Aichi attractions: castles, aquarium or pottery exhibits?
Climb Inuyama’s old wooden keep, or see ornate paintings and room decoration at Nagoya’s Honmaru Palace. Choose the aquarium for underwater belugas and dolphins or shows. Walk pottery-workshop lanes in Tokoname.
Near Nagoya Station, Noritake shows tableware production and older designs; INAX in Tokoname displays decorative tiles and architectural ceramics. Choose separately between Noritake outdoors/paid exhibits and Tokoname lanes/individual houses or activities. INAX making activities are also separate from admission.
Attraction prices and access
Nagoya Castle
名古屋城
Explore Honmaru Palace at Nagoya Castle for ornate interiors. Follow restored rooms to compare wall paintings, ceilings and wood decoration. The keep interior is closed; allow palace queues and shoe removal.
- AdmissionFrom 1 October 2026: individual adult ¥1,000; junior high age and younger free.
- Hours09:00–16:30. Honmaru Palace/Nishinomaru Treasure House last entry is 16:00 at each building. Walk roughly 10 minutes from the main gate to the palace. Closed 29 December–1 January.
- Getting thereWalk roughly five minutes from Meijo Line Nagoyajo Station exit 7 to the castle. From Tsurumai Line Sengencho exit 1, the walk takes roughly 12 minutes; distinguish stations and exits.
Nagoya Castle: pricesNagoya Castle: facility/visitor guidanceMain gate to palace entranceOfficial castle access
Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium
名古屋港水族館
See belugas and dolphins swimming up close at Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium. Watch through north-building underwater windows and choose a dolphin show from your dated schedule. Set show priorities first, then fit south/north exhibits between them. Check dated changes/cancellations.
- AdmissionIndividual adults/high school students ¥2,030; elementary/junior high ¥1,010; preschool children ages 4+ ¥500. Distinguish nearby-facility combined and night tickets.
- HoursSeasonal/dated opening calendars apply; last entry is one hour before closing. Check official opening/closing times for your date.
- Getting thereWalk roughly five minutes from Meiko Line Nagoyako exit 3 to the aquarium. From JR or Meitetsu, transfer at Kanayama to the Meiko Line for Nagoyako. From the Higashiyama Line, check Nagoyako-bound connections at Sakae.
Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium: pricesAquarium opening calendarAquarium access
Inuyama Castle
犬山城
Enter Inuyama’s old wooden keep and climb the interior stairs, removing shoes to visit. If stairs are difficult, skip the keep and walk or eat in the castle town instead.
- AdmissionIndividual adults ¥1,000; elementary/junior high ¥200.
- Hours09:00–17:00, last entry 16:30. Closed 29–31 December. Busy periods may restrict entry. Planned repairs 4 January–28 February 2027 restrict part of the keep’s fourth floor and prevent a full circuit of the outside gallery. Recheck accessible areas if visiting then.
- Getting thereTake a Meitetsu Inuyama Line Express/Semi Express towards Shin-Unuma from Meitetsu Nagoya to Inuyama (official guidance from roughly 25 minutes). Leave the west exit, turn right at Honmachi intersection and follow Honmachi-dori roughly 20 minutes to the castle.
Inuyama Castle: facility/visitor guidanceInuyama Castle fourth-floor repairs/partial restrictions, January–February 2027Inuyama Castle access
Tokoname Pottery Footpath
やきもの散歩道
Walk sloping lanes with ceramic pipes and pottery workshops. Official course A is roughly 1.6 km/one hour; B roughly 4 km/2½ hours, excluding meals, sightseeing and rests. Public lanes and individual houses/activities have separate access. Ask permission before entering private property or working workshops.
- AdmissionPublic lane walking is separate from paid activities, facilities, guides and parking. Facilities with unconfirmed admission are excluded from totals.
- HoursWorkshops/cafés have individual dates/hours. Get a map at tourist information and walk by day. Check specific businesses’ hours before visiting.
- Getting thereGet the official walking map at Ceramic Hall’s tourist information centre 400 m east of Tokoname Station. Check tourism association location guidance for the walk there.
Tokoname tourism association: facility/visitor guidanceTokoname tourism association: walking courses A/BInformation centre 400 m east of the station
Noritake Garden Craft Center and Museum
Craft Center and Noritake Museumクラフトセンター・ノリタケミュージアム
Visit Noritake Garden to see bone-china production, tableware and older design materials. The outdoor grounds are free to walk; Craft Center/Museum exhibits require paid admission.
- AdmissionCombined admission: standard adult ¥500; ages 65+ ¥300; high school age and younger free. Painting activities cost extra.
- Hours10:00–17:00. Closed Mondays (next weekday for public holidays) and 26 December–3 January. Check the current calendar for temporary closures.
- Getting thereFrom JR Nagoya’s Sakura-dori Exit, walk roughly 600 m north, then take the diagonal road right at Ushijimacho for roughly 150 m. Pass Wanouchicho intersection; about 50 m later enter East Gate left. Allow roughly 15 minutes from JR or 20 from Meitetsu/Kintetsu.
Noritake exhibits and admissionNoritake facility-specific closures/hoursNoritake East Gate walking map
INAX Museums
INAX MUSEUMSINAXライブミュージアム
INAX Museums display decorative tiles from around the world and architectural terracotta. Look at tile colours and patterns and ceramic building decoration. For making activities, check the specific program’s prices/reservations separately.
- AdmissionStandard ¥1,000; students ¥800; junior high/high school ¥500; elementary ¥250; ages 70+ ¥900. Activity fees/reservations vary separately by program.
- Hours10:00–17:00, last entry 16:30. Closed Wednesdays except public holidays, and 26 December 2026–4 January 2027. Special Wednesday openings: 6/13 January 2027.
- Getting thereWalk roughly 25 minutes from Tokoname Station to INAX at 1-130 Okueicho. Buy exhibit tickets at Kiln Plaza/Archives (窯のある広場・資料館) general information on arrival. Allow walking, ticketing and viewing time separately.
INAX prices, closures and general information deskINAX walking map from Tokoname Station
Frequently asked questions
Which keep can I climb: Nagoya or Inuyama?
Inuyama permits visits inside the keep. Nagoya’s keep interior is closed; visit Honmaru Palace and castle grounds instead. Inuyama has interior stairs and may restrict busy-period entry. Planned repairs 4 January–28 February 2027 restrict some fourth-floor/outside-gallery access. Checked 2026-10-08.
Nagoya Castle: facility/visitor guidanceInuyama Castle: facility/visitor guidanceInuyama Castle fourth-floor repairs/partial restrictions, January–February 2027
Are Noritake Garden exhibits free?
Outdoor walking is free; Craft Center/Museum exhibits are paid. Combined admission: standard adults ¥500, ages 65+ ¥300, high school age and younger free; painting activities extra. Exhibits run 10:00–17:00 and close Mondays except holiday arrangements. Checked 2026-10-08.
Noritake exhibits and admissionNoritake facility-specific closures/hours
Official sources and dates checked
- Nagoya Castle: facility/visitor guidance ·
- Nagoya Castle: prices ·
- Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium: prices ·
- Aquarium opening calendar ·
- Aquarium access ·
- Inuyama Castle: facility/visitor guidance ·
- Inuyama Castle access ·
- Tokoname tourism association: facility/visitor guidance ·
- Tokoname tourism association: walking courses A/B ·
- Noritake exhibits and admission ·
- Noritake facility-specific closures/hours ·
- Noritake East Gate walking map ·
- INAX prices, closures and general information desk ·
- INAX walking map from Tokoname Station ·
- Official castle access ·
- Main gate to palace entrance ·
- Information centre 400 m east of the station ·
- Inuyama Castle fourth-floor repairs/partial restrictions, January–February 2027 ·