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 Samurais

This region consists of Aichi, Shizuoka, Mie, Gifu, and Yamanashi in Tokai and Fukui, Ishikawa, Niigata, Toyama, and Nagano in Hokuriku & Sghinetsu. Two notable shrines are Ise Jingu and Atsuta Jingu, which enshrines 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 on JR Nagano Shinkansen from Tokyo or on Super Express from Nagoya.

Shrines

Ise Jingu Shrine

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

Atsuta Jingu Shrine

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

Suwa Taisha Shrine

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 under the turmoil of the Warring State Period.

Castles

Nagoya Castle

Can’t miss the overwhelming beauty of 1,049 sliding door paintings by 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 allied Oda Nobunaga.

Inuyama Castle

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

Azuchi Castle

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

Matsusaka Castle Ruin

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

Battlefield

Okehazama

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

Nagashino Shitaragahara

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

Sekigahara

Tokugawa Ieyasu v.s. Ishida Mitsunari in 1600. 150 Letters Brought the Victory to Ieyasu, which 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)