Nagoya Sightseeing, Introducing the Charms of Nagoya Castle! Golden Shachihoko, Kinshachi Yokocho, and How to Get There

Located almost in the very center of Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, “Nagoya Castle” is a castle that is a tourist attraction protected by tradition and culture, yet packed with wild imagination.

This article introduces the charms and recommended points of “Nagoya Castle,” as well as the gourmet area “Kinshachi Yokocho” located within the grounds of Nagoya Castle.

Charms of Nagoya Castle

Majestic Main Keep, the Verdigris Roof Reflecting History, and the Shining Golden Shachihoko

The absolute symbol of Nagoya Castle is the main keep (Tenshukaku). Its majestic appearance overwhelms visitors, and looking up, its roof is covered in “verdigris” nurtured over many years.

At the top, the shine of the “Golden Shachihoko” comes into view. Truly a work of art. Set against the blue sky, the beautiful contrast woven by history and tradition is undoubtedly a “photogenic” spot.

The interior of the main keep has been reconstructed with reinforced concrete, allowing visitors to enjoy various exhibits and the view from the keep.

As of 2026, the inside of the main keep cannot be toured because it is undergoing earthquake resistance work.

A Modern Miracle! The Gorgeous and Splendid “Honmaru Goten Palace”

A tourist spot inside the grounds of Nagoya Castle is the “Honmaru Goten Palace.” Inside, with wooden architecture recalling those days, as a residence for the Owari Domain lord and a place where shogun stayed, you can feel the lord’s space of those days and Japanese beauty. Touring the inside takes about 15 to 20 minutes, offering more to see than imagined, making it a tourist area you definitely want to step into if you go to Nagoya Castle.

Inside the Honmaru Goten Palace, there are multiple luxurious Japanese-style rooms that you can walk around and view (you cannot enter inside the rooms, but you can look from the walkway). Photography is OK (however, flash is prohibited), and just looking at the wall decorations, the beauty of the sliding doors, and the tatami flooring is overwhelming.

“Stone Walls” and “Important Cultural Property Corner Towers (Sumi-yagura)” Feeling Historical Romance

In addition to the main keep, the “corner towers (sumi-yagura)” soaring at the corners of the castle grounds are also well worth seeing. While having an elegant appearance like a small castle, their true nature is an impregnable “military fortress.”

Drop Chutes (Ishi-otoshi)

Please look at the section resembling a slightly protruding bay window at the corner of the tower in the photo (right above the stone wall). This is a defense trap called “Ishi-otoshi” for dropping stones or firing guns at enemies climbing up the stone wall.

Beautiful Stone Walls in Kiyomasa Style

Supporting the tower are splendid stone walls said to have been directed by Kiyomasa Kato. Built with a method called “Ogi no Kobai” (fan slope), which forms a steep incline while drawing a beautiful arc toward the top, it not only blocks enemy intrusion but also has an extremely high aesthetic perfection and beauty.

“Ninomaru Garden” Showing Beauty in Every Season

Spreading north of the Ninomaru Palace, a quiet space full of atmosphere unfolds, switching from the bustle inside the castle. If you go in spring, it is a garden with spreading fresh greenery, where you can enjoy feeling as comfortable as walking in nature.

The dynamic stone arrangements incorporating the “Karesansui” (dry landscape) style, which intentionally leaves the pond without water, are also appealing. The “Karetaki-iwagumi” (dry waterfall stone arrangement) using huge stones, said to be modeled after Chinese ink paintings, has an overwhelming presence even though water is not flowing.

“Kinshachi Yokocho” to Fill Your Stomach in the Castle Town

On the Main Gate side and East Gate side, there are two themed areas called “Kinshachi Yokocho.” In an atmospheric townscape reproducing the castle town of the Edo period, famous restaurants representing Nagoya stand side-by-side as a major gourmet spot.

Traditional Flavors Gather! Main Gate Side “Yoshinao Zone”

Named after the first lord of the Owari Domain, Yoshinao Tokugawa, this area is lined with pure Japanese-style wooden buildings, making you feel as if you have wandered into an Edo-period castle town. Here, you can thoroughly savor the “long-established, standard flavors” of Nagoya cuisine known to everyone.

• Hitsumabushi (Bincho): Savor crispy and juicy eel grilled aromatically over charcoal by artisans.
• Miso Katsu (Yabaton): Speaking of Nagoya, this is it! Exquisite cutlet covered in plenty of secret sweet and savory miso sauce.
• Miso Nikomi Udon (Yamamotoya Sohonke): Firm noodles and deep, rich red miso soup soak throughout your body.

Since souvenir shops are also well-stocked, it is an area perfect for looking for standard Nagoya souvenirs and golden shachihoko goods.

Cutting-Edge Pop Food Culture! East Gate Side “Muneharu Zone”

Named after the 7th lord Muneharu Tokugawa, who loved lavish splendor, this is a modern and stylish area where many people gather and create bustle. It is a unique area where you can enjoy locally talked-about shops and new “evolved Nagoya gourmet.”

• Kinshachi Fried Shrimp (Torikai Sohonke): Take a bite of a towering large fried shrimp alongside a oyakodon made with “Nagoya Cochin,” one of Japan’s top three local chickens!
• Ankake Spaghetti (Pasta de Coco): Nagoya’s soul food with an addictive spicy thick sauce.
• “Photogenic” Street-Food Sweets: Soft-serve ice cream luxuriously adorned with gold leaf, cute golden shachihoko-shaped sweets, and more.

Location, Access, and How to Get to Nagoya Castle

Location

Nagoya Castle is located in Naka Ward, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, and access by train is convenient. It arrives in about a 5-minute walk from Exit 7 of “Nagoyajo Station” on the Subway Meijo Line. The admission fee is 500 JPY for adults, and tickets can be purchased at the ticket booth to enter directly.

You can also go by taxi from Nagoya Station for about 1,400 to 1,800 JPY, so if you are traveling with a large group, a taxi might be easier and better.

Recommended Shops at Nagoya Castle

Recommended Shops

Located in “Kinshachi Yokocho (Yoshinao Zone)” right out of the Main Gate of Nagoya Castle, “Hitsumabushi Nagoya Bincho” is a nationally famous shop. It is in an unbeatable location where you can taste exquisite eel right as you tour Nagoya Castle.

The eel is finished with a crispy and aromatic skin, while the meat is plump, juicy, and packed with flavor. The sauce highlights the aroma and beautiful gloss, making it so delicious you can’t stop eating rice. Eating it in the Nagoya-style way as “Hitsumabushi” lets you savor Nagoya gourmet even more.

What you want to enjoy together is Kinshachi Nagoya Red Miso Lager Beer. A beer with a rich, deep flavor, it firmly holds up against the strongly flavored eel rice, letting you enjoy a combination of outstanding deliciousness.

Souvenir Shop “Shachi Jokyo”

Located in “Kinshachi Yokocho (Yoshinao Zone)” on the Main Gate side, the highlight of “Shachi Jokyo” is the “life-sized golden shachihoko” sitting inside the shop. Seen up close, the golden shachihoko is elaborately crafted, full of impact, and photography is OK.

Kinshachi Yokocho Soft-Serve Ice Cream (with Gold Leaf) & Ninja Ice Cream

“Kinshachi Yokocho Muneharu Zone,” a commercial facility modeled after Nagoya Castle’s castle town, is a modern street that sells soft-serve ice cream wrapped in Nagoya-like lavish gold leaf. It is a soft-serve ice cream you want to bite into gold leaf once as a memory of Nagoya and a topic for conversation.

“Ninja Ice Cream” is a creative dessert with intricate decorations modeled after “ninjas” associated with castles, sparking curiosity and being cute. With a design featuring adorable eyes peeking out, toppings imitating forehead protectors and sword hilts, and a prominently placed shuriken, it feels like a waste to eat it.

Basic Information of Nagoya Castle

Item	Details
Opening Hours (Business Hours)	9:00 – 16:30 ※Entry to Honmaru Goten Palace and Southwest Corner Tower is until 16:00
Closed Days	December 29 – January 1 (4 days over Year-End/New Year)
Admission Fee	* Adults: 500 JPY * Seniors residing in Nagoya City: 100 JPY (Senior Handbook required) * Junior high school students and under: Free
Joint Tickets	* Nagoya Castle & Tokugawa-en Joint Ticket (Adult): 640 JPY * Nagoya Castle & Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens Joint Ticket (Adult): 640 JPY
Access (Train)	About 5 minutes on foot from Exit 7 of Subway Meijo Line “Nagoyajo Station”
Access (Bus)	* Right after getting off at City Bus “Nagoyajo Seimon-mae” * Right after getting off at Nagoya Sightseeing Route Bus Meguru “Nagoyajo”
Current Notice	The main keep is currently closed (entry to interior not allowed) due to wooden reconstruction work. ※Exterior viewing and tours of Honmaru Goten Palace, Ninomaru Garden, etc., are available as usual.

Photo Collection of “Nagoya Castle”

Please enjoy photos of “Nagoya Castle.”

Summary: “Nagoya Castle”

Located in the central part of Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, Nagoya Castle is a recommended tourist attraction with outstanding access where you can feel rich tradition and Japanese beauty.

There is no end to the highlights, such as the gorgeous palace, gardens, and the unique castle-style Nagoya City Hall nearby. It is an attractive area where you can fully enjoy Nagoya’s culture and gourmet throughout the day while experiencing the atmosphere of a historic castle town.