Inuyama, Aichi
Encyclopedia
is a city
located near Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture
, Japan
.
In 2010, the city had a population
of 75,449 and a population density
of 1,010 persons per km². The total area is 74.97 km². The city lies along the edge of Aichi Prefecture, separated from neighbouring Gifu Prefecture
by the Kiso River
. It was founded on 1 April 1954.
on a 40m rise overlooking the Kiso river. This Japanese castle
is also known as Hakutei-jo (White Emperor Castle), as named by the Confucian scholar Sorai Ogyu during the Edo period
. It is a four-story structure with two underground levels, although it has only three roofs. The castle was designated as a Japanese national treasure
in 1935 and again in 1952. The castle in its current form was built in 1537 by Oda Nobuyasu, grandfather of the great warlord Oda Nobunaga
. After construction, the castle had a rapid succession of different owners. After Toyotomi Hideyoshi
took control of the area, he put Ishikawa Sadakiyo in charge of the castle. After the defeat of Hideyoshi by Matsudaira Tadayoshi Ogasawara Yoshitsugu received the castle. In 1616 the Naruse family was put in charge of the structure until the Meiji era. After the Meiji Restoration
the government seized the castle in 1869. The castle was damaged by the Great Nobi Earthquake in 1891. The castle was then given to the Naruse family under the condition that they repair the castle. The castle is the only privately owned castle in Japan. The castle survived all wars and has remained unchanged since it was built, making it the oldest original wooden castle in Japan.
. This garden contains the Joan tea house
, built in 1618 by Oda Uraku 1547–1621, younger brother of Oda Nobunaga. Tea master, Oda Uraku, was a student of the famous tea master Sen no Rikyu
. While the Joan tea house was originally built in Kyoto
, it was moved to its current location in 1972. The building is considered one of the finest examples of tea house architecture.
The Kiso river also has some very picturesque rapids upstream of the castle. These rapids and the rock formations are called the Nihon Rhine after the Rhine river in Germany
, and boat tours are available. Cormorant
fishing on the Kiso river is also done, although nowadays almost exclusively for tourists.
Near Inuyama is the Meiji Mura
open-air architectural museum for preserving and exhibiting structures of the Meiji (1867–1912) and Taishō
(1913–1926) eras. As of 2005, 67 historical buildings are preserved on an area of 1,000,000 m2. The most famous one is the main entrance and lobby of Tokyo's old Imperial Hotel
, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright
and built in 1923.
Another former open-air museum near Inuyama is also an amusement park called Little World Museum of Man
. This anthropological
museum contained a large number of buildings built according to the native style of over 22 countries.
Another amusement park is the Japan Monkey park, with different species of monkey
s and other entertainment.
Inuyama is also the site of the Primate Research Institute
of Kyoto University
, one of the world's foremost centres for research in non-human primate
biology and behaviour. The chimpanzee
Ai
and her son Ayumu
live there.
Cities of Japan
||A is a local administrative unit in Japan. Cities are ranked on the same level as and , with the difference that they are not a component of...
located near Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture
Aichi Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region. The region of Aichi is also known as the Tōkai region. The capital is Nagoya. It is the focus of the Chūkyō Metropolitan Area.- History :...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
In 2010, the city had a population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of 75,449 and a population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
of 1,010 persons per km². The total area is 74.97 km². The city lies along the edge of Aichi Prefecture, separated from neighbouring Gifu Prefecture
Gifu Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the Chūbu region of central Japan. Its capital is the city of Gifu.Located in the center of Japan, it has long played an important part as the crossroads of Japan, connecting the east to the west through such routes as the Nakasendō...
by the Kiso River
Kiso River
The is a river in Japan roughly 193 km long, flowing through the prefectures of Nagano, Gifu, Aichi, and Mie before emptying into Ise Bay a short distance away from the city of Nagoya. It is the main river of the Kiso Three Rivers and forms a major part of the Nōbi Plain...
. It was founded on 1 April 1954.
Inuyama Castle
There are a number of famous attractions in and around the city. The most famous attraction is Inuyama CastleInuyama Castle
is located in the city of Inuyama, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. The castle overlooks the Kiso River, which serves as the border between Aichi and Gifu prefectures. Inuyama Castle is one of the 12 Japanese castles still in existence which were built before the Edo period....
on a 40m rise overlooking the Kiso river. This Japanese castle
Japanese castle
' were fortresses composed primarily of wood and stone. They evolved from the wooden stockades of earlier centuries, and came into their best-known form in the 16th century...
is also known as Hakutei-jo (White Emperor Castle), as named by the Confucian scholar Sorai Ogyu during the Edo period
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
. It is a four-story structure with two underground levels, although it has only three roofs. The castle was designated as a Japanese national treasure
National treasures of Japan
National Treasures are the most precious of Japan's Tangible Cultural Properties, as determined and designated by the Agency for Cultural Affairs...
in 1935 and again in 1952. The castle in its current form was built in 1537 by Oda Nobuyasu, grandfather of the great warlord Oda Nobunaga
Oda Nobunaga
was the initiator of the unification of Japan under the shogunate in the late 16th century, which ruled Japan until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. He was also a major daimyo during the Sengoku period of Japanese history. His opus was continued, completed and finalized by his successors Toyotomi...
. After construction, the castle had a rapid succession of different owners. After Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
was a daimyo warrior, general and politician of the Sengoku period. He unified the political factions of Japan. He succeeded his former liege lord, Oda Nobunaga, and brought an end to the Sengoku period. The period of his rule is often called the Momoyama period, named after Hideyoshi's castle...
took control of the area, he put Ishikawa Sadakiyo in charge of the castle. After the defeat of Hideyoshi by Matsudaira Tadayoshi Ogasawara Yoshitsugu received the castle. In 1616 the Naruse family was put in charge of the structure until the Meiji era. After the Meiji Restoration
Meiji Restoration
The , also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, Reform or Renewal, was a chain of events that restored imperial rule to Japan in 1868...
the government seized the castle in 1869. The castle was damaged by the Great Nobi Earthquake in 1891. The castle was then given to the Naruse family under the condition that they repair the castle. The castle is the only privately owned castle in Japan. The castle survived all wars and has remained unchanged since it was built, making it the oldest original wooden castle in Japan.
Other sights
Another famous attraction is the Urakuen tea garden used for tea ceremoniesJapanese tea ceremony
The Japanese tea ceremony, also called the Way of Tea, is a Japanese cultural activity involving the ceremonial preparation and presentation of matcha, powdered green tea. In Japanese, it is called . The manner in which it is performed, or the art of its performance, is called...
. This garden contains the Joan tea house
Chashitsu
In Japanese tradition, architectural spaces designed to be used for tea ceremony gatherings are known as chashitsu ....
, built in 1618 by Oda Uraku 1547–1621, younger brother of Oda Nobunaga. Tea master, Oda Uraku, was a student of the famous tea master Sen no Rikyu
Sen no Rikyu
, is considered the historical figure with the most profound influence on chanoyu, the Japanese "Way of Tea", particularly the tradition of wabi-cha...
. While the Joan tea house was originally built in Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
, it was moved to its current location in 1972. The building is considered one of the finest examples of tea house architecture.
The Kiso river also has some very picturesque rapids upstream of the castle. These rapids and the rock formations are called the Nihon Rhine after the Rhine river in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, and boat tours are available. Cormorant
Cormorant
The bird family Phalacrocoracidae is represented by some 40 species of cormorants and shags. Several different classifications of the family have been proposed recently, and the number of genera is disputed.- Names :...
fishing on the Kiso river is also done, although nowadays almost exclusively for tourists.
Near Inuyama is the Meiji Mura
Meiji Mura
is an open-air architectural museum/theme park in Inuyama, near Nagoya in Aichi prefecture, Japan. It was opened on March 18, 1965. The museum preserves historic buildings from Japan's Meiji , Taisho , and early Shōwa periods. Over 60 historical buildings have been moved and reconstructed onto of...
open-air architectural museum for preserving and exhibiting structures of the Meiji (1867–1912) and Taishō
Taisho period
The , or Taishō era, is a period in the history of Japan dating from July 30, 1912 to December 25, 1926, coinciding with the reign of the Taishō Emperor. The health of the new emperor was weak, which prompted the shift in political power from the old oligarchic group of elder statesmen to the Diet...
(1913–1926) eras. As of 2005, 67 historical buildings are preserved on an area of 1,000,000 m2. The most famous one is the main entrance and lobby of Tokyo's old Imperial Hotel
Imperial Hotel, Tokyo
The Imperial Hotel, Tokyo, Japan, was created in the late 1880s at the request of the Japanese aristocracy to cater to the increasing number of western visitors to Japan. The hotel site is located just south of the Imperial Palace grounds, next to the previous location of the Palace moat...
, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright was an American architect, interior designer, writer and educator, who designed more than 1,000 structures and completed 500 works. Wright believed in designing structures which were in harmony with humanity and its environment, a philosophy he called organic architecture...
and built in 1923.
Another former open-air museum near Inuyama is also an amusement park called Little World Museum of Man
Little World Museum of Man
The Little World Museum of Man is an open-air museum near Inuyama, Aichi in central Japan.- History :The museum was founded in 1970. It is also an amusement park. This anthropological museum contained a large number of buildings built according to the native style of over 22 countries. Visitors...
. This anthropological
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
museum contained a large number of buildings built according to the native style of over 22 countries.
Another amusement park is the Japan Monkey park, with different species of monkey
Monkey
A monkey is a primate, either an Old World monkey or a New World monkey. There are about 260 known living species of monkey. Many are arboreal, although there are species that live primarily on the ground, such as baboons. Monkeys are generally considered to be intelligent. Unlike apes, monkeys...
s and other entertainment.
Inuyama is also the site of the Primate Research Institute
Primate Research Institute
The Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University is a national research center for the study of primates. It was founded in 1967 by primatologists Kinji Imanishi and Junichiro Itani. The Institute works toward understanding the biological, behavioral and socioecological aspects of primates, and the...
of Kyoto University
Kyoto University
, or is a national university located in Kyoto, Japan. It is the second oldest Japanese university, and formerly one of Japan's Imperial Universities.- History :...
, one of the world's foremost centres for research in non-human primate
Primate
A primate is a mammal of the order Primates , which contains prosimians and simians. Primates arose from ancestors that lived in the trees of tropical forests; many primate characteristics represent adaptations to life in this challenging three-dimensional environment...
biology and behaviour. The chimpanzee
Chimpanzee
Chimpanzee, sometimes colloquially chimp, is the common name for the two extant species of ape in the genus Pan. The Congo River forms the boundary between the native habitat of the two species:...
Ai
Ai (chimpanzee)
Ai is a female chimpanzee currently living at the Primate Research Institute of Kyoto University . She is known for being the principal subject of the Ai project, a research program started in 1978 which is aimed at understanding chimpanzee cognition through computer interface experiments...
and her son Ayumu
Ayumu (chimpanzee)
Ayumu is a chimpanzee currently living at the Primate Research Institute of Kyoto University. He is the son of chimpanzee Ai, and has been a participant since infancy in the Ai Project, an ongoing research effort aimed at understanding chimpanzee cognition...
live there.
Bridges
- Aigioohashi Bridge, crossing the Kiso RiverKiso RiverThe is a river in Japan roughly 193 km long, flowing through the prefectures of Nagano, Gifu, Aichi, and Mie before emptying into Ise Bay a short distance away from the city of Nagoya. It is the main river of the Kiso Three Rivers and forms a major part of the Nōbi Plain...
into KakamigaharaKakamigahara, Gifuis a city located in the Gifu Prefecture of central Japan. It was founded on 1 April 1963 by the merger of Naka, Sohara, Unuma, and Inaba. Kakamigahara covers a total area of...
in Gifu PrefectureGifu Prefectureis a prefecture located in the Chūbu region of central Japan. Its capital is the city of Gifu.Located in the center of Japan, it has long played an important part as the crossroads of Japan, connecting the east to the west through such routes as the Nakasendō...