Determined to not get to the castle too late, this time I went there in the morning, and there were already people out and about when I got there. The castle grounds were quite large, with several different buildings in them.
My first stop for the day was the Nishinomaru Okura Museum, a small building by the entrance with a few cultures items, mainly some paintings, and the far end of the room there was a screen showing a short video on a loop, providing a bit of information about the history of the castle and the reconstruction of it.
Next, I made my way to Hommaru Palace. There was an additional charge for an audio guide, which turned out to be very helpful and informative. Following the guide, I took the tour around the palace, looking into the different rooms, the designs and the meaning behind them. The audio guide was informative, although at times I found it a bit over the top, and I do feel like it could’ve been faster. Nevertheless, the tour was quite enjoyable.
As the main castle was closed, the only option was to walk around it and take a look from the outside. From Hommaru Palace, I walked over to the garden (which I thought was more like a park). Walking around the open area, there were a couple of old teahouses in there, and a couple of towers.
I was glad I managed to come back when it was open and explore the area. It was an interesting, peaceful experience, and a great way to end my time in Nagoya.