Japanese Historical Sites and Figures in Tokai, Hokuriku & Shinetsu regions | jhistories: Japan Travel to Discover History and Historical Figures

Home of the Three Sacred Treasures and the Three Great Samurai

This region consists of Aichi, Shizuoka, Mie, Gifu, and Yamanashi in Tokai and Fukui, Ishikawa, Niigata, Toyama, and Nagano in Hokuriku & Shinetsu. Two notable shrines are Ise Jingu and Atsuta Jingu, which enshrine the Sacred Mirror and Sacred Sword in each. During the Warring States period, three iconic figures emerged: Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu, all seeking to end the turmoil. Their legacy is reflected in several famous castles, including Nagoya Castle, Inuyama Castle (national treasure), and more.
Easy access to Nagoya on JR Tokaido Shinkansen (the bullet train) from Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, and other major cities. Or fly to "Centrair" or Central Japan International Airport, then transfer to the local Nagoya train to Nagoya station. To Nagano and Kanazawa, easy access by JR Nagano Shinkansen from Tokyo or by Super Express from Nagoya.

Shrines

Ise Jingu

Jingu, worship the ancestral deity, Amaterasu. It is customary to pray at Geku first and then Naiku of the two main shrines.
(写真提供：神宮司庁/ Jingushicho :Jingu Administration Office)

Atsuta Jingu

Nearly 2000 years of history, starting from the sacred sword, "Kusanagi-no-tsurugi", one of the three Imperial Regalia, was enshrined.

Suwa Taisha

Large tree pillars down the slope in a single bound. Onbashira Matsuri is Suwa Taisha Shrine's sacred ritual ceremony held once every seven years, with more than 1200 years of history.

Uesugi Shrine

Kenshin was so strong among warlords. He lost only twice out of 71 battles, making him a true God of War. His belief was to restore the Muromachi Shogunate during the turmoil of the Warring States Period.

Takeda Shrine

Takeda Shingen, known as the Tiger of Kai, was feared as the strongest warrior of his time, leaving behind numerous military achievements throughout his life. The shrine enshrined Shingen's spirit.

Castles

Nagoya Castle

Can’t miss the overwhelming beauty of 1,049 sliding door paintings by the Kano school, representing Owari Tokugawa's authority

Okazaki Castle

Tokugawa Ieyasu's home castle. Born during the turbulent Warring States period, Ieyasu's life started under hardship as a hostage

Hamamatsu Castle

Tokugawa Ieyasu's base to fight against his arch-enemy, Takeda Shingen, to achieve a peaceful era with the allied Oda Nobunaga.

Gifu Castle

After Countless Battles, Oda Nobunaga proclaimed Tenka Fubu, taking the first steps towards restoring order to the war-torn era.

Komakiyama Castle

The first castle built by Oda Nobunaga himself. An important base for conquering the Saito clan of Mino (Gifu prefecture).

Azuchi Castle

Oda Nobunaga held the inaugural light-up event. This event served as a declaration heralding the arrival of the nation's unifier and a forthcoming peace.

Inuyama Castle

The first castle lord, Naruse Masanari, supported the Owari Tokugawa Domain & Tokugawa Shogunate

Matsusaka Castle Ruin

Matsusaka Castle was built by Gamo Ujisato, a great in martial arts and scholarship, and admired by Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

Ueda Castle

Ueda Castle was built by the strategic warrior, Sanada Masayuki. It's renowned for repelling the overwhelming Tokugawa forces twice.

Battlefield

Okehazama

Oda Nobunaga vs Imagawa Yoshimoto in 1560. The beginning of the unification of the country and the importance of information became clear.

Nagashino & Shitaragahara

Nagashino and Shitaragahara Battlefield_長篠・設楽原古戦場

Oda Nobunaga & Tokugawa Ieyasu vs Takeda Katsuyori in 1575. A continuous fire with many stocks of gunpowder shifted the War from Cavalry to Guns

Sekigahara

Tokugawa Ieyasu vs Ishida Mitsunari in 1600. 150 Letters Brought the Victory to Ieyasu, who promised territorial rewards for those loyal to the Tokugawa.

Temples

Enryakuji Temple

Enryakuji Temple was established by Saicho, the founder of the Tendai sect. His teaching was very rational: "All individuals possess the equal potential to attain Buddhahood or enlightenment."

Yoshizaki Temple

Rennyo, Head of the Jodo Shinshu sect of Buddhism, in front of Yoshizaki Branch Temple, facing Kitakata Lake, a key location of the Hokkoku-Kaido road and the Japan Sea Route. (Source: Yoshizaki Betsuin)