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

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

The golden statue of Oda Nobunaga (in front of Gifu Station) This guide lists the best “Nobunaga-related” spots you can visit from Gifu Station, with realistic walking & bus time estimates.Quick answer: First-timers should do “Golden Statue (Station) → (Bus) ...

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 Pilgrimage Guide｜Taiga Drama Museum + 3 Must-See Spots

NHK’s 2026 Taiga drama, Toyotomi Brothers!, has officially begun—launching a sweeping Sengoku-era story told through the intertwined perspectives of the man who rose to rule Japan, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and his younger brother Toyotomi Hidenaga, celebrated as the era’s finest “second-in-command.” ...

Walking Nobunaga’s Path: The Complete Guide to Kiyosu

Kiyosu is a compact, walkable “starting line” for Nobunaga, Hideyoshi, and the early Tokugawa era—easy to visit as a half-day side trip from Nagoya. This guide helps you do it smoothly on foot, with a simple route, realistic timing, and ...

Nagoya Nakamura Ward Travel Guide: Toyotomi Hideyoshi & Hidenaga’s “Brothers in Arms” Heritage Sites

For those looking forward to the 2026 Taiga drama “Toyotomi Brothers!”—officially titled “Brothers in Arms” in English—this is for you. Nakamura Ward in Nagoya City is known as the “starting point of the story,” where the Toyotomi brothers are said ...

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 ...