Autumn is on its way, and in Japan that means it’s time for koyo (紅葉), the ancient tradition of fall foliage viewing! Every year crowds from around the country and overseas flock to Japan’s most beautiful fall foliage spots to see the seasons change, and watch the leaves shift from green to red. With amazing weather and colorful scenery, autumn is a great time to explore Japan, and in Nagoya, travelers are treated to the enchanting sight of a castle nestled among trees as they turn a deep, beautiful red.

Nagoya Castle

When the leaves in Nagoya Castle’s Ninomaru Garden (名古屋城の二之丸庭園) start to turn yellow, orange, and then red, you know it’s time for the yearly Autumn Festival! This garden is one of three in Meijo Park (名城公園), which surrounds one of central Japan’s most historic castles, and trees hailing from all over the country have taken root in the elegantly maintained grounds. Thanks to the variety of plants, leaves of all colors can be found in the garden at any point during the fall. Foliage in all different hues, growing from trees at various points in their seasonal shift, make the castle gardens a gorgeous place to see every fall. Plus, Nagoya Castle’s yearly fall koyo festival includes a chrysanthemum growing competition, where florists grow and sculpt fantastic chrysanthemums, put on display at the castle gates.

Nagoya Castle
Hours: 9:00 – 16:30
Admission: Adults 500 yen/Children free
Autumn Festival 2024: Oct. 5 ~ Nov. 24, 2024

But Wait – Don’t Miss Nagoya Castle Itself!

This palatial structure makes for a great part of the autumn scenery, but Nagoya Castle has its own history worth taking note of. Some even call this historic spot one of Japan’s top three castles (alongside Kumamoto Castle, and Osaka Castle)! The first iteration of Nagoya Castle was built by the Imagawa clan in the early 1500s, and was supposedly the birthplace of legendary figure Oda Nobunaga, before being quickly abandoned just decades after its construction. The next version gave the castle the beautiful architecture we now see today, after being rebuilt in the early 1600s by the historic Tokugawa Ieyasu, another key player in the shaping of Japan. The castle continued to stand as a beautiful 17th-century structure in the heart of Nagoya for hundreds of years, maintained and preserved by dozens of isolated renovations, before it was sadly destroyed during the bombings of World War II. Thankfully, much of the structure was rebuilt just as before in the late 50s, leaving us with a gorgeous castle to admire to this day, with history plastered on the walls. (Literally – check out the museum inside!)

One thing to look out for behind the crimson leaves is the castle’s golden “shachi” (金鯱, kinshachi), which are rooftop decorations symbolizing a legendary Japanese beast. A shachi is traditionally shaped like a koi fish (or sometimes a dolphin) with the head of a tiger, and they’re placed on the roof to act as a talisman against fire!

What to Do Nearby in Nagoya

Nagoya is a major urban center in Japan, and with plenty of interesting sights to see, it’s got a burgeoning tourism industry as well. There’s plenty of shopping, markets, and temples to check out, but the most recent major attraction in the area is Ghibli Park, which is an absolute must-see for fans of Studio Ghibli’s beautiful animation.

As the birthplace of Toyota automobiles, Nagoya also has strong connections with the transportation industry. It’s home to more than one Toyota Museum, including one that also explains the company’s pre-car manufacturing history. Plus, nearby is the SCMaglev and Railway Park, where train lovers can see the evolution of the world’s locomotives from steam engines to modern bullet trains.

If you can’t get enough of planes, trains, and automobiles, the famous Formula 1 racetrack Suzuka Circuit is just an hour away by train. It’s the first full-scale standard international racing course in Japan, and host to many Formula 1 races, but they also have a racing-themed amusement park perfect for kids of all ages.

Planning on heading over to Nagoya Castle to see the leaves, and ramble the gardens? Or perhaps you’ve already had a great time in Nagoya? Let us know about your experience, and show us your pictures, on twitter, instagram, and facebook!