Nagoya Castle is one of the main attractions of the city. It was founded in 1612 as the residence of a rich family. The territory of the castle was huge. The complex included several luxurious buildings: the castle itself, parks and lakes. Everything was surrounded by a high impregnable wall. For several dozens of years, the castle was expanded so much, that it became one of the biggest and the most expensive palace complexes in Japan. The people of Nagoya were proud of that miracle and admired its architectural beauty.

Unfortunately, almost all the buildings of this amazing place were destroyed by an air raid in 1945. The castle remained in ruins for more than 10 years. Only at the beginning of the 1960s, the major reconstruction works took place. During the works, the old technologies, not the modern materials, were used. That was done for the sake of preserving the authenticity of the ancient castle.

Today, the main building of Nagoya Castle houses an interesting museum. On the first floor, there is an art exhibition which includes not only paintings but also old paper sliding doors, weapons and dishes. On the third and the fifth floors, there is a unique exposition of sculptures of shachihoko – mythical creatures with a body of fish that influence the weather and people’s well-being. On the seventh floor, there is a small room with an incredible view of the surrounding area. It is especially beautiful during the cherry blossoms when the whole territory seems to get smothered in a «pink cloud».

Interestingly, the castle provides opportunities to not only enjoy the beauty but also act as a resident of that amazing complex. For example, you can learn to play stone musical instruments or take a big kago for a small trip.

During the weekends, there are performances of martial arts school students, who show their incredible skills in a theatrical manner. From March to May, the Spring Festival is held in the castle. During the festival, creative performances and national crafts exhibitions are organized.