Nagoya Day 1: Li Bai's 'White Emperor City' Inuyama Castle Day Trip

I am particularly fond of Inuyama's promotional slogan: 大人アガル犬山 自然と前を向く そんな帰り道です🙊. In Japanese, アガル means up, ascend, or rise. The road facing nature and forward is an upward road, also a road of return. Inuyama Castle, one of Japan's five national treasure castles, also known as 'White Emperor City,' is inspired by Li Bai's poem 'Morning Departure from White Emperor City.' It is about a 30-minute drive from Nagoya. Located by the Kiso River, it is a serene and historically rich small town. Transportation: The Inuyama ticket package is a project of 'Meitetsu Tourism,' and can only be purchased at the listed stations. It is not available at other stations. At the Meitetsu Line Service Center, you should be able to buy a round-trip ticket from Kanayama for 1730 yen, while from Nagoya Station it is 1640 yen. The package includes 6 tickets: 1 summary ticket for retention, 2 round-trip tickets to Inuyama, 1 Inuyama Castle admission voucher, 1 Yūraku-en discount ticket, and 1 Inuyama Castle Town optional store discount coupon. Important: Note that the ticket window is 'Meitetsu Sightseeing,' not the regular ticket counter. Opening hours: 10:00-18:30. Luggage Storage: Most Japanese stations have luggage storage lockers, which are charged. Larger stations have more lockers, while remote stations may not have any. Round-trip Ticket: You can get on and off at Inuyama Station or Inuyama Yūen Station. It is recommended to get off at Inuyama Station and head towards Inuyama Castle, walking along the castle town (take photos with Inuyama Castle as the background). You can return to Nagoya on the same day or stay overnight in Inuyama, boarding at Inuyama Yūen Station near Inuyama Castle. Hotel: Highly recommend INDIGO, which offers hot springs and a complimentary Yūraku-en ticket upon check-in. The lobby has sunken seating, and the window view offers a distant view of Inuyama Castle. I didn't stay there, just visited. Must-Visit Spots: - Inuyama Castle (one of the five national treasure castles). The other four are Matsue Castle, Himeji Castle, Hikone Castle, and Matsumoto Castle. The city view from above is beautiful, with the Kiso River flowing beside it. - Sankoinari Shrine: A mini Fushimi Inari with thousands of torii gates, perfect for photos. - Haritsuna Shrine: For safe childbirth. - Sarutahiko Shrine: For love and financial fortune. Place coins in a basket and wash them with the shrine's sacred water, representing wealth, for multiplied returns. - Yūraku-en + Jōan Tea Room: A typical exquisite Japanese garden, with the Jōan Tea Room being one of the three national treasure tea rooms in Japan. - Inuyama Castle Town: A town with a strong Edo atmosphere, featuring various Japanese confectionery and snack shops. Don't miss the Hida beef! 😍 本物を求めて、犬山へ。😌 #InuyamaCastle #InuyamaCastleTown #Nagoya #JapanTravelGuide #InuyamaIndigo #JapanTravel #NagoyaTravelGuide