[Japan Top 100 Castles No. 044] Nagoya Castle: Honmaru Palace Highlights and Shohei Ohtani’s Signature Linking to the Future Main Keep

1. Basic Information to Know Before Your Visit

2. Local Report: Strategy Points and Fatherly Insights

Visual Grandeur as a Show of Power: Highlights of Nagoya Castle’s Honmaru Palace

Step inside the reconstructed Honmaru Palace, and you are immediately immersed in an overwhelming world of gold. To a modern observer, it might seem almost surreal—a space so glittering it feels disconnected from reality. However, this was exactly the Tokugawa strategy. It was a “presentation of authority” designed to visually demonstrate immense wealth and power to visiting feudal lords (daimyo), ensuring their submission without a single sword being drawn. This structural psychological warfare continues to resonate even after 400 years.

A “Stove” to Warm the Shogun’s Meals? The Practicality of the Kamigozensho

While the public rooms are spectacular, I found the “Kamigozensho” (the upper serving area) even more fascinating. This was the backstage area where meals were prepared just before being served to the Shogun. It features a sunken hearth (irori)—essentially a modern stove—used to reheat dishes brought from a distant kitchen to ensure they were served at the perfect temperature. This uncompromising hospitality and the logical flow of the floor plan reveal a highly rational and practical management style beneath the surface-level luxury. It felt like a lesson in management for any modern professional.

3. Family Guide: Pokémon GO and Historical Discoveries

Spot the Difference with Tigers and Leopards, and Lucky Pokémon GO Finds

My son, initially overwhelmed by the ornate screen paintings, stopped in front of the “Leopards and Tigers in a Bamboo Grove.” When I shared the historical trivia that leopards were once mistakenly believed to be female tigers, he immediately started a game of “spot the difference” with the animals on the walls.

After leaving the palace, we opened Pokémon GO near the statue of Kato Kiyomasa. In a stroke of incredible luck, he encountered and caught a “Shiny” legendary Pokémon! He named it “Kato Kiyomasa” on the spot, and we both celebrated. It was a perfect blend of a historic site and modern gaming fun.

Interacting with the Samurai Squad: Tracking Growth in the Castle

When asked by Lord Ieyasu of the “Nagoya Omotenashi Bushotai” (Samurai Performance Squad), “From whence have you come?”, my son confidently replied, “From Edo!” (Tokyo). I was impressed by his ability to dive into the historical world. Looking back at photos taken in the same spot years ago, I realized how much he has grown. The vast grounds of Nagoya Castle make it an ideal place for families to track their own history.

4. Lunch & Souvenirs for Castle Explorers

Pillars of the Future: Shohei Ohtani’s Signed Wood

On display was a piece of Gassan Pine signed by baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani. When I explained that this precious timber would eventually become a beam in the future wooden reconstruction of the main keep, my son was genuinely intrigued. I’m already looking forward to visiting again when the keep is finished to say, “That’s the wood we saw back then.”

Nagoya Specialty: Yabaton’s Waraji Katsu

After exploring the castle, we headed to the famous “Yabaton.” The cutlets drenched in rich miso sauce are perfect for refueling after a long walk. My son loved it, noting that the “Nagoya flavor” is quite different from what we usually eat in Tokyo.

5. Recommended Nearby Spots

• Pokémon Center Nagoya (Nagoya PARCO): After catching a Shiny Pokémon at the castle, this is the modern “Honmaru” of Nagoya to visit. Combining history with Pokémon is a guaranteed way to keep children happy.

• Kinshachi Yokocho: A gourmet and shopping area located near the Main and East Gates. It’s an essential stop for souvenirs or sampling more Nagoya soul food.