Inuyama Castle

From Jcastle.info

Inuyama1.jpg

History

The castle as it stands today was established in 1537 by Nobunaga's grandfather Oda Nobuyasu.

According to a Heian period book called "Enkishiki," at the site where Inuyama castle now stands, there was a shrine called Harigane Shrine (Harigane Jinja). This temple was later moved to Shirayamadaira to make way for the castle. The castle was not entirely constructed from scratch, but the main keep was actually moved here from a different castle known as Kanayama Castle.

After Hideyoshi took Odawara, he stationed Ishikawa Sadakiyo at Inuyama castle. Following the Battle of Sekigahara, Ishikawa was defeated and Matsudaira Tadayoshi (master of Kiyosu castle) stationed his retainer Ogasawara Yoshitsugu in Inuyama Castle. In 1616 Ogasawara was replaced by Naruse Masanari and his family have more or less owned the castle through the present day.

Inuyama-jo was famous for being the only privately owned castle in Japan. It had a few different owners early on, and was seized by the Meiji government who held it in their possession from 1872 to 1895. It suffered damage during an earthquake in 1891 and was returned to the Naruse family in 1895 under the condition that they repair the damages continue to keep up the castle into the future. It was recently sold to the city of Inuyama and will soon be taken over by Aichi Prefecture.


Visit Notes

This is a great little castle to visit if you are in the area and have some time. It's also not far from Gifu or Nagoya so you could go to 2 sites in the same day. If you're really ambitious you might be able to make it to all three.


Loading map...


Gallery
  • Inuyama Castle Sunset
  • main keep
  • Kurogane gate
  • main keep
  • honmaru viewed from the main keep
  • view from the main keep
  • Sanmon of Tokurinji, the former Kuromon Gate of Inuyama Castle
  • Sanmon of Zuisenji, the former Uchidagomon gate of Inuyama Castle
  • Sanmon of Jorenji, the former Matsunomon Gate of Inuyama Castle
  • Sanmon of Joumanji; the former Matsunomon Gate of Inuyama Castle
  • Sanmon of Unzenji, a former gate of Inuyama Castle
  • Higashi Gate of Senjuin, the former Yarai Gate of Inuyama Castle


Castle Profile
English Name Inuyama Castle
Japanese Name 犬山城
Alternate Names Hakutei-jo
Founder Oda Nobuyasu
Year Founded 1537
Castle Type Hilltop
Castle Condition Original main keep
Designations Top 100 Castles, has National Treasures, National Historic Site
Historical Period Edo Period
Main Keep Structure 3 levels, 4 stories, plus 2 stories below ground
Artifacts tenshu
Features main keep, gates, turrets, stone walls
Visitor Information
Access Inuyama Yuen Station (Meitetsu), 15 minute walk
Visitor Information
Time Required
Website http://www.inuyama.gr.jp/miru/kokuhouinuyamajyo.html
Location Inuyama, Aichi Prefecture
Coordinates 35° 23' 18.06" N, 136° 56' 21.01" E
Loading map...
Admin
Added to Jcastle 1999
Contributor Eric
Admin Year Visited 1992, 1996, 2004
Admin Visits July 1992; May 1996; February 22, 2004
Friends of JCastle
Malcolm Fairman Photography - Inuyama Castle


4.25
(48 votes)
Add your comment
Jcastle.info welcomes all comments. If you do not want to be anonymous, register or log in. It is free.


avatar

Matthew WardGunshi

12 days ago
Score 0++
I visited this one back in 2009, and quite enjoyed it. Obviously, the extant main keep and its attached annex is the star of the show, with lots of atmosphere inside. But there are several other appealing points, especially the riverside location and view of the keep, the historical town beneath the castle, and the ishigaki on the castle hill. I also like the little collection of buildings in the Honmaru--I have heard that they are more or less mogi, but they give it more of the feel of a castle, as opposed to just a keep. I have heard rumors that they may return some of the relocated castle gates pictured above back to the castle grounds, and that would be nice too.
avatar

ARTShogun

7 months ago
Score 0++
I'll visit today. It seems that the shifting timeline for the tenshu at this castle has settled on the 1580s. The old theory about the keep being from Kanayama Castle in Mino has been long debunked, except maybe in Kanayama where the tradition is kept alive inspire of the latest research. Maybe i mentioned about it in my profile for Mino Kanayama Castle.
avatar

ARTShogun

7 months ago
Score 0++
Whoops, that should be KANEYAMA Castle.
avatar

ARTShogun

57 months ago
Score 0++

I was going to post some pictures but when I clicked the "upload" button on the photo contribution page nothing happened. Probably a problem my end. Anyway for now I'll just comment.

The Many Gates of Inuyamajō  犬山城門 So I went on a mission to find all of the relocated gates from Inuyamajō! After Inuyamajō was decommissioned many of its gates were auctioned off for re-use and ended up at temples in north-eastern Aichi Prefecture. In order of my visiting the gates and associated temples are as follows: 1. Jōrenji 浄蓮寺 - This Yakuimon type gate is said to have been relocated from the Matsu no Maru (Pine Bailey) of the castle in 1868. 2. Unzenji 運善寺 - This Kōraimon type gate (a common style of gate to find at castles) was relocated from Inuyama Castle in 1868 but was also damaged by fire around that time and repaired by the temple, changing its appearance. However, a renovation in the Heisei Period saw it restored to the original form. 3. Senjuin 専修院 -This Kōraimon gate was relocated to Senjuin in Ōmachi in 1878, and was the “Yaraimon (矢来門)” gate at Inuyamajō. 4. Tokurinji 徳林寺 -This Yakuimon was relocated to Tokurinji in Ōmachi in 1876. It was the first Kuromon (Black Gate) at Inuyamajō and thought to be the castle’s oldest Yakuimon style gate. 5. Zuisenji 瑞泉寺 -Located close to Inuyamajō in Inuyama, Zuisenji’s main gate formerly functioned as a rear gate on the east side of the castle, near the “Yagen Moat”. One legend holds that this gate was in fact originally constructed at Mino-Kanayamajō before being moved to Inuyamajō (this may be related to the debunked theory that the tenshu was also originally built there).

6. Jōmanji 常満寺 -Also in Inuyama, Jōmanji’s Sanmon was formerly the back gate of Inuyamajō’s Pine Bailey. Last year Jōmanji’s main hall and other structures were charred to pieces in a fire, but luckily this gate survived. Entering through it we come to an empty lot with burnt trees.
avatar

FurinkazanDaimyo

82 months ago
Score 0++

I revisited this nice castle today. I came from Nagoya on the Meitetsu line. They have a Inuyama castle 1-day ticket. It's 1340¥ and you receive 5 tickets. The first is the ride from MeitetsuNagoya station to Inuyama or Inuyamayûen station. The second is for the entrance to the castle. The third one is a coupon with which you have up to 3 reductions at some shops. The fourth is the return ticket to Nagoya station. The fifth is a receipt. After the castle i visited the karakuri museum and the Shiro to machi museum(already mentioned in the comments below). The fee for both is a mere 100¥. Like told by DiegoDeManila, the model of the castle and its town is awesome.

I visited also the Isobe and Hirobe residences. These were build during the late Edo and Meiji periods. If you like old japanese architecture, these are very interesting.
avatar

SnoworionGunshi

91 months ago
Score 0++
Visited on 9 October 2015. Small castle but one of the best I visited. Its original, small, intimate and sits magnificently atop a hill that overlooks the town and the river. I absolutely loved this castle.
avatar

Anonymous user #1

94 months ago
Score 0++
2015 July. Very crowded. Not that spectacular
avatar

DiegoDeManilaAshigaru

120 months ago
Score 0++

Visited 04 February 2014. Best as a day trip from nearby Nagoya, though I did it as a day trip from distant Tōkyō (long story) and still had time later in the day for Kakegawa Castle on the way back. The scaffolding put up for the recent restoration project spoiled the view somewhat, but didn't ruin the visit entirely. The vistas from the top level were some of the best I've seen - really makes one want to imagine what the castle lord would have glimpsed centuries ago, with the river running directly underneath and his lands stretching out far into the distance. Admission ticket valid for two nice museums in the old part of town, both a short walk from the foot of the castle hill: one with an impressive display of karakuri ningyō, the other about the castle town in its heyday (don't miss the splendid scale model of the town and castle as they looked in the Edo period).

http://withi...bruary-2014/
avatar

Kiddus i2003Gunshi

121 months ago
Score 0++
An early castle on my list, it didn't disappoint , will go back at another time and season.
avatar

Jcastle.oldHatamoto

122 months ago
Score 0++
According to the administration office, everything will be complete and the scaffolding removed on March 14.
avatar

BryanbaierPeasant

147 months ago
Score 0++
Great castle and a great place to view the sakura.
avatar

RebolforcesAshigaru

148 months ago
Score 0++
Second time at this castle, this time made sure I got to the 2 other museums down the road opposite, that were included in the ticket price. Love the walk from the station along the river with the castle perched on the hill over looking your progress
avatar

RaymondWDaimyo

155 months ago
Score 0++
Went to this castle again. On my earlier visits to this place, I had ignored the painted screens on the first floor after you have climbed the stairs from the entrance. The screens show a number of famous battles including Sekigahara and Anegawa.
avatar

Anonymous user #1

160 months ago
Score 0++
WHAT THIS CASTLE WAS BUILT BY ODA NOBUYASA AWESOME I CAN'T BELIVE THAT THIS CSTLE WAS BUILT BY THE ODA CLAN BUT IF IT WAS ODA NOBUNAGA IT WOULD HAD BEEN AWESOMER
avatar

Anonymous user #1

162 months ago
Score 0++
There are great views of Inuyama castle walking up the river and it seems to perch on the hill staring across the river into Mino, (part of modern day Gifu prefecture). Once you reach the top of the keep the view down to the river actually makes you quite dizzy. Inuyama was the first stop on my Natsu-no-Jin. I had a guide so I didn't get lost and discover anything cool or, conversely, do anything silly like pray backwards at the shrine and get a curse on my camera. I really enjoyed this castle. I third the opinion that this castle is a definite must see in the area. The mascot is Wanmaru-kun, (for once not just an arbitrary cute animal mascot – Inuyama does actually mean dog mountain). The 100meijo stamp is on request at the office.
avatar

RaymondWDaimyo

162 months ago
Score 0++
I was very lucky on the day that I went to this castle as I had picture-perfect autumn weather. The leaves are beginning to change colour, but they will probably not be at their best for another week or two (mid-November). Still, it was good to visit this original castle in autumn. I second Furinkazan's comments below. If you are in the Nagoya / Gifu area, go and see this beautiful castle. Entry is 500yen.
avatar

FurinkazanDaimyo

163 months ago
Score 0++
Went today to this castle as well as Komakijo. This one is really a must do. Very nice structures and location. If you are in the vicinity, visit this castle>
avatar

Jcastle.oldHatamoto

169 months ago
Score 0++
There's not really a standard style. Every donjon is different. In the Edo Period you do see a lot more of the thinner more symmetrical \sotogata"style however. http://www.j...ew/15-Donjon """