Half-Day Tour from Nagoya: Inuyama Castle and Traditional Tea

Step back into Japan’s samurai past on this half-day small-group walking tour of Inuyama, home to one of the country’s oldest and best-preserved castles. You’ll explore historic streets, a national treasure castle, and a tranquil tea garden, complete with a traditional matcha tasting.

Great for first-time visitors to Japan, history lovers, and travelers looking for an easy day trip from Nagoya, this tour has been specifically designed to provide you with the prefect blend of history, shopping, and photo opportunities, while still allowing you with plenty of time for other activities around Nagoya. Discover why Inuyama is one of Japan's most cherished National Treasures.

Highlights

• Visit Inuyama Castle, a National Treasure of Japan
• Taste matcha and Japanese sweets and learn about the art of the tea ceremony in a tranquil Japanese garden.
• Learn about feudal Japan, castle warfare, and the lords who once ruled here.
• Explore a traditional castle town with plenty of time for shopping/eating

*For those looking to join the tour from Tokyo, Kyoto, or Osaka, please see the FAQ Section.

Description

This tour will start at Nagoya Station at 9:00 A.M., where your guide will meet you in front of the Silver Clock tower near the Shinkansen Gates. You will have the opportunity to put your belongings in a coin locker at the station if you feel the need.

Your guide will provide you with a brief history of the region and set the scene as we depart Nagoya JR Station via train towards Inuyama.

After about a 40 minute train ride, we will arrive in the town of Inuyama. Your guide will lead you through the town to Inuyama Castle, sharing stories of what life was like during Japan's warring states period in this castle town along the way. As we make our way to the castle, we will visit Sanko Inari Shrine. While the shrine specializes in romance, peaceful households, and harmonious marriages, there is also a legend of a wish-granting stone here. So be sure to bring along plenty of wishes!

Continuing up the hill, we will finally arrive at Inuyama Castle—the oldest existing wooden keep in Japan. Your guide will lead you through the castle, revealing the details (and dramas) of life in the castle.

As Inuyama Castle is the only one of the five castles designated the status of “National Treasure” where you can venture out onto the cornice, those brave enough and without a fear of heights will have the chance to observe a beautiful 360-degree view of the surrounding mountains and towns.

After exploring the castle, will continue our journey to the town's historic castle street district. The area remains much the same as it did during the Edo era, making it a perfect place to take a stroll and explore the hidden alleys and traditional architecture. 

This is also the perfect time for us to stop for lunch, as the town is also a foodie’s paradise. From wagyu to cheesecake and everything in between, the town boasts many street vendors and restaurants selling almost anything you can imagine on a skewer. We recommend some local favorites such as “Dengaku”—a miso glazed roasted tofu, or the “Gohei-mochi”—rice cake coated with a sweet and sour sauce.

After lunch and a bit of free-time for shopping, we will make our way to a traditional Japanese tea garden. It’s impressive enough for a town to have one National Treasure, but Inuyama boasts a second national treasure, the tea house at Uraku-en. The garden grounds are a sight to behold on their own, but the truly unique feature is the 400-year-old tea house designed by a master of tea ceremony.

Your guide will inform you about the art of the tea ceremony as you sip Matcha tea and enjoy a traditional Japanese sweet in this peaceful setting. 

Your guide will then accompany you back to the train station where you can take a train back towards Nagoya, or you can elect to continue your journey elsewhere in the region. Feel free to ask the guide for dinner recommendations or instructions back to your hotel.

Meetup Points

NAGOYA STATION @ 9:00

The meetup point is at the base of the SILVER clock tower outside of the Shinkansen gates. 

If you are arriving via Shinkansen, the clock tower should be located directly in front of you as you exit the gate.

If you are arriving via a JR line, please look for signs directing you towards the Taiko-Dori Gate. The silver clock is located inside the station just before the Taiko-Dori exit.

For those coming from outside the station, you will most likely be entering through the Sakura-Dori gate (the side with the gold clock). In this case, please walk straight through the station towards the Taiko-Dori Gate. The silver clock is located inside the station just before the Taiko-Dori exit.

You may wait nearby there until the tour begins at 9:00 A.M. Be sure to look for the guide holding a SNOW MONKEY RESORTS tour sign. We highly recommend arriving early as Nagoya station can be quite crowded. 

Notes

Included

• (your choice of) English, Spanish, French or Chinese speaking guide*
• Entry fee at Inuyama Castle
• Entry fee at Uraku Garden
• Matcha Experience
• round-trip transportation on train from Nagoya

*Please note that the languages offered are subject to our guide's availabilities.

Excluded

• Lunch
• Accommodation

Other Information

• This tour involves several hours of walking outdoors. We recommend that you wear shoes and clothes which are easy to walk in. Please check the weather forecast before you head to the meetup point and prepare an umbrella or raincoat if necessary.
• In the summer, temperature highs are around 35 °C (95 °F) and above with extreme humidity. We recommend wearing something light and airy while minding sunburn and heatstroke. A parasol is highly encouraged.
• Winter temperatures in Nagoya average between 0℃-10℃ (32°F-50°F). Please wear warm clothing and footwear appropriate for cold conditions.
• This tour uses public transportation (trains) for transportation to/from Nagoya.
• There will be free time along the way for guests to purchase souvenirs to remember their trip.