Inuyama Castle is one of only twelve original castle keeps surviving in Japan — meaning not reconstructed in concrete, but built of wood and standing since the feudal era. The present main tower dates from 1537, making it the oldest existing castle keep in the country. It sits on a bluff above the Kiso River, and the view from the top floor across the water to the forested hills of Gifu Prefecture is one of the finest castle panoramas in Japan.
The interior is steep and atmospheric — four floors of wood and stone, lit by natural light from the windows, with no lifts and minimal concessions to modern tourism. The castle town below (Honmachi) retains a well-preserved stretch of old townscape: sake breweries, traditional shops, and a ryokan or two lining a narrow street leading up to the castle gate. The combination of the castle and the townscape makes Inuyama far more rewarding than many larger, more heavily visited castle towns. The castle is a ten-minute walk from Inuyama-Yuen Station on the Meitetsu line.