27 Apr 2025 - NGO Day 2: Inuyama Castle (犬山城) – Japan’s Oldest Original Tenshu
After exchanging our special tickets for the actual admission tickets at the counter, we entered Inuyama Castle ground. Built in 1537 by Oda Nobuyasu (Oda Nobunaga’s uncle), it is one of only 12 original castle keeps (tenshu) surviving in Japan, and the oldest remaining main tower, confirmed by dendrochronology to date from the late 1580s.
There was a long queue of visitors waiting to enter the main tower.
The queue went round a huge stone monument, which honors the achievements of Masahiro Naruse, the 9th lord of Inuyama Castle.
After queueing for about 30 minutes, it's our turn to enter the main tower. The tower has three visible stories but internally contains four levels plus two basement floors. We had to take off our shoes before entering the tower.
Built using traditional wood and stone methods, it retains its steep wooden stairs, creaky floorboards, and observation chambers without modern reconstructions
At the top floor of the castle, we walked through a door and was rewarded with panoramic views of the Kiso River, Mt. Ontake, Gifu Castle, and even Nagoya’s skyline.
The views were really breathtaking! Totally did not expect it.
Inuyama Castle is one of five castles designated as National Treasures, alongside Himeji, Matsumoto, Hikone, and Matsue.
Inuyama Castle is more than just a scenic viewpoint. It's a living monument of samurai-era Japan, preserved across centuries and offering an immersive journey into the past. Inside the tower, there were historical artifacts, including samurai armor, swords, and old onigawara roof tiles, that immerse visitors in its feudal legacy.
We spent slightly more than half an hour inside the main tower.
As we exited the main tower, there were still a long queue of visitors waiting patiently around the castle ground.
We took a break after all the climbing inside the main tower, admiring the nature's beauty around the main castle keep.
We went round and took photos of the castle tower from different angles.
After we were satisfied, we began our descend through the shrines.
Below is a short video about this trip to Inuyama Castle.
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