Exploring Nagoya: Nagoya Castle, Hitsumabushi, and the 71st Matsuri

 1. Nagoya Castle — Pretty from the Outside, but Closed for Visitors

1-1 Honmaru, Naka Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 460-0031, Japan

Nagoya Castle was having a free open‑house day due to the ongoing Nagoya Matsuri, which normally would be perfect — except the main castle tower has actually been closed to visitors since 2018. So even though the grounds were open, the interior wasn’t accessible.

We still walked around the exterior, and the castle is genuinely pretty from the outside. The combination of green roofs with its golden shachihoko shimmering and clean white walls,  the entire castle looks very striking. It photographs beautifully and has a calm vibe despite the festival crowd.

As for the Honmaru Palace, it looked impressive and is well‑known for its gold leaf screens and restored interiors. But unfortunately, we didn’t have enough time to visit it properly, so we skipped it this round.

Overall, our stop at Nagoya Castle was short — more of a visual appreciation from the outside rather than a deep dive inside — but it was still a nice way to start the day.

2. Lunch — Nagoya’s Signature Hitsumabushi

Hitsumabushi Bincho Kinshachi Yokocho Branch

1 Chome-2-5 Sannomaru, Naka Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 460-0001, Japan

For lunch, we wanted to try hitsumabushi, a classic Nagoya specialty. It’s a dish of grilled eel (unagi) served over rice in a wooden container, with the eel grilled over charcoal and coated repeatedly with a rich, savoury glaze. This gives it a slightly smoky, crisp exterior while keeping the inside soft and tender — a perfect combination of flavour and texture.

Hitsumabushi is traditionally enjoyed in three stages:

1. Eat the eel on its own.
2. Add condiments like spring onions, wasabi, and nori.
3. Pour broth or tea over the eel and rice to make a warm, comforting ochazuke.

When we arrived, the queue was super long, and knowing how popular this dish is in Nagoya, we didn’t want to spend too much time waiting. So we decided to get it as takeaway instead — and honestly, the takeaway boxes were so pretty. Even packed to go, the presentation felt thoughtful, neat, and very Japanese.

Whether you follow all three steps properly or simply enjoy it however you like, hitsumabushi is hearty, flavourful, and deeply satisfying — exactly what we needed after walking around the castle grounds.

3. 71st Nagoya Matsuri — A Small Peek at the Celebration

We already knew the 71st Nagoya Matsuri was happening that weekend (18–19 October 2025).

Before going, I found surprisingly little information online about where exactly to stand or what time the different segments would appear, so we didn’t plan our day around it. Ideally, I would have loved to catch the full parade, but we were short on time. In the end, we simply stood by the roadside and watched a small part of it pass by — a brief but memorable glimpse of the city’s festive energy.

Despite our short viewing, the festival itself is known as Nagoya’s biggest annual autumn celebration. Some key features include:

• The Hometown Heroes Parade, with Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu marching with an entourage of armored warriors
• Parade floats designated as municipal cultural properties, showcasing traditional craftsmanship and history
• Music, sacred dances, and traditional performances across Hisaya‑Odori Park, Oasis 21, and the areas surrounding Nagoya Castle
• Free entry to certain attractions, including Nagoya Castle, on festival days

Even though we only caught a small slice of the action, it added a lively, unexpected highlight to our day in Nagoya.

Thoughts on Day 3

Day 3 was simple but enjoyable — a nice balance between sightseeing, good food, and a little bit of cultural festivity. Nagoya Castle gave us a calm morning walk, the grilled eel lunch was a highlight on its own, and catching even a small slice of the matsuri made the city feel extra alive. It was the kind of day that didn’t need a rigid plan to feel worthwhile.