 Most viewed - Nagoya Castle 名古屋城 |
Reconstructed in 1959 in ferro-concrete, Nagoya Castle's main tenshu tower has closed on May 6, 2018 to start its monumental reconstruction. 天守閣564 viewsThis main tower used to house a museum. The top floor had a lookout deck with fine views.
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Symbol of Nagoya, golden shachihoko. Killer whale or fish with a tiger's head.556 viewsFirst believed to protect the building from disasters, but later served as the symbol of the castle lord's authority. The original pair was destroyed along with the castle tower during WWII, but they were remade in 1959 along with the castle tower. Later, they were recoated with gold. They gleam very well on sunny days. The male fish is on the right (north), and female (south) on the left.
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Near the station is Nagoya City Hall (Shiyakusho) which also sports a castle motif.364 views
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Nagoya Castle, Northwest corner turret. 西北隅櫓357 views
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Closeup of castle tower, with shachihoko on top. Nagoya Castle is famous for its golden pair of shachihoko roof ornaments. During the Aichi Expo in 2005, they were taken down for public display. 天守閣329 views
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On the 5th floor was a model of shachihoko that you could touch and sit on for pictures.327 viewsNagoya Castle's main tower closed on May 6, 2018 to be dismantled (and reconstructed).
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Kiyomasa depicted as the rock hauling director. When building the castle, many men had to push and pull large rocks into place. On top of a large boulder, a man would shout and direct the men to move.326 views
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Inside castle tower262 viewsThe castle tower is a history museum.
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Gift shop on top floor244 views
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Nagoya Station's twin towers in the distance.236 views
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Southeast corner turret (Important Cultural Property)232 views東南隅櫓
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As you walk toward the castle entrance, you see this Sotobori outer moat.218 views
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This photo was taken in 2006, showing an empty lot where the Hommaru Goten Palace is being reconstructed now.214 views
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Southeast corner turret (Important Cultural Property). Also called the Tatsumi Yagura turret. It has bay windows to drop stones. 辰巳櫓 東南隅櫓210 views
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203 views
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Picture taken in 2006. 天守閣201 views
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Dry moat on east side of castle.197 views
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Northwest corner turret. 西北隅櫓196 views
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Northwest corner turret. Also called the Inui or Kiyosu Turret. Very photogenic with the wide moat in front. 戌亥櫓（いぬいやぐら）、清洲櫓、西北隅櫓183 views
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This photo from 2006 shows an empty lot next to the main castle tower.182 views
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East Gate ticket gate. Nagoya Castle admission is ¥500 for adults. Open 9 am to 4:30 pm. Closed Dec. 29–Jan. 1.181 views
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Southeast corner turret179 views東南隅櫓
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Sotobori moat 外堀178 views
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Site of palace building before it was rebuilt. Only foundation stones remained.178 views
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Bridge across the Sotobori moat to East Gate 東門177 views
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175 views
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Although Nagoya Castle is impressive, it never had the pizazz or aura of being anything special compared to other major castles (especially the National Treasures) in Japan.174 viewsMainly because the main castle tower is a 1950s ferro-concrete reconstruction of the original National Treasure that sadly got destroyed by WWII fire bombings. It has been a relatively humdrum castle, and people in Nagoya knew it.
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Palace foundation stones. The palace, destroyed during WWII, served only as luxury lodging for the shogun passing through. 170 viewsThe architecture was similar to the palace at Nijo Castle.
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This is Nagoya Castle when I visited in 2006. In the foreground, you can see the stone foundations of the Honmaru Palace still remaining.166 views
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Seimon Gate (reconstructed in 1959). The gate was destroyed during WWII, and was reconstructed in 1959 together with the castle tower. 正門165 views
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165 views
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163 views
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To East Gate162 views
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Omote Ni-no-mon Gate (Important Cultural Asset). Entrance where most people enter the castle's center. 表二之門162 views
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Stone wall corner162 views
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162 views
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Castle tower and southwest corner turret.156 views未申櫓, 西南隅櫓
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155 views
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West side near the Uzura no Kubi inlet153 views
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West side of Nagoya Castle150 views
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149 views
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The Omote Shoin (表書院) Main Hall's Jodan-no-Ma Room which is reserved for daimyo of Nagoya Castle. 上段之間.146 views
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Nagoya Castle manhole, Aichi.146 views
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Sliding door painting in the Omote Shoin (表書院) Main Hall's Ichi-no-Ma Room 一之間. Nagoya Castle's Hommaru Palace.144 views
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Seimon Gate 正門142 views
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All the paintings are painstakingly hand-painted replicas of the original art. Nagoya Castle's Hommaru Palace.141 viewsThey have excellent records and photos of the original palace (floor plans, etc.) so they are working to reconstruct the palace as close to the original as possible. Magnificent.
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Leopard at Nagoya Castle's Hommaru Palace.141 views
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Southwest corner turret 西南隅櫓139 views
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Outside Seimon Gate137 views
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Nagoya's new Hommaru Palace is right next to the tenshukaku main castle tower.130 views
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North side of castle126 views
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Nagoyajo subway station on the Meijo subway line. Nagoya Castle is near Nagoyajo Station (used to be named "Shiyakusho") which is also near Nagoya's city hall. This station exit has a castle motif.114 views
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When you first enter the Hommaru Palace, you're in a room called the Nakanokuchibeya (中之口部屋). Take off your footwear and backpacks, bags, etc., are required to be stored.81 views
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The Omote Shoin (表書院) Main Hall's Jodan-no-Ma Room which is reserved for daimyo. 上段之間.81 views
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Corridor of the palace, made of fragrant hinoki cypress.80 views
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Top floor's lookout deck. The top floor only has windows and no balcony.80 views
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Nagoya Castle is Nagoya's most visible attraction and symbol of the city. It is most closely associated with the Tokugawa after Ieyasu decided to rebuild it in the early 1600s. 79 viewsTwenty daimyo lords from Western Japan were ordered to build the castle including Kato Kiyomasa who built Kumamoto Castle. It was the base of the Tokugawa's Owari branch. The main castle tower was paired with a smaller tower and the Hommaru Palace and Ninomaru Palace were built nearby.
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79 views
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79 views
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Omote Shoin (表書院) Main Hall's Ni-no-Ma Room 二之間.79 views
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Omote Shoin (表書院) Main Hall's Ni-no-Ma Room 二之間.79 views
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Names of the castle lords.79 views
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The first section we see is the Genkan entrance hall consisting of two rooms next to the Kuruma Yose VIP entrance. This is the Ninoma room. 二之間78 views
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Sliding door lock.78 views
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Sliding door painting of birds in the Omote Shoin (表書院) Main Hall's Ichi-no-Ma Room 一之間.78 views
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Special latticed ceiling of the Taimenjo (対面所) Reception Hall's Jodan-no-Ma room reserved for the daimyo lord.78 views
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The Taimenjo (対面所) Reception Hall 78 views
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Inner courtyard78 views
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Preparation room (Shimo Gozensho) to serve the Reception Hall. 下御膳所78 views
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List of donors for building the Hommaru Palace.78 views
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Spiral staircase in the middle of the tower. There's an elevator too.78 views
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Oda Nobunaga78 views
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78 views
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78 views
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Sadly, the original buildings were destroyed by World War II firebombings by the US. The main castle tower was reconstructed with ferro-concrete in 1959. 77 viewsAnd now, since 2009, they are reconstructing the Hommaru Palace. They are using traditional materials and methods of construction.
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Kiyomasa's stone77 views
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Omote Shoin (表書院) Main Hall's San-no-Ma Room 三之間.77 views
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Sliding door painting in the Omote Shoin (表書院) Main Hall's Ichi-no-Ma Room 一之間.77 views
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The Taimenjo (対面所) Reception Hall is most impressive.77 views
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77 views
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Very intricate overhead transom made of wood.77 views
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77 views
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Some of the rocks on the stone walls are engraved with the crest of samurai clans that provided the stones and helped to build Nagoya Castle.77 views
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77 views
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Museum inside Nagoya Castle's main tower had seven floors with exhibits. There was an elevator inside. The smaller tower had nothing except the door and entrance hall.77 viewsNagoya Castle's main tower closed on May 6, 2018 to be dismantled (and reconstructed).
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77 views
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Hommaru Goten Palace being reconstructed.77 views
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Southwest corner turret. Also called the Hitsujisaru Turret.77 views
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Exhibition rooms on the lower floors.77 views
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The 3rd floor has this scale model of Nagoya Castle town.77 views
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Scale model of Nagoya Castle town.77 views
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Wood shop is open to the public viewing 9 am to 4 pm. Closed on Sun.77 views
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Ironically, the castle lord lived in the Honmaru Palace for only a short period before moving to the much larger Ninomaru Palace nearby. No plans to reconstruct the Ninomaru Palace.76 views
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Inside the main entrance called "Kuruma Yose" 車寄 reserved for the castle lord and other VIPs.76 views
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Shoe lockers where you can store your footwear.76 views
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Paintings of mythical tigers and leopards. They are reproducing the artwork as faithfully as possible. An absolutely magnificent job. 76 viewsReally painstaking though, as they trace over original paintings. This palace is slated to be completed in 2018, after 9 years of work. The original palace took only 3 years to complete.
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Next section is the Omote Shoin (表書院) Main Hall consisting of five rooms. This is the San-no-Ma 三之間.76 views
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Corridor. All hinoki cypress wood, giving a pleasant aroma.76 views
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This section is the Taimenjo (対面所) Reception Hall consisting of four rooms.76 views
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Another room of the Taimenjo (対面所) Reception Hall. 納戸二之間76 views
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76 views
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Replica of the castle's famous roof ornament, a golden carp.76 views
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Today, you can see the Hommaru Goten Palace being reconstructed.76 views
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Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium where the sumo tournament is held in July.76 views
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76 views
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76 views
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76 views
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Palanquin for ladies76 views
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Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium is within the castle grounds. It is also the venue for the Nagoya sumo tournament held in July. 愛知県体育館75 viewsSumo wrestlers were coming and going. These are low-ranking wrestlers who walk and take the subway like the rest of us. The high-ranking wrestlers travel by taxi or their own car.
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What the Hommaru Palace will look like when completed.75 views
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Side entrance to the reconstructed palace. We can enter and tour the completed portion of the palace here. Have to take off your shoes. Photography is permitted, but flash is prohibited.75 views
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Genkan entrance hall’s Ninoma room. The original painters were from the renown Kano school of painting. 28 tatami mats. 二之間75 views
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Next to the Ninoma room is the Genkan entrance hall’s Ichinoma room that includes an alcove. 18 tatami mats. 一之間75 views
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Sliding door painting in the Omote Shoin (表書院) Main Hall's Ichi-no-Ma Room 一之間.75 views
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Sliding door painting in the Omote Shoin (表書院) Main Hall's Ichi-no-Ma Room 一之間. The main hall features paintings of flowers and birds.75 views
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75 views
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The Taimenjo (対面所) Reception Hall.75 views
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75 views
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75 views
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Another room of the Taimenjo (対面所) Reception Hall. 納戸一之間75 views
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75 views
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75 views
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About the Preparation room (Shimo Gozensho) to serve the Reception Hall. 下御膳所75 views
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Love the fine roof lines.75 views
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75 views
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75 views
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Nagoya Castle's main castle tower is paired with and connected to a lesser tower on the left. It is closed to the public and will be dismantled from fall 2019 for its grand reconstruction with wood to be completed in Dec. 2022.75 views
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75 views
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75 views
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Entrance to the main castle tower when it was still open. Nagoya Castle's main tower closed on May 6, 2018 to be dismantled (and reconstructed). Interior photos were taken when it ws still open.75 views
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75 views
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Entrance to the main castle tower.75 views
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75 views
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75 views
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75 views
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75 views
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Palanquin for ladies75 views
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Newly painted sliding doors for the Hommaru Palace.75 views
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Scale model of Hommaru Goten palace.75 views
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East Gate ticket gate74 views
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Rocks are temporarily stored here from another part of the castle wall being repaired.74 views
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About half the palace has been completed and opened to the public.74 views
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74 views
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74 views
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74 views
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Donations are welcome.74 views
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74 views
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74 views
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74 views
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Triangular chidorihafu roof gables on Nagoya Castle.74 views
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74 views
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One floor recreates an Edo-Era street.74 views
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74 views
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Corridor to entrance hall in the smaller tower.74 views
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The palace is where the castle lord lived and worked, while the castle tower was usually just a storehouse and visual symbol of power and authority.73 views
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This palace was modeled after the Nijo Castle palace in Kyoto, so it looks similar on a smaller scale. Both Nijo Castle and Nagoya Castle were connected to the Tokugawa shoguns.73 views
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The reconstructed palace uses the original foundation stones in their original place. Can't get more authentic than this.73 views
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73 views
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73 views
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Omote Shoin (表書院) Main Hall's San-no-Ma Room 三之間.73 views
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73 views
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Paintings show scenes from Wakayama.73 views
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73 views
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73 views
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Elevator for wheelchairs.73 views
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73 views
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Entrance hall73 views
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73 views
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73 views
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73 views
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About Nagoya Castle's stone walls.73 views
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73 views
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Fumeimon Gate73 views
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Ninomaru East Garden73 views
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Photo of the original Hommaru Palace before it was destroyed during World War II.72 views
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Elegant roof line72 views
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72 views
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Thin pieces of wood are stacked on the roof.72 views
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72 views
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Corridor between the smaller tower and main tower.72 views
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The 7th floor was the top floor of Nagoya Castle being an enclosed lookout deck.72 views
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72 views
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About the Palanquin for ladies72 views
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72 views
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72 views
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72 views
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72 views
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Behind the castle tower is this large woodshop where they cut and shape the wood for the palace.72 views
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Inside the woodshop, curved wooden beams for the palace.72 views
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72 views
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Ninomaru Garden72 views
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Uchibori moat71 views
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This humdrum-ness of Nagoya Castle is about to disappear as it is on track to regain its former glory as they reconstruct the original Honmaru Palace next to the main castle tower. 71 views
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71 views
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71 views
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71 views
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71 views
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71 views
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71 views
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71 views
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Aftermath of the war. Main castle tower gone.71 views
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Scale model of Hommaru Goten palace and main tower.71 views
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Omote Ni-no-mon Gate can be seen.71 views
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Approximate site of the Aomatsuba Incident near the East Gate. Wjere three chief Tokugawa retainers were executed.71 views
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The drum tower on the left is for the sumo tournament.70 views
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Uchibori moat70 views
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Beam fixture70 views
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Swords70 views
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Way out70 views
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You can take one piece of scrap wood for free.70 views
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70 views
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Would you believe that there are plans to reconstruct this main castle tower too? Using traditional materials and methods. Gonna cost untold billions. 70 viewsIf Nagoya pulls this off, it would bring many more tourists to the city and boost Nagoya Castle's status. A worthwhile longterm investment.
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70 views
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Way back to East Entrance with a wisteria trellis on the right.70 views
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When I revisited in July 2016, the Nagoya Basho sumo tournament was underway.69 views
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After I paid the admission and went in, there was a rack of pamphlets about the castle in various languages. As usual, I picked up the English and Japanese versions. 69 viewsThen this Japanese lady suddenly came up to me and said in English, "Hello, are you going to visit the castle?" I said, "Yes." She offered to be my volunteer guide. I told her that I could understand Japanese, but would be glad to have a guide anyway. So she guided me through the new palace and the castle tower for about 90 min. She serves as a volunteer guide once a week. I have to give my thumbs up to her and her volunteer group for being so hospitable to foreign visitors.
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This American guy named Chris O'Neill is a member of Aichi's ninja troupe named "Tokugawa Ieyasu and Hattori Hanzo Ninja Squad" to promote tourism in the prefecture. 69 viewsThey perform at Nagoya Castle and elsewhere. He was selected from 200 applicants from 40 countries. I ran into him when while exiting the castle. Too bad I didn't catch their show. He was very friendly. He's very good at doing these ninja stunts.
I have to compliment Aichi for forming such a PR troupe and including an amusing foreigner to boot. I'm sure they are getting their money's worth in terms of goodwill and good impressions on tourists.
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This photo was taken in July 2016 showing the main entrance (called "Kuruma Yose" 車寄 reserved for the castle lord and other VIPs) of the magnificent reconstructed Honmaru Goten Palace.69 viewsAbove the entrance is an architectural feature called "karahafu" which is a hump-shaped gable commonly seen on important buildings such as castles, temples, and palaces.
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69 views
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69 views
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Even the design of the tatami mats's edges are matched seamlessly.69 views
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69 views
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On the 5th floor was an interactive exhibit showing how they hauled large stones to build the castle. You can pull the rope too.69 views
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69 views
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Rear view of Nagoya Castle's main tower (tenshu or tenshukaku in Japanese, sometimes called donjon in English). 69 views
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Southwest corner turret. Also called the Hitsujisaru Turret, it has the same size and construction as the southeast corner turret. During 2010–2014, it was dismantled and repaired. 西南隅櫓69 views
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About the Ninomaru Garden69 views
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About the Aomatsuba Incident.69 views
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Kiyomasa depicted as the rock hauling director. When building the castle, many men had to push and pull large rocks into place. On top of a large boulder, a man would shout and direct the men to move.68 views
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68 views
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68 views
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They have windows for the public to freely observe the carpenters.68 views
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