Nagoya Castle, originally built by the Owari Domain in 1612 during the Edo period, stands on the site of an earlier Oda clan castle from the Sengoku period. It became the centerpiece of Nagoya-juku, a significant castle town on the Minoji road, which connected two major Edo Five Routes: the Tokaido and the Nakasendo. In 1930, ownership of the castle was transferred to the city by the Imperial Household Ministry, establishing it as the focal point of modern Nagoya. Although partially destroyed in the Pacific War in 1945, the castle has undergone continuous restoration and preservation efforts since 1957.
Nagoya Castle is also known as Meijo, a name echoed in city landmarks like Meijo Park, the Meijo Line on the subway, and Meijo University, underscoring its cultural significance. Historically, it was sometimes referred to as Kinjo, meaning "Golden Castle," after which Kinjo Gakuin University is named.
In 1521-1528, Imagawa Ujichika, military governor of Suruga Province, constructed a precursor castle at Nagoya called Yanagi-no-maru for his son, Imagawa Ujitoyo. In 1532, Oda Nobuhide seized the castle, renamed it Nagoya Castle, and resided there; his son Oda Nobunaga was likely born there in 1534. After moving to Kiyosu Castle in 1555, the Nagoya structure was largely abandoned around 1582.
Following the unification of Japan, Tokugawa Ieyasu ordered the castle's reconstruction in 1609, establishing Nagoya as the capital of Owari Province. The castle construction, led by architect Nakai Masakiyo, set architectural standards for the Tokugawa shogunate. Starting in 1610, construction was carried out by over 20 daimyo, including Kato Kiyomasa and Fukushima Masanori, who carved inscriptions on the stones they transported for the castle’s foundation. The main keep was completed in 1612, and the Honmaru Palace was adorned with artwork by Kano Sadanobu in 1614. In 1615, the Honmaru Palace was finalized, with Ninomaru Palace following in 1617. Tokugawa Yoshinao, founder of the Owari Tokugawa lineage, took residence in Ninomaru Palace in 1620.
Renovations continued as the shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu visited in 1634, prompting the addition of new chambers and halls, painted by renowned artists such as Kano Tan'yū. Maintenance of the structure persisted, with repairs to the main keep roof and walls in 1669, 1685, and 1720, among other adjustments. By 1827, financial struggles forced the Owari branch to remelt the castle’s golden shachi (mythical dolphins) with less gold, and these were recast twice over the next decades.
Nagoya Castle's military significance dwindled as the Tokugawa Shogunate declined, and in 1870, the Owari Tokugawa submitted the castle to the imperial government. After the German diplomat Max von Brandt intervened to prevent its demolition, Nagoya Castle was preserved. In 1893, it became an Imperial residence and was opened to the public in 1906. After suffering damage from the 1891 Mino–Owari earthquake, the castle was designated a historic site in 1923 and a national treasure in 1930. The following year, it opened to the public as the property of Nagoya City.
During the Pacific War, Nagoya Castle served as a regional army headquarters and endured extensive damage from American air raids, which destroyed the main keep, Honmaru Palace, and several other buildings. Restoration began in 1957 with the reconstruction of the main keeps, which reopened in 1959, followed by further restoration in the 1960s and 1970s.
As part of the 2005 Expo preparations, English-language plaques were installed for visitors, and 3D visualizations of the Honmaru Palace artwork were produced. In 2009, a full reconstruction of Honmaru Palace commenced, which was completed by 2018. Nagoya’s mayor announced plans to restore the main towers to their original wooden structure, with fundraising launched in 2017. Sourcing for hinoki timber began in 2019, with hopes of completing the main towers by 2022.
See also
-
Matsushiro Castle
Matsushiro Castle, originally known as Kaizu Castle, is located in what was once Matsushiro town, now part of Nagano City. The site is recognized as a National Historic Site of Japan. Situated on the northern Shinano flatlands between the Chikuma River and a former riverbed that serves as a natural outer moat to the north, the castle and its surrounding town were prone to flooding due to their location.
-
Fushimi Castle
Fushimi Castle, also known as Momoyama Castle or Fushimi-Momoyama Castle, is located in Fushimi Ward, Kyoto. Originally built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi between 1592 and 1594 as his retirement residence, the castle was destroyed by the 1596 Keichō–Fushimi earthquake and later rebuilt. However, it was demolished again in 1623, and its site now houses the tomb of Emperor Meiji. A replica of the castle was constructed nearby in 1964.
-
Odawara Castle
Odawara Castle, located in the city of Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, is a reconstructed historical site with roots dating back to the Kamakura period (1185–1333). The current donjon (main keep) was rebuilt using reinforced concrete in 1960 on the stone foundation of the original structure, which was dismantled between 1870 and 1872 during the Meiji Restoration.
-
Shinpu Castle
Shinpu Castle was a Japanese hirayama-style fortress from the Sengoku period, situated in what is now Nirasaki, Yamanashi Prefecture. It served as the main stronghold of warlord Takeda Katsuyori. Designated as a National Historic Site in 1973, the castle occupies a strategic position on a mountain with steep cliffs, overlooking the Kamanashi River to the west of Kofu, where Takeda Shingen’s Tsutsujigasaki Castle once stood.
-
Takato Castle
Takato Castle, located in the city of Ina in southern Nagano Prefecture, Japan, was a notable stronghold during the Sengoku period. By the end of the Edo period, it was the residence of a cadet branch of the Naito clan, the daimyo of the Takato Domain. Also known as Kabuto Castle, it was originally constructed in the 16th century and is now mostly in ruins.
-
Takatenjin Castle
Takatenjin Castle was a yamashiro-style fortress from Japan's Sengoku period, situated in the Kamihijikata and Shimohijikata districts of Kakegawa, Shizuoka Prefecture. Designated a National Historic Site in 1975, with an expanded protected area in 2007, its ruins remain a significant historical landmark.
-
Yoshida Castle
Yoshida Castle is renowned worldwide, particularly through the intricate woodblock prints by Edo Period artist Hiroshige. His famous series, depicting the 53 stages of the Tokaido—the historic route between Kyoto and Edo (modern-day Tokyo)—includes the 34th print, which shows workmen repairing a castle overlooking a wooden bridge crossing a wide river. This scene captures the Toyokawa River at Toyohashi in southeast Aichi Prefecture, and the castle is Yoshida Castle.
-
Yamato Koriyama Castle
The impressive ruins of Koriyama Castle sit atop a small hill, surrounded by two rivers. The strategic positioning and strong layout of the castle served it well through the final years of the Sengoku period and the peaceful days of the Edo period.
