Inuyama (犬山), literally meaning "dog mountain", is a city in Aichi Prefecture, not far from Nagoya. It is most famous for its small but beautiful castle, which is one of Japan's oldest wooden castles in its original state, having survived the turmoils of wars and disasters over the years. The picturesque Kiso River runs along the northern border of the city, where cormorant fishing takes places at from June through mid October every year. Southeast of the city center is Meiji Mura, a popular open air theme park about the Meiji Period (1868-1912). |
Inuyama Castle (犬山城, Inuyamajō) was initially constructed in 1537, and its donjon is one of Japan's oldest extant. It is one of only twelve original castles left in Japan, i.e. castles that have survived intact the natural disasters and wars since the end of the feudal age in 1867. Inuyama Castle is also one of only four castles which have been designated as national treasures. The other three are Himeji Castle, Matsumoto Castle and Hikone Castle The castle stands on top of a small hill next to Kiso River. The main keep's structure is built almost entirely with wood and rocks, and its interior is beautifully preserved and retains an authentic feel without modern additions that reconstructed castles might have, such as elevators. A conserved feature are the steep stairs, which visitors can scale through four stories to get to the top level and be rewarded with panoramic views over the castle grounds and Kiso River. It is also interesting to view the various chambers at the keep, including one that enables watching out for enemies and another that stones can be thrown down during times of enemy invasion. 
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| How to get there |
| The castle can be reached in a 15-20 minute walk from either Inuyama Station or Inuyama-Yuen Station, the latter being a little bit closer. Both stations are served by Meitetsu Railways.
How to get to and around Inuyama 
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| Hours and Fees |
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