Northern Area
Nagoya Castle Spring Festival
Around 1,000 cherry trees such as Somei-Yoshino, weeping cherry, and other varieties reach peak viewing around late March at Nagoya Castle. During the festival period many events are held including illumination of the cherry blossoms in the evening and limited-time special openings to the public.
Enjoying spring in a castle's extravagance
Ten types of cherry trees, including Somei Yoshino and weeping varieties, number some 900 trees and come into bloom around the end of March to early April. From Thursday, March 20 (national holiday)–Sunday, April 6, the Nagoya Castle Cherry Blossom Festival is held with admission hours lengthened as well as a light display illuminating the blossoms amid a backdrop of Nagoya Castle.
Other aspects of the castle area complement the cherry blossom season, such as the chance to view the Pheasants and Cherry Blossoms sliding screen mural, stage events, matchlock gun demonstrations, and other exciting events.
Other aspects of the castle area complement the cherry blossom season, such as the chance to view the Pheasants and Cherry Blossoms sliding screen mural, stage events, matchlock gun demonstrations, and other exciting events.
Event schedule (partial)
Nagoya Castle's History Through Its Gems rotating exhibit at Nishinomaru Okura Museum
Since Nagoya Castle's construction at the beginning of the Edo period, it has served as a detached palace away from the regular imperial palace. Learn about the castle, given to the city of Nagoya by the emperor, through sliding door murals and other precious relics.
• Period: Fri, Mar 7–Sun, Apr 20, 2025
• Time: 9:00 am–4:30 pm (admission until 4:00 pm)
Rikuzen Takata City, Iwate Prefecture Booth: Feast on the Bounty of the Mountains and the Ocean
Iwate Prefecture's Rikuzen Takata City comes to Nagoya Castle for the fifth time, loaded with local specialties. Delight in treats from the riches of the Iwate Sanriku Coast and the city's inner mountains.
• Period: Thu, Mar 20 (national holiday)–Mon, Mar 31, 2025
• Time: 9:00 am–7:30 pm
Nagoya Castle Cherry Blossom Festival
Nagoya Castle holds another light display illuminating its cherry blossoms this year. See the flowers with a beauty different than that of the daytime.
• Period: Thu, Mar 20 (national holiday)–Mon, Apr 6, 2025
• Time: 9:00 am–7:30 pm (admission until 8:00 pm)
Kinshachi Performances
Enjoy entertainment based on the theme of "Food, Fun, and Learning". There are plenty foods and drinks at Shachi Cafeteria and straw mats available for rental, free of charge, letting you fill your belly as you admire the floral beauty.
• Periods: Thu, Mar 20 (national holiday)–Sun, Apr 6 and Sat, Apr 26–Tue, May 6 (holiday), 2025
• Time: From 9:00 am
Traditional monkey performance
Traditional monkey performances have long had ties to the belief of offering fortune and doing away with misfortune. A monkey and its trainer converse in the language of comedy and play.
• Periods: Thu, Mar 20 (national holiday)–Sun, Apr 6 and Sat, Apr 26–Tue, May 6 (holiday), 2025
• Time: 10:00 am–5:00 pm
Sweets for sale by high school students
Purchase Japanese confections using Aichi's traditional vegetables, developed by high school students in collaboration with businesses in Aichi Prefecture.
• Periods: Sat, Mar 22–Sun, Mar 30 and Mon, Apr 28–Tue, May 6 (holiday), 2025
• Time: 9:00 am–4:15 pm (admission until 4:00 pm)
Special opening of important cultural property Southwest Corner Watchtower
The Southwest Corner Watchtower—one of the three remaining corner watchtowers from the Edo period—is open to the public in a special, limited-time opening.
• Periods: Sat, Mar 22–Sun, Mar 30 and Mon, Apr 28–Tue, May 6 (holiday), 2025
• Time: 9:00 am–4:15 pm (admission until 4:00 pm)
Appearance by Inuyama City's Wammaru-kun
Wammaru-kun is the mascot of the town at the foot of Inuyama Castle and makes an appearance at its neighbor, Nagoya Castle. Take a commemorative photo to mark the occasion.
• Periods: Sat, Mar 22–Sun, Mar 23 and Sat, May 3 (national holiday)–Sun, May 4 (national holiday), 2025
• Time: 10:00 am–3:00 pm
Hori River cruise
Take a luxury cruise from outside Nagoya Castle at Asahi Bridge to Gojo Bridge and Naya Bridge and experience Nagoya's not normally available views.
Check here for details (Japanese)
• Period: Weekends and national holidays during Sat, Mar 22–Sun, Jun 1, 2025 (cancelation may occur due to water levels)
• Time: Around 9:00 am–5:30 pm
Performance by PSJ Princess Samurai of JAPAN Group
Princesses come back from 400 years ago to show the allure of Aichi—Home of the Warrior. Enjoy musical and dance performances.
• Date: Sun, Mar 23, 2025
• Time: 2:00 pm–2:15 pm
New Manzai Theater with young actors
With this year being the 17th Goten Manzai comedy show, young actors take part in the new A Checkpoint Under the Kinshachi's Protection production.
• Date: Sun, Mar 23, 2025
• Time: 11:30 am–12:15 pm
Nagoya Castle's spring music festival
Music fans are impressed with unique artists like no other as they convene at Nagoya Castle. Relish live performances full of memories and an rhymes perfect for the spring season.
• Dates: Sat, Mar 29–Sun, Mar 30, 2025
• Time: 3:30 pm–7:30 pm
Ornate kimono talk and experience
Delve into the world of classic court kimonos not normally available to wear. Commemorative photos are also available.
• Period: Sat, Mar 29–Sun, Mar 30, 2025
• Times: 10:00 am–12:00 pm and 1:30 pm–3:00 pm
• Price: Admission free of charge (JPY 2,000 to wear)
Muneharu Rice Cake Festival
Have a ball with songs, skits, performances, and a rice cake giveaway in this festival celebrating Tokugawa Muneharu, the seventh lord of Owari Province.
• Period: Sat, Apr 5–Sun, Apr 6, 2025
• Times: 9:00 am–5:00 pm
Commemorative Castle Day Event
In commemoration of Castle Day on April 6, the first 460 guests to arrive may receive an original special Castle Day stamped card not normally available for sale, free of charge.
• Date: Sun, Apr 6, 2025
• Time: From 9:00 am
142nd Nagoya Citizens' Tea Ceremony
A wide array of visitors from tea ceremony aficionado to general citizens of Nagoya can take part in various schools of tea ceremony.
• Dates: Sun, Apr 6 and Sun, Apr 13, 2025
• Time: 9:30 am–3:00 pm (admission until 2:30 pm)
Special teahouse opening
A teahouse created as a precursor to the reconstruction of the Main Tower Keep due to its destruction during WWII is specially opened to the public. The teahouse is normally available for paid rental only and used for tea ceremony and haiku poetry gatherings, but during the period below, it is available to view, free of charge.
• Period: Thu, May 1–Mon, May 5 (national holiday), 2025
• Time: 9:00 am–4:00 pm (admission until 3:45 pm)
Matchlock gun performance
Watch a performance of the old Owari Province's traditional Owari Tatsuke-style Gunnery, handed down through generations. The olden time guns and firing technologies offer a glimpse of the Nagoya area's feudal wartime past.
• Date: Sun, May 4 (national holiday), 2025
• Time: From 11:30 am and 2:00 pm
54th Nagoya Castle Traditional Martial Arts Competition
Watch iaido, the art of drawing one's sword, archery, naginata polearm use, aikido, and all sorts of other traditional Japanese martial arts all performed in one place.
• Date: Mon, May 5 (national holiday), 2025
• Time: 10:00 am–4:00 pm
Since Nagoya Castle's construction at the beginning of the Edo period, it has served as a detached palace away from the regular imperial palace. Learn about the castle, given to the city of Nagoya by the emperor, through sliding door murals and other precious relics.
• Period: Fri, Mar 7–Sun, Apr 20, 2025
• Time: 9:00 am–4:30 pm (admission until 4:00 pm)
Rikuzen Takata City, Iwate Prefecture Booth: Feast on the Bounty of the Mountains and the Ocean
Iwate Prefecture's Rikuzen Takata City comes to Nagoya Castle for the fifth time, loaded with local specialties. Delight in treats from the riches of the Iwate Sanriku Coast and the city's inner mountains.
• Period: Thu, Mar 20 (national holiday)–Mon, Mar 31, 2025
• Time: 9:00 am–7:30 pm
Nagoya Castle Cherry Blossom Festival
Nagoya Castle holds another light display illuminating its cherry blossoms this year. See the flowers with a beauty different than that of the daytime.
• Period: Thu, Mar 20 (national holiday)–Mon, Apr 6, 2025
• Time: 9:00 am–7:30 pm (admission until 8:00 pm)
Kinshachi Performances
Enjoy entertainment based on the theme of "Food, Fun, and Learning". There are plenty foods and drinks at Shachi Cafeteria and straw mats available for rental, free of charge, letting you fill your belly as you admire the floral beauty.
• Periods: Thu, Mar 20 (national holiday)–Sun, Apr 6 and Sat, Apr 26–Tue, May 6 (holiday), 2025
• Time: From 9:00 am
Traditional monkey performance
Traditional monkey performances have long had ties to the belief of offering fortune and doing away with misfortune. A monkey and its trainer converse in the language of comedy and play.
• Periods: Thu, Mar 20 (national holiday)–Sun, Apr 6 and Sat, Apr 26–Tue, May 6 (holiday), 2025
• Time: 10:00 am–5:00 pm
Sweets for sale by high school students
Purchase Japanese confections using Aichi's traditional vegetables, developed by high school students in collaboration with businesses in Aichi Prefecture.
• Periods: Sat, Mar 22–Sun, Mar 30 and Mon, Apr 28–Tue, May 6 (holiday), 2025
• Time: 9:00 am–4:15 pm (admission until 4:00 pm)
Special opening of important cultural property Southwest Corner Watchtower
The Southwest Corner Watchtower—one of the three remaining corner watchtowers from the Edo period—is open to the public in a special, limited-time opening.
• Periods: Sat, Mar 22–Sun, Mar 30 and Mon, Apr 28–Tue, May 6 (holiday), 2025
• Time: 9:00 am–4:15 pm (admission until 4:00 pm)
Appearance by Inuyama City's Wammaru-kun
Wammaru-kun is the mascot of the town at the foot of Inuyama Castle and makes an appearance at its neighbor, Nagoya Castle. Take a commemorative photo to mark the occasion.
• Periods: Sat, Mar 22–Sun, Mar 23 and Sat, May 3 (national holiday)–Sun, May 4 (national holiday), 2025
• Time: 10:00 am–3:00 pm
Hori River cruise
Take a luxury cruise from outside Nagoya Castle at Asahi Bridge to Gojo Bridge and Naya Bridge and experience Nagoya's not normally available views.
Check here for details (Japanese)
• Period: Weekends and national holidays during Sat, Mar 22–Sun, Jun 1, 2025 (cancelation may occur due to water levels)
• Time: Around 9:00 am–5:30 pm
Performance by PSJ Princess Samurai of JAPAN Group
Princesses come back from 400 years ago to show the allure of Aichi—Home of the Warrior. Enjoy musical and dance performances.
• Date: Sun, Mar 23, 2025
• Time: 2:00 pm–2:15 pm
New Manzai Theater with young actors
With this year being the 17th Goten Manzai comedy show, young actors take part in the new A Checkpoint Under the Kinshachi's Protection production.
• Date: Sun, Mar 23, 2025
• Time: 11:30 am–12:15 pm
Nagoya Castle's spring music festival
Music fans are impressed with unique artists like no other as they convene at Nagoya Castle. Relish live performances full of memories and an rhymes perfect for the spring season.
• Dates: Sat, Mar 29–Sun, Mar 30, 2025
• Time: 3:30 pm–7:30 pm
Ornate kimono talk and experience
Delve into the world of classic court kimonos not normally available to wear. Commemorative photos are also available.
• Period: Sat, Mar 29–Sun, Mar 30, 2025
• Times: 10:00 am–12:00 pm and 1:30 pm–3:00 pm
• Price: Admission free of charge (JPY 2,000 to wear)
Muneharu Rice Cake Festival
Have a ball with songs, skits, performances, and a rice cake giveaway in this festival celebrating Tokugawa Muneharu, the seventh lord of Owari Province.
• Period: Sat, Apr 5–Sun, Apr 6, 2025
• Times: 9:00 am–5:00 pm
Commemorative Castle Day Event
In commemoration of Castle Day on April 6, the first 460 guests to arrive may receive an original special Castle Day stamped card not normally available for sale, free of charge.
• Date: Sun, Apr 6, 2025
• Time: From 9:00 am
142nd Nagoya Citizens' Tea Ceremony
A wide array of visitors from tea ceremony aficionado to general citizens of Nagoya can take part in various schools of tea ceremony.
• Dates: Sun, Apr 6 and Sun, Apr 13, 2025
• Time: 9:30 am–3:00 pm (admission until 2:30 pm)
Special teahouse opening
A teahouse created as a precursor to the reconstruction of the Main Tower Keep due to its destruction during WWII is specially opened to the public. The teahouse is normally available for paid rental only and used for tea ceremony and haiku poetry gatherings, but during the period below, it is available to view, free of charge.
• Period: Thu, May 1–Mon, May 5 (national holiday), 2025
• Time: 9:00 am–4:00 pm (admission until 3:45 pm)
Matchlock gun performance
Watch a performance of the old Owari Province's traditional Owari Tatsuke-style Gunnery, handed down through generations. The olden time guns and firing technologies offer a glimpse of the Nagoya area's feudal wartime past.
• Date: Sun, May 4 (national holiday), 2025
• Time: From 11:30 am and 2:00 pm
54th Nagoya Castle Traditional Martial Arts Competition
Watch iaido, the art of drawing one's sword, archery, naginata polearm use, aikido, and all sorts of other traditional Japanese martial arts all performed in one place.
• Date: Mon, May 5 (national holiday), 2025
• Time: 10:00 am–4:00 pm
Nagoya Castle
- In 1610, Tokugawa Ieyasu began the construction of Nagoya Castle, as a residence for his son Yoshinao. The castle burned down in the war, but in 1959, the five-story main tower keep (approx. 48 meters), with its golden shachi ornaments, and the sub tower keep (approx. 24 meters) were reconstructed.
The Nagoya Omotenashi Bushotai greet visitors every day at the main gate, and were the reason behind the bushotai boom across the nation. They also put on an omotenashi performance on weekends and national holidays.
In addition, Hommaru Palace was fully opened to the public on June 8, 2018, after the completion of reconstruction work that had taken over 10 years.
Details
| Schedule | Thu, Mar 20 (national holiday)–Tue, May 6 (holiday), 2025 |
|---|---|
| Time | 9:00 am–4:30 pm (open until 5:00 pm) Park times lengthened to the following during the dates below: • 9:00 am–7:30 pm (open until 8:00 pm) on Thu, Mar 20 (national holiday)–Sun, Apr 6, 2025 • 9:00 am–5:30 pm (open until 6:00 pm) on Sat, Apr 26–Tue, May 6 (holiday), 2025 Notes: • Admission to Hommaru Palace available until 4:00 pm except for Mar 20–Apr 6 when you may enter until 7:00 pm and Apr 26–May 6 when you may enter until 5:00 pm. • Admission to Southwest Corner Watchtower and Nishinomaru Okura Museum until 4:00 pm. |
| Venue | Nagoya Castle |
| Cost | Requires a fee |
| Price Details | • Adults: JPY 500 • Junior high school ages and younger: Free of charge |
| Contact | Nagoya Castle Administration Office |
| TEL | +81-52-231-1700 |
| Home Page | https://www.nagoyajo.city.nagoya.jp/en/ |
| Access | City bus: • 6-min. walk from Nagoya Castle Bus Stop or Nagoya Castle East/Shiyakusho (City Hall) Bus Stop on Nagoya Sightseeing Route Bus Me~guru. Subway: • 5-min. walk from Exit 7 of Nagoyajo 'Nagoya Castle' Station on the Meijo Line. • 12-min. walk from Exit 1 of Sengen-cho Station on the Tsurumai Line. |
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