Inuyama Castle in Aichi Prefecture stands on a hill beside the Kiso River. Its keep is counted among the oldest surviving keeps in Japan and is a National Treasure.
History
The castle is said to have been built in the 16th century by a branch of the Oda clan, and during the Sengoku period it was contested by rival powers. In the Edo period the Naruse family, hereditary chief retainers of the Owari domain, became its lords, and the Naruse continued to own the castle after the Meiji era. Until it passed to a foundation in 2004, it was a rare National Treasure castle owned by descendants of its lord.
Highlights
- A veranda around the top floor with views over the Kiso River
- A National Treasure keep in the early "watchtower" style
- The surrounding castle town
Map
Sources
- 公益財団法人日本城郭協会 日本100名城一覧 / retrieved 2026-09-30
- Wikidata（座標）（CC0） / retrieved 2026-09-30
- Wikipedia「犬山城」（参照）（CC BY-SA 4.0） / retrieved 2026-09-30
- Photo: Inuyama Castle (1), Kitakoken Inuyama Inuyama City 2023.jpg（Tomio344456 / CC BY-SA 4.0）
