Can you go inside Nagoya Castle?
No, not the main keep. It has been closed since May 2018 and will be rebuilt in wood, not before 2032.
Yes, Honmaru Palace. The rebuilt palace, the gardens, the stone walls and the turrets are open, all with the same ¥1,000 ticket.
Is it still worth it? For most people, yes: the palace is the highlight, and you can walk right up to the keep and photograph it from outside.
What you can and can't see
| Place | Now | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Main keep, inside | Closed | Closed since May 2018 (earthquake-resistance problems). Wooden rebuild planned, not before 2032. |
| Main keep, outside | Open | Walk up to its stone base and photograph it. |
| Honmaru Palace | Open | Included in the ticket. Last entry 16:00. Palace guide |
| Gardens | Open | Inside the castle grounds. |
| Stone walls | Open | Around the keep and the Honmaru compound. |
| Turrets | Open | Seen from outside. |
| Nishinomaru Okura Museum | Open | Last entry 16:00. |
The paid area and the free area
Everything inside the Main Gate and East Gate needs a ticket: Honmaru Palace, the keeps from close up, the gardens and the museum.
Outside the walls is free. Walk around the outside of the castle and you can photograph the back of the castle without a ticket. Meijo Park on the north side and Kinshachi Yokocho, the food street by the gates, are free too. See both on the map
Why the keep is closed
1945
The keep burned down in the air raids at the end of World War II, with much of the castle.
1959
It was rebuilt in reinforced concrete, looking like the original from the outside, with a museum inside.
May 2018
The concrete keep closed because of aging and earthquake-resistance problems.
Next
The City of Nagoya plans to rebuild the keep in wood, as it was. Completion is expected after 2032.
Want to climb an original keep?
Go to Inuyama Castle, north of Nagoya. Its keep is an original, not a modern rebuild, and you can go inside.
Before you buy a ticket
The ticket is ¥1,000 for adults (from October 1, 2026) and covers Honmaru Palace. Go to the palace first: the castle is quietest right after it opens at 9:00. Last entry is 16:00.