Nagoya Fall Travel Guide: Fall Foliage, Historic Streets, and Nagoya Cuisine

With summer heat still lingering in September, this is a good time to visit cultural attractions such as the Tokugawa Art Museum and explore Nagoya at a comfortable pace.
During the relatively pleasant mornings and evenings, consider walking through historic neighborhoods such as Shikemichi. Combine indoor cultural experiences with leisurely walks around the city as Nagoya transitions from summer to fall.

As temperatures ease in October, it becomes more comfortable to explore places such as Nagoya Castle and the historic streets of Arimatsu on foot.
The Nagoya Festival also takes place this month, bringing the city to life with events such as the Parade of the Three Feudal Lords.
Spend a fall day walking through historic castle grounds and old neighborhoods while experiencing the festive atmosphere throughout the city.

In November, the leaves begin to change color, making it an ideal time to visit Tokugawa Garden, Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens, and nearby Jokoji Temple. Each destination offers different scenery, from fall foliage decorating a Japanese garden and a botanical garden that makes use of the natural terrain to vivid trees surrounding historic buildings. Tokugawa Garden also holds the Tokugawa Garden Fall Leaves Festival when the foliage is at its peak.
Venture a little beyond central Nagoya to discover scenery found only in late fall.

One of Japan’s largest castles, Nagoya Castle was built in the early Edo period under the orders of Tokugawa Ieyasu. A pair of golden shachihoko—mythical tiger-headed carp—gleam atop the five-roofed castle keep and have become symbols of Nagoya.
The Honmaru Palace, which was destroyed during World War II, has been reconstructed in wood. Inside, its walls and sliding doors are covered with paintings by artists of the Kano school. The Jorakuden Hall, added in 1634, is particularly magnificent. From the golden shachihoko to the ornate Honmaru Palace, explore the history of the Owari Tokugawa family.

Meijo Park is a comprehensive public park and popular place for Nagoya residents to relax. Its approximately 80-hectare grounds feature flower beds, lawns, Ofuke Pond, and other attractions. The Meijo Park Flower Plaza has an atrium and sunroom filled with natural light and also hosts exhibitions related to flowers and greenery.
Another highlight is tonarino, a multipurpose complex facing Otsu-dori Avenue. With cafes, restaurants, and a bakery, it makes a convenient stop during a walk through the park.

This preserved historic district retains the atmosphere of the castle town that once prospered through merchants using boat transportation on the Horikawa River. On the east side of the street, earthen storehouses were built atop stone walls to prevent fires from spreading, while traditional townhouses line the west side. Together, they form a historic streetscape that remains intact today.
Look for the small rooftop shrines known as yane-gami and the tree over 300 years old at Sengen Shrine. Walk along streets that still retain the atmosphere of the old castle town, stopping at cafes and shops housed in renovated traditional buildings.

The Nagoya City Archives occupy the former Nagoya Court of Appeals, District Court, and Ward Court building, which is designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan. Its Neo-Baroque exterior, with contrasting red brick walls and white granite, is particularly striking.
The central staircase hall evokes the romance of the Taisho era, while the dignified historic exterior has appeared in numerous television dramas and programs. Explore both the exterior and interior to appreciate the building’s outstanding design from the final years of the Taisho period.

This museum preserves and exhibits art and objects passed down through the Owari Tokugawa family. Its collection of more than 10,000 items includes swords, armor, tea utensils, and Noh theater objects inherited from Tokugawa Ieyasu, along with treasured belongings of successive family heads and their wives.
The museum’s collection of nearly 1,000 swords is among the largest in Japan. Its many valuable works include the National Treasure Illustrated Handscrolls of The Tale of Genji, offering an in-depth look at the daimyo culture cultivated by the Owari Tokugawa family.

Yoki-so is a villa built from the Taisho period through the early Showa period by Ito Jirozaemon Suketami, the first president of Matsuzakaya. Constructed in the hills of Kakuozan, it is a representative example of a modern suburban villa in Nagoya, and five of its buildings are designated Tangible Cultural Properties by the city.
When first built, the estate covered approximately 8 acres, and at its peak it reportedly contained more than 30 buildings. Explore the architecture and gardens in harmony with nature while learning about the prominent political, business, and cultural figures who once gathered here.

The streets of Arimatsu still retain the atmosphere of the Edo period, with the homes of wealthy merchants and traditional townhouses lining the former Tokaido highway. Historic buildings include the Oka Residence, which features traditional latticework, sea cucumber walls, and latticed attic windows.
Arimatsu-Narumi shibori, designated a Traditional Craft of Japan, began when residents developed tie-dyeing techniques as a supplementary trade because the area had little farmland. The Arimatsu-Narumi Shibori Museum presents exhibits and demonstrations by artisans. Along with the historic streets, discover the craftsmanship that has been passed down through generations.

This Japanese garden was created on the former site of the Ozone Residence, a retirement villa built in 1695 by Mitsutomo, the second lord of the Owari Domain. The garden makes use of its varied terrain and features attractions such as the Ryumon Waterfall and Ryusen Lake, crossed by a Chinese-style stone bridge.
During the fall foliage season, the garden turns brilliant red and is illuminated at night. Walk through the undulating landscape while admiring the foliage reflected along the water and surrounding the stone bridge.

This large complex spans approximately 600,000 square meters and includes a zoo, botanical garden, and amusement park. After seeing the animals, visitors can continue to the botanical garden, which makes use of the area’s natural terrain.
The zoo displays approximately 450 animal species, including its symbolic koalas and many other popular animals. The botanical garden presents distinctive scenery in every season, with particularly impressive foliage in fall. Spend a full day moving between the zoo and the colorful botanical garden.

Founded in 1336, Jokoji Temple and the surrounding park form a fall foliage destination rich in nature just outside Nagoya. The temple grounds contain several buildings designated Important Cultural Properties of Japan, including the late Muromachi-period main hall known as Muiden and Genkeiko Mausoleum, the tomb of Tokugawa Yoshinao, the first lord of the Owari Domain.
The area is known for its fall foliage, particularly the vivid leaves surrounding the historic buildings on the temple grounds. Continue to the observation deck to take in the view.

This coffeehouse serves Aichi’s traditional “morning service” all day, providing toast or another light dish with every drink order. Guests can choose from five varieties of pressed sandwiches, including sweet red bean paste and vegetable salad, or a set with toast, an egg, and castella sponge cake, for a total of six options.
Many people visit not only for breakfast but also for a light lunch or snack. It is a convenient place to begin the morning or take a break while sightseeing.

Established in 1949, this long-running restaurant is known as the birthplace of miso katsu rice bowls. For lunch during a visit to Nagoya, try a bowl of freshly fried pork cutlets simmered in miso sauce and served over white rice.
The miso sauce, considered the heart of the restaurant, has been replenished and passed down through generations, giving it a deep flavor. Taste it as served at first, then break the egg partway through to mellow the lightly sweetened miso. Also look for the Miso Shrimp Rice Bowl, topped with two Japanese tiger prawns arranged to resemble Nagoya’s golden shachihoko.

Located near Nagoya Castle, this long-established restaurant serves hitsumabushi, a Nagoya specialty. The dish consists of strips of eel served over rice. First eat it as served, then add condiments such as green onion and wasabi, and finally pour broth over the rice to experience its changing flavors.
Shirakawa carefully selects its eel according to the season and grills it with a secret sauce used continuously for decades. The outside is crisp and fragrant, while the inside remains tender and fluffy. Try all three ways of eating the dish to savor every aspect of the eel.

Established in 1949, this long-running pastry shop and cafe has a calm, retro interior. Its display cases typically hold around 30 varieties of petits gâteaux, including classic strawberry shortcake and seasonal limited-time items made with generous amounts of fruit.
Along with the Marron cake, which balances whipped cream and sponge cake, the cafe offers an extensive selection of dine-in-only items such as Pudding Royal. Add some time at this old-fashioned coffeehouse to a walk through Nagoya.

This directly operated store belongs to Myokoen, a long-established tea company founded in 1916, and is located in Sakaechika, directly connected to Sakae Station. Stop by while sightseeing or shopping to browse products made from original blends of carefully selected tea leaves sourced from regions across Japan.
Its signature product is hojicha roasted over carefully controlled heat. At the attached tea stand, hojicha lattes, matcha lattes, and sweets made with Japanese tea are available for takeout. Browse for souvenirs surrounded by the aroma of roasting tea.

This upscale, resort-like hotel is within walking distance of Nagoya Station and approximately 3 minutes on foot from Sasashima-raibu Station. At Cabana Garden, a courtyard overlooking a cathedral, guests can relax by the water in a pleasant breeze.
Rooms range from suites and Deluxe Chapel Twin rooms overlooking the cathedral to Smart Double rooms. With buffet dining, teppanyaki, and French cuisine available, the hotel is also a comfortable place to unwind after sightseeing.

Although only a 10-minute walk from Nagoya Station, this lifestyle hotel has a calm, relaxing atmosphere. The interior resembles a gallery decorated with traditional crafts from the Tokai region, including Arimatsu shibori textiles and Mino ware.
Every 30-square-meter guest room includes amenities such as a Bluetooth® speaker and 49-inch 4K television, and guests can also sample the hotel’s original coffee. The next morning, begin the day with a breakfast featuring local ingredients and experience a taste of Nagoya.

This hotel faces Nishiki-dori Avenue, which connects the Nagoya Station and Sakae areas, and Hisaya-odori is also within walking distance. One of its main features is a large public bath supplied with natural hot spring water transported from Gifu Prefecture. After walking around the city, guests can relax in the baths without leaving the hotel.
The bathing facilities also include an open-air bath, a high-temperature dry sauna, and a cold-water bath. Breakfast features dishes such as hitsumabushi, doteni stew made with red miso, and kishimen noodles, making the hotel suitable for travelers seeking both hot springs and a breakfast of Nagoya specialties.