I visited Inuyama Castle — a National Treasure with the oldest surviving castle keep (tenshu) in Japan!
Honestly, I had zero interest in castles before, but when we visited Hikone Castle previously, I found the experience of walking through an unrestored, centuries-old original castle way more fun than expected. So now I’m on a mission to visit all 5 National Treasure castles — and Inuyama Castle was next!
Inuyama Castle is Japan’s oldest surviving wooden castle keep — a place of remarkable historical value. Let me walk you through the highlights and some things to watch out for.
- Basic info, brief history, and the 5 National Treasure castles
- What to see inside the keep + the thrilling top-floor balcony (mawari-en)
- Info for families and accessibility
- How to enjoy the Inuyama castle town (jokamachi)
- Inuyama Castle Basic Info
- From the Castle Town to the Keep
- Into the Keep! Rules You Should Know
- The Top-Floor Balcony Is the Ultimate Highlight!
- Accessibility & Family-Friendly Info
- Stopping by Inuyama Castle Town on the Way Back
- How Long Does an Inuyama Castle Visit Take?
- Other Sights Around Inuyama Castle
- Final Thoughts
Inuyama Castle Basic Info
One of Japan’s 5 National Treasure Castles — With the Oldest Surviving Keep
Inuyama Castle is one of Japan’s 5 National Treasure castles. The other four are Matsumoto Castle, Himeji Castle, Hikone Castle, and Matsue Castle.
Because it retains its original construction form, it’s recognized as one of the highest-ranking historical structures in Japan.
Built around 1537 (during the Sengoku “Warring States” period — Japan’s era of civil war) by Oda Nobuyasu — uncle of the famous warlord Oda Nobunaga (one of Japan’s three great unifiers) — Inuyama Castle boasts Japan’s oldest surviving tenshu (castle keep). What’s more, Inuyama Castle and Kochi Castle are the only two castles where you can step out onto the top-floor mawari-en (encircling balcony) — a rare structure that lets you walk 360 degrees around the very top of the castle.
Inuyama Castle was also the only privately-owned castle in Japan until 2004 — held by the Naruse family for nearly 400 years. It’s now managed by the Inuyama Castle Hakutei Library Foundation.
Its most famous moment was the Battle of Komaki and Nagakute (1584 — a major war between Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu, two other great unifiers), when Hideyoshi’s forces used Inuyama Castle as their headquarters. What amazes me is that the castle survived multiple large-scale battles that reached inside the walls — and it’s still standing today. Inuyama Castle sits near the Nakasendo (one of Edo-period Japan’s five major highways connecting east and west), and from the top of the keep you can see the surrounding towns and far into the distance — so it must have been strategically vital for surveillance and trade.
Hours & Admission
- Address: 65-2 Kitakoken, Inuyama, Aichi Prefecture
- Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (last entry 4:30 PM)
- Closed: December 29–31
- Admission: Adults ¥1,000 (~$6.50), elementary/junior high ¥200 (~$1.30), preschoolers free
I don’t think there are usually big changes, but if you’re concerned, check the official website for the latest info!
Access
From Nagoya Station, take the Meitetsu Inuyama Line (a private train line) — about 25 minutes to Inuyama Station. From there, it’s about a 25-minute walk to Inuyama Castle. You can walk through the castle town on the way.
Honestly, the official website is really well-organized, so I highly recommend checking it out!!
They have separate sections for “From Inuyama Station,” “From surrounding areas,” “From Tokyo,” and “From Osaka.”
Parking Info
Inuyama Castle has its own parking lots — three parking lots in total, holding around 400 cars combined.
They’re spacious enough that they basically never fill up, but you can also check the availability on the official website!
This is the first time I’ve linked to the official page this many times (lol). But it really is the clearest source — please check it out!
From the Castle Town to the Keep
Once you pass through the castle town, the uphill road leading to Inuyama Castle begins.
A large stone marker reads “National Treasure — Inuyama Castle.”
You head up the slope next to it — it’s steeper than it looks.
It’s uneven, but half the path is paved with concrete for accessibility.
At the top there’s a ticket machine (staff also on hand) — you buy your entry ticket to the honmaru (main enclosure) here (credit cards accepted).
Once you have your ticket, pass through the gate!
You can see the castle keep from a distance.
Accessibility Info (Wheelchairs & Strollers)
You can’t take a wheelchair or stroller into the castle keep itself, but you can get close to it via accessible paths.
I saw families who brought strollers all the way up, but it’s a fairly steep hill — if you can leave it behind, I’d recommend not bringing it.
Also, please be very careful with safety!
Take a Break at the Food & Souvenir Area
Once you pass through the gate, there’s a food and souvenir area.
There was also a place to grab light meals like this.
Air-conditioned inside — nice and cool.
Since you’re climbing uphill the whole way, especially in hot weather you’ll want to take a break (lol). The air conditioning made it a perfect spot to duck in and cool off.
Into the Keep! Rules You Should Know
Entry Rules (Umbrella Rack & Shoes-in-a-Bag)
At the keep entrance, there’s an umbrella rack. This applies not just to rain umbrellas but also long parasols (sun umbrellas) — leave them here.
When you enter, you’ll take off your shoes and carry them inside in a bag. They give you a shoe bag at the entrance!
The entrance and exit are on the left and right sides.
※No elevator inside.
There are no restrooms inside the keep. There’s one right near the gate you just passed through.
The keep has lots of ups and downs, and even when it’s not crowded, going through it once takes about 20–30 minutes. If you’re worried, use the restroom beforehand.
Steep Staircases (Watch Your Outfit!)
The stairs inside the keep are very steep. The stairs going up to the 3rd floor are at a 50-degree angle — this ranks among the top 3 steepest castle stairs in Japan!
You’ll need to hold on to the handrail and take it slow.
Even our 2.5-year-old was climbing up like it was a playground obstacle course.
Various exhibits along the way.
Avoid skirts and heels — go with comfortable clothes and sneakers!
When we went to Hikone Castle, I remembered and wore pants — but this time we decided to go last minute so I ended up in a skirt…
Mine was a stretchy long skirt so I managed, but a short skirt or anything that restricts leg movement would be really tough. Please be careful!
Photography Rules
Inside the keep, selfie sticks are not allowed, but regular cameras and smartphones can be used freely.
Watch your step — don’t get so caught up taking photos that you trip on a step (lol).
The Top-Floor Balcony Is the Ultimate Highlight!
Once you conquer the steep stairs, you reach the top-floor mawari-en (encircling balcony).
A rare structure that lets you walk all the way around the top of the castle — the ultimate highlight of Inuyama Castle!
360-Degree Panoramic View
From the balcony, you get a 360-degree view of the Kiso River, Nobi Plain, Mt. Ontake, the Nagoya Station skyscrapers, and Gifu Castle.
On clear days, you can even see distant mountains — truly spectacular!
A stunning viewpoint looking straight out over the Kiso River!
We could even see the trains going by!
Seriously Thrilling! Don’t Lean on the Railings
The view is amazing, but it’s also seriously thrilling. The railings are low — genuinely dangerous.
The warning signs specifically say “Do not lean on the railings.”
The floor wood is said to be around 400 years old, and it creaks with every step — a bit unnerving (lol). It’s an experience where you can feel history in your body, but stay safe first!
⚠️ Kids are allowed to walk this area on their own, but there is a real risk of falling! If you’re with young children, do not let go of their hand.
The view really is beautiful! My husband is afraid of heights and was pretty terrified, but the kids happily walked around twice (lol).
Everyone around you is also taking photos, so be really careful not to get pushed if someone turns around!
Accessibility & Family-Friendly Info
Here’s where the restrooms are located.
They have accessible restrooms, diaper-changing tables, and even a nursing room.
Restrooms are clean like this.
This is what the nursing room looks like.
There’s also a rest area with a souvenir shop, so you can take your time and enjoy at your own pace!
Stopping by Inuyama Castle Town on the Way Back
One of the highlights of visiting Inuyama Castle is the Inuyama castle town (jokamachi) — a historic district that developed around the castle during Japan’s feudal period.
The town’s layout has remained essentially unchanged since the Edo period (1603–1868), and you can enjoy historic buildings spanning from the Edo era through the Showa era (1926–1989).
Excellent Street Food
Inuyama castle town is known as “the town of skewered snacks” — it’s an area famous for skewered street foods.
Koi-Komachi dango (colorful sweet rice dumplings on skewers), Hana Kushikatsu (deep-fried skewers), aburi niku-zushi (seared meat sushi), En-Baum (skewered baumkuchen)… there are tons of colorful sweets and local dishes!
We didn’t have time to stop, but the smells were amazing and everything looked so cute! The area isn’t huge, but there’s plenty for a satisfying food-walking session.
Baumkuchen Break at Cocotomo Farm
We stopped at “Cocotomo Farm”, an Inuyama-born specialty shop for baumkuchen (German-style layered cake, hugely popular in Japan) made with 100% house-grown rice flour — completely gluten-free.
They offer a wide variety — soft baumkuchen (choose from white rice or brown rice), hard baumkuchen, and skewered “En-Baum” style.
The hard baumkuchen (brown rice) is so well-regarded that it’s served as an Aichi Prefecture regional specialty aboard “Asuka III” — Japan’s most prestigious luxury cruise ship!
You can use it as a free rest area, and they even offer free drinks.
They have a nursing room and an accessible multi-purpose restroom (with diaper-changing table too) — such a great bonus for families!
We just wandered in with no intention of buying anything, but the samples were so delicious we ended up buying way more than expected (lol).
Great for souvenirs too!
Many Shops Close in the Evening
We went in the late afternoon, and some shops were already closed.
If you want to enjoy street food, visiting in the morning or early afternoon is the way to go!
How Long Does an Inuyama Castle Visit Take?
- Castle only: 1–1.5 hours
- Castle + castle town: 2–4 hours
- Full course (castle + castle town + nearby shrines): about 6 hours
The general estimates are as above.
Especially the castle itself — the time can vary depending on crowds.
There’s a lot to see — I’d say plan for longer than you’d expect. That way you can take your time and enjoy it fully!
Other Sights Around Inuyama Castle
Besides Inuyama Castle and the castle town covered in this article, there are many other sights around Inuyama.
- Urakuen Japanese Garden ⇨ A Japanese garden famous for cherry blossoms and autumn foliage. Enjoy tea and wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets) served in Inuyama-yaki (locally-produced pottery) tea bowls.
- Ozeki Sakujiro Aioi Pottery Studio ⇨ Experience an authentic pottery wheel and hand-make your own tea bowls, cups, or plates.
- Kiso River Cormorant Fishing (Ukai) ⇨ A 1,300-year-old traditional fishing method where trained cormorant birds catch fish. You can get right up close to the fishing boats on a viewing boat!
There’s so much more — you could easily spend a whole day or more exploring the area! We just happened to drop by this time, but next time I want to book a hotel nearby and really explore properly.
The Aichi Prefecture tourism site has detailed info on surrounding sights, events, and more!— check it out if you’re planning your visit!
Final Thoughts
Inuyama Castle is a wonderful place where you can experience history, take in beautiful views, and enjoy delicious food.
Wear comfortable clothes and have a safe, fun visit!
Thanks so much for reading all the way through!
