A Walk Through History and Aesthetics: Exploring the Craftsmanship and Beauty of the Tokugawa Legacy
The eastern expanse of Nagoya Castle’s Ninomaru area is home to quietly enduring remnants of the Edo period, including the Soketsu Site (former teahouse ruins), the Northern Culvert, and the Nanban Plaster Wall. In this article, we’ll guide you through the historical context and highlights of each site, unveiling a lesser-known yet equally fascinating side of Nagoya Castle.
Soketsu Site (Former Teahouse Ruins)
🏛 Overview
The Soketsu Site is located within the Ninomaru Garden of Nagoya Castle and marks the remains of a teahouse built during the late Edo period, specifically around the Bunsei era (1818–1830). Several pavilions and guest spaces were constructed in the garden to accommodate visits from shoguns and members of the Tokugawa Gosanke (the three branch families of the Tokugawa clan). Of these, Soketsu was the largest and most prominent teahouse structure.
Today, the layout of the building—its pillars and foundation stones—has been outlined with stones and carefully preserved, allowing visitors to visualize the scale and elegance of this historical tea pavilion.
🗺 Address:
1-1 Honmaru, Naka-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, inside Ninomaru Garden
🚶 Access:
Approx. 1-minute walk (100m) from Ninomaru East Garden
⏳ Recommended Visit Duration:
- Quick Visit: ~5 minutes
- In-Depth Visit: ~15 minutes
📍 Highlights:
🔹 Soketsu Site (Teahouse Ruins): The layout of foundation stones and pillars allows visitors to appreciate the architectural scale of the former teahouse.
🔹 Site Preservation Based on Excavation: The teahouse layout, based on findings from a 1977 archaeological survey and historical records such as the Gojō Goten Garden Map, has been marked out with stones.
🔹 Seasonal Experience: In spring, the surrounding garden is adorned with cherry blossoms, offering a scenic contrast between nature and historical remains.
📌 Trivia:
- Historical Background: Among six known teahouses, Soketsu was the largest and built in the elegant sukiya-zukuri style.
- Hidden Detail: No commemorative plaques are present; instead, the building’s shape is marked by stones and gravel, encouraging visitors to use their imagination.
- Famous Connections: Built as a reception facility for visiting shoguns and feudal lords of the Owari domain, it played a central role in welcoming distinguished guests.
Northern Culvert (Kita Ankyo)
🏛 Overview
The Northern Culvert is part of an underground drainage system built in the eastern garden section of the Ninomaru area. This important historical infrastructure reflects the advanced civil engineering of Edo-period castle design. It was used to collect rainwater from around the palace buildings using stone gutters and channel it through hidden culverts into the castle moat—demonstrating the castle’s meticulous attention to hygiene and flood prevention.
The structure has been preserved in its original state as found during excavations and is currently open for public viewing.
🗺 Address:
1-1 Honmaru, Naka-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, inside Ninomaru East Garden
🚶 Access:
Approx. 1-minute walk (70m) from Soketsu Site
⏳ Recommended Visit Duration:
- Quick Look: ~5 minutes
- Closer Observation: ~10 minutes
📍 Highlights:
🔹 Exposed Culvert Structure: The original drainage system remains visible on-site, providing a rare look at Edo-period infrastructure.
🔹 Stone Gutter Design: Constructed with different materials for the cover stones and side stones, offering insight into the period’s engineering ingenuity.
🔹 Seasonal Experience: In spring, the nearby cherry blossoms enhance the contemplative atmosphere of this historical site.
📌 Trivia:
- Historical Insight: Far more than a drainage feature, the culvert was a critical part of the castle’s environmental control system, carefully designed to redirect water to the moat.
- Hidden Detail: The culvert uses granite cover stones and hard sandstone side stones, showcasing sophisticated construction techniques and durability.
- Famous Connections: This infrastructure supported the living environment of the Owari feudal lords and their honored guests, playing a behind-the-scenes role in their comfort.
📜 Original On-Site Signboard (Full Transcription)
“The remains of the culvert-style drainage system on the outer edge of the garden, as seen in the Gojō Goten Garden Map, have been preserved in the same condition as when they were excavated.
According to the map, there used to be a flowerbed nearby.
This structure corresponds to the ‘Stone Water Conduit’ mentioned in the Kinjo Onkoroku and continues to channel rainwater from the garden into the moat.
The culvert materials include granite cover stones and hard sandstone side stones.”
📎 Note:
The original signage has become weathered and difficult to read over time. The full transcription is provided here to aid visitor understanding.
Nanban Plaster Wall (Nanban Neri Bei)
🏛 Overview
Located on the northern edge of the Ninomaru area, the Nanban Plaster Wall is a rare and distinctive Edo-period structure. Unlike typical earthen walls, this one was constructed without wooden pillars or planks, using a method called “Nanban Tataki”—a mixture of clay and gravel kneaded with lime and oil, then solidified. This made the wall exceptionally durable.
Round gun ports (teppō-zama) were incorporated into the design, giving the wall a defensive function. Although only a small portion of the wall remains today, it is considered a valuable historical artifact that speaks to the military sophistication of Nagoya Castle.
🗺 Address:
1-1 Honmaru, Naka-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, northern edge of Ninomaru
🚶 Access:
Approx. 1-minute walk (100m) from the Northern Culvert
⏳ Recommended Visit Duration:
- Quick Look: ~5 minutes
- In-Depth Visit: ~10 minutes
📍 Highlights:
- Nanban Plaster Wall: Built with unique materials and techniques, featuring circular gun ports for castle defense.
- Ninomaru Garden Nearby: The adjacent scenic garden is a designated cultural property, offering stunning seasonal views.
- Seasonal Beauty: Cherry blossoms in spring and colorful leaves in autumn enhance the charm of the area.
📌 Trivia:
- Historical Background: The “Nanban Tataki” technique used in this wall was state-of-the-art for its time and helped boost the castle’s defenses.
- Hidden Detail: Its unconventional structure sets it apart from other castle walls and makes it a point of interest for history enthusiasts.
- Famous Connections: The construction of Nagoya Castle—including this wall—was supervised by Tokugawa Ieyasu and involved military architects like Kato Kiyomasa.
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