Inuyama Castle 犬山城跡

Description

Out of the thousands of castles that once stood in Japan, Inuyama Castle is one of only 12 castles with its main tower still standing centuries after it was built, largely in its original form. Located on a steep cliff, the castle overlooks the winding Kiso River, the older section of the city that was once the castle town, and the more modern cityscape of Inuyama. The castle’s original construction was overseen by Oda Nobuyasu, a famous warlord during the Warring States period (1467 - 1568), and completed in 1537. The castle, which has four stories above ground and two stories below, was built mainly of wood and stone. A veranda encircles the top floor of the main tower, and offers a commanding panoramic view of the surroundings. Some of the tiles on the roof right below the veranda feature the motif of a peach on the back of a tortoise shell, thought to ward off evil. The castle was largely hidden from view while it went through two years of restoration, but was completely re-opened in December 2019. In spring, visitors are greeted by the several hundred cherry blossom trees that adorn the castle grounds. The old castle town area, lined with buildings steeped in history, is also perfect for a stroll and to nibble on various local delicacies.