Nagoya Castle is a Japanese castle located in Nagoya, Japan. Built in 1612, the castle has been used as a defense structure throughout its history. During my time at Nagoya Castle, I participated in an English-speaking tour, and due to going on a Monday, I had a guide to myself. Being able to learn about the history of the castle through a tour guide was great and having the tour be one-on-one was even better. Free English-language tours are given daily at 12:30 pm from the castle’s East Gate.
The castle features a beautiful gate with lookout holes in its walls. These walls would be used to fend off attackers. The castle’s grounds currently feature three turrets. The castle used to be home to many more turrets but they were destroyed in 1945 during World War II, alongside much of the castle’s structure. Nagoya Castle has been in a constant state of repair since with new additions being added throughout the years. The photo of the statue below is of Kato Kiyomasa, a famous samurai, who directed the construction of the stone walls of the Castle Towers during the early 17th century. Nagoya Castle also features a small museum that replicates living spaces at the castle and the art that would have been displayed in them.
I highly recommend Nagoya Castle to anyone wanting to experience a Japanese castle and the history surrounding them. With Nagoya Castle being very foreigner-friendly and offering tours in multiple languages, it is a great choice for amazing views and learning about how castles were used in Japan’s past as a form of protection against attacking armies.
