Kiyosu, Historic castle city in Aichi Prefecture, Japan
Kiyosu is a city in Aichi Prefecture, situated on the Nobi Plain near the Shonai River and a short distance from Nagoya. At its center stands a reconstructed castle tower surrounded by gardens and open parkland.
The original castle was built between 1394 and 1427 to control trade routes crossing the region. It later served as a base for Oda Nobunaga and other powerful figures who used it as a launching point for their campaigns across Japan.
Kiyosu is known as the city where Oda Nobunaga began his rise to power, and that connection shapes how locals relate to their past today. Festivals and events held on the castle grounds bring this history into everyday life in a way that visitors can directly take part in.
The castle grounds are best explored during the day, when the views toward the river and surrounding city are at their clearest. Comfortable footwear is worth bringing since moving between the main tower and the nearby parks involves a fair amount of walking.
The current castle tower in Kiyosu was not rebuilt on its original site but on a different spot in the city, since the original grounds are now used for other purposes. Bronze statues of Oda Nobunaga and Princess No stand nearby, marking the connection to a period when this area held a central role in Japanese history.
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