Major city · Japan
Inuyama犬山
Go as a day trip from Nagoya: castle, Urakuen and Meiji Mura in one day, 30–35 min and about ¥540 each way.
Inuyama is a small city on the Kiso River, 30–35 minutes from Nagoya on the Meitetsu line. It holds one of Japan's few original castle keeps, a national-treasure tea house, and two large open-air museums. Most travellers see it as a day trip; one night is enough if you want the castle at opening and Meiji Mura without rushing.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- JPY
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- avoid Jul–Aug (hot and humid), late Feb (Monkey Centre closed)
- Airport
- NGO
- Nights
- 0–1
Rules in force · 5
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- Japan ↗IC cards (ICOCA/Suica) are topped up with cash at station machines.
- Japan ↗Smoking while walking is banned in most city centres; use designated areas.
- Japan ↗Shinkansen bags 160–250 cm (L+W+H) need a seat reserved with the oversized-baggage area.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Inuyama110 ▾
- Police110
- Fire and ambulance119
- Japan Visitor Hotline (JNTO, 24 h, English)050-3816-2787
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Inuyama, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.Japan-wide
- SIM or eSIMData-only eSIMs are the easy route: buy before you fly; voice SIMs need a residence card.Japan-wide
- Tap waterSafe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains.Japan-wide
- TippingRestaurants and bars: No tip; staff will chase you to return money left on the table.Japan-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 100 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Japan-wide
- SafetyVery safe.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree, clean public toilets in stations, parks and konbini; paper goes in the toilet.Japan-wide
- Emergency numbers110 police · 119 fire and ambulance · 050-3816-2787 Japan Visitor Hotline (JNTO, 24 h, English) (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMuseums close on Mondays (Tuesday when Monday is a holiday); many family restaurants close one weekday, often Tuesday or Wednesday…Japan-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportNGO Chubu Centrair (Meitetsu μSKY trains run to Shin-Unuma; for Inuyama change at Meitetsu Nagoya, total about 1 h 30 min).
- Getting aroundThe centre is walkable: station to castle about 20 min, castle to Urakuen about 5 min.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee¥400–700 (≈ US$3–5)
- Street or quick mealNoodle soup¥800–1,300 (≈ US$6–9)
- Museum or sight ticketInuyama Castle entry¥550 (≈ US$4) adults, ¥110 (≈ under US$1) children
- Budget bedHostel or youth-hostel bed, a night, per person¥3,700 (≈ US$25)
- Mid-range bedBusiness-hotel double room, a night, per room¥14,000 (≈ US$95)
- High-end bedBusiness-hotel double room, a night, per room¥30,000 (≈ US$250)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget ¥6,000 (≈ US$45) · Mid ¥11,000 (≈ US$75) · High ¥20,000 (≈ US$140)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- NGO Chubu Centrair (Meitetsu μSKY trains run to Shin-Unuma; for Inuyama change at Meitetsu Nagoya, total about 1 h 30 min)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
not flagged
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
Feb
Avoid*
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
Mar
Best
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
Apr
Best
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
May
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Jun
not flagged
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Jul
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Aug
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Sep
not flagged
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Oct
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Nov
Best
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Dec
not flagged
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
Best: Mar–May, Oct–Nov. Avoid: Feb, Jul–Aug. Month by month →
Warmest Aug (33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)), coolest Jan (0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C) low), wettest Jun (12 rain days), driest Jan (6). Averages, not a forecast.
* only part of the month (early, mid or late).
Weather and climate
Inuyama: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
6 rd
Feb
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
7 rd
Mar
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
9 rd
Apr
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
9 rd
May
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
10 rd
Jun
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
12 rd
Jul
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
12 rd
Aug
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
9 rd
Sep
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
11 rd
Oct
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
8 rd
Nov
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
6 rd
Dec
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
6 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The centre is walkable: station to castle about 20 min, castle to Urakuen about 5 min. Buses from stop 1 east of the station serve Meiji Mura (about 20 min) and Little World (about 20 min); a bus also runs to Japan Monkey Park. Taxis wait at the station.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 40 min
Meitetsu Inuyama line from Inuyama to Meitetsu Nagoya
The default base for this trip; trains run frequently.
Gifu
goDoor to door: About 1 h
Meitetsu to Shin-Unuma, then JR Takayama line to Gifu
Cormorant fishing on the Nagara River in summer.
Seto
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h 30 min
Meitetsu via Nagoya, then the Aichi Loop line
Pottery town; a long half day.
Tokoname
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h 30 min
Meitetsu via Nagoya, then the Tokoname line
Better done from Centrair than from Inuyama.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Inuyama Station area
Meitetsu terminal; walk to the castle about 20 min. Few restaurants nearby.
Inuyama-yuen / riverside
East of the castle, 5 min walk to Urakuen; quieter, closer to the river walk.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ¥6,000–10,000 (≈ US$45–70) excl. bed
- Mid
- ¥10,000–16,000 (≈ US$70–110) excl. bed
- High
- ¥16,000 (≈ US$110)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Business-hotel double room1 × 1 night × ¥14,000 | ¥14,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × ¥11,000 | ¥22,000 |
| Meitetsu Nagoya → Inuyama, both ways2 × ¥1,080 | ¥2,160 |
| Meiji Mura bus, both ways2 × ¥960 | ¥1,920 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × ¥2,500 | ¥5,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | ¥4,510 |
| Trip total≈ ¥24,800 per person per day, bed included | ¥49,590≈ US$350 |
2026 estimate in yen; flights and rail passes excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | ¥400–700 (≈ US$3–5) |
| Noodle soup | ¥800–1,300 (≈ US$6–9) |
| Inuyama Castle entry | ¥550 (≈ US$4) adults, ¥110 (≈ under US$1) children |
| Urakuen entry | ¥1,000 (≈ US$7); ¥1,300 (≈ US$9) combined with the castle |
| Meiji Mura entry | ¥1,600 (≈ US$11); ¥2,200 (≈ US$15) with rides |
| Little World entry | ¥1,600 (≈ US$11) adults |
| Japan Monkey Centre entry | ¥1,500 (≈ US$11) adults, ¥800 (≈ US$6) children |
| Meitetsu Nagoya → Inuyama | about ¥540 (≈ US$4) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Very few restaurants around the station; eat near the castle or at the museums.
- Meiji Mura and Little World are a bus ride out of town: check the last return bus before you go in.
- The Japan Monkey Centre closes for the rest of February.
- Castle stairs are steep and original: no lifts, and queues form on holidays.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 110
- Fire and ambulance
- 119
- Japan Visitor Hotline (JNTO, 24 h, English)
- 050-3816-2787
Pocket card
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Inuyama犬山
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
ここまでお願いしますTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police110
- Fire and ambulance119
- Japan Visitor Hotline (24 h, English)050-3816-2787
Embassy
No embassies in Inuyama; most are in Tokyo, with consulates-general in Nagoya and Osaka (check).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Meitetsu Nagoya → Inuyama: about ¥540 (≈ US$4), 30–35 min
- Bus Inuyama Station → Meiji Mura: about ¥480 (≈ US$4) one way, 20 min
- Bus Inuyama Station → Little World: about ¥480 (≈ US$4) one way, 20 min
Say or show
- すみません — Excuse me / Sorry (sumimasen)
- ありがとうございます — Thank you (arigatō gozaimasu)
- これをください — This one, please (kore o kudasai)
- いくらですか？ — How much is it? (ikura desu ka)
- カードで払えますか？ — Can I pay by card? (kādo de haraemasu ka)
- トイレはどこですか？ — Where is the toilet? (toire wa doko desu ka)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Inuyama. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Mar–May, Oct–Nov · avoid Jul–Aug (hot and humid), late Feb (Monkey Centre closed) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for NGO: last Meitetsu departures field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Walking clusters with rescue anchors: station, castle and Urakuen, Meiji Mura, Monkey Park.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (castle, Urakuen, Meiji Mura, Little World) and eat pages with last orders.
- Golden and hostile arrival fixtures so gates A–D can go green.
Sources
- officialInuyama tourist association
- officialInuyama Castle
- officialMeiji Mura
- officialLittle World
- officialJapan Monkey Centre
- secondaryWikivoyage: Inuyama, revision 5237563 (CC BY-SA 4.0)