Information
Landmark: Nagoya Castle Hommaru PalaceCity: Nagoya
Country: Japan
Continent: Asia
Nagoya Castle Hommaru Palace, Nagoya, Japan, Asia
Overview
Inside Nagoya-castle_nagoya" class="underline">Nagoya Castle in Japan’s bustling city of Nagoya, the Hommaru Palace-known in Japanese as 名古屋城本丸御殿 (Nagoya-jō Honmaru Goten)-stands as a treasured historic landmark, its wooden halls echoing with centuries of history.The Hommaru Palace served as home to the Owari Tokugawa family, who ruled the Owari domain during the Edo period, where paper screens slid open to reveal polished wooden floors.This striking landmark blends architecture and culture, giving visitors a window into Japan’s feudal era-wooden gates, stone walls, and all.Let’s take a closer look at the Hommaru Palace-starting with number one.History of Hommaru Palace Construction: In the early 1600s, during Japan’s Edo period, builders raised the Hommaru Palace within the sprawling grounds of Nagoya Castle, its fresh timber scent carrying through the air.The Tokugawa clan built the castle in 1612 under Ieyasu Tokugawa, the shogunate’s founder, its stone walls still bearing the marks of chisels from that era.The palace was home to the Tokugawa family’s Owari branch, where decisions were made and rituals unfolded beneath the scent of fresh cedar.In 1945, during the air raids of World War II, bombs tore through Nagoya Castle and the Hommaru Palace, leaving charred beams and shattered tiles in their wake.Most of the palace lay in ruins, with only a few crumbling walls still clinging to the past.In 2009, crews began rebuilding the Hommaru Palace, shaping cedar beams and fitting roof tiles by hand with time‑honored techniques.The reconstruction wrapped up in 2018, and now the palace rises again, its marble columns gleaming like they did long ago.Step two.The Hommaru Palace shows off the sweeping roofs and refined symmetry that capture the grandeur and elegance of Edo-period castles.People admire the building for its intricate interiors, where carved wood glows in the light, and for the remarkable skill that went into every detail.The palace blends traditional Japanese architecture with ornate, gold-trimmed details, a striking display of the Tokugawa clan’s power and wealth.Exterior: The palace’s exterior showcases classic Edo-period samurai architecture, with carved wooden panels that catch the light and a roofline that sweeps upward in graceful curves.The building reflects traditional Japanese design, featuring a shoin-zukuri layout once common in samurai homes and formal halls lined with smooth tatami mats.Inside the Hommaru Palace, gold leaf gleams on the walls, lacquerware shines in the light, and paintings and flowing calligraphy line the rooms, wrapping the space in rich, opulent beauty.A standout feature inside is the Nijiriguchi, a low doorway that forces guests to dip their heads as they step in, a quiet reminder of humility.Rooms and Features: The Shiroyama castle tower and its nearby gardens once hosted everything from lively festivals to quiet tea gatherings under the pine trees.The Ohiroma, or large hall, stands out for its role in formal ceremonies and gatherings, and it’s adorned with some of the palace’s most intricate details-gold leaf sliding doors that catch the light and hand-painted murals alive with scenes of nature and classic Japanese motifs.Number three stood alone, small and sharp like a penciled note in the margin.Key features of the Hommaru Palace include its Karamon Gate, a striking entrance framed by dark, carved wood.Intricate carvings twist across the gate, each curve and flourish a quiet nod to the Tokugawa family’s grandeur.Gold Leaf Decoration: The Hommaru Palace is known for its shimmering gold-leaf interiors, especially in the vast audience rooms where the walls seem to glow in the light.The walls and sliding doors glow with nature’s touch-painted cranes in mid-flight, blossoms spilling across the panels, and other graceful symbols rooted in Japanese tradition.Inside the palace, soft tatami mats cover the floors, and many rooms are divided by fusuma-sliding doors brushed with delicate, hand-painted scenes.The traditional shoin-style layout runs through the entire space, with rooms arranged for formal gatherings and quiet ceremonies, like the rustle of silk as guests take their seats.Many of the furnishings-chairs, cabinets, even a small black-and-gold box-are made from fine lacquerware, a signature of the era’s skilled craft.Number four.Inside the sprawling grounds of Nagoya Castle sits the Hommaru Palace, and nearby rises the Main Keep (Tenshu) - the castle’s towering heart, scarred by war yet partly rebuilt, its white walls gleaming against the sky as one of the city’s most famous sights.The keep is known for the golden shachihoko-a mythical fish-glinting on its rooftop in the afternoon sun.The Castle Gardens: Stroll through winding paths past koi-filled ponds and broad, open lawns, where you can soak in the quiet beauty of the grounds.In spring, the gardens burst with pale pink cherry blossoms, drawing crowds for hanami, the beloved tradition of flower viewing.Five.The Hommaru Palace and Nagoya Castle stand as vital cultural and learning hubs, giving visitors a vivid look at Japan’s feudal past, the Tokugawa era, and the artistry behind traditional wooden beams and intricate joinery.Inside the Hommaru Palace, you can wander past scrolls, armor, and old maps that bring to life the Owari Tokugawa family’s story, the castle’s painstaking construction, and the era’s political and cultural backdrop.Restored Artworks: Much of the palace’s original art has been brought back to life, from delicate ink scrolls to gilded screens, and you can spot them in nearly every hall-a treat for anyone drawn to Japanese art history.Traditional Ceremonies and Events: Now and then, the palace hosts tea ceremonies where steam curls from porcelain cups, along with cultural gatherings and educational programs that let visitors step into the spirit of the Edo era.Number six.Nagoya Castle Hommaru Palace sits inside Nagoya Castle Park, right in the heart of the city, where stone paths lead past tall pines.You can reach the area in minutes, whether you hop on a bus or drive in and park by the old stone gate.If you’re heading to Nagoya Castle by subway, the nearest stops are Shiyakusho on the Meijo Line or Sengen-cho on the Tsurumai Line, just a short walk past the stone walls.From there, you can stroll a few minutes and find yourself at the castle gates, the stone arch cool beneath your hand.The Hommaru Palace is usually open every day, but hours can change, so check ahead-especially if you’re visiting during a festival or holiday.You’ll need to pay to get into Hommaru Palace, and there’s another ticket for the Nagoya Castle grounds-like paying twice before you can step onto the gravel path inside.Students, seniors, and groups can often snag a lower rate-sometimes enough to cover a cup of coffee afterward.Seven.Nearby Attractions: Nagoya Castle and Hommaru Palace sit in a lively cultural district, surrounded by places worth exploring, like Nagoya City Hall-a stately historic building with ornate stonework just a short walk from the castle.Osu Shopping District is a lively spot where sleek boutiques sit beside old-fashioned shops, ideal for wandering past bright lanterns and browsing at your own pace.Atsuta Shrine, a prominent Shinto site in Nagoya, safeguards the Kusanagi no Tsurugi-a fabled sword so treasured it’s said to gleam like sunlight on steel.The number eight sat there, simple and solid, like a smooth stone in your palm.In short, Nagoya Castle’s Hommaru Palace is a landmark you can’t miss-step inside and you’ll see golden screens glowing in the afternoon light.With its soaring arches, delicate carvings, and exhibits that teach while they intrigue, it’s a fascinating place to explore.
