Nagoya Castle Keeps, Nagoya
Nagoya Castle, renowned for its distinctive "connected-keep" architecture, features a main keep with five stories on different levels and a smaller keep of two levels connected by an abutment bridge. This unique design adds to the castle's historical and architectural significance. Evidence suggests that another small keep was initially planned for the west side of the main keep, as indicated by traces of an entryway in the upper stone wall foundation. However, during construction, the entryway's location was changed to its current position, leaving remnants of the original plan embedded in the stonework.
The keeps served practical defensive functions, with the first level of the main keep used for storing various weapons, while flammable materials like gunpowder were kept outside the castle to reduce fire risk. Tragically, both the main and small keeps were destroyed during World War II but were reconstructed in 1959 using modern materials such as steel beams and concrete. In 2017, a donation drive was launched to rebuild the keeps using wood, based on the original plans, with the aim of completing the main tower by 2022.
The construction of the castle's impressive stone walls was a collaborative effort among twenty feudal lords, including Kat艒 Kiyomasa, who oversaw the building of the keep's walls. The foundation stones bear inscriptions from the family members involved, a testament to the craftsmanship and labor invested. The stone wall supporting the keep employs a technique known as "ogi kobai" or "fan sloping," where the upper part curves outward like a fan. This design, also referred to as the Kiyomasa-style Crescent Stone Wall, helps prevent wall swelling by balancing the stone weight against the internal pressure of sand and earth.
A notable feature between the main and small keeps is a roofless corridor with earthen and stone walls. The outer part of the west side of this corridor is lined with 30-centimeter-long spearheads, designed to deter enemy troops from climbing over the eaves. Similar defensive structures, including a sword-fence, are present at the Fumei Gate on the east side of the main keep, highlighting the castle's strategic design elements aimed at thwarting potential attackers.
The keeps served practical defensive functions, with the first level of the main keep used for storing various weapons, while flammable materials like gunpowder were kept outside the castle to reduce fire risk. Tragically, both the main and small keeps were destroyed during World War II but were reconstructed in 1959 using modern materials such as steel beams and concrete. In 2017, a donation drive was launched to rebuild the keeps using wood, based on the original plans, with the aim of completing the main tower by 2022.
The construction of the castle's impressive stone walls was a collaborative effort among twenty feudal lords, including Kat艒 Kiyomasa, who oversaw the building of the keep's walls. The foundation stones bear inscriptions from the family members involved, a testament to the craftsmanship and labor invested. The stone wall supporting the keep employs a technique known as "ogi kobai" or "fan sloping," where the upper part curves outward like a fan. This design, also referred to as the Kiyomasa-style Crescent Stone Wall, helps prevent wall swelling by balancing the stone weight against the internal pressure of sand and earth.
A notable feature between the main and small keeps is a roofless corridor with earthen and stone walls. The outer part of the west side of this corridor is lined with 30-centimeter-long spearheads, designed to deter enemy troops from climbing over the eaves. Similar defensive structures, including a sword-fence, are present at the Fumei Gate on the east side of the main keep, highlighting the castle's strategic design elements aimed at thwarting potential attackers.
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Nagoya Castle Keeps on Map
Sight Name: Nagoya Castle Keeps
Sight Location: Nagoya, Japan (See walking tours in Nagoya)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Nagoya, Japan (See walking tours in Nagoya)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Nagoya, Japan
Create Your Own Walk in Nagoya
Creating your own self-guided walk in Nagoya is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Nagoya Castle Walking Tour
Nagoya Castle, constructed in 1612, is the former center of one of Japan's most important junctions linking two of the country's five major highways. The castle became a core part of modern Nagoya in 1930. Partially destroyed during World War II 鈥� in 1945, it has been under reconstruction since 1957.
The castle complex is characterized by multiple defensive layers divided by the... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles
The castle complex is characterized by multiple defensive layers divided by the... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles
Nagoya City Center Walking Tour
Nagoya, Japan鈥檚 fourth-largest city, is the industrial and cultural epicenter of the Ch奴bu region. Situated on the Pacific coast of central Honshu island, Nagoya has woven a rich historical tapestry reflecting its role in Japan's feudal and modern eras. The name "Nagoya" is derived from the word "Nagoyaka," which means peace or tranquility.
The city's historical... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles
The city's historical... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
Fushimi - Sakae Pub Crawl of Nagoya
This crawl runs through Fushimi and Sakae, the down town area of Nagoya. It is a real mixed bag and every establishment has a different vibe and (more importantly) menu. All of the bars are gaijin friendly and each would be a decent place to have a...
Nagoya Station Pub Crawl
This crawl takes you through the centre of Nagoya, locally known as Mei Eki. This is a very cosmopolitan area where drunken salary-men rub shoulders with drunken gaijin. On this list is a selection of different British pubs and bars, just in case you鈥檙e hankering for a Guinness and a decent spot...