Nagoya Castle, Castle in 中区, Nagoya, Japan
Nagoya Castle is a Japanese castle in the 中区 district of Nagoya, Japan, featuring a five-story main keep and the restored Honmaru Palace within its grounds. The current main keep is a concrete structure, while the Honmaru Palace was rebuilt using traditional wood techniques and contains rooms decorated with carved panels and painted screens.
The castle was built in 1610 on the orders of Ieyasu Tokugawa, at a point where two old roads crossed. Both the main keep and the Honmaru Palace were destroyed in air raids during World War II and the main keep was rebuilt in concrete in 1959.
The gold-plated shachihoko figures on top of the main keep are the most recognized symbols of the castle. These fish-shaped ornaments were traditionally believed to protect buildings from fire, and their gold finish was a direct display of the lord's wealth.
The closest subway stop is Shiyakusho Station on the Meijo Line, a short walk from the castle grounds. A bus from Nagoya Station is another option and takes around 20 minutes.
The current concrete main keep is planned to be torn down and replaced with a wooden replica, with completion expected around 2028. Visitors today may be among the last to see the concrete version before it disappears.
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