- Immerse Yourself in History at Nagoya Castle and Savor the Refined Spirit of Owari Through Local Sake
- History and Highlights of Nagoya Castle
- Recommended Sake Breweries Near Nagoya Castle
- Recommended Sake Selection from Around Nagoya Castle
- Model Course: Nagoya Castle and Sake Brewery Tour
- Frequently Asked Questions
Immerse Yourself in History at Nagoya Castle and Savor the Refined Spirit of Owari Through Local Sake
Table of Contents
- History and Highlights of Nagoya Castle
- Recommended Sake Breweries Near Nagoya Castle
- Recommended Sake Selection from Around Nagoya Castle
- Model Course: Nagoya Castle and Sake Brewery Tour
Introduction
Built by Tokugawa Ieyasu, Nagoya Castle flourished as the residence of the Owari Tokugawa family. Only a few sake breweries remain in Nagoya City, and some of them have ties to the castle.
This article introduces the history and highlights of Nagoya Castle, sake breweries you can visit from the castle, local sake worth trying in Nagoya, and a model course that combines sightseeing with brewery visits.
History and Highlights of Nagoya Castle
A castle built by Tokugawa Ieyasu and its restored Honmaru Palace
After his victory at the Battle of Sekigahara, Tokugawa Ieyasu ordered 20 feudal lords to begin building Nagoya Castle in 1610, and the main keep was completed in 1612. Throughout the Edo period, the castle was the seat of the Owari Tokugawa family, the most senior of the three Tokugawa branch houses. When the castle was built, the whole town of Kiyosu moved here (the “Kiyosu-goshi”), and the grid-patterned castle town laid out at that time became the basis of today’s Nagoya. The keep and Honmaru Palace were destroyed in an air raid in 1945; the keep was rebuilt in 1959, and the castle site is designated a Special Historic Site of Japan.
- Honmaru Palace: Completed in 1615 as the residence and government office of the Owari lord. It was reconstructed based on historical records and completed in 2018. The Jorakuden, added before the third shogun Iemitsu stayed at the castle, is the most lavishly decorated part of the palace.
- Ninomaru Garden and the corner turrets: The garden is a national Place of Scenic Beauty and the turrets are Important Cultural Properties, preserving structures and remains from the castle’s early years (the turrets are usually closed to the public).
- Main keep: Currently closed due to earthquake-resistance and other issues. At the staircase experience hall “Step Nagoya,” you can try a full-size model of the stairs built for the planned wooden reconstruction.
The castle grounds are open 9:00–16:30 (last entry to the Honmaru Palace and the Nishinomaru Okura Treasure Museum is 16:00) and are closed December 29–January 1. Adult admission is 1,000 yen (revised on October 1, 2026; free for junior high school students and younger).
Recommended Sake Breweries Near Nagoya Castle
The Local Sake Culture and Brewery Passion Rooted in the Castle Town
Only a handful of breweries still operate within Nagoya City, but Kintora Shuzo in Kita Ward and Toshun Shuzo in Moriyama Ward can both be reached from Nagoya Castle by train, bus, and on foot. We also introduce Kamisugi Shuzo in Anjo City as a slightly longer side trip.
1. Kintora Shuzo: A Historic Brewery in the Heart of the City
Kintora Shuzo is a sake brewery in Kita Ward, Nagoya, founded in 1845 (Koka 2). It has long made sake by hand using the techniques of Echigo toji (master brewers), and it also uses Aichi-grown sake rice such as Yumesansui, Yumeginko, and Wakamizu. The name “Kintora” (golden tiger) comes from the castle’s golden shachihoko and from the brewery’s third head, who was born in the Year of the Tiger.
According to the brewery, its style is based on the Echigo tradition: light, clean, and easy to drink. Besides “Kintora” and “Kohen,” it makes sake named after the castle, such as “Daiginjo Nagoya-jo Honmaru Goten,” brewed since 1991 in hopes of the palace’s restoration, and “Junmai Daiginjo Nagoya-jo,” released in 2020. Brewery tours are held by reservation only on Wednesdays from mid-May to September. They start at 10:30, last about 90 minutes, and include tastings of four sakes for 1,000 yen (up to 10 people; as of September 2026).
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Brewery | Kintora Shuzo (Kita Ward, Nagoya) |
| Founded | 1845 (Koka 2) |
| Main Brands | Kintora, Kohen, Junmai Daiginjo Nagoya-jo, etc. |
| Features | Urban brewery; hand-crafted in the Echigo toji tradition; also uses Aichi Prefecture sake rice |
| Tours | Available (Wednesdays only, mid-May to September; reservation required; 1,000 yen) |
| Tasting | Tour includes tastings of 4 sakes (other options should be confirmed) |
| Access | Approx. 15-minute walk from Ozone Station (JR Chuo Line, Meitetsu Seto Line, subway) / in front of the “Yamada” city bus stop |
2. Toshun Shuzo: Inheriting the Owari Tradition with “Azuma Ryu”
Toshun Shuzo is a brewery in Moriyama Ward, Nagoya, founded in 1865 (Genji 2), and its flagship brand is “Azuma Ryu.” It brews with sake rice such as Yamada Nishiki, Yumeginko, and Gohyakumangoku, and with Kiso River underground water drawn from its own well.
“Azuma Ryu Tokubetsu Junmai Tatsutaya,” named after the brewery’s original trade name, is described by the brewery as having a delicate, clean umami and a fine-textured mouthfeel. The founder is said to have built the brewery with timber intended for renovating Nagoya Castle’s turrets, and the original brewery building still stands on its high stone wall. Tours require a phone reservation.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Brewery | Toshun Shuzo (Moriyama Ward, Nagoya) |
| Founded | 1865 (Genji 2) |
| Main Brands | Azuma Ryu (Tokubetsu Junmai Tatsutaya, etc.) |
| Features | Uses Yamada Nishiki, Yumeginko, Gohyakumangoku, etc.; brewed with Kiso River underground water from the brewery well |
| Tours | Available (phone reservation required; Saturdays Nov-Apr, Mondays May-Oct, from 14:00) |
| Tasting | Contact the brewery (closed Sundays) |
| Access | Approx. 16-minute walk from Shin-Moriyama Station on the JR Chuo Line |
3. Kamisugi Shuzo: A Historic Anjo Brewery Using Aichi-Grown Rice
Located a little outside Nagoya in Anjo City, Aichi Prefecture, Kamisugi Shuzo was founded in 1805 (Bunka 2). Its main brands include “Ginjo Kamisugi,” “Junmai Ginjo Sugi no Mai,” and “Honjozo Jinsei Gekijo.” Most of its sake rice is Yumesansui from Oku-Mikawa and Wakamizu, a variety developed at the agricultural research station in Anjo; the brewery buys the rice unpolished and mills all of it in-house.
Its brewing water is soft, low-mineral water from a well on the premises, fed by underground water from the Yahagi River. Brewery tours are available year-round (the brewing season runs from October to March; weekends are generally not possible) between 10:00 and 16:00; reserve by phone in advance. Visitors can take home brewing water free of charge, so bring a bottle if you would like some (as of September 2026).
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Brewery | Kamisugi Shuzo (Anjo City, Aichi Prefecture) |
| Founded | 1805 (Bunka 2) |
| Main Brands | Ginjo Kamisugi, Junmai Ginjo Sugi no Mai, Honjozo Jinsei Gekijo, etc. |
| Features | Mainly Aichi-grown rice such as Yumesansui and Wakamizu; 100% in-house milling; brewed with soft well water from the premises |
| Tours | Available (reservation required; weekdays 10:00-16:00, generally not on weekends) |
| Tasting | Contact the brewery |
| Access | Approx. 10 minutes by taxi from Anjo Station on the JR Tokaido Main Line |
Recommended Sake Selection from Around Nagoya Castle
Local Sake to Savor When Visiting Nagoya Castle
Here are three sakes from breweries connected to Nagoya Castle, which you can find at brewery shops and at liquor stores and restaurants in the city, along with their flavor, serving style, and food pairings.
1. Kintora Junmai Daiginjo | Kintora Shuzo (Kita Ward, Nagoya)
Kintora Shuzo’s junmai daiginjo bearing the brewery’s name was first released in 2022, a Year of the Tiger. It is made with Hyogo-grown Yamada Nishiki polished to 40%, and the brewery describes a refined ginjo aroma reminiscent of green apple and pear, a silky texture, and a clean finish. Enjoy its aroma from a wine glass; it goes well with delicate dishes such as hitsumabushi (grilled eel on rice) and white fish sashimi.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Brewery | Kintora Shuzo (Kita Ward, Nagoya) |
| Type | Junmai Daiginjo (Yamada Nishiki, polished to 40%) |
| Flavor | Ginjo aroma of green apple and pear; gentle sweetness and rice umami; clean finish |
| Serving Style | Well chilled / Enjoy the aroma in a wine glass |
| Food Pairing | Hitsumabushi, tempura, white fish sashimi, etc. |
2. Azuma Ryu Tokubetsu Junmai Tatsutaya | Toshun Shuzo (Moriyama Ward, Nagoya)
A tokubetsu junmai named after Tatsutaya, Toshun Shuzo’s original trade name. Made with Yamada Nishiki, it is described by the brewery as having a delicate, clean umami and a fine-textured mouthfeel. It can be enjoyed chilled, at room temperature, or gently warmed, so try it at different temperatures with Nagoya dishes such as miso nikomi udon or tebasaki chicken wings.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Brewery | Toshun Shuzo (Moriyama Ward, Nagoya) |
| Type | Tokubetsu Junmai (Yamada Nishiki) |
| Flavor | Delicate, clean umami; fine-textured mouthfeel |
| Serving Style | Chilled, room temperature, or gently warmed |
| Food Pairing | Miso nikomi udon, tebasaki (chicken wings), grilled fish, etc. |
3. Junmai Daiginjo Nagoya-jo | Kintora Shuzo (Kita Ward, Nagoya)
A junmai daiginjo named after Nagoya Castle and released in 2020. It is brewed from Aichi-grown Yumesansui and Yumeginko rice polished to 50%, and the brewery highlights an aroma of ripe apple, a glossy umami, and a long finish. The brewery’s product page lists “Judaime Gisuke” in Kinshachi Yokocho at Nagoya Castle as a place to buy it, so it is easy to pick up during your castle visit.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Brewery | Kintora Shuzo (Kita Ward, Nagoya) |
| Type | Junmai Daiginjo (Yumesansui and Yumeginko, polished to 50%) |
| Flavor | Aroma of ripe apple; soft sweetness and glossy umami |
| Serving Style | Chilled / In a wine glass |
| Food Pairing | Nagoya Cochin chicken dishes, white fish, cheese, etc. |
[Bonus: Where to Drink and Buy]
Here are places where you can taste or buy sake along with your Nagoya Castle visit.
| Shop Name | Features | Location / Access |
|---|---|---|
| Judaime Gisuke (Kinshachi Yokocho) | Sells Aichi local sake, umeshu, and craft beer; paid tastings available | Yoshinao Zone of Kinshachi Yokocho, in front of Nagoya Castle’s main gate |
| Kintora Shuzo Direct Shop | The brewery’s own shop; weekdays 10:00–17:00 (closed weekends and holidays) | Approx. 15-min walk from Ozone Station (JR Chuo Line, Meitetsu Seto Line, subway) |
| Toshun Shuzo | Sake available for purchase at the brewery (ask about tastings) | Approx. 16-min walk from Shin-Moriyama Station on the JR Chuo Line |
| Shusendo Horiichi | Specialty liquor shop with a diverse selection of Aichi’s finest sake | 8-min walk from Higashi-Biwajima Station on the Meitetsu Nagoya Main Line (main store) |
| Sekai no Yamachan (Main Branch) | An izakaya where you can enjoy tebasaki chicken wings alongside local sake | Sakae area (Sakae, Naka Ward) |
| Sakatsuya Nakamise | Casual izakaya-style tavern where you can also enjoy Aichi local sake | Sakae Mori no Chikagai underground mall (Minami Ichibangai), directly connected to Sakae Station |
Model Course: Nagoya Castle and Sake Brewery Tour
Castle sightseeing and local sake in one day
From Nagoya-jo Station, the Meijo Subway Line takes you to Ozone Station near Kintora Shuzo, and from Ozone it is one stop on the JR Chuo Line to Shin-Moriyama Station near Toshun Shuzo. Brewery tours run only on certain days, so choose the course that fits your schedule (information as of September 2026).
Course 1 | Weekdays: Nagoya Castle and Kintora Shuzo’s shop
- 9:00 Nagoya Castle. Allow about 1 to 1.5 hours, focusing on the Honmaru Palace and Ninomaru Garden.
- Lunch Nagoya specialties at the Yoshinao Zone of Kinshachi Yokocho, in front of the main gate. “Judaime Gisuke” sells Aichi local sake and offers paid tastings.
- Afternoon Take the Meijo Line to Ozone Station and walk about 15 minutes to Kintora Shuzo’s shop (weekdays 10:00–17:00; closed weekends and holidays).
- Evening Enjoy Nagoya cuisine and local sake at an izakaya in the Sakae or Fushimi area.
Course 2 | Timing your trip with a brewery tour
- Kintora Shuzo (Wednesdays only, mid-May to September): Tours start at 10:30 and last about 90 minutes (up to 10 people; reservation required). Visit the brewery in the morning and Nagoya Castle in the afternoon.
- Toshun Shuzo (from 14:00 on Saturdays from November to April and on Mondays from May to October; no tours on Monday holidays; reserve by phone): See Nagoya Castle in the morning, then after lunch travel via Ozone to Shin-Moriyama Station. The brewery is about a 16-minute walk from the station.
On days when you plan to taste sake, do not drive; use public transportation.
