[1-Night, 2-Day Nagoya City Model Course] Enjoy Nagoya Meshi and a Historic City! A Lively Nagoya Getaway

The first stop is Noritake Garden, known as the birthplace of a world-famous Western tableware brand. The grounds are home to shops, cafes, restaurants, and a museum, creating a space where you can get a feel for both the history and the present of Nagoya’s manufacturing culture.

The red-brick building constructed in 1904 was the first factory of Nippon Toki Gomei Kaisha (now Noritake Co., Limited), and it symbolizes the beginning of Western tableware production in Japan. At the Noritake Museum inside the Craft Center, you can admire valuable works including Old Noritake, observe the bone china production process, and watch artisans painting by hand, all while experiencing the history and present of craftsmanship.
After your walk, it’s also worth stopping by the shop to look for tableware, kitchen items, and other goods as a little treat for yourself.

After exploring Nagoya’s manufacturing history, walk for about 15 minutes to Maruya Honten Meieki 3-chome Branch. It’s lunchtime at this hitsumabushi specialty restaurant, conveniently close to Nagoya Station.

Their signature dish is hitsumabushi made with eel grilled fragrantly over binchotan charcoal and 100% domestically grown rice. The slightly sweet sauce, based on traditionally brewed tamari soy sauce, brings out the rich flavor of the eel. Another part of the fun is enjoying it in three stages: first as is, then with condiments, and finally with broth poured over it like ochazuke. Savor one of Nagoya’s signature local dishes and enjoy a satisfying lunch.

After filling both your stomach and your spirit with Nagoya’s local food, take the subway from Nagoya Station to Osu Kannon Station. There, visit Osu Kannon, which stands in the center of the shopping district.

This historic temple is a special head temple of the Chizan school of Shingon Buddhism and was moved to its current location by order of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Its principal image, Sho-Kannon, is counted along with Asakusa Kannon in Tokyo and Tsu Kannon in Mie as one of the “Three Great Kannon of Japan.”
Pass through the Niomon Gate, where powerful Nio guardian statues are enshrined on both sides, and enter the grounds. There, quietly offer your prayers to Sho-Kannon enshrined in the main hall.

After visiting the temple, head to Osu Shopping District just to the east. Take a walk through this lively area that developed as a temple town.

Osu Shopping District is Nagoya’s largest shopping arcade, spread across an area surrounded by roads such as Wakamiya-odori and Fushimi-dori. Around 1,200 shops and facilities, including restaurants, vintage clothing stores, variety shops, and electronics retailers, line the streets, creating a vibrant atmosphere just by walking through.
With long-established businesses and newer shops mixed together, the area is full of young people enjoying street food and shoppers browsing around. Sample trendy bites, peek into interesting stores, and enjoy a free-spirited stroll.

After walking through the shopping district, make a stop at Osu Tokugawa-an. Located in Osu, an area associated with the Tokugawa family, this sweet shop serves freshly pounded mochi.

The mochi is finished after you order, giving it a soft and springy texture. In addition to chunky red bean paste and smooth red bean paste, limited to 10 servings a day, the menu also includes options such as isobeyaki and mochi with grated daikon and soy sauce. Mix and match the flavors that catch your eye and enjoy freshly made mochi as a treat during your walk.

After enjoying Nagoya’s largest shopping district, head back to Osu Kannon Station and take the subway to Sakae Station. From there, walk to SUNSHINE SAKAE, just a short distance from the station.

This multi-use complex, with the Sky-Boat Ferris wheel mounted on its exterior wall, is one of the landmarks of the Sakae area. Ride one of the transparent gondolas for a panoramic view of the city from Approx. 52 meters above the ground. At night in particular, the illuminated Chubu Electric Power MIRAI TOWER and Oasis 21 create a different scene from the daytime. If you have time, it’s well worth a visit.
Inside, you’ll find cafes, shops, and amusement facilities, all adding to the lively atmosphere. Enjoy shopping and entertainment while experiencing the energy of Sakae.

Next, visit Hisaya-Odori Park, about a 5-minute walk from SUNSHINE SAKAE. This urban park makes use of the central strip of Hisaya-odori and extends for about 1 kilometer from north to south.

Open lawns and lush walking paths create a refreshing atmosphere in the middle of the city. Restaurants and shops are also scattered throughout the park, making it easy to enjoy both greenery and the lively city scene at the same time. In the area at the foot of Chubu Electric Power MIRAI TOWER, the tower reflected in the water basin creates a photogenic view. Enjoy taking photos as you fit in a pre-dinner stroll.

Now it’s time for dinner. Walk for about 10 minutes from Hisaya-Odori Park to Sekai no Yamachan Main Branch.

The specialty here is the famous “Phantom Tebasaki,” freshly fried chicken wings coated in a secret sauce and plenty of spicy pepper. Crispy on the outside and juicy inside, they’re impossible to stop eating. They pair perfectly with beer, and the lively atmosphere makes for a great Nagoya night out. In addition to chicken wings, you’ll also find Nagoya specialties such as doteni and miso kushikatsu, making it easy to enjoy a variety of local dishes all at once. Savor Nagoya’s local flavors to the fullest.

After enjoying Nagoya’s local food to the fullest, take a short walk through the city at night and head to Chubu Electric Power MIRAI TOWER, Nagoya’s symbol tower originally built as the Nagoya TV Tower.

From the indoor observation deck Sky Deck, 90 meters above the ground, you can take in sweeping views of the glittering cityscape. Reflections of the night view on the ceiling and underfoot mirrors create a dreamlike space. There’s also the outdoor observation deck Sky Balcony, 100 meters above the ground, where you can enjoy the view directly in the night breeze rather than through glass, a special experience unique to this spot. Look out over the sparkling streets of Sakae below and enjoy the Nagoya night.

Still savoring the afterglow of the night view, walk for Approx. 12 minutes to check in to tonight’s hotel, Dormy Inn PREMIUM Nagoya Sakae, Natural Hot Spring Nishikishachi no Yu.

At the large public bath with natural hot spring water, you can relax in alkaline spring water brought from Gifu Prefecture. There is also an outdoor bath and a sauna, perfect for easing the fatigue of a day spent walking around.
Another highlight is the Japanese and Western breakfast buffet, where you can enjoy Nagoya specialties such as hitsumabushi, doteni made with red miso, and kishimen. Look forward to breakfast as you wrap up the day’s journey.

Nagoya Castle is one of Japan’s largest castle complexes, built by order of Tokugawa Ieyasu. At the top of the five-tiered main keep, a pair of golden shachi, one male and one female, shine brilliantly and stand as a symbol of Nagoya.

Stroll through the expansive castle grounds while imagining the atmosphere of the Edo period. Be sure to visit Honmaru Palace as well, originally built in 1615 as the residence of the domain lord and the center of political affairs. After being destroyed in war, it was reconstructed in wood, and today visitors can see its lavish spaces decorated with magnificent wall and sliding-door paintings up close. The dazzling rooms lined with works by the Kano school are especially impressive.

After visiting Nagoya Castle, head straight to Kinshachi Yokocho just below the castle grounds. This gourmet spot gathers famous Nagoya meshi restaurants and makes a great place for a slightly early lunch.

The yokocho is divided into two areas: the Yoshinao Zone in front of the main gate and the Muneharu Zone near the east gate. Classic Nagoya specialties such as miso katsu, miso nikomi udon, and hitsumabushi are mainly found in the Yoshinao Zone. In a streetscape inspired by a castle town, even choosing where to eat while peeking into the different shops is part of the fun. Enjoy Nagoya meshi once again.

After lunch at Kinshachi Yokocho, take the subway to Ozone Station. Then walk for Approx. 15 minutes to Tokugawaen, a Japanese garden associated with the Owari Tokugawa family.

This stroll garden with a central pond follows the style of an Edo-period daimyo garden, letting you enjoy changing scenery as you walk through it. The view of water flowing down from the waterfall into the pond expresses Japanese nature in miniature, while the dynamic landscape makes use of the site’s dramatic changes in elevation.
Walk slowly along the pond, watch the colorful carp swimming across the water, and enjoy seasonal flowers in a quiet atmosphere far removed from the busy city center.

After strolling through Tokugawaen, take the JR Chuo Line from JR Ozone Station to Nagoya Station. At JR Central Towers, directly connected to the station, enjoy shopping for souvenirs.

In addition to the department store JR Nagoya Takashimaya, the complex also has restaurant floors and many shops, with plenty of famous sweets from the Tokai region and popular desserts. The basement floors offer a wide range of local souvenirs, making it an easy stop even before boarding the Shinkansen home.
If you have extra time, relaxing at a cafe on one of the upper floors while enjoying the view is also recommended. Feel Nagoya’s lively atmosphere right to the very end as you wrap up this two-day trip.