22 Things to Do in Nagoya

Nagoya has two airports, Nagoya Airport and Chubu Centrair International Airport, offering excellent access from both domestic and international locations. Additionally, the Shinkansen makes it easy to travel from Tokyo to Nagoya in about 1 hour and 40 minutes.

One of the largest castles in Japan, built in the early Edo period on the orders of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Edo shogunate, the five-story castle tower is topped with shining two Kinshachi, one male and one female that has become a symbol of Nagoya.

About 1900 years ago, one of the Three Sacred Treasures (in Japanese mythology, the goddess, Amaterasu-Omikami, conferred on them. They were handed down as the proof of imperial succession), Kusanagi-no-tsurugi (sacred sword) , was dedicated here, which is said to be the beginning of this shrine.

This temple is the branch headquarters of Shingon Sect, Chisan School, officially called “Kitanosan Shinpukuji Hoshoin Temple ”. It started in Hashima City, Gifu and moved to the current location by General Tokugawa Iyeyasu’s order. It is regarded as one of Japan’s Three Kannon Temples along with Asakusa Kannon in Tokyo and Tsu Kannon in Mie.

This is a huge aquarium with dolphins, beluga whales, orcas, and other sea creatures in the North wing, and various tanks with live coral and other sea creatures in the South wing.
The dolphin performance and the orca public training in Japan’s largest pool, which is 60 meters wide, 30 meters long, and 12 meters deep, are both outstanding.

A themepark that brings a world filled with LEGO® blocks to life. Divided into 8 different zones, you can enjoy areas like LEGO® NINJAGO® sets at LEGO® NINJAGO World, or set off on your own quest in the “Adventure” area. There are plenty of eye-catching LEGO®-themed attractions, including a water ride where you can float along with real fish, or the thrilled-packed roller coaster.

The TOYOTA Commemorative Museum was built utilizing the location and buildings of the test factory that Sakichi Toyoda, the founder of the Toyota Group, established in 1911 for research and development of looms.
The museum is divided into two main sections. "The Textile Machinery Pavilion," which introduces the textile machinery, which is the origin of Toyota, and "The Automobile Pavilion," which presents the evolution of automobile technology.

It exhibits 39 different trains of Shinkansen, conventional trains and Superconducting Maglev.
As you enter, you will find a “Symbol display”, there are three trains that set world speed records at that time, such as Class C62 Steam Locomotive, Class 955 Experimental Shinkansen (300X) and MLX01-1 Superconducting Maglev.

This is the birthplace of Noritake, a western tableware brand highly acclaimed globally. The park is a lush green space to relax in, with stores, cafes, restaurants, and a museum.
The red-brick building, built in 1904, is the first factory of Nippon Toki Gomei Kaisha (now Noritake Co., Ltd.). It is a stately structure that symbolizes the beginning of the history of Western tableware manufacturing in Japan.

The tower is Nagoya’s symbol, built as Nagoya TV Tower for tourism and TV broadcast and completed in 1954. In 2011, TV signals were switched from analog to digital and its function as a consolidated radio tower was ended.
In 2020, the interior was completely renovated with hotels added on the 4th and 5th floors. In May of 2021, it was reopened as Chubu Electric Power MIRAI TOWER.

This park was opened in 1909 as Nagoya City’s first park, which celebrated its 110th anniversary in 2019. There are many historical monuments and landmarks throughout the park, such as the fountain tower with Roman-style marble columns and rockwork, and the Italian Renaissance-style concert hall, Sogakudo. The municipal zoo used to be located here until it was relocated to Higashiyama in 1937.

Inside a 600,000 square meter area, there is a zoo, botanical garden, and an amusement park. The scale is so big that you cannot go around this zoo, botanical garden in one day.
Especially in the zoo, there are 450 types of animals, many of them are quite popular like the Koala, a symbol of the zoo.

This science museum is located in the center of Nagoya city comprising 3 buildings, “Life Sciences building”, “Science and Technology building”, and “Astronomy building”.
Various hands-on displays are provided such as an aurora movie in a room with -30℃ in“Tornado Lab” (Currently suspended as of July, 2021). The large-scale exhibitions with the full impact make you feel the bodily sensation of nature’s miracle such as “Tornado Lab” generating an artificial tornado at the height of 9M, and “Electric Discharge Lab” generating an electric discharge of 1.2 million volts.

This Japanese garden was established in the ruins that used to be called “Ōzone Yashiki ” for Tokugawa Mitsutomo (1625-1700), the second lord of the Owari branch of the Tokugawa clan, to spend his retired life in 1695. The ground is said to have about 44 ha.
A circuit-style strolling pond style was used, which was the main style for Daimyou (a feudal)’s garden during the Edo period

This museum curates Owari Tokunaga family’s treasures. The 19th feudal lord Tokugawa Yoshichika opened it in 1935 to preserve the culture of lordship for the future generations.
The collection of over 10,000 tools and arts includes swords, armor, tea sets, and the No attire which Tokunaga Ieyasu gave to the Tokugawa family in Oda Region, as well as the treasures of the successive lords and their wives.

A building directly connected to the terminal station, consisting of two towers with a height of over 200m. Department stores JR Nagoya Takashimaya, Nagoya Marriott Associa Hotel, restaurants, offices, etc. are combined.
JR Nagoya Takashimaya consists of 13 floors from the 2nd basement floor to the 11th floor. Famous sweets shops in Japan are gathered, and they often form a waiting line.

The 198-acre comprehensive park is adorned with all-season flower beds, an open space with lawn, and Ofuke Pond with a view of Nagoya Castle. A baseball field, sports facilities and many more are providing recreation to Nagoya City residents. Meijo Park Flower Plaza has a bright atrium and sunroom illuminated by natural light, where a variety of flower and green exhibitions are held. A cafe is available so you can enjoy your tea time surrounded by flowers.

Works are collected as the theme of “Art by local artists”, “École de Paris”, “Mexican Renaissance”, and “Contemporary artist”. The display is changed three times a year and works are selected with a seasonal theme among about 6800 collections.

The observation tower in the Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens, built in 1989 to commemorate the 100th year of Nagoya City.
The tower is 134m (440 ft)-tall, but it stands on 80m (262 ft)-hill, which makes it 214m (702 ft) above sea level in all.

This is Nagoya City’s only large children’s center with the vast 1.7-hectare ground. Its theme is “the space where children can discover and create their own play.” There are fun playgrounds and facilities to encourage children to be creative.

This strolling Japanese garden surrounding a pond is created after the geography of Chubu Region. The grounds cover 3.7 hectares, the largest in the Tokai Region. The hill is likened to Mt. Ontake where Kiso River starts and runs down to Nezame-no-Toko Gorge, then the River calms down and branches into Ibi River and Nagara River. You can imagine how the magnificent Chubu Region’s natural beauty is described while you stroll the garden for fun. Shiratori Garden is made up of eight scenes called Shiratori Hakkei. Take time to appreciate the landscape.

This 247m complex in front of Nagoya Station stands tallest among buildings in Tokai Region. The commerce wing is filled with high-fashion oversea brands, restaurants, and cafes as well as a movie complex and a gallery to show off Lexus luxury cars.

Vantelin Dome Nagoya, opened in 1997, is the home stadium of the professional baseball team Chunichi Dragons. With a maximum seating capacity of 50,667 people (as of April 1, 2023), it's a six-story high large dome stadium. Hosting not only baseball but also various sports events, concerts, and exhibitions, it attracts people from all over the country.

This open-air museum first opened its doors in 1965, the artistically and historically valuable buildings, including 11 important cultural properties, mostly from the Meiji period, were relocated, preserved, and exhibited here.

The Inuyama Castle keep is one of five deemed national treasures in Japan. It’s especially famous for remaining today as the oldest watchtower-style keep in Japan. It’s said it was built in 1537 by Oda Nobuyasu, the father of Oda Nobunaga. It’s especially protected from the rear as it stands on top of a little hill backed by the Kiso River, making it near impenetrable from behind. It stands as part of the castle town below, serving once as an important site for trade, politics and as a vital key for the economy.

This vast park was established on the former site of the Nagakute site of the Expo 2005, a World Expo held in Aichi. The building, which was used as a guesthouse and reception hall during the exposition, has been converted into the Expo 2005 Memorial Hall, where more than 300 items donated by foreign pavilions are on display. Those who actually visited the Expo back then will feel nostalgic.

Whisk away into the whimsical world of Studio Ghibli at the world’s one-and-only destination complete with 5 areas: Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse, Hill of Youth, Dondoko Forest, Mononoke Village and Valley of Witches.

In 1405, the Shugo (governor) of Owari (current Aichi prefecture), Yoshishige Shiba, dominated this castle as an annex of Shimotsu Castle.

A historically famous military commander, Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582) made a triumphal entry from Nagoya Castle and decided this castle to be his military base in 1555. He departed from the castle for “the battle of Okehazama” which is well known as his dramatic victory. He was attacked to death by Mitsuhide Akechi in the Honnō-ji Incident when he almost united the whole country. After his death, the meeting deciding his successor “the Kiyosu Conference” was held in the castle.

It is a famous store of Nagoya's well known "Miso-katsu" founded in 1947. The Tonkatsu is covered with sauce made from naturally brewed bean miso from Aichi prefecture that has been aged for a year and a half. They use high-quality pork meat from Southern Kyushu, which is sweet and tender. The most popular menu is the “Waraji Tonkatsu”which is about 22 cm large in size. The set meal"Gokujo Rib Teppan Tonkatsu Teishoku"(Superb Ribbed Teppan Tonkatsu Set Meal) is also popular, as it is served on a teppan (a hot iron plate) and allows you to enjoy the heated Misokatsu until the end of the meal.

Founded in 1873 in front of Atsuta Jingu Shrine, this restaurant is the birthplace of "Hitsumabushi", Nagoya's famous eel dish. Hitsumabushi, which is a registered trademark of Atsuta Horaiiken, is a dish of broiled eel chopped into small pieces and served on a bed of rice in a container called an "o-hitsu".

The specialty of this restaurant is the "Maboroshi no Tebasaki", which would make you absolutely addicted for its spiciness and flavor of the "Maboroshi no Kosho（Phantom pepper）" and "Hiden no Tare(Secret sauce)". The spicy pepper flavor goes perfect with beer, so it dissapears from the serving plate in no time as if it was a phantom. The secret to its deliciousness is to fry the chicken wings twice to make them crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside.

The Oasis 21 is famous for its symbolic glass roof, also known as the “Spaceship-Aqua ”. The facility has a bus terminal and is also connected to the subway and the Meitetsu line .
Located within the heart of Nagoya city, the facility is known to be a photogenic location due to the illuminations lighting up the skyline. The patterns of the illumination also adapt and change depending on the season.

Nagoya‘s biggest arcade is surrounded by Wakamiya, Fushimi, Osu and Minami-Otsu Streets. Almost 1,200 stores and facilities in all kinds of genres are clustered - restaurants, second-hand, general, and appliance stores, etc. are creating a unique atmosphere.

This shopping complex adjoins terminal stations of JR, Meitetsu , and metro, and comprises clothing stores and restaurants.
Various restaurants are open including conveyor belt sushi, and famous food in Nagoya, Miso-Kushikatsu which are deep-fried skewers with Miso paste are served by the bar, and many more restaurants such as ramen and barbecue, and pubs, are attractively in the full lineup. In summer, a beer garden is opened on the building rooftop.

Nagoya Kanko Hotel has the longest history in Nagoya City and carries on its tradition since its establishment in 1936. With a position of "Guest House of Honor in the Chubu Area," the hotel has hosted many distinguished guests and VIPs from Japan and abroad. The perfect service that has been nurtured throughout the hotel's history and this makes your stay even richer.

This hotel sits inside the JR Central Towers building. Located between floors 15 and 52, the hotel guest rooms and restaurant offer panoramic views down over the Nagoya cityscape. The hotel offers a range of guest rooms to accommodate all guests, including family rooms for parties of 3-4, or upgraded stay options and suite rooms on the concierge floor. Each selection is designed with an open, roomy layout for you to kick back in luxe style.

Apa Hotel Nagoya Sakae is conveniently located in the Sakae district, in central downtown Nagoya, with easy access to everywhere. The room types are single, double, twin, and triple rooms. There are also suite rooms with two 120cm×195cm beds in an 18 square meter space. All rooms come with a bathroom with tub and toilet.

An elegant hotel with European taste and space. The hotel meets a variety of accommodation needs, from standard rooms that are simple yet wonderfully comfortable to various suites that combine European taste with modern essence.

Yukari is a cracker made with shrimp paste which is believed to bring good luck in Japan. Yukari was once presented to Tokugawa Mitsutomo in the Owari domain during the Edo Period and carries on its history and excellence.

Aoyagi Sohonke has its main store in Osu, Naka-ku, Nagoya City and has been famous for its local sweet, uiro, which also produces this popular sweets. The company's logo is a frog jumping on a willow tree, giving rise to the creation of this cute frog-shaped product. The eyes and mouth are still made one by one with a hot branding iron, making it a delicate product.

Uiro, a steamed confectionery made from rice flour and other ingredients, is a go-to souvenir of Nagoya. “Uiro bar" is a novel design incorporated into Uiro, and is popular among the younger generation as well.