Nagoya Castle
Nagoya Castle (名古屋城, Nagoya-jō?) is located in Nagoya Aichi, Japan. Imagawa Ujichika built the original castle around 1525. Oda Nobuhide took it from Imagawa Ujitoyo (who is a warlord and father to Oda Nobunaga, conquerer of Japan) in 1532, but later abandoned it.
On top of the castle are two golden imaginary tiger-headed fishs , called kinshachi (金鯱 kin no shachihōko); this motif is used as a talisman for fire prevention. They are said to be a symbol of the feudal lord’s authority. Both kinshachi were temporarily lowered from atop the castle and displayed on the castle grounds, and briefly at the site of the Expo 2005 from March 19th until June 19th of 2005, and were restored to the castle on July 9th the same year. As preparation for the World Expo plaques with English were added to most displays as well as a 3D movie showing the paintings in Hommaru Palace.
During World War II, The castle was burnt down on May 14, 1945 by the air raid of the United States, and most of its artifacts were destroyed; many of the paintings inside, however, survived and have been preserved to this day. The rebuilding of the castle finished in 1959. Today the castle is a modern concrete building with airconditioning and elevators.
The castle park is also a popular hanami spot during the cherry blossom season.
How to get there? From Nagoya Station, take the Higashiyama Subway Line to Sakae Station and change to the Meijo Subway Line to Shiyakusho Station. From the nearest exit, it is a 3 minute walk to the castle’s east gate.
Source: Japan-Guide; Wikipedia
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