It is still a bit of a hidden gem for overseas visitors, but it is definitely one of the places I highly recommend visiting while you are in Nagoya. Having grown up nearby, I went there all the time, and to me, Inuyama castle is still the best in Japan. Let me show you why―I’m sure you will love it!
Overview
Inuyama castle is one of Japan’s five National Treasure castles. The castle keep (tenshu) is considered the oldest surviving original wooden castle tower in Japan, with tree-ring analysis dating its construction to the 1580s. It stands on a bluff above the Kiso River in Inuyama, Aichi Prefecture.
Inuyama castle is unique in that it is the only one of the five where visitors can walk 360 degrees around the outer veranda (engawa) at the top of the keep.
Location: 65-2 Kitakoken, Inuyama, Aichi 484-0082, Japan
History
Foundation (1537)
Inuyama Castle is said to have been built in 1537 by Oda Nobuyasu, an uncle of the famous warlord Oda Nobunaga, during the Muromachi period.
The Three Unifiers
All three of Japan’s great unifiers ― Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu ― fought to control Inuyama Castle, reflecting its immense strategic importance during the Sengoku (Warring States) period.
Battle of Sekigahara (1600)
Before the decisive Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, Tokugawa Ieyasu used Inuyama Castle as a base. The castle was later given to the Naruse clan, who served as lords of the castle for the entire Edo period (over 250 years).
Private Ownership
After the Meiji Restoration, Inuyama Castle was unique in Japan as the only castle to remain in private hands ― owned by the Naruse family until 2004. In 2004, ownership was transferred to the Inuyama Castle Preservation Foundation.
National Treasure Designation
Inuyama Castle was designated a National Treasure of Japan in 1935, recognizing the outstanding historical and artistic value of its castle keep.
Visiting Information
Opening Hours
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Last admission: 4:30 PM)
Closed: December 29 – 31
Admission Fees (from March 1, 2026)
Adults: ¥1,000
Elementary & junior high school students: ¥200
Official Websites
Castle official site (EN)
AichiNow (EN)
Access from Nagoya
By Train
- Meitetsu Nagoya Station
Take the Meitetsu Inuyama Line (犬山線) toward Inuyama / Inuyama-Yuen
Travel time: approx. 28–35 min
- Get off at Inuyama Station (犬山駅)
Walk from Inuyama Station (West Exit) through the castle town to the castle: approx. 20 min
- Inuyama Castle
Total door-to-door: approx. 50–60 min from Nagoya Station
Train Fare
One way: approx. ¥630
Round trip: approx. ¥1,260
Recommended value ticket:
‘Inuyama Castle Town Kippu’ (犬山城下町きっぷ)
Price: ¥1,950
Includes: round-trip Meitetsu fare + castle admission + coupon for the castle town, up to three stores
Available at Meitetsu ticket machines
Castle Highlights
The highlight of a visit might be the outer veranda on the top floor and view of the Kiso River (木曽川) from there. You can enjoy a panoramic 360-degree view of the Kiso River below, the castle town and the surrounding mountains.
However, my personal recommendation is this: the best part of Inuyama Castle is the original steep wooden stairs leading to the top floor. Inuyama Castle is the oldest existing wooden castle and it remains in the original state. You can experience the authentic 400-year-old atmosphere from the Sengoku to Edo periods. Everything inside is made of original wood so you can feel the history through the polished pillars and the creaking of the floorboards under your feet. The wooden stairs are very steep (so please be ready for it ;)). It’s a bit scary but it’s exciting because it’s exactly how it was 400 years ago.
Growing up with Inuyama Castle, I assumed all castles were like that―wooden inside. So when I visited other castles like Nagoya Castle, it was quite a shock. My honest impression―no offense to Nagoya Castle―was, ‘This feels like a museum building, not a castle.’ In many other reconstructed castles like Nagoya castle, you just look at exhibits, but in Inuyama Castle, you can feel the same atmosphere that the samurai did back then.
***Please note: As Inuyama Castle is preserved in its original state, there are no elevators or barrier-free routes for visitors with disabilities.
My Recommended Route
Shops at Castle Town
・Yamada Gohei Mochi (山田五平餅): Gohei mochi(grilled rice cakes on skewers coated in a sweet walnut-miso glaze
・Fujisawa Genkotu (藤澤げんこつ): Soybean flour candy, traditional Inuyama sweet
・Kuraya (茶処くらや): Dango, colorful rice cake skewers topped with seasonal toppings and fruit
・Honmachi Saryo (本町茶寮): café converted from a 100-year-old traditional townhouse (kominka)
Happy travels!
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