Inuyama Castle Town — Where Time Took Shelter | MK Deep Dive

In the northern foothills of Aichi Prefecture, Inuyama Castle towers above the peaceful Kiso River, its white-plastered keep overlooking a town that has stood the test of time. Just beyond the castle’s stone foundation, Inuyama Castle Town unfolds — a living remnant of Edo Japan preserved by fortune. When much of the nation’s heritage was consumed by the flames of the Pacific War, Inuyama was spared. Its streets remained, its low-roofed machiya stood firm, and the essence of a merchant town stayed alive.

Once home to blacksmiths, fishmongers, and cloth traders who supported the castle’s daily life, these narrow streets now host teahouses, sweet shops, and craft workshops. The aroma of roasted green tea drifts through wooden lattices once hammered together by hand. Iron hinges still creak from the days when samurai patrols clattered by. Today, visitors ride over the stone-paved streets in rickshaws, often pulled by young comedians in training from Nagoya’s Yoshimoto troupe — a cheerful echo of the couriers and jesters who once entertained the domain.

Saunter, with your hands behind your back, and let your imagination lead you. The tiled rooftops and thick earthen walls create a scene of old Japan, untouched by rush. Imagine yourself in a kimono, sword sheathed, stopping under the eaves to watch sunlight spill across shoji screens. Or sit on a shaded bench, sip matcha, and taste gohei mochi — the sweet-savory rice skewer brushed with miso and walnuts — an unbroken link across centuries.

When the breeze drifts down from the Kiso River, the town feels alive again. In summer, fireworks shoot from boats, their reflections scattering across the current. In spring, cherry blossoms bloom in sync with the Inuyama Festival, when thirteen towering floats parade through the streets to the beat of flutes and drums. Carried by joyful, sometimes tipsy townsfolk from Haritsuna Shrine, the procession has earned UNESCO recognition for preserving Edo craftsmanship and community spirit. For one weekend each year, Inuyama becomes not just a museum, but a living memory.

The MK Take

Inuyama Castle Town survives not through grand preservation efforts, but simply by luck and the respect of those who walk its streets. Its charm lies in the everyday: laughter bouncing off tiles, paper lanterns flickering against cedar trees, the taste of miso, and the river breeze. History hasn’t just occurred here — it has remained.

Let MK guide you through the castle town where time took shelter — and still refuses to leave.

Image Credits

• All photos courtesy of Inuyama City Tourism Association（犬山市観光協会）