Visiting Inuyama: a day trip from Nagoya to Inuyama Castle and its castle town — tickets, hours and the Meitetsu discount ticket

Inuyama is a castle town about 25 minutes from Nagoya by Meitetsu. According to its official site, Inuyama Castle, a National Treasure, has the oldest surviving castle keep in Japan; admission is 1,000 yen for adults and 200 yen for elementary and junior high school students, and it is open 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30). The castle town spreads out within a 20-minute walk of Inuyama Station, so you can explore on foot. Meitetsu's Inuyama Castle Town Ticket combines a return train trip from Meitetsu Nagoya Station with castle admission for 1,950 yen for adults. This article explains how to do Inuyama as a day trip from Nagoya.

What kind of castle is Inuyama Castle?

Inuyama Castle is designated a National Treasure. Its official site describes the keep as the oldest surviving one in Japan and says the castle is said to have been built around 1537. In the Michelin Green Guide, Inuyama Castle has two stars, and so does the town of Inuyama. From the top of the keep you can look out over the town and the river. Combined with the castle town, it makes a relaxed half-day to full-day trip, and being close to Nagoya, it is easy to fit into one day of a longer trip.

Nagoya Castle or Inuyama Castle?

If you have time, see both, but knowing the difference helps you choose. As of 3 November 2026, Nagoya Castle's keep is closed, but you can tour the Honmaru Palace; admission is 1,000 yen for adults and free for junior high school students and younger. At Inuyama Castle you can climb the keep, which its official site calls the oldest surviving keep in Japan; admission is 1,000 yen for adults and 200 yen for elementary and junior high school students. Choose Inuyama if you want to climb a keep and take in the view, or Nagoya if you want to tour the inside of the Honmaru Palace. Both are easy day trips from a stay in Nagoya.

How can you avoid the busiest times?

Inuyama Castle's official site says entry may be limited when it is crowded. No quiet times are published, but leaving Nagoya to arrive for the 9:00 opening makes it easier to climb the keep at a relaxed pace. At about 25 minutes from Nagoya, an early start is no hardship. If your schedule allows, going on a weekday rather than a weekend is another option.

How do you get from Nagoya to Inuyama?

From Meitetsu Nagoya Station it is about 25 minutes to Inuyama Station by Meitetsu; the Inuyama tourism association gives about 25 minutes by Limited Express or μSKY. The castle town spreads out within a 20-minute walk of Inuyama Station, so you can walk through it to the castle. You can also go straight from Central Japan International Airport to Inuyama Station by Meitetsu: 57 minutes by μSKY, with a fare of 1,510 yen, according to Meitetsu's official site.

What is the Inuyama Castle Town Ticket?

Meitetsu's Inuyama Castle Town Ticket (Inuyama Jokamachi Kippu) bundles the train to Inuyama with admission to Inuyama Castle. According to Meitetsu's official site, it includes these 4 items:

• A discounted Meitetsu return train ticket (to Inuyama-Yuen Station from the Nagoya direction)
• An Inuyama Castle admission ticket
• A discount ticket for Urakuen garden
• Coupons for the Inuyama castle town

From Meitetsu Nagoya Station it costs 1,950 yen for adults, and there is no child version. It is sold from 1 March 2026 to 28 February 2027, including on the day of use (not sold on 29–31 December 2026 or 26 January 2027). The train ticket, castle admission and Urakuen discount ticket are valid for 2 consecutive days from first use. The coupons cannot be used for castle or Urakuen admission and can be used at up to 3 shops. It is not sold at Seto Line stations, Inuyama Station or Inuyama-Yuen Station, so buy it at your departure station, such as Meitetsu Nagoya. Selling stations are listed on Meitetsu's official site.

How should you walk the castle town?

Inuyama's castle town spreads out within a 20-minute walk of Inuyama Station. The Inuyama tourism association asks visitors to explore on foot because the streets are narrow and cars cause congestion. Coming by train from Nagoya, you can walk without hunting for parking or sitting in traffic. From Inuyama Station, walk through the castle-town streets towards the castle, then take a different street back to the station so you see more of the town without retracing your steps. You can see the castle or the town first, but as last entry to the castle is 16:30, do the castle first if you arrive in the afternoon.

What else can you see besides the castle?

• Urakuen: a garden with Joan, a tea house that is a National Treasure. In the Michelin Green Guide, Urakuen has one star and Joan one star. The Inuyama Castle Town Ticket includes a discount on entry
• Museum Meiji-mura: one star in the Michelin Green Guide. Check Meiji-mura's official site for how to get there from Inuyama and how long it takes
• Eating your way around the castle town: the Inuyama Castle Town Ticket coupons can be used at shops in the town (up to 3 shops)

Visiting with children

Inuyama Castle admission is 200 yen for elementary and junior high school students. The Inuyama Castle Town Ticket has no child version, so children's train fares and admission are paid separately: adults use the Inuyama Castle Town Ticket, and children use regular tickets and pay admission. The castle town is explored on foot, so families with small children should pick a few places to see and build in rest stops.

Go back to Nagoya, or stay in Inuyama?

At about 25 minutes from Nagoya, a day trip is enough for most people. Staying in Nagoya means you don't change hotels and can leave your luggage behind. Even if you spend until evening in Inuyama, you can be back in Nagoya for dinner. As the Inuyama Castle Town Ticket is valid for 2 consecutive days, on a day of bad weather you could walk a little of the town on day 1 and climb the castle on day 2.

How to plan the day

• Morning: buy the Inuyama Castle Town Ticket at Meitetsu Nagoya Station and take Meitetsu to Inuyama (about 25 minutes)
• Late morning: climb Inuyama Castle (open from 9:00)
• Lunch: walk the castle town and eat, using your coupons
• Afternoon: visit Urakuen, or keep exploring the town
• Evening: Meitetsu back to Nagoya, with Nagoya food for dinner

If you are staying in Nagoya, you can leave your big luggage at your stay and travel light to Inuyama. The Inuyama Castle Town Ticket is valid for 2 consecutive days, so you can also split the visit over 2 days.

Where in Nagoya is convenient for Inuyama?

Trains to Inuyama leave from Meitetsu Nagoya Station, so a stay with easy access to Nagoya Station is convenient. Central Nagoya has private stays in Nakamura Ward, west of Nagoya Station. House and Residence are 7 and 2 minutes' walk from Nakamura Koen Station, 4 stops (about 7 minutes, 240 yen) from Nagoya Station on the Higashiyama subway line. Stays is 4 minutes' walk from Taiko-dori Station, 1 stop from Nagoya Station on the Sakura-dori Line. All have a kitchen and a washing machine (or washer-dryer), plus a 10% long-stay discount.

• Small towns to visit from Nagoya →
• Things to do only in Aichi →
• From Centrair airport to your stay in Nagoya →

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