Nagoya Castle — The Shogun's Broken Oath

Your journey begins at Tsurumai Park, a prominent urban green space in Nagoya's historic district, serving as the logistical base for our walking tours. It is here, near the Nagoya Castle UNESCO, that you will receive your initial secret instructions. The park, the official starting point for this Nagoya outdoor escape game, was a strategic gathering place for messengers and spies during the Tokugawa era. You will discover how information networks were essential for the Tokugawa Shogunate 1610-1868, and how every corner of Nagoya city, even the most peaceful ones, could hide a conspiracy or a broken oath. This historical site in Japan prepares you for immersion in Nagoya's history, at the heart of the Chubu region.

Continuing your historical scavenger hunt in Chubu, you will reach Higashi Hongan-ji Nagoya Betsuin, a major religious institution in the historic district. This Buddhist temple in Nagoya, integrated into the route, represents the religious influence on the political power of the shogunate. Temples were often centers of power and information, where daimyo and the Tokugawa shogunate could influence public opinion and gather intelligence. Your mission will lead you to search for hidden messages in the architecture, reflecting the complex strategies that supported the shogun's authority. This is a key step to understanding the role of spirituality in the political alliances of the era in Nagoya.

The route then takes you to the heart of the shogunal district, Shirakawa Park, a historic area adjacent to Nagoya Castle. This promenade space incorporates the urban environment that witnessed important decisions made by figures such as Tokugawa Iemitsu, Tokugawa shogun and user of the castle's Jôrakuden pavilion. Through this park, you will perceive the echoes of daily life and exchanges that took place under the watchful eye of central power. Augmented reality will reveal scenes of yesteryear, from merchants to samurai, illustrating the dynamism of Nagoya city and the importance of its Edo architectural heritage.

Continue your interactive Nagoya visit through Yotsumaichi Street and Entonji Shopping Street. These historic streets of Nagoya retain the traditional architecture of the Edo period merchant district. Yotsumaichi Street, a pedestrian area accessible on foot from the castle, incorporates the theme of commercial and political alliances of the Tokugawa era. Then, the Entonji Shopping Street arcade, also dating from the Edo period, retains the atmosphere of the shogunate's commercial exchanges. These places were crossroads of information and rumors, essential for any Kagemusha. It is here that the networks of power and information of feudal Japan intertwined, revealing the true face of Nagoya's history.

Finally, your Chubu thematic circuit will lead you to Nagoya Castle, built between 1610 and 1619 by order of Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu for his 9th son Yoshinao. Although the main keep was rebuilt in concrete in 1959 after 95% destruction during the air raid of May 17, 1945, the main palace (honmaru goten) was faithfully reconstructed in wood, opened to the public on June 8, 2018. Admire the kinshachi, these golden tiger-headed dolphins on the roof, talismans against fires. Your GPS scavenger hunt will have led you through the secrets of Nagoya, a city in Chubu, revealing how loyalty and betrayal forged feudal Japan. This exploration of the historical monument of Japan will leave you with a deep understanding of the Tokugawa Shogunate and Nagoya's heritage.