* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Nagoya Castle Treasure House
名古屋城宝物館
Overview
Nagoya Castle, one of Japan's three great castles, was built by Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1612 as the residence of the Owari Tokugawa clan — the most senior of the Three Gosanke branches of the Tokugawa family. The castle's treasure house holds the Owari Tokugawa sword collection: swords by Owari court smiths, blades received from the shogunate, and presentation swords from allied daimyo, including Important Cultural Property and National Treasure blades. The 2018-reconstructed Honmaru Palace — the finest surviving example of Edo-period shoin architecture, decorated with Kanō-school painted screens — provides stunning architectural context for the sword culture of Japan's most powerful regional lord. The Nagoya Castle grounds are a nationally designated Special Historic Site.
Highlights
- Integrated appreciation with the restored Honmaru-goten – Experiencing the pinnacle of shoin-zukuri architecture adorned with Kanō school sliding-door paintings completed in 2018, offering an immersive space where visitors can experience samurai sword usage.
- Works of Owari tradition and official court blade smiths – Creations of blade smith groups active in Owari from the Muromachi through Edo periods. Materials demonstrating the finest techniques of lord-retained craftsmen.
- Comprehensive exhibition of armor, sword fittings, and banners – Complete sets of Owari warrior armor displayed together, showcasing the finest collection of early modern samurai attire in the Tokai region.
- National Special Historic Site and one of Japan's Three Great Castles – The Golden Shachihoko keep and expansive castle grounds, a centerpiece of Nagoya tourism where visitors can enjoy both the vistas from the main tenshu and sword culture.
* Opening hours and exhibitions are subject to change. Please check the official website before visiting.