The castle's roof is crowned by two gold-plated shachihoko, mythical carp-headed tigers believed to protect the building from fire.
The Honmaru Goten Palace contains sliding screen doors (fusuma-e) painted by artists of the Kano school.
The castle grounds include a portion of the original stone walls that survived the 1945 air raids during World War II.
Nagoya Castle is categorized as a Special Historic Site by the Japanese government.
The interior of the Honmaru Goten utilizes Japanese cypress (hinoki) throughout its reconstruction.
Nagoya Castle, constructed in 1612 by the Tokugawa shogunate, stands as a symbol of the Edo period with its distinctive gold dolphin (shachihoko) roof ornaments. The site features the Honmaru Goten Palace, which was reconstructed using traditional building techniques and original materials to replicate the lavish 17th-century interior. The castle keep is currently undergoing a long-term structural improvement project to ensure its seismic integrity. Visitors explore the extensive defensive moat system, stone walls, and the reconstructed residential quarters of the shogunate. The museum inside the castle grounds houses a collection of surviving original paintings and historical artifacts. The surrounding park serves as a public space featuring extensive green areas and cherry blossom trees.
The plaza in front of the main keep for a view of the gold shachihoko against the skyline.
Prioritize the Honmaru Goten Palace, as it offers the most complete historical reconstruction on the site.
Check official notices regarding the main keep's closure status before arrival due to ongoing structural projects.
Wear footwear that is easy to remove, as entry into the palace areas requires visitors to leave shoes in designated storage.
Attempting to enter the main castle keep if current construction fencing indicates it is closed to the public.
Closed annually on December 29 to 31 and January 1.
Remove shoes when entering palace buildings; maintain silence in exhibition areas; photography is prohibited in specific restricted rooms.
