Hisaya-odori Park | Review by 周黛西

Chunichi Building

Chunichi Building, which opened in April 2024, is a mixed-use complex in the Sakae area of Nagoya. From B1F to 5F, it offers a wide variety of shops, including restaurants, cafes, general goods stores, and local product shops, and its greatest appeal is that visitors can enjoy food, shopping, and sightseeing all in one place. Directly connected to the underground mall and easy to access, it is also conveniently located as a base for sightseeing.

• Nagoya
• Commercial Buildings

I was drawn in by the "Art Aquarium Exhibition Nagoya 2026" poster at the entrance of Chunichi Building, so I went inside, bought a ticket, and saw an exhibition combining goldfish, aquarium art, lighting, music, fragrances, and more. It was truly eye-opening.
After leaving the exhibition, I went up to the 7th-floor observation deck, which overlooks central Nagoya. The building has well-known outdoor brand stores and popular household goods shops, as well as all kinds of restaurants on B1. Before heading home, I walked around here and had a cup of Blue Bottle Coffee, bringing my 2026 summer vacation in Japan to a perfect close.

Nagoya Tokyu Hotel

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.

• Nagoya
• Hotels

After finishing our trip to Nanki, we stopped in Nagoya and stayed at the Nagoya Tokyu Hotel in the city center. The European-style lobby has an impressive atmosphere, and the hotel also has restaurants, a piano bar, and several boutiques. For breakfast, you can choose between the buffet on the first floor or Japanese cuisine on the second floor. There is a 24-hour drugstore right next to the hotel. Walk about 5 minutes in the opposite direction and you’ll reach department stores, shopping centers, and underground malls. There are also many restaurants, fast-food places, and convenience stores along the way, making it easy to dine or shop. Overall, it was a very comfortable and convenient stay.

Akafuku-Main store

Founded in 1707, during the early Edo period, this long-established store has been welcoming visitors to Ise Jingu shrine for centuries with its famous "Akafuku Mochi." This traditional Japanese sweet consists of a mochi rice cake topped with smooth sweet bean paste, and its shape is distinctive. The three lines on the bean paste represent the pure flow of the Isuzu River that runs through the sacred grounds of Ise Jingu, while the white mochi symbolizes the pebbles at the riverbed.

• Mie
• Sweets Shop & Desserts Shop

As soon as you enter Okage Yokocho and turn into a side alley, you'll see Akafuku. Their signature "Akafuku Mochi" is chewy mochi covered with red bean paste, similar to Taiwanese red bean mochi. The red bean paste is sweet but not overly so, and it's a perfect match with a cup of hot tea. No wonder there's a constant stream of customers. The matcha shaved ice is also very good, with their signature red bean paste and two pieces of mochi hidden inside. It's perfect for cooling off.
The main store is in the middle of the street and also offers gift boxes to go, but they have a short shelf life, so I recommend enjoying them there for the best taste.