Inuyama Castle was founded in 1469 and is both a National Treasure of Japan and a Historic Site of Japan. It is a hirayamajiro, a castle built on a hill rising out of flat land, and the keep is the heart of the visit.
The trade-off is the queue. There is no reservation system, so at busy times everyone lines up at the keep entrance and climbs in turn, and entry can be restricted when it gets crowded; the castle posts current waiting times on its website. Because the keep is a protected cultural property, there is no lift or other equipment inside it, and it has no toilets or rest area, so use the toilets by the entrance gate before you join the line.
The keep itself is off-limits for food, and only drinks in closable bottles or flasks are allowed inside, to guard against heatstroke. A packed lunch can instead be eaten in the Honmaru, the paid area just inside the entrance gate, as long as you take your rubbish home. For a proper meal, the castle town below has places to eat and rest. After dark the castle is lit up year-round except on designated light-down days, though it can only be seen from outside once it has closed.
Family FAQ
What are the opening hours of Inuyama Castle?
Open 9 am to 5 pm.
Do you need to book Inuyama Castle in advance?
There are no reservations; at busy times expect to wait in line at the keep entrance.
Where are the toilets at Inuyama Castle?
No toilets inside the keep; they are on the right just inside the entrance gate, in the paid area.
