| INUYAMA CITY MAP | Inuyama City Inuyama is an ancient castle town located in the northwestern part of Aichi Prefecture. It is a part of the Hida-Kiso Guasi-national park.The town is noted for historical spots and its natural beauty. Inuyama Castle, the center of the town, was built by a warrior general, Nobuyasu Oda, in 1537. The history of the town, however, goes back to the "Kofun" period, the ancient period when people built many gigantic mound-like tombs. Inuyama has grown as a tourisut town because of its historical sites, old temples and shrines, and other tourist attractions. In 1987, it was designated as an International Tourism Area.
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| INFORMATION | ACCESS TO INUYAMA | |||||
Inuyama's
Festivals
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 Inuyama is located in northern Aichi Prefecture,about 20Km from Nagoya. If you are traveling to Inuyama from Nagoya, take a train on the Meitetsu Line ; the limited express train from Nagoya Station reaches Inuyama Station in 23 minutes. From nagoya take a train on the Meitetsu Line;Even getting on Inuyama is from Chubu International Airport in a fast limited express train to about 1 hour. |
| Tasty and Savory Dishes | COLUMN |
| Inuyama Delicacies - Simple yet Flavorful | Good-luck Charms |
| Inuyama is known as a source of many local dishes that offer a true taste of the seasons. These include various sweetfish dishes and one-pot duck dishes as well as "Dengaku" - skewered and browned slices of tofu covered with plenty of miso. The flavor and savory aroma of these dishes are known to stimulate the appetite. as well, the dishes that incorporate fully grown sweetfish(Ayu) from the Kiso River are remakeably tasty. Two popular dishes of sweetfish are "Ayu -no- shioyaki", sweetfish grilled simply with salt to allow their natural taste to come through, and "Ayu-no-kanroni", sweetfish simmered in a sweet and salty sauce. | Time-honored Japanese good-luck charms - made of paper, cloth or wood - are believed to ward off accidents in everyday life. The many different kinds of amulets are claimed to protect their owners from traffic accidents, health problems, difficult childbirth and otherperils. The amulets can be purchased at temples and shrines. Each is kept in a small fine lame pouch, and can be attached to a purse, much like a key ring. Remember not to open your pouch, or your prayers will not be answered. These beautiful amulets make great gifts for your friends. |
| Souvenirs | |
| Inuyama Pottery | Ninto-shu |
| Imuyama Pottery dates back about 300 years, when the village of lmai constructed a kiln and began producing pottery. The works bear painted images of cherry blossoms and maple leaves, which create a simple yet impressive appearance. The pottey studios in the city offer visitors an opportunity to try their hand at decorating Inuyama ware and experience a 300-year-old tradition. (Reservations required.) | "Ninto-shu" is a medicinal liquor made of plant stalks, buds and distilled spirits. This alcoholic beverage, made at a 400-year old brewery, has a rich aroma and a flavor reminiscent of sweetend whisky. It is said to help dispel fatigue. |
| Things to See, Hear and Do | |
| Cormorant Fishing - A Fantasy of Fire | "Karakuri" Mechanical Dolls - The Robots of the Edo Era |
| Cormorant fishing, the practice of catching fish with tame cormorants,
has been practiced for some 340 years. Against the backdrop of Inuyama
Castle towering into the night sky, one can see a number of fishing boats,
flaming torches suspended from their prows to light the surface of the
river. This scene creates a truly magical atmosphere. You can also enjoy
a dinner on a Japanese-style houseboat, watching the fishermen - known
as "Usho" - commanding the birds with ropes. →go to cormorant fishing page |
Interaction between Europe and Japan led to the development of "Karakuri", or mechanical dolls, during the Edo period. The dolls, which incorporate mechanisms developed for the Japanese clocks of that time, run on gears, power springs and other devices. "Karakuri" can be roughly divided into two types : festival float "Karakuri" and household "Karakuri". Aichi and Gifu preserve only festival float "Karakuri". In April, 13 floats are paraded around the city as part of the annual Inuyama Festival. |
| Take a Walk through the Sumurai Era | Momotaro, A Hero of Japan |
| The city's back street still show evidence of stately old samurai residences, their gates and walls lining the streets. Turning down the town's alleys, one feels immersed in the Edo era. Strolling through the city, one imagines the spirits of the samurai coming alive. Several old privatehouses have recently been converted into restaurants and galleries. This blending of the old and new elements make for a truly appealing streetscape. | "Momotaro" is one of Japan's most famous folk tales. It tells the story of a boy named Momotaro, because he was born from a "momo", or peach. Once grown, he goes on a quest to smite the ogres, known as "oni", that cause people nothing but trouble. Many places across Japabn are said to have been associated with the legend of Momotaro, but Momotaro Shrine is known as his birthplace. The precincts of the ahrine feature a variety of that accompanied him on his adventures - a dog, a monkey and a pheasant. We invite you to visit and enjoy this introduction to a true Japanese folk hero. |
| Experience "Wabi" and "Sabi" - Refined Rusticity and Elegant Simplicity - at "Jo-an" | |
| "Jo-an" is a teahouse built around 1618 by Urakusai Oda, a younger brother of Nobunaga Oda. Ti was later dismantled and reconstructed at its present site. This tea ceremony house is characterized by its unique design, such as the location of its doors, its windows known as "Urakumado", and diagonal wall. It is said the interior represents the universe while creating a calm and relaxing space. "Suikinkutsu", a traditional sound-maiking device used in Japanese gardens, makes a soft echoing sound from drops of water in the Jo-an garden. (Jo-an is usually closed to the public. It is open for viewing only in March and November of every year.) | |
| Inuyama Castle | National Treasure Inuyama Castle（aiso known as Hakutei Castle） Built approximately 460years ago on a small mountain overlooking the kiso River to the south．Inuyama Castle has the oldest remaining dungeon in Japan and has been designated a national treasure．It appears to be a three story Castle．but in actuality it has two stories below and four above the ground．The top level is an excellent observatory from which you can view Mt．Kiso Ontake and Mt．Ena from the east to the northeast．Mt．Komaki and the vast Nobi Plains to the south．Mt．Ibuiki and Gifu Castle to the west and mountains of Mino to the north． ▲The Naruse Family are the only private owners of a castle in Japan today． ▲Inuyama City was however designated as the ｒｅｐｏｎｓｉｂｌｅ ａｄｍｉｎｉｓｔｒａｔｏｒ ｂｙ ｔｈｅ Cuitural Properties Protection Committee on July 1，1965． ▲Besides Inuyama Castle，Himeji Castle，Matsumoto Castle，and Hikone Castle are designated as national treasure． |
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Ｉｎｕｙａｍａ Castle's Second Ｎａｍｅ：Hakutei Castle Inuyama Castle is also known ａｓ Hakutei Castle． Ｉｔ ｉｓ ｓａｉｄ ｔｈａｔ Ogyu Sorai，ａ Confucian Scholar ｄｕｒｉｎｇ the Tokugawa Period，chose ｔｈｉｓ name inspired ｂｙ a poem of Li Po，the Chinese poet，”Leaving Baidicheng(in Japanese：Hakutei) Castｌe shimmering in the clouds early in the morning，Traversing a thousand‐ri‐long riber gorge in one day，While monkeys on both riversides never stop chattering，Our small boat has already passed ranges of mountains．” Thｅ Baidicheng Casle mentioned in Li Po’s poem is located in a mountainous region of Szechuan Province in the upper reaches of the Changjiang river． jiangling is located north of Lake Dongting． Lipo was sent into exile in Kueichou Province，a barbarous region south of Chungching，after his death sentence for alleged treason in the An Lu‐shan Rebellion was commuted． When he passed the famed Three Gorges near Wushan．He was later granted an amnesty and returned home． |
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History of Inuyama Castle In the 6th year of Tenbun (1537)，the donjon of Inuyama Castle was completed at the present location，and Oda Yojiro Nobuyasu assumed the lond，but in Tenbun 16（1547）died on the battefield at Inaba Yamajiro in Gifu，with his son，Oda Jurozaemon Nobukiyo succeeding him as lord． In ｔｈｅ following years，the castle lords frequently changed and in the 4th year of Bunroku（1595），Ishikawa Bizennokami Mitsuyosｈi was caretaker/administrator of the castle． After the Battle of Sekigahara ｉｎ tha 5th year of Keicho（1600），Ogasawara Izuminokami Yoshitsugu made a triumphal entry into the castle． With additional construction by both the Ishikawa and Ogasawara clans，Inuyama Castle in its largest configuration was completed in the course of the Tokugawa Period(1600‐1867）． With Naruse Hayatonosho Masanari succeeding Hiraiwa Hirokazunokami Chikayoshi as the lord in the third year of Genna（1617），the Naruse clan’s administrative period（which was to last until the Meiji era） was heralded in． In the 4th year of Meiji（1871）when Masamitsu was 9th Lord，the castle Iost its administrative and political status as well as significance due to the abolition of the clans（as well as their domains）and the establishment of prefectures． As a result，almost all of the castle facilities were demolished except the donjon． In the 24th year of Meiji（1891），the east side of the donjon，attached turrets on the south and northwest，and the castle gate were destroyed by the Great Nobi Earthquake． In the 28th year of Meiji（1893），the castle was handed over to a former lord of Inuyama castle，Masamitsu，on the condition that he would repair the castle． To this day，Inuyama Castle remains as the only privately‐owned castle in Japan． On November20，1927，Emperor Hirohito visited the donjon and on May13，1935，the castle was designated as a national treasure． On March 29，1952，the castle was re‐designated as national treasure after an amendment in the relevant Iaw． In April 1961，extensive reconstruction Work began and the castle was restored on March 20，1965． |
| Tourist attraction | |||
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Inuyama Castle(National Treasure) This is Japan's oldest castle tower, constructed about 460 years ago. Designated a national treasure, it commands a panoramamic view of the city of Inuyama. |
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Uraku-en,Tea Ceremony House Jo-an (National Treasure) Jo-an Tea House, a national treasure, is located in this beautiful Japanese garden. It was constructed in the original Japanese architectural style. |
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Haritsuna Shrine This distinguished shrine is one of the Five Owari Shrines. It honors the god of long life and safe childbirth. The Inuyama Festivai is held here. |
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Inuyama Artifacts Museum The museum exhibits the festival floats used in the Inuyama Festival as well as numerous other valuable cultural properties. The festival boasts a 360-year history. |
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Karakuri Exhibition Room This facility displays exhibits related to "Karakuri" mechanical dolls and the Inuyama Festival. "Karakuri" doll artisan Shobei Tamaya IX demonstrates his workmanship from 10:00 to 16:00 every Friday and Saturday. |
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Dondenkan Recreating houses of the former castle town, this hall displays four decorated festival floats that the Aichi Prefrcuyural Government has designated as tangible folk cultural properties. |
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Old Castle Town The back streets in this area still show you evidences of old samurai residences, their stately gates and traditional walls lining the streets. We will invite you to a time trip into the samurai days. Strolling down the streets, you can imagine the prosperity of the sastle and its town coming alive. |
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Zenkoji Temple The temple was constructed in 1928. Every year on August 17, a ceremonial offering of floating lanterns is held on the Kiso River to see off ancestral spirits. This ceremony adds beautiful colors to the summer night. |
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Zuisenji Temple The temple's bell tower is said to have been built in 1494. The carving of the Three Monkeys on the belfry was made by Jingoro-Hidari, a sculptor from the Edo period. |
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Naritasan Temple The wooden main hall is painted in eye-catching vermiliom.The temple precincts offer a panoramamic view of the city. The temple is famous for honoring the god of traffic safety. |
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Japan Monkey Park The leisure complex comprises two facilities : Japan Monkey Center, which boasts the world's largest number of species of monkey, and an amusement park with many exciting rides. |
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Inuyama International Sightseeing Center "FREUDE" This multipurpose center serves to link tourist attractions in Inuyama with opportunities for international exchange. It also features a swimming pool and a training gym. |
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The Museum Meiji-mura This open-air museum has a nostalgic atmosphere. It preserves and exhibits historically important buildings from the Meiji era that highlight the culture and way of life of that time. |
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Momotaro Shrine The shrine lies along the Kiso River, said to be Japan's most beautiful river. People worship Momotaro as the god of children. |
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Oh-Agata Shrine The shrine was constructed about 2,000 years ago. the god of marriage and safe childbirth is said to reside in the "Himenomiya"(princess) of the temple precincts. This shrine is also famous for its annual March festival. |
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Jakkoin Temple Jakkoin Temple is known as "the temple of maple leaves." Renowned for the incredibly beautiful autumn colors that can be seen on its rpremises, this peaceful mountain temple has a history that exends back some ,1350 years |
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The Sweet Castle The building, designed to resemble a Western castle, is redolent with the smell of sweets. Visitors are welcome to tour the confectionery plant and try their hand at making cookies. |
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The Little World Museum of Man This museum attractively displays a collection of more than 40,000 folklore artifacts. It features outdoor exhibits of reconstructed and restored traditional residences from around the world. |
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| ●POLICE： CALL 110 （You will be connected to the international center in the police department.） | |
| TOURIST INFORMATION & TOURIST'S HELP DESK | MEDICAL INSTITUTION |
| ●Inuyama Sightseeing Information Center | Hospitals or clinics that are able to provide assistance in a foreing |
| TEL：0568-61-6000 / OPEN：9:00-17:00 | language |
| inuyama Station | ENGLISH |
| ●OASIS21 i Ceuter | ●Inuyama Chuo Hospital |
| TEL：052-963-5252 / OPEN：10:00-20:00 Everyday | TEL：0568-62-8111 |
| OASIS21 Park, 1-11-1, Higashisakura, Higashi-ku, Nagoya | 6, Aza Futakotsuka, Oaza Goromaru, Inuyama |
| ●Nagoya Tourist Information Center, Nagoya Station | ENGLISH/PORTUGUESE |
| TEL：052-541-4301 / OPEN：9:00-19:00 Everyday | ●MICA (Medical Infomation Center Aichi) |
| JR Nagoya Station, 1-1-4, Meieki< Nakamura-ku, Nagoya | TEL：052-588-7040 / OPEN：13:00-17:00(Tue/Thu/Sat) |
| ●Aichi International Association (International Plaza) | 2F, NPO PLAZA Nagoya, 1-20-11, Meieki Minami, Nakamura-ku |
| TEL：052-961-7902 / OPEN：10:00-18:00 Closed：Sunday&Holiday | Nagoya |
| Sannomaru Annex Bldg., Aichi Prefectural Government, 2-6-1, | PORTUGUESE |
| Sannomaru, Naka-ku, Nagoya | ●Dieque-Saude (Helth Consultation for Brazilians) |
| Languages：English/Spanish/Portuguese/Chinese | Toll free：0120-050062 / TEL：052-222-1096 |
| (The available foreign language staff will vary according to the day | OPEN：9:00-13:00 14:00-17:00 (Mon-Fri) |
| and working hours) | MAJOR FOREING CONSULATE-GENERALS AND CONSULATES IN AICHI |
| ●Nagoya International Center | |
| TEL：052-581-0100 / OPEN：9:00-20:30 Closed：Monday | ●Consulate-general of the republic of Korea in Nagoya |
| 3F, Nagoya International CenterBldg., 1-47-1, | TEL：052-586-9221 |
| Nagono, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya | 1-19-12, Meieki Minami, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya |
| Languages：English/Spanish/Portuguese/Chinese/Korean/French | ●Consulate-general of Brazil in Nagoya |
| Filipino | TEL：052-222-1106 |
| (The available foreign language staff will vary according to the day | 2F, Shirakawa No.8 Bldg., 1-10-29, Marunouchi, Naka-ku, Nagoya |
| and working hours) | ●American Consulate in Nagoya |
| TEL：052-203-4011 | |
| 6F, Nishiki SIS Bldg., 3-10-33, Nishiki, Naka-ku, Nagoya | |
| ●Australian Consulate in Nagoya | |
| TEL：052-211-0630 | |
| 8F, Ikko-Fushimi Bldg., 1-20-10, Nishiki, Naka-ku, Nagoya | |
| ●Canadian Consulate in Nagoya | |
| TEL：052-972-0540 | |
| 6F, Nakato Marunouchi Bldg., 3-17-6, Marunouchi, Naka-ku, Nagoya | |
