Nagoya, Japan, blends historical past, tradition, and trendy points of interest. From Nagoya Citadel to native delicacies and vibrant purchasing districts, discover the perfect sights with this important journey information.
Nagoya, Japan, is a dynamic metropolis that seamlessly blends historical past, tradition, and trendy points of interest. With its wealthy heritage, mouthwatering delicacies, full of life purchasing districts, and fascinating museums, Nagoya provides one thing for each traveler.
Right here’s your important Nagoya journey information, highlighting the perfect actions and must-see sights. We’ve additionally included a couple of further must-visit stops alongside the way in which, equivalent to a enjoyable journey to Legoland, a go to to Japan’s second-largest shrine, and a calming retreat at a temple within the coronary heart of town!
Nagoya Citadel
If you happen to’re a fan of Japanese castles like my household, then Nagoya Citadel is a must-visit throughout your keep in Nagoya. Each time we journey round Japan, we at all times attempt to go to any castles within the space.
Initially inbuilt 1609 as a residence for the Owari department of the Tokugawa household, the citadel boasts spectacular structure, deep moats, and big stone partitions that after protected its inhabitants. Though a lot of the citadel was destroyed throughout World Battle II, the present construction, rebuilt in 1959, provides a fascinating perception into Japan’s feudal previous.
Honmaru Palace
Subsequent to the citadel is the Honmaru Palace (本丸御殿), initially inbuilt 1612 because the residence and authorities workplace for the primary lord of Owari Province. It underwent a 9-year (2009–2018) full reconstruction, carried out in three levels utilizing conventional supplies and building strategies.
The eye to element in recreating the Honmaru Palace is mesmerizing. Each facet of the palace, from the art work to the architectural components, has been skillfully crafted based mostly on historic footage and data.
Strolling by means of the grand palace, we imagined the lives of the lords from centuries previous; they will need to have lived in unbelievable luxurious. After touring the palace, head over to Nagoya Citadel, a concrete reconstruction with eight flooring in whole. The creature related to the citadel is named Kinshachi (金鯱)—an imaginary sea animal with the pinnacle of a tiger and the physique of a fish.
The exhibitions on the second flooring included fashions of the citadel and town throughout the Edo interval. You’ll be able to see a fantastic visible mannequin of the Honmaru Palace construction on show, together with artworks that have been saved earlier than the hearth that burned down Nagoya Citadel.
The third flooring featured a copy of a citadel and life within the city throughout the 1600s, together with fancy carriages used for carrying lords and women.
The fourth flooring contained collections of armor and swords on show, whereas the fifth flooring featured an in depth historical past of Nagoya Citadel, a stone pull exhibit, and a full-scale reproduction of Kinshachi for guests to expertise and luxuriate in. Lastly, from the commentary room on the highest flooring, guests can take pleasure in a fantastic view of town.
Nagoya Metropolis Science Museum
After studying concerning the metropolis’s wealthy historical past at Nagoya Citadel, let’s fast-forward to the long run and head to the Nagoya Metropolis Science Museum. Our kids had an absolute blast on the museum throughout our go to, as many reveals are hands-on and permit them to the touch and experiment.
There have been so many enjoyable and interactive reveals for the kids, together with a human hamster wheel! Every flooring is split into two sections; right here is a part of the second flooring, which focuses on the wonders of the Earth.
The third flooring was devoted to mechanics and know-how, that includes reveals that showcased the interior workings of assorted machines, together with a rice cooker.
The fourth flooring had reveals on the ideas of nature, exploring scientific ideas equivalent to gravity, electrical energy, and magnetism. Guests can expertise a deep freezing lab and find out about life within the polar area (for a payment).
The underside a part of the museum’s sphere is a tremendous space devoted to area, with a video of what it’s wish to view Earth from the Worldwide House Station. The planetarium dome spans 35 meters, rating among the many largest planetariums on the earth! Contained in the planetarium, the projector is on the middle of the room. Your complete present is performed in Japanese, and the story will not be straightforward for international audio system to observe. It’s greatest to skip it should you don’t converse Japanese fluently.
Noritake Backyard
After immersing ourselves in science and know-how, it’s time to take pleasure in some artwork. We visited the picturesque Noritake Backyard and watched proficient artists work on lovely pottery and plates.
Noritake Backyard is a peaceable oasis within the coronary heart of Nagoya, devoted to town’s wealthy ceramics historical past. Unfold throughout lush grounds, the backyard contains a craft middle, museum, and workshops. The red-brick buildings, as soon as a bustling ceramics manufacturing unit, now home exhibitions that element the craftsmanship behind Noritake’s world-renowned ceramics.
Within the welcome middle, which is free, you possibly can be taught concerning the historical past of the Noritake Firm and its visionary founders. Inside, there are detailed fashions of how the modern-day kiln works, offering perception into the craftsmanship behind Noritake’s ceramics.
There’s a payment for adults to enter the craft middle and museum. On the primary two flooring, craftsmen work on initiatives, demonstrating hand-painting strategies at their workstations. Moreover, there are portray workshops the place you possibly can create your individual designs on plates and cups.
The highest two flooring housed the museum, showcasing lovely collections from the previous 100 years of Noritake’s historical past. Though no footage have been allowed within the constructing, it was superb to see the detailed hand-painting work the artists have been creating proper in entrance of us. If you happen to can admire particulars and wonderful artwork, we extremely suggest visiting the museum. The items and units on show are merely marvelous, every one requiring meticulous consideration to element and creativity to create.
SCMAGLEV and Railway Park
Situated only a brief practice trip from Nagoya Station, the SCMAGLEV and Railway Park is a paradise for practice lovers. With a formidable assortment of historic and trendy trains, together with the record-breaking Maglev, this museum takes guests on a journey by means of Japan’s railway historical past.
Instantly upon coming into the museum, you will see a big room with three trains which have set pace data at varied occasions all through historical past: a steam practice, an experimental shinkansen, and a MAGLEV practice.
On the enormous display behind the practice, there’s a video taking part in that highlights the pace data these trains have set. You will discover varied trains on show, every accompanied by info on their historic significance, specs, and extra, together with the Guinness World Report certificates for the world’s quickest practice (581 km/h or 361 mph)! A lot of them will let you stroll inside and expertise what using them is like!
After the primary room, you’ll enter a good bigger area with over 32 trains! From steam locomotives to the most recent Shinkansen fashions, the park provides a hands-on expertise the place you possibly can discover the interiors of the trains and find out about their technological developments.
Don’t miss the chance to drive a practice simulator, out there for a small payment. The museum additionally options participating reveals that display how rail know-how has developed, together with an earthquake alert system and a show on monitor upkeep.
The lunch café supplied… you guessed it, practice bentos from varied elements of Japan! These are referred to as ekiben and are probably the greatest elements of using a shinkansen!
After having fun with your ekiben, you possibly can discover the theater that showcases the development of trains and the museum area upstairs, which is crammed with artifacts and historical past about trains in Japan. Probably the most fascinating rooms options a big mannequin of cities equivalent to Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, and Kobe, permitting you to see what life can be like with the trains operating by means of them. The good half is when all of the trains begin transferring; the exhibition lights up and involves life!
Toyota Commemorative Museum of Business and Expertise
After visiting the railway park, we continued with the know-how theme and visited the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Business and Expertise in Nagoya. The museum is devoted to celebrating the 2 industries based by Sakichi Toyoda: textile equipment and, in fact, Toyota automobiles!
The museum is expansive, with so many fascinating issues to be taught and see, so give your self a minimum of three to 4 hours. We spent about three hours there and didn’t handle to complete all of the exhibitions.
Guests can watch stay demonstrations of textile machines, discover interactive shows, and be taught concerning the improvements which have outlined Toyota’s historical past.
The auto pavilion showcases the evolution of automotive manufacturing, full with classic fashions and an interesting take a look at the way forward for robotics in automotive manufacturing. The museum’s participating reveals and educated workers make it an enlightening expertise for guests of all ages.
Nagoya TV Tower
For beautiful panoramic views of Nagoya, head to the Nagoya TV Tower within the Sakae district. As Japan’s oldest TV tower, this landmark provides two commentary decks—one indoor and one outside—the place you possibly can take pleasure in sweeping vistas of town skyline.
It was fantastic to benefit from the downtown views from the highest of the tower. The higher a part of the commentary deck is outdoor and fairly windy, however the panoramic views over town are breathtaking! On the base of the Nagoya Tower, there are cafés and eating places the place you possibly can sit exterior and luxuriate in drinks and lightweight meals with family and friends.
Atsuta Jingu
Nestled within the coronary heart of Nagoya, Atsuta Jingu is Japan’s second-largest shrine, after the Nice Shrine of Ise in Mie Prefecture. Locals typically check with it as Atsuta-san or Atsuta-sama, and it has been a web site of worship for over 1,900 years, steeped in historic traditions.
⛩️ Learn our complete information on Atsuta Jingu.
The shrine advanced spans an expansive 190,000 sq. meters and contains museums, parks, auxiliary shrines, and the primary shrine. The primary cease is the Bunkaden Treasure Corridor, which homes roughly 4,000 historic treasures donated by the imperial household, shoguns, feudal lords, and bizarre individuals.
Whereas strolling across the shrine’s grounds, you’ll discover numerous towering cedar bushes. Remember to search for the 1,000-year-old sacred camphor tree often called Goshinboku! It’s believed that the tree emits vitality, which guests can harness by praying at it to obtain a little bit of that energy.
The Hongu (foremost shrine) is within the middle of the grounds. Whilst you can not entry the central shrine, you may get a glimpse of it from the providing field the place you pray. The Solar Goddess Amaterasu and certainly one of Japan’s most treasured objects, the legendary Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi (regarded as Japan’s Excalibur), are enshrined right here. Subsequent to the shrine, you should buy an omamori (good luck attraction), omikuji (fortune paper), or ema (wishing plaque).
⛩️ Learn our full information on shrine etiquette.
Legoland Japan
In case you are touring with youngsters or are a Lego lover normally, Legoland Japan is a must-visit. The theme park, which opened in 2017, provides over 25 rides, workshops, and interactive experiences for guests of all ages.
The theme park is split into eight sections, every with its personal distinctive rides, points of interest, and settings. We’ll spotlight among the points of interest, however you possibly can take a look at the complete information right here.
The Manufacturing unit space is a must-visit. It begins with a enjoyable introductory video concerning the historical past of Lego (out there solely in Japanese). After that, you possibly can take pleasure in a small interactive tour about how the well-known Lego bricks are made. The tour concludes with a memento store, the place you should purchase distinctive Lego objects.
The Submarine Journey space is all issues water. It has one of the vital spectacular points of interest, which lets you board a “submarine” and luxuriate in all of the sealife and cute Lego characters underwater. Exterior, you’ll discover a large octopus (created from Lego, in fact) and the S.Q.U.I.D. Surfer trip, the place you possibly can hop in a jet boat and spin round to keep away from the water splashes!
The Submarine Journey space is all about water. It has one of the vital spectacular points of interest, permitting you to board a “submarine” and benefit from the sea life and cute Lego characters underwater. Exterior, you’ll discover a large octopus (created from Lego, in fact) and the S.Q.U.I.D. Surfer trip, the place you possibly can hop in a jet boat and spin round to keep away from the water splashes!
The neighboring Misplaced Kingdom Journey space has an Indiana Jones-like design and environment. The principle attraction permits two riders to battle it out as they earn factors utilizing the laser gun to shoot varied targets.
Miniland is certainly one of many highlights of all the theme park. Iconic landmarks and monuments from round Japan are meticulously replicated, all in Lego. From Tokyo Tower and Kiyomizu-dera to Osaka’s Dotonbori and Himeji Citadel, there are numerous fashions to take pleasure in and marvel at, showcasing immense consideration to element.
All through the park, you’ll find varied eating places, cafes, and meals stalls providing Lego-themed meals, together with Lego brick-shaped fries and burgers.
Ghibli Park
Ghibli Park is the most recent attraction in Hayao Miyazaki’s magical world of Studio Ghibli, having opened in November 2022 in western Nagoya.
The theme park is situated inside the Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park and has 5 distinct areas. Some areas require particular tickets, and others have designated time frames.
Learn our full information right here for full particulars!
The principle space is Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse. As you stroll by means of unassuming doorways, you’re instantly whisked away into the world of Studio Ghibli. There are 14 scenes from 13 movies, with fashionable spots together with the practice scene that includes No Face, a true-to-scale Laputian Robotic (beforehand solely out there at Tokyo’s Ghibli Museum in Mitaka), and a small recreation of the world of Arrietty.
It’s also possible to take pleasure in an unique brief movie on the theater and pattern varied meals and snacks on the Transcontinental Flight Café. On the prime, simply earlier than the exit, you possibly can choose up distinctive Studio Ghibli items and souvenirs.
Exterior the Grand Warehouse, you possibly can discover the remaining 4 areas. Hill of the Youth showcases monuments from Whisper of the Coronary heart, Dondoko Forest homes everybody’s favourite Totoro, and Mononoke Village portrays the paranormal world of Princess Mononoke.
The newest addition to the park, Valley of the Witches, is essentially the most in depth, curated, and awe-inspiring space. Right here, you possibly can immerse your self within the fantastical worlds of Kiki’s Supply Service and Howl’s Shifting Citadel. Talking of which, Howl’s citadel is a must-visit. The eye to element is unbelievable, from the lounge and Calcifer’s furnace to Howl’s bed room adorned with numerous ornaments; it really appears like you’re residing in his citadel.
Ghibli Park covers over 18 acres, so be ready to do loads of strolling! Shuttle buses run between every space, however they’re typically crowded, so you’ll want to depart sufficient time to journey between spots.
Lastly, within the coronary heart of downtown Nagoya, you’ll discover the Osu Kannon Temple and the Osu Procuring District. The temple, a major Buddhist landmark, was initially constructed throughout the Kamakura Interval (1192-1333) in Gifu Prefecture. Nonetheless, because of repeated flooding, the famend shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu relocated it to its present location in 1612.
The principle level of worship is a picket statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, carved by Kobo Daishi, one of the vital influential monks in Japanese Buddhism. It’s also possible to discover the Shinpukuji Library, which homes 15,000 traditional Japanese and Chinese language texts, a few of that are designated as Necessary Cultural Properties. On the 18th and twenty eighth of every month, you possibly can take pleasure in a small vintage market in entrance of the temple.
The temple is a tranquil escape, located simply earlier than the bustling purchasing streets that lie forward.
Osu Procuring District is crammed with over 1,200 eating places, cafes, and retailers. You will discover all the pieces from second-hand shops and arcades to electronics and maid cafes. The world is at all times full of life, with avenue performers, dancers, and cosplayers, the place you possibly can really feel the center of Nagoya beat.
The purchasing streets additionally host varied main Nagoya occasions all year long, together with the Osu Summer season Pageant in August, the Osu Daido-chonin Pageant in October, and the Osu Setsubun Takarabune Gyoretsu in February.
With its wealthy ties to Japan’s three most legendary samurai and its place because the nation’s fourth-largest metropolis, Nagoya presents a vibrant mixture of historical past, tradition, and modern points of interest. I promise you’ll have a implausible time exploring town.
Additionally, don’t miss our Nagoya Meals Information to find out about its native delicacies!
