[Summer Nagoya Travel Guide] A Summer Trip Plan for Enjoying Both the City and the Seaside

This huge aquarium consists of the North Building, where you can see dolphins, belugas, orcas, and more, and the South Building, home to a wide variety of tanks including a live coral tank. Step inside the comfortably temperature-controlled building and the blazing sun outside feels far away. The soft light filling the tanks and the sight of fish swimming slowly create a quiet, calming summer atmosphere.
Enjoy a relaxing moment together with the harbor scenery beyond the windows.

The garden is designed in the chisen-kaiyu style, the most common style for daimyo gardens in the Edo period. The way a clear stream flows down from a waterfall through a ravine into a pond representing the sea symbolically expresses Japan’s natural scenery.
The grounds make use of elevation changes, and the combination of shade and waterside areas creates a relatively cool atmosphere even in summer. The sound of the waterfall and the breeze over the water feel refreshing, and the garden’s changing views with every step offer refined beauty that is sure to impress.

A chisen-kaiyu-style Japanese garden created with the landscape of the Chubu region as its motif. Across its 3.7-hectare grounds, quiet ponds, gently rolling artificial hills, and scenery reminiscent of mountain streams are skillfully arranged, while cool watersides and the shade of trees invite a peaceful stroll.
Its appeal lies in the way you can spend time with a certain sense of coolness even in midsummer, quietly conveying the depth of Japanese garden design.

A garden where many flowers bloom throughout the year, showing a beautiful appearance in each season.
Admission is free, making it an easy place to stop by during a walk. In summer, colorful flowers such as Million Bells bloom in abundance, and simply strolling through the garden should make you feel a vitality that stands up to the heat. Spend a calm moment while enjoying the fountains and flower scenery swaying in the breeze.

Its origins are said to date back Approx. 1,900 years, when the Kusanagi-no-Mitsurugi sacred sword, one of the Three Sacred Treasures of Japan (three treasures granted by Amaterasu Omikami in Japanese mythology and inherited as proof of the emperor’s imperial status), was enshrined here.
Deep greenery spreads across the grounds, creating a quiet, dignified atmosphere unique to a sacred precinct even in midsummer. The sound of footsteps on gravel and the elegant light shining onto the shrine buildings are also perfect for refreshing yourself in the heat.

This museum was built using the site and buildings of the test factory established in 1911 by Sakichi Toyoda, founder of the Toyota Group, for research and development of automatic looms.
In a red-brick space that looks cool and refreshing, exhibits packed with highlights line up, including rare large machines and famous cars from different eras, allowing visitors to understand the history of the Toyota Group while viewing the displays.
The museum is open from 9:30am to 5:00pm, so it is recommended to schedule your visit during the hours when you want to avoid the heat.

Nagoya’s largest shopping district, spread across an area bordered by four streets: Wakamiya Odori, Fushimi-dori, Osu-dori, and Minami Otsu-dori.
Streets lined with arcades that block the strong sun are filled with a wide range of shops, and taking a break with a cold drink while enjoying street food and shopping feels especially pleasant. The location, where lively energy intersects with old-town charm, makes walking around town in the hot season feel light and easy.

The castle tower, one of only five in Japan designated as National Treasures, is famous for being considered the oldest existing tower and for having the features of an early watchtower-style keep.
Standing on high ground overlooking the Kiso River during the cormorant fishing season, the breeze that blows through the keep has a coolness perfect for escaping the heat. From the corridor on the top floor, you can enjoy an open view of the castle town and river, while the texture and creaking sounds of the wood preserved inside the castle bring a quiet sense of time.

An appealing theme park that combines an aquarium where sea creatures live with a toy kingdom that excites children.
Located near Ise Bay, where Chubu Centrair International Airport floats on an artificial island, it is within day-trip range from Nagoya yet lets you fully enjoy the mood of summer leisure. In addition to dolphin and sea lion shows, there is a wide variety of amusement options that can make you forget the heat. Since the attractions are mainly indoors, you can enjoy it regardless of the weather, making it reassuring even on rainy days.

Aichi Prefecture’s oldest lighthouse has watched over the area since 1921. With its beautiful pure-white color and rounded, nostalgic design, it has long been loved as a town symbol.
In the open scenery facing the horizon, the sky and light that change from moment to moment create a calm atmosphere, and scenes where the lighthouse stands out are well worth seeing. To avoid the daytime heat, aim for the comfortable evening hours, when the incoming sea breeze gently brushes your cheeks.

Located at Morozaki Port, where high-speed boats to Himakajima and Shinojima arrive and depart, Hazu Cape sits at the southernmost tip of the Chita Peninsula.
Walk the path through the primeval forest surrounding the sacred area of Hazu Shrine, which stands on the cape, and you can feel cool air even in summer thanks to the shade and sea breeze. Taking in the sea views from the observation deck at the highest point, or chartering a rental car or taxi to drive along the coast and soak in the grand sense of openness, are ways to spend time that only a cape can offer.

Water activities set around the sea and rivers near Nagoya are an easy leisure option to try in summer.
Time spent paddling a SUP board or sea kayak, moving close to the water’s surface while feeling the pleasant wind and ripples with your whole body, is sure to become an extraordinary experience. There are also plenty of beginner-friendly options that you can join comfortably at your own pace.

Cycling along the coast and through castle towns is a popular activity that lets you enjoy both the light, breezy feeling of riding and the changing scenery as you go.
Passing along riverside roads and through historic townscapes, the moment the sea appears before you brings an especially strong sense of openness. Alternate moderate rides with breaks, and fully enjoy the character and culture of the places you visit, as well as encounters with local residents.

Cruising in the harbor area creates a special time for viewing the city and sea from the water. The wind blowing across the boat feels refreshing, and the scenery drifts by gently from a perspective different from on land.
As you take in the impressive overlap of large factory complexes, quay scenery, and the horizon stretching far beyond, surrender to the rocking of the boat and leave yourself with a calm afterglow during your trip.

A popular restaurant where you can enjoy authentic Taiwanese cuisine. Its signature Taiwan ramen layers bold heat with umami, making it a perfect summer stamina dish you will want to keep eating even as you break a sweat.
Recharge with one of Nagoya’s representative local foods, worth lining up for. It is also easy to visit from popular sightseeing spots such as Tokugawaen Garden.

A long-established live fish restaurant loved by locals. The seasonal seafood delivered directly from Minamichita Toyohama Market, where the main branch is located, is all landed that very morning.
Known for offering fresh flavors while still in the city, it is popular with both tourists and locals. In addition to sashimi and simmered fish, the famous jumbo fried shrimp is a must-try. Located on a sightseeing route in the Sakae area, it is easy to access smoothly between destinations.

A complex facility on the Chita Peninsula popular with seafood lovers.
The market offers Approx. 400 kinds of fresh fish and processed products, all sold at good-value prices. For dining, the barbecue in the covered area is popular. Enjoy outdoor gourmet food with a resort feeling while looking out over Mikawa Bay sparkling in the summer sunlight. A dining hall with a wide range of menu items and food stalls selling seafood bowls are also open.

A hotel located inside JR Central Towers. Guest rooms on the upper floors offer panoramic city views, while sparkling tropical-night scenery and energetic morning light deepen the afterglow of your trip.
Relax in a fully air-conditioned room and add quiet moments between sightseeing stops, and your body and mind will naturally settle even in the heat. Enjoy a celebrity-style stay at a hotel combining urban convenience with a refined atmosphere.

Opened in 1936, this hotel boasts the longest history and tradition in Nagoya City. As “the guest house of the Chubu region,” it has welcomed many distinguished guests and VIPs from Japan and abroad.
The elegant space is filled with a calm atmosphere that makes you forget the bustle of the city, allowing you to rest comfortably even after walking around sightseeing. Its warm, attentive hospitality, which brings a moment of cool relief to a summer trip, is also outstanding.

A Japanese-style ryokan with the theme of “fragrance.” Throughout the property, including the guest rooms, you can experience the comfort of incense.
The spectacular open-air bath overlooking Ise Bay below is also wonderful, and soaking in the hot spring, rich in medicinal components, slowly melts away fatigue from the daytime heat. For dinner, savor summer seasonal blessings, including Chita beef, a specialty of the Chita Peninsula, and fresh seafood from nearby Ise Bay.

A major summer event held every year on Marine Day, the third Monday of July, around Nagoya Port and the Nagoya Port Garden Pier area.
Its history and traditions, continuing for Approx. 80 years, are still carried on today, and a wide variety of events take place both day and night. The finale fireworks are especially the main attraction, with Approx. 3,000 fireworks coloring the port night sky and star mines sparkling on the water. Join one of Nagoya’s representative summer festivals, where you can spend time feeling the sea breeze, and make wonderful memories.

A summer festival staged at Osu Kannon Temple (Hoshoin), one of Japan’s three major Kannon temples and also known for having been moved from Mino by Tokugawa Ieyasu, and the surrounding shopping streets.
Held every year over two days on a Saturday and Sunday in early August, the performances of parade participants, rhythmic music, and lively food stalls come together, and the streets become filled with heat and energy, making it a true summer tradition in Nagoya. The sight of people of all ages taking part in the bon odori around the yagura tower set up in the grounds of Osu Kannon is also a must-see.

Held in Ichinomiya City, Aichi Prefecture, an area long known for its thriving textile industry, this festival is regarded as one of Japan’s leading Tanabata festivals.
Streamers and decorations coloring the shopping streets and roads sway under the summer sky, letting you enjoy an elegant atmosphere as you walk, and toward dusk the flow of people becomes even livelier. With the cool night breeze, take time to experience the seasonal atmosphere as the entire town shows a grand festive energy.