What is Kinshachi Yokocho?

Kinshachi Yokocho is an foodie entertainment facility full of Nagoya Meshi and local cuisine modeled after a bustling castle town circa the Edo period. Its two zones were established in the Nagoya Castle's Ni-no-Maru and San-no-Maru areas in March 2018, just before the opening of the renovated Hommaru Palace. The Muneharu Zone is located in the East Gate area while the Yoshinao Zone is located in the Main Gate area—both just a short distance from Exit 7 of Nagoyajo 'Nagoya Castle' Station on the Meijo Subway Line.

The Yoshinao Zone: Get a taste of Nagoya Meshi near the Main Gate of Nagoya Castle

The Yoshinao Zone, located on the Main Gate side of Nagoya Castle was constructed on the concepts of tradition and legitimacy. Wooden town house-style shops brimming with the spirit of the Edo period provide visitors with udon noodles in miso stew; hitsumabushi, a dish of eel on a bed of rice with different fixins to be eaten as you please; Nagoya Cochin chicken; deep-fried pork cutlet smothered in miso sauce; and other signature Nagoya Meshi dishes. Local spirits and shrimp rice crackers make for the perfect local souvenir as you shop, and sweets from a long-standing confectioner beloved by the lords of the ancient Owari province where Nagoya now lies tempt you in teahouses.

The scoop on Yamamotoya Souhonke, Kinshachi Yokocho Location

Yamamotoya Souhonke has been offering diners the traditional flavors of udon noodles in a miso stew since its establishment in 1925. Open the lid of an earthenware pot, and you're greeted by a bubbling miso soup and the savory scents it brews. The Kinshachi Yokocho Location offers a treat available here only: Kinshachi Nikomi Udon and the two tempura shrimps standing like the Kinshachi ornaments atop Nagoya Castle!

The scoop on Shachi Jojo

Shachi Jojo is the perfect place to pick up some Nagoya mojo in the form of souvenirs enshrined by golden, mythical shachihoko tiger fish. These shachihokos are the same size as the actual ornaments adorning the roof of Nagoya Castle and are incredible when viewed up close! Many commemorate their visit to the castle with a picture in front of the fantastic beasts.
Inside the shop are more than 1,000 souvenirs brimming with the Nagoya spirit, but the most famous item would have to be the Mitarashi Popcorn—using the sweet and salty mitarashi sauce normally found on skewered rice cakes.

The Muneharu Zone: A new breath of life to Nagoya's culinary culture near the East Gate of Nagoya Castle

The Muneharu Zone is spread around the East Gate area of the Nagoya Castle premises and helps spread the word about Nagoya's new culinary culture. Ankake spaghetti—pasta with a gooey, sweet sauce—is a must in addition to unique skewered items, cafes focusing on organic vegetables, burgers, and other modern-day Nagoya Meshi classics and photogenic sweets inspired by a wide array of different gourmet cultures. Many of the eateries are open into the night for a primo time barhopping.

The scoop on Kinshachiyaki

Kinshachiyaki is a takeout bistro known for its fried bread sweets by the same name with a Kinshachi motif. The aromatic, thin breading outside packs inside of it adzuki bean paste available in a choice of three flavors. Take a closer look, and you'll notice their eyes differ; if you're lucky, you'll get one with heart-shaped eyes. Golden mitarashi skewered rice cakes topped with roasted soy flour and soft serve ice cream are other favorites.

The scoop on Cafe Diner POP OVER

This cafe and diner pleases diners with a knows-no-limits menu featuring cold-aged steak and other meaty treats, homemade popovers, gelatos, and sweets. The enchanting Ninja Ice Cream covered in a soft, thin gyuhi rice cake skin lasts long enough without melting for your camera to snap a couple shots!

How to best enjoy Kinshachi Yokocho with Nagoya Castle

There are so many different ways to enjoy Kinshachi Yokocho, whether it be lunch, takeout, enjoying the various flavors as you take a stroll, a relaxing cafe atmosphere, dinner, or shopping!
You can also reenter Nagoya Castle after having bought an admission ticket, allowing you to enjoy Kinshachi Yokocho both before or after your castle visit, not to mention right in the middle of it. We recommend making a stop in during in the middle of your castle sightseeing trip to grab a bite or just take a breather at a cafe.

Tips to enjoy #1: A full course of Nagoya Meshi and tourism
Take a trip out for lunch to the Yoshinao Zone, where all the cuisine of Nagoya convenes. Then, after a tour of Nagoya Castle, stop in to the Muneharu Zone for a little cafe time. Reenter the castle, and then stop back in to the Yoshinao Zone for some souvenir shopping!

Tips to enjoy #2: A foodie stroll through the two zones
Kinshachi Yokocho is home to many spots offering sweets, drinks, light meals, and takeout menus—perfect to complement your stroll around the premises. Each zone has tables available for use by the public, so you can bring your fare from the eateries there to enjoy.

Tips to enjoy #3: Barhopping and menu items to satiate a second wind at the Muneharu Zone
Many of the establishments in the Muneharu Zone are open into the night, steeping the spot in a romantic atmosphere with lit paper lanterns. After Nagoya Castle closes, you can enjoy hopping around to the different taverns and satiate your appetite's second wind with a little ramen or ankake spaghetti.

More info available from the link below!

Kinshachi Yokocho site's How to Enjoy and Use page

Enjoy storyteller/entertainment groups like the Owari Tokugawa Brigade, Princess Samurai of JAPAN group, and Chindon Kaisensha Band as well as special hands-on historical contents, such as the AR History Illustrated Scroll, rickshaws letting you feel a little like royalty, and other entertainment. New discoveries and heart-thumping activities await you with each visit!

Oh so many features in the continually evolving Nagoya Castle area!

The area around Nagoya Castle and Kinshachi Yokocho plans to welcome a new neighbor in summer 2025: the IG Arena (new Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium). Enjoy it too as you enjoy the Nagoya Castle area's ever-entertaining Kinshachi Yokocho!