Jcastle.info

Guide to Japanese Castles

Nagoya Castle

名古屋城

main donjon and smaller one
     
Alternate Name Kinshachi-jo
Founder Tokugawa Ieyasu
Year 1612
Reconstructed 1959 (concrete)
Type Flatland
Structure 5 levels, 7 stories
Condition Reconstructed
Rating ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Historical Site Special Historic Site
Historical Value Top 100 Castles, Important Cultural Properties
Historical Artifacts Important Cultural Properties:
Southeast Corner Yagura, Southwest Corner Yagura, Omote Ninomon Gate, Ninomaru Ote Ninomon Gate, Former Ninomaru East Ninomon Gate, Northwest Corner Yagura
Location Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture
Map Google Map
Access Shiyakusho Station (subway Meijo Line)
Website Nagoya Castle Official Home Page
Visited July 1992, several times in 1995-1996, February 23, 2004
Notes Had it not been destroyed by the bombing of World War 2, Nagoya Castle may have been more splendid than Himeji Castle with its original donjon and lord's palace. They are currently rasining funds to rebuild the palace.
History

In 1610 Tokugawa Ieyasu ordered the construction of Nagoya-jo to solidify the Tokugawa authority in Owari (Nagoya and vicinity). The castle was completed in 1612 and Tokugawa's ninth son Yoshinao entered the castle in 1616 from which he governed over Owari.

Nagoya-jo is famous for the 2 golden shachihoko that adorn the top of its donjon. That is why it is also known as "Kinshachi-jo." Kin means "gold" and shachi refers to the killer whale type mythical creatures that sit atop the donjon and other castle structures.

Viewer Comments

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  • Anonymous said ...
     Nagoyajo is a nice castle to visit. Inside the reconstructed Tenshu is a good museum. It is interesting to note that Nagoyajo does in fact have an original Tenshu- the Northwest Yagura was moved here from Kiyosujo, where it served as that Shiro's tenshu.
     March 16, 2008 at 06:08 PM