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
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Kokura Castle
Kokura Castle is traditionally considered to have been founded by Hosokawa Tadaoki (1563–1645), although by the time the Hosokawa clan came to control these lands, the fortification had already existed since at least 1569 and was most likely built by members of the Mori clan.
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Ikeda Castle
In 1334, Ikeda Noriyoshi built a small fort on this site, which over time was repeatedly expanded and rebuilt. During the Ōnin War of 1467–1477, the Ikeda clan supported the Western Coalition. As a result, Ikeda Castle was attacked and captured by the forces of the Eastern Coalition, but it was soon recaptured, allowing it to avoid serious destruction.
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Aizu-Wakamatsu Castle
Aizu-Wakamatsu is the most powerful and at the same time the oldest castle in the Tōhoku region in the north of Honshu Island. Its history begins in the 14th century and is closely connected with the Ashina clan, whose members claimed descent from the legendary Taira family.
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Maruoka Castle
Maruoka Castle is located in the central part of the former city of Maruoka, which is now part of the city of Sakai. This area lies in the northeastern part of Fukui Prefecture. The castle was built on the bank of the Kuzuryu River, on the side opposite Fukui City, which once served as the administrative center of the former Echizen Province. Thanks to its location, Maruoka held significant strategic importance, as it controlled two major routes at once: the Hokurikudo highway leading from Kaga Province and the Mino Kaido road connecting these lands with Mino Province.
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Marugame Castle
Marugame is part of the so-called “Authentic Dozen,” a group of twelve castles whose donjons have survived to the present day without major reconstructions since the Edo period.
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Iyo Matsuyama Castle
Historically, the center of Iyo Province—corresponding to today’s Ehime Prefecture on the island of Shikoku—was the city of Imabari, while the Matsuyama area was regarded as an agricultural hinterland with broad plains and low hills. During the Muromachi period, the central part of the province was governed by the Kano clan from Yuzuki Castle. With the onset of the Sengoku period, however, this clan lost its former influence and was forced to survive in the shadow of the more powerful Mori and Chōsokabe clans. After Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s forces conquered Shikoku in 1587, the northern part of Iyo Province was granted to Fukushima Masanori, one of the so-called “Seven Spears of Shizugatake.” In 1595, Masanori was transferred to Kiyosu Castle, and the lands around Matsuyama were given to another of the Seven Spears, Katō Yoshiaki, who received Masaki Castle and an income of 60,000 koku of rice.
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Kanazawa Castle
Construction of Kanazawa Castle began in 1580 on the orders of Sakuma Morimasa, a vassal of Oda Nobunaga. The castle was built on the site of the Ikko-ikki sect's Oyama Gobo temple, which is why it is sometimes called Oyama Castle. Morimasa managed to build several moats and begin construction of a castle town. However, after his defeat at the Battle of Shizugatake in 1583, he was executed, and ownership of the castle passed to Maeda Toshiie (1538–1599).
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Nakatsu Castle
Kuroda Yoshitaka (1546–1604) was one of the closest advisors to the legendary military commander Toyotomi Hideyoshi. He took part in key military campaigns of the late 16th century, including the campaign against Shikoku in 1585 and the campaign against Kyushu in 1587. Later, during the second campaign in Korea, Yoshitaka served as chief advisor to the commander of the invasion forces, Kobayakawa Hideaki. After Hideyoshi's death, he swore allegiance to Tokugawa Ieyasu, thereby securing his influence and patronage under Japan's new leader.
