Inuyama Travel Guide

 Rabbityama Says:  Far from Okayama, where the Momotaro story is believed to have originated, this shrine is dedicated to the famous folk hero. Those familiar with the story will recognize all of the characters leading up to the shrine. At the beginning of the road you'll find the three... 

 Rabbityama Says:  Urakuen Garden is a garden famous for its teahouses built by Oda Uraku, brother of Oda Nobunaga, in 1618. Uraku was a student of Senno Rikyu, one of the historic masters of the tea ceremony, so he himself was also known as one of the great tea ceremony masters. The garden's... 

 Rabbityama Says:  Karakuri are mechanical puppets (in Japanese they call them dolls). They can make them do a variety of things. The most stereotypical is the tea-serving puppet which can walk forward with tea and bow before you take your tea cup. They have one of these puppets at the museum... 

 cheesecake17 Says:  Every year on the 1st saturday and sunday of APRIL, the INUYAMA FESTIVAL is held at the HARITSUNA JINJA with 13 floats decorated with gorgeously embroidered drapes .....and parades down the streets ...while the cherry blossoms are in bloom...Each float has a KARAKURI NINGYO... 

 cheesecake17 Says:  Jo-an is highly renowned as one of the 3 BEST TEA CEREMONY HOUSES and was designated as a NATIONAL TREASURE in 1936..In 1972, the building was resettled in this URAKU-EN garden which was named after ODA URAKU...HISTORYJo-an tea ceremony house was built in 1618 by ODA URAKU,... 

 cheesecake17 Says:  This is the projection located on the South east corner, constructed for the purpose of offense and defense...It commands a good view of the far scenery through the 2 wooden frame windows below...The area is about 15square meters( or 8 tatamis)During recent reconstruction... 

 cheesecake17 Says:  When you climb the first few steps of the Inuyama castle, look to you right toward the mountains....and you will see a set of many buildings......This is NARITA-SAN TEMPLE complex.....no!! not chiba. city ."naritasan".......but naritasan of inuyama....In 1953, an offshoot of... 

 cheesecake17 Says:  From june 1st to september 30th each year, Cormorant fishing on the kiso river should not be missed.....Its called Inuyama Ukai. Ukai is a kind of fishing. The fishermen train many cormorants and make them catch smelts that are attracted to the torch at the head of a small... 

 cheesecake17 Says:  INUYAMA town is noted for historical sites ,the center of the town was built by a warrior general, Nobuyasu Oda, in 1537. The history of the town, however, goes back to the ancient `Kofun` period, when people built many gigantic mound-like tombs.Road leading to the outside... 

 cheesecake17 Says:  This is called KORAN(high rails) room, on the 4th and last floor...of the castle..It has a great view from the round veranda....Seems to be used as the lookout stand or the conning tower in the age of wars..This room had some very interesting designs.....The karahafu curved... 

 cheesecake17 Says:  The castle has 4 floors and many little rooms thru out ...the Jodan No MA,This is the room inhabited by the lord NARUSE, its on the second floor.....The next room on this same floor is the ISHI OTOSHI NO MA(pic#2)This is called the STONE DROPPING DEVICE place...They dropped... 

 cheesecake17 Says:  After all that climbing and viewing ,,:) you will finally get to the castle...but beside the castle the big fern tree you will see at one side is about 650 years old....and 24 meter tall before ....Its been here since INUYAMA CASTLE was built...and it was as tall as the... 

 cheesecake17 Says:  Inuyama Castle, a NATIONAL TREASURE, stands at the center of the city, which still retains the atmosphere of an old castle town built in the 16th century. Inuyama Castle, also known as Hakuteijo Castle, named after the famous Chinese historical castle,was built in the late... 

 cheesecake17 Says:  After climbing the stairs and just before you pay the fee......the main gate on Inuyama castle will be in view...(pic#2)I put this picture here to remind everyone that comfy shoes are a must for traveling to japan.....Most castles , shrine, temple are built on mountains,... 

 cheesecake17 Says:  This zone was awarded, THE YEAR 2001 PRIZE for beautifulCITYSCAPES.....A selection of 100 outstanding urban landscapes....and THE YEAR 2001 PRIZE for HANDMADE HOMETOWNS..... 

 cheesecake17 Says:  IN HISTORYSurrounding the castle built by the lord are residential houses of Samurai warriors to guard the castle. Trademen and merchants gather to live in the town to promote trades. This is how old castle towns developed, and Inuyama is one of the old castle towns... 

 cheesecake17 Says:  walk down the main street infront of INUYAMA castle and you are into a treat for the old town. there are many little stores...mostly sake brewer or stores selling local stuff... 

 cheesecake17 Says:  The Ninto-shu, or sake producer house....In the NERIYA DiSTRICT, is a great example of well preserved history...Built in 1597 by HIROSUKE KOJIMA, the structure dates from the AZUCHI-MOMOYAMA period..SAKE production has traditionally been a very profitable industry in JAPAN...