Nagoya Castle


History

1610, the Tokugawa's decided to create a new provincial capital defended by one of the new style of Japanese castle. This new castle was to be what we call Nagoya-jo. The Tokugawa's used Kiyosu castle in the old capital for building supplies and moved it and its town about seven kilometers to the new Nagoya site.

The town created around this new castle is the foundation of modern Nagoya.

Much of the castle was destroyed in the 1945 bombings of Nagoya. The current castle is significantly reconstructed (it is concrete and has an elevator in it). The interior now houses a museum and both times I have been to the castle it has been full of school kids.


A New Type of castle

Older Japanese castles were smaller affairs, on top of hills. Inuyama-jo, a short drive from Nagoya is a good example. With the introduction of firearms into Japan in the 1500's, a new type of castle was developed. These new castles such as Himeji

For a detailed history of the castle see the relevant Samurai-Archives page.


The castle is huge and the grounds immense.

"Using bamboo screening to hide his techniques from prying eyes, Kato directed the efforts of 200,000 laborers and constructed the massive stone walls of Nagoya in about sixth months. " -Samurai-Archives page.


Walking in the gates


Entrance to the Tea-ceremony area.


The first glimpse of the castle. Note the golden kinshachi above the roof.


The entry into the inner castle


A guardhouse and the sloped walls


Another guard house from the bridge into the inner castle area. Deer graze in the moat.


the castle, impressive close up.


On May 14, 1945, Nagoya and the castle were bombed. The tower/donjon and the Hommaru Palace (similar in design to the Nijo-jo Palace in Kyoto) were destroyed. The ruins of the palace lie in front of the castle. Money is currently being collected to reconstruct the palace.

Wall panels and treasures from the palace can now be seen at the nearby Tokugawa Art Museum.


The Castle is large and dominating. It dwarfs the visitors


The golden kinshachi (imaginary tiger-headed dolphins) that sit above the castle are a symbol of Nagoya. The statues were originally of pure gold, but were melted down a number of times and recast with a lower quality when funds

The local soccer team, the Nagoya Grampus 8 are also called the dolphins (grampus).


View from the top of the castle.


View from the top of the castle. You can see Nagoya TV tower in the background.



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