Nagoya Castle (名古屋城)

⑬ The site of the Namban (western-style) plaster wall. It was extremely solid and fitted with circular loopholes.

Nagoya Castle (名古屋城)

Date of visit: 14th September 2013


Access:

  • Address: Honmaru, Naka-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi
  • Transportation: (To the main gate)
    10 minutes from Nagoya Subway Meijo line Shiyakusho station on foot
    1km from Nagoya Expressway Ring route Marunouchi Exit via National Route 22
  • Other sights: Suemori Castle
Next article in the series 'Walking the Japanese Castles': Inuyama Castle
Previous article in the series 'Walking the Japanese Castles': Suemori Castle
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Hiroto Uehara
Hiroto is an ordinary Japanese office worker, but his true mission is searching for castles on the weekend.

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