Aichi Prefecture is Japan's industrial and cultural heartland, anchored by Nagoya — the country's fourth-largest city. Home to the Toyota Motor Corporation, one of Japan's most important Shinto shrines, a national-treasure castle, and a distinctly proud local food culture known as Nagoya Meshi, Aichi blends industrial might with ancient heritage across 5,173 square kilometres of the Chubu region.
Historical timeline
Key moments that shaped Aichi.
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1
Atsuta Shrine founded; Kusanagi sword enshrined — one of Japan's three Imperial Regalia. The region was an important node on early maritime trade routes across Ise Bay.
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2
Owari Province (western Aichi) and Mikawa Province (eastern Aichi) established as distinct administrative domains. Buddhism spreads; temple construction begins.
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3
Oda Nobunaga born in Nagoya (1534); defeats rival clans and begins unification of Japan from his Kiyosu Castle base. After Nobunaga's assassination, Toyotomi Hideyoshi (born in Nagoya 1537) completes unification. Tokugawa Ieyasu (born in Okazaki 1543) wins the Battle of Sekigahara (1600) in Gifu, establishing the Edo period.
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4
Nagoya Castle built 1612 under Tokugawa Yoshinao; the city grows as the seat of the Owari Tokugawa clan. The Tokaido road brings commerce and traffic through Arimatsu, which develops its shibori tie-dyeing tradition. Inuyama Castle survives the era intact.
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5
Industrialization transforms Aichi; Nagoya becomes a manufacturing centre. Meiji Mura (built 1965 as an open-air museum) preserves buildings from this era including the original Imperial Hotel lobby.
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6
Aichi was a major wartime manufacturing centre — Mitsubishi's Zero fighter aircraft were produced in Nagoya. The city suffered heavy Allied bombing raids in 1945; Nagoya Castle's main tower was destroyed (rebuilt in concrete in 1959; wooden reconstruction underway).
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7
Toyota's manufacturing empire expanded from Toyota City; Nagoya became Japan's third-largest economic hub. The 2005 World Expo (Aichi Expo) showcased the prefecture internationally.
Historical sites
Places where Aichi's past comes alive.
Historic
Nagoya Castle
Admission: ¥500 ($3.35) adult
Historic
Atsuta Shrine
Admission: Free (grounds); ¥500 ($3.35) treasure hall
Historic
Inuyama Castle
Admission: ¥550 ($3.70) adult
Historic
Okazaki Castle (Tokugawa Ieyasu Birthplace)
Admission: ¥200 ($1.34) adult
Historic
Tokugawa Art Museum
Admission: ¥1,400 ($9.40) adult