Nagoya-Gifu Region

A Journey Through History: Exploring Castles and Samurai Legends

The Nagoya (Aichi) and Gifu area is the ancestral land of legendary warlords who once ruled during Japan’s tumultuous Warring States period. This region is famously known as the birthplace of the Three Great Unifiers of Japan—Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu—who played pivotal roles in bringing the Sengoku era to an end and unifying the nation.

It was also from this very region that other prominent samurai such as Maeda Toshiie, Kato Kiyomasa, and Fukushima Masanori emerged—many of whom would later become powerful feudal lords across the country. These men shaped the course of Japanese history, and the area stands as the silent stage of their rise to power.

With its majestic castles like Nagoya Castle and Gifu Castle, traces of historic battlefields, and towns that still echo the footsteps of ancient warriors, this is more than a sightseeing trip—it’s a journey to the very origin of Japanese history. Walking through this land, you’ll feel as if you’ve stepped into the pages of a living chronicle.

Historical Sites and Castles Across the Region

Toyotomi Museum in Nagoya Nakamura | Step Behind the Scenes of the Taiga Drama Toyotomi Brothers!

Costumes, Props, and the Actors' Own Words — A Deeper Look at the Taiga Drama Nakamura Park is already a destination for history enthusiasts — it's home to the monument marking the birthplace of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, as well as Toyokuni ...

Gifu Castle Visitor Guide 2026 — Ruins, Routes & What to See During the Closure

Gifu Castle – Main Keep 📌 Key Closure Information for Your 2026 Visit ・Gifu Castle Museum: Closed from April 1, 2026 through late October 2027 ・Gifu Castle Keep: Closed from May 19, 2026 through late October 2027 (reopening planned for ...

Toyotomi Brothers! Exploring Sunomata Ichiya Castle: A Guide to the Site and the Taikōki Legend

If the NHK Taiga drama Toyotomi Brothers! trailer made you curious about “Sunomata (the One-Night Castle),” this guide is for you. Below is a visitor-friendly, easy-to-follow breakdown of how to get to Sunomata Ichiya Castle (Ogaki City Sunomata Historical Museum), ...

Exploring Nobunaga’s Gifu: A Practical Guide to Sites, Transit, and Goshuin

The Golden Oda Nobunaga Statue in front of Gifu Station 📌 Gifu Castle — Temporary Closure (Seismic Reinforcement Works):· Museum: Final admission March 31, 2026 (closed from April 1)· Castle Keep: Final admission May 18, 2026 (closed from May 19)Both ...

The Complete Komakiyama Castle Travel Guide

The 2026 Taiga drama Toyotomi Brothers!—a story that begins in Kiyosu—soon shifts its stage to Komakiyama Castle, a strategic stronghold in northern Owari. Built by Oda Nobunaga, this castle—after his death—became one of the largest direct battlegrounds where Hashiba (Toyotomi) ...

The Complete Inuyama Castle Travel Guide: Honmachi Street Route, the Main Tower, and Urakuen Garden

Inuyama Castle is a classic one-day route where you can cover “National Treasure Keep + Castle Town (Honmachi-dori) + Urakuen Garden (Jo-an)” in a single day. This route is ideal for travelers who want to come by public transportation, stroll ...

Toyotomi Brothers! Nagahama Guide — The Drama Museum and Every Site Worth Seeing

Nagahama is not just a town where the world of the NHK Taiga Drama Toyotomi Brothers! is presented through museum displays — it's a town where the brothers' story grows more vivid with every step you take. Toyotomi Hideyoshi was ...

Walking Nobunaga’s Path: The Complete Guide to Kiyosu

I visited Kiyosu on a cold winter morning, crossing the vermilion Ōte Bridge as mist lifted from the Gojō River. What struck me first was how small and walkable everything is — Kiyosu's entire Sengoku circuit fits into 60 minutes ...

“Toyotomi Brothers!” Drama Locations: Nagoya Nakamura Walking Guide

Brothers in Arms Pilgrimage: Nagoya Nakamura Walking Guide For those planning a visit inspired by the 2026 Taiga drama "Toyotomi Brothers!" (officially "Brothers in Arms")—this guide is for you. Nakamura Ward in Nagoya City is known as the “starting point ...

Nagoya Castle – Table of Contents

Walking Through Nagoya Castle — Timeless Stone Walls and the Architectural Grandeur of the Tokugawa Era The legacy of Nagoya Castle traces back to the turbulent Sengoku period. Originally, a fortress named Nagono Castle stood on this site, built in ...