Nagoya Castle was built in the beginning of the Edo Period as the seat of one of the three branches of the rulingTokugawa family, the Owari branch. As such, it was one of the largest castles in the country, and the castle town around it ultimately grew to become Japan's fourth largest city. Most castle buildings were destroyed in the air raids of 1945, including the castle keep and the palace buildings. The current ferro-concrete reconstruction of the castle keep dates from 1959 and contains a modern museum with exhibits about the castle's history. The park surrounding the castle keep features two circles of moats and impressive walls with corner turrets. It becomes an attractive hanami spot during the cherry blossom season which usually peaks in late March or early April. 
In 2009, works began on the ambitious project to rebuilt the castle's palace (Honmaru Goten) using traditional construction materials and techniques. A first part of the reconstructed palace, including the entrance and main audience hall with beautiful replicated paintings on the sliding doors (fusuma) were completed and opened to the public in May 2013. The rest of the palace is scheduled to open in 2016 and 2018. During the reconstruction works, castle visitors are allowed to enter the scaffolding structure and observe the reconstruction works from a raised corridor except on Tuesdays and Thursdays. This provides a unique opportunity to observe traditional construction techniques and should not be missed.
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