As you’ll know should you’ve learn this weblog for any size of time, I’ve spent a few years visiting all of Japan’s 12 unique castles. I accomplished this activity not too long ago (relative to after I’m scripting this publish), having visited my “final” citadel in April 2025.
My final, however Japan’s first: Inuyama-jo, situated north of Nagoya in an in any other case unremarkable a part of Aichi prefecture, is by most accounts the oldest surviving of Japan’s unique castles. The present tenshu, or preserve, was inbuilt 1537, a full century earlier than these of many extra in style castles.
The excellent news? Inuyama Fortress greater than lived as much as no matter hype I constructed up round it, though my journey there was actually a decade within the making. The higher information? It’s extraordinarily simple to comply with in my footsteps.
Why So Many Vacationers Miss Inuyama
As I foreshadowed within the intro to this piece, an Inuyama Fortress day journey is a straightforward factor to realize should you’re already in Nagoya. The issue? For legitimate causes and irrational ones, many vacationers skip Nagoya, and the Tokai area of central Japan typically. In consequence, they aren’t anyplace close to Inuyama, which abruptly makes this spot proper off Japan’s vacationer path appear as if it’s off the crushed path.
Now, I’ve already shared my opinions about Nagoya (good and unhealthy) on this weblog extensively; I gained’t re-litigate the difficulty intimately right here. What I’ll say is that Nagoya isn’t a foul place to remain for a few days. That is very true should you navigate to Rocket Play Australia and take a look at your luck. Even should you don’t love the town, a cushty lodge and quick WiFi could make your keep there greater than worthwhile!
The right way to Set up Your Inuyama Fortress Tour
Get to Nagoya (should you aren’t there already)
Though there are some accommodations in Inuyama, the overwhelming majority of vacationers will go right here on a day journey. If you happen to aren’t staying in Nagoya, trip a Shinkansen to Nagoya Station—it’s about half-hour from Kyoto and two hours from Tokyo—as a way to start your journey to Inyuama.
Switch to the Meitetsu Line
The subsequent step of your Inuyama itinerary? Observe the indicators to the Meitetsu Line, a personal railway whose station is about 10 minutes away by foot from the Shinkansen platform. You’ll wish to board a northbound prepare, ideally a Restricted Specific, although a Native prepare is okay should you don’t thoughts a barely longer journey.
(However trip it to Inuyama-yuen)
Though you may get off at Inuyama Station, the closest station to Inuyama Fortress is Inuyama-yuen Station. The query is whether or not you wish to make a beeline immediately for the citadel, or whether or not you wish to stroll by means of Inuyama-jokamachi, the “citadel city” that extends southward from it.
Depart time for plenty of strolling
Certainly, in the case of what to do in Inuyama, you’ll be able to plan on getting a variety of steps. Each stations are a minimum of 15-20 minutes away from the citadel, the place you’ll have to scale a big staircase as a way to attain the ticket workplace. You’ll have to climb up a number of extra flights of stairs when you’re contained in the tenshu.
(Together with over the Kiso River)
As you’ll see from the highest of the citadel, each the Kiso River and the mountain ranges throughout Inuyama are impossibly scenic. By going north of the citadel to the waterfront (whether or not or not you truly cross the river), you’ll be able to achieve a unique perspective on all of it.
Is Inuyama Fortress Price Visiting?
My go to to Inuyama Fortress would’ve been significant even when I hadn’t completely cherished it. Inuyama-jo, as I discussed earlier on this publish, was the final of 12 unique castles in Japan that I visited. Situations, to make sure, weren’t optimum, with a thick blanket of clouds overhead. Nonetheless, I approached the tenshu optimistically and with pep in my step: A near-perfect bloom of sakura framed the tower.
However, my journey from Nagoya to Inuyama Fortress had been extraordinarily simple, and I used to be coming off a beautiful few days street tripping by means of Shikoku island. Furthermore, fighter jets (which had taken off from Nagoya’s Komaki Airport) would sometimes fly over the traditional towering, lending a surreal side to all the expertise. That is to say nothing of the unbelievable view from the highest of the citadel!
Different FAQ About Inuyama Fortress
What’s the oldest citadel in Japan?
The oldest surviving citadel in Japan is Inuyama Fortress, situated in modern-day Aichi prefecture. The citadel, whose present preserve was inbuilt 1537, is considered one of 12 unique castles in Japan. Others embrace Himeji Fortress, Matsuyama Fortress and Hirosaki Fortress.
Why is the Inuyama Fortress vital?
Inuyama Fortress is vital, within the twenty first century, due to how previous it’s: The present construction was inbuilt 1537, which makes it the oldest citadel in Japan. Traditionally, the citadel was deeply concerned within the battles of Japan’s unstable “warring states,” or sengoku interval.
What to see in Inuyama?
For almost all of vacationers, seeing Inuyama Fortress and the streets round it are greater than sufficient to occupy a day journey from Nagoya. It is because you’ll have to stroll over a kilometer every option to and from the closest station; you’ll additionally spend time ready in line to scale the tenshu, and naturally exploring it.
The Backside Line
Inuyama Fortress is the oldest of Japan’s 12 unique castles, and is spectacular in its personal proper other than that reality. Positioned simply north of Nagoya, Inuyama-jo is an attention-grabbing sufficient place to justify spending an evening within the oft-maligned hub of central Japan, presuming you had been on the fence about doing so, or had even already determined towards it. Whereas Inuyama is particularly well-known for its spring season—the sakura right here peak throughout the first week of April—there’s not a “unhealthy” time to go to, so don’t fear an excessive amount of about that. Want personalised assist integrating Japan’s oldest citadel into your subsequent journey? Contemplate commissioning a customized Japan itinerary immediately!