After seeing the Honmaru Goten (main palace), I moved on to the heart of the castle: the Tenshukaku (main keep). As always, it's probably better to check out what the experts have to say before reading my explanations or post. See Wikipedia (if we can even call Wikipedia an expert...).
Personally, I think paying the admission fee for Nagoya Castle is worth it just to get this one photo.Kinshachi (golden tiger-headed carp). If Seoul's symbol is the Haechi, Nagoya's symbol is this Kinshachi perched atop Nagoya Castle. I was disappointed that I couldn't see the real ones very well, but there's a massive replica sitting right on the first floor of the main keep.Nagoya Castle was originally a 5-story structure, but it was rebuilt with 7 stories. I'm not sure if you can even call this historically accurate. Even though it was reconstructed quite a while ago, it's a shame because what I really wanted to see was the greatness of Tokugawa Ieyasu from 400 years ago.Step inside, and you're greeted by a modern space that looks completely different from the exterior.The Kinshachi replica at Nagoya Castle. I wondered what this creature was to be enshrined like this, but after reading about it, it's exactly like Korea's Haechi. The mass-produced (?) version without the gold plating is called a Shachihoko.
The inside of the castle is set up as a museum. It mostly houses the legacy of the Tokugawa clan. It's nice to be able to feel a bit of that era, but like most history museums, you get tired of it after a while.
You could say I came all the way here just to see this crest.A machine that tests how heavy the stones and wood were that the actual laborers had to lift. It seems most people max out around 30.
Head up to the top of the Tenshukaku, and you get a view of downtown Nagoya. The sky is incredibly clear, probably because there's no yellow dust here.
Despite the cold weather, the city looks truly beautiful.
Personally, I thought the most valuable pieces were the paintings left behind from the Tokugawa era in 1634. They were displayed on the first floor, and they offer a slight glimpse into the Sengoku (Warring States) period for those disappointed by the replicas and questionable historical accuracy. The paintings focus on fine, detailed brushwork in a distinctly Japanese style.
Fitting for the land of samurai, the swords are also well displayed.A scene showing the Tenshukaku being bombed.A miniature model of downtown Nagoya in the past.After finishing the tour inside the Tenshukaku and stepping out, you'll find a single tree that survived the fires that burned down the keep.These stones mark the original foundation of the Tenshukaku.It seems hobbies are pretty similar whether you're in Korea or Japan.Meanwhile, I completely failed to adjust my focus.Personally, I think Nagoya Castle looks prettiest from exactly this distance, framed against the sky.
Maybe I had my hopes up too high, but the closer I got to Nagoya Castle, the more the inaccurate historical details stood out, and I couldn't shake the feeling that it was somewhat ruined. It's supposedly the most beautiful castle when the cherry blossoms bloom, and it looks imposing from afar, but because it's made of reinforced concrete, it completely lacks any antique charm. I don't know why Korea and Japan are so similar when it comes to this bad habit of doing half-baked restorations.
#How does it make sense to rebuild a 5-story castle as 7 stories #Our Korean palaces were also patched up with cement #It looks prettiest in photos from afar #Still a great place for a walk
