Inuyama Castle

Inuyama Castle, perched on a rocky bluff above the Kiso River in northern Aichi Prefecture, is one of Japan's twelve original surviving castles and the only one in the country still in private ownership until 2004, when it was transferred to the Inuyama Castle Trust. Built in 1537, it holds the distinction of being the oldest existing castle tower in Japan, a designated National Treasure. The four-storey white-walled keep rises 60 metres above the river, providing sweeping panoramic views across the Kiso River valley, the forested hills of Gifu Prefecture to the north, and the urban spread of Nagoya to the south. The castle interior is a genuine historical space rather than a museum reconstruction: original hand-hewn wooden beams, stone walls, and near-vertical staircases convey an authenticity that post-war concrete reconstructions cannot replicate. The top-floor observation gallery is open-air with only a low wooden railing separating visitors from the drop, making it one of Japan's most exhilarating castle viewpoints. The surrounding castle town of Inuyama preserves a cluster of Edo and Meiji-era merchant houses, sake breweries, and craft shops along the approach from the station — the walk itself is an attraction worth building into the visit schedule. In cherry blossom season, typically late March to early April, the stone walls are ringed with blooms and the views across the flowering canopy toward the river become extraordinary. Autumn foliage from late October through November frames the keep in reds and golds. The climb to the castle from the station takes about 20 minutes including a moderate uphill path; the interior staircases are very steep and require confident footing.