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Nagoya Castle Private Guided Tour

5.02 reviews

  • 1.5–2.5 hours
  • Free cancellation up to 24h before
  • Guided in English
  • Instant confirmation

Highlights

This exclusive tour offers a unique opportunity to explore Nagoya Castle in two distinct ways: a quick 90-minute overview or a comprehensive 150-minute in-depth experience. During the tour, you can capture memorable photos against the majestic backdrop of the castle's architecture. Learn about the castle's historical significance, built in 1612 by Tokugawa Ieyasu, and the residence of the Owari branch of the Tokugawa family. Admire the golden "Kinshachi" (golden dolphins) atop the main keep, symbolizing prosperity and power. Explore the Honmaru Palace, rebuilt with traditional craftsmanship, exemplifying the grandeur of feudal Japan with intricate fusuma paintings and refined wooden construction. Visit the Nishinomaru Archives and Museum, housing exhibits detailing the castle's history, architecture, and role in Japan’s urban development.

Inclusions

What's included

  • All Fees and Taxes
  • In-person Tour Guide

Itinerary

  1. Nagoya Castle, constructed in 2 years from 1610 under Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, stands as a testament to Japan's feudal era. Its main keep, or tenshukaku, is renowned for its golden shachihoko (dolphin-like roof ornaments), symbolizing Nagoya's rich cultural heritage. The meticulously reconstructed Honmaru Palace showcases exquisite Shoin architecture with beautifully replicated paintings on sliding doors. Surrounding gardens offer serene landscapes, providing visitors with a glimpse into the lives of Japan's historical elite.

    Passes by

  2. The Nishinomaru Okura Johokan at Nagoya Castle houses valuable collections, including centuries-old wall and screen paintings that survived wartime destruction. Visitors can learn about the castle's history from its construction to modern times and gain insights into Nagoya's urban planning.

    20 minAdmission included

  3. Nagoya Castle's Honmaru Palace, reconstructed in 2018, exemplifies early Edo-period samurai architecture. Each room's design and decor reflect its function and status, with ceilings, transoms, and sliding door paintings varying accordingly. The palace features a range of rooms, including the Entrance Hall, Main Hall, and various chambers, each adorned with intricate decorations. Notably, the sliding door paintings, created by Kano school artists, depict themes such as bamboo groves with leopards and tigers, and plum blossoms with quails, showcasing the artistic richness of the era.

    30 minAdmission included

  4. Nagoya Castle's main keep, completed in 1612, is renowned for its golden shachihoko ornaments atop the roof, symbolizing the city's rich heritage. The keep's five-story structure offers panoramic views of Nagoya. Currently, the main keep is closed due to age and earthquake resistance concerns. During the tour, you can capture memorable photos against the majestic backdrop of the castle's architecture.

    15 minAdmission included

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Reviews

5.0

  • 52
  • 40
  • 30
  • 20
  • 10

Ratings come from 2 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Know before you go

Meeting point
The meeting point is in front of FamilyMart Nagoya City Hall West Store. Your guide will be waiting for you with a yellow sign. Please check the map for details.
Pickup
Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
Ticket type
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Operated by
DeepExperience
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

How it compares in Nagoya

  • Its from-price is 42% below the median of the 377 experiences we list in Nagoya.
  • It is shorter than most of them.
  • By number of reviews it ranks 81 of 377.
  • The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Nagoya

Nagoya is a big industrial city in central Japan, with a castle topped by golden ornaments, an ancient shrine and a food culture all its own.

Nagoya is one of Japan's biggest cities, set on a broad plain at the head of Ise Bay and long a centre of the country's car and machinery industries. Its castle, built by the Tokugawa in the early 1600s, is topped by a pair of golden shachihoko, mythical fish with tigers' heads, and the keep was rebuilt after the war with a restored palace beside it. Atsuta Shrine, among the most venerated in Japan, houses a sacred sword.

Top-ranked sights in Nagoya: Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology, SCMAGLEV and Railway Park, LEGOLAND® Japan Resort.

See all 377 experiences in Nagoya

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Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.

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