Visiting Nagoya Castle While the Main Keep Is Closed: What You Can Still See
Nagoya Castle (名古屋城) is the city's best-known sight, and the first thing many visitors ask is whether you can still go inside. The answer is no for the main keep, which has been closed since 2018. But that isn't a reason to skip it. The grounds are open, the keep still looks great from outside, and the rebuilt Honmaru Palace is one of the finest pieces of traditional architecture you can walk through in Japan.
A short history
Tokugawa Ieyasu ordered the castle built in 1610, and the main keep was finished in 1612. It was the seat of the Owari branch of the Tokugawa family, one of the three most powerful branches of the ruling clan. The keep and the palace were destroyed in air raids in 1945. The keep was rebuilt in steel-reinforced concrete in 1959, together with its famous golden shachihoko, the pair of tiger-headed fish on the roof that have become the symbol of Nagoya.
Why the keep is closed
The concrete keep was closed in May 2018 over earthquake safety. The city plans to rebuild it in wood, faithful to the original, and preparatory work such as surveys of the stone walls and timber preparation is under way. There is no confirmed reopening date yet, so plan your visit around the rest of the grounds.
What you can see now
The Honmaru Palace
The highlight of any visit today. The original palace was completed in 1615 and destroyed in 1945. It was rebuilt using Edo-period plans and records, and the work was completed in 2018. Inside, room after room is covered in gold-leaf paintings, and the carved transoms and painted ceilings get more elaborate the deeper you go. Entry is included in the castle admission. You take your shoes off to go in, so wear socks.
The keep and the stone walls
Walk the full circle around the keep for the best angles on the shachihoko. The stone walls are worth a close look too. Many stones carry carved marks left by the feudal lords whose crews built each section. The biggest, the Kiyomasa Stone, is named after the general Kato Kiyomasa.
Gardens and seasons
The grounds have around a thousand cherry trees, and late March to early April is the busiest and most beautiful time of year, with evening light-ups. In the fall, the castle hosts an autumn festival and a chrysanthemum show.
Kinshachi Yokocho
Just outside the Main Gate and the East Gate, Kinshachi Yokocho is a row of restaurants and shops built in a traditional style. It's a good place to try Nagoya food like hitsumabushi (grilled eel over rice) and miso katsu. Most shops close in the early evening.
Practical tips
- Hours: The grounds are open from 9:00 to 16:30. The last entry to the Honmaru Palace is at 16:00, and it's about a 10-minute walk from the gate, so arrive by around 15:45.
- Closed: December 29 to January 1.
- Getting there: Take the subway to Nagoyajo Station on the Meijo Line (renamed from Shiyakusho in 2023), about 15 minutes from Nagoya Station with one transfer. The East Gate is about a 5-minute walk from Exit 7.
- Timing: Mornings on weekdays are quietest. Tour groups often arrive late in the morning.
For a full day in the city, pair the castle with Sakae and the Osu shopping arcade. We cover those in our central Nagoya guide.
You can find Nagoya Castle, Kinshachi Yokocho, and the rest of the city on the Aichi guide and the NipponNavi map.