Thanks to its location on the Pacific, Nagoya has developed into the busiest port in the country and has long been an important production location for traditional industries such as ceramics and textiles. The ceramic industry was established here in the 12th century and has become somewhat of a tourist attraction thanks to the many workshops and factory tours. Many of the city’s historic sites remain, including the 16th-century castle, which like much of the city center was rebuilt after the destruction of World War II. Today this great city is a pleasure to visit because of its excellent network of wide modern streets, museums, art galleries and historic temples.
1 The Shrine of Atsuta
Atsuta Shrine
Widely considered the most important Shinto shrine in Japan, Atsuta Shrine was founded in the first century AD and is known for its preserved imperial insignia, the “lawn-mowing sword” (kusanagi-no-tsurugi), one of the only three in the country. According to Japanese mythology, the sword originally belonged to the storm god Susanoo but was presented to the legendary hero Yamato-takeru when he set out to conquer the eastern provinces; when his enemies tried to kill him by setting fire to the long grass, he saved himself by cutting the grass with his sword (the name of the shrine, Atsuta, means “burning field”). In the northern part of the forested district is the main shrine, Hongu, surrounded by a surrounding wall, and to the east is the Treasury, a modern building, which contains a large number of works of art including ancient and modern photographs, ceramics, jewelry and traditional masks. Hot Tip: With nine million visitors annually, Atsutau Shrine is busy, so try to time your visit near its opening or closing to avoid the crowds.
Address: 1-1-1 Jingu, Atsuta Ward, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture 456-8585
Official site: www.atsutajingu.or.jp/en/intro/
Accommodation: Where to Stay in Nagoya
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2 Nagoya Castle
Nagoya Castle
Nagoya Castle was completely rebuilt in 1959 and remains one of the city’s most important (and visited) landmarks. Highlights of this beautiful moated castle dating from 1612 include exploring the 48-metre high main tower, famous for its two gilded dolphins (shachi) perched on its facades, and which now houses a museum with art treasures including painted wall screens, sliding doors and murals mainly from the Canoe school. From the fifth floor of the tower you have a wide view of the city and the Nobi Plain. Three of the original corner towers survive, along with the second gate and walls, and they are fun to explore, as are the nearby Ninomaru Garden with his tea house.
Address: 1-1 Honmaru, Naka Ward, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture 460-0031
Official site: www.nagoyajo.city.nagoya.jp/13_english/index.html
3 Meiji-mura Museum (Meiji Village)
The Meiji-mura Village Museum in Inuyama, just 15 miles north of Nagoya city center, is an open-air museum with many fine examples of Japanese architecture from the Meiji period from 1868 to 1912. All together, the site consists of more than 60 buildings of interest that was brought here and assembled from all over the country, including a prison, a post office, a bathhouse, churches and houses, many of them influenced by design elements from Western countries. Numerous buildings are open to the public and house furnishings, temporary exhibitions and other items relating to the respective buildings, and a historic tram and bus service (as well as a vintage steam train) makes this a nice change. Of particular interest are elements of the old Imperial Hotel, a unique design created by the famous American architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
Address: Inuyama, Aichi Prefecture 484-0000
Official site: www.meijimura.com/english/
4 The Tokugawa and Nagoya City Art Museums
Perhaps the best known of Nagoya’s finest facilities is the excellent Tokugawa Art Museum, home to many treasures that once belonged to the city’s wealthy Tokugawa family, including numerous fine paintings, porcelain items, weapons and documents. Of particular interest are the 43 volumes of the famous Genji-monogatari-emaki, a photographic scroll created by Fujiwara Takayoshi, and the Saigyo-monogatari-emaki, an ancient scroll depicting scenes from the life of the priest Saigyo from 1118-90. Also worth seeing is the Nagoya City Art Museum (Nagoya-shi Bijutsukan), opened in 1987 and home to a permanent collection of the work of surrealist artists from around the world, including Sean Scully, Kansuke Yamamoto and Alexander Calder. as temporary exhibitions. finally, the Nagoya Museum of Fine Arts (Nagoya Bosuton Bijutsukan), the sister museum of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and notable for bringing to Japan objects from Japan’s collection of Impressionist and other works of art, is also worth a visit.
Address: 017 Tokugawa-cho, Higashi Ward, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture 461-0023
Official site: https://www.tokugawa-art-museum.jp/english/
5 The port of Nagoya
Besides being a bustling port, Nagoya Port in Ise Bay has become something of a tourist attraction in recent years. A highlight of a visit, especially for those traveling with children, it is excellent Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium with its large collection of native marine life, as well as many exotic fish species from around the Pacific Ocean. It is also worth seeing Fujia historic Antarctic vessel that now serves as an interesting museum dedicated to the exploration of the South Pole, as well as a small amusement park, a beautiful wildflower garden and numerous fine walkways that cross the harbor and connect it to the main parts of the city. Hot Tip: For an unforgettable experience, try to time your visit for the fireworks displays on Marine Day and Christmas Eve.
6 Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens
Opened in 1937 and one of the oldest (and largest) such establishments in Japan, the Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens (Higashiyama Dōshokubutsuen) makes for an excellent excursion that can easily occupy the best part of a day. Part zoo, part amusement park and part botanical garden, this popular tourist attraction offers plenty of fun for visitors of all ages. For animal lovers, the zoo’s area includes approximately 125 different species including elephants, lions, tigers, giraffes and koalas, along with tropical fish, numerous birds and a reptile house. Afterwards, wander through the beautiful botanical gardens with its collections of both native and non-native species, as well as the 100-meter high trails. Higashiyama Sky Tower with its observation platforms and restaurant offering beautiful views of the city.
Address: 3-70, Higashiyama-motomachi, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-0804
Official site: www.higashiyama.city.nagoya.jp/14_english/index.html
7 Nagoya TV Tower and Hisaya Ōdori Park
Some of the best views of Nagoya come from the 180-meter-high Nagoya TV Tower (Nagoya Terebi-tō). Built in 1954 in the heart of Hisaya’s Ayadori Park, the tower holds the record as the oldest electric wave tower in the country. There are two observation decks: the Sky Balcony (outside) at 100 meters and the Sky Deck (inside) at 90 meters. meters. Unlike the famous Eiffel Tower in Paris, the site contains an informative exhibition about its history and a restaurant. Make sure you also spend time exploring Hisaya Ōdori Park, a pleasant two-kilometre green garden in the heart of the city with many trees, fountains and sculptures, and regularly used as a venue for events and festivals, including the famous Nagoya Festival (Nagoya Matsuri) with its parades, traditional costumes and music.
8 Toyota Techno and Toyota Automobile Museums
The excellent Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology (Sangyo-Gijutsu Kinenkan) opened in 1994 to celebrate Nagoya’s largest and most famous company and makes for a fun day out. Highlights of a visit to this science and technology museum, often referred to simply as the Toyota Techno Museum, include numerous working exhibits of the massive weaving machines and textile manufacturing processes, which Toyota began creating in 1933, along with displays that show the final details. transition to the world’s largest automaker, along with countless robots. Car enthusiasts will also want to visit the enormous Toyota Automobile Museum nearby Nagakute, home to a stunning collection of vintage cars made by Toyota and other leading manufacturers from around the world. It is also worth a visit SCMaglev and Railway Park (Rinia Tetsudōkan), a beautiful museum dedicated to the Central Japanese Railway Company with 39 trains, models and a fun simulator.
Address: 4-1-35 Noritakeshinmachi, Nishi-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, 451-0051
Official site: https://www.tcmit.org/english/
9 The temples of Ōsu
One of the most popular districts of Nagoya is Ōsu, much visited for its many beautiful temples and shrines. One of the most important is the Buddhist temple of Ōsu Kannon (Kitanosan Shinpuku-ji Hōshō-in), built in the early 14th century in an area that proved to be flood-prone and moved to its current location around 1612. Rebuilt in the 1970s, this beautiful building is home to the famous red paper lantern hanging from the ceiling of the main hall on which pilgrims hang their prayers. After visiting some of Ōsu’s other important temples, in particular Bansho-ji and Hongan-ji Betsuinbe sure to wander the surrounding historic streets with their many small shops selling traditional Japanese crafts and food.
10 Noritake Garden
Started in 1876 by two brothers looking to increase Japan’s trade with Western markets, the Noritake ceramics company has a long and storied past in the city of Nagoya. An interesting attraction for collectors and the curious alike is Noritake Garden, a fascinating insight into the production process of this historic ceramics company on the original factory site. Highlights include displays showing the company’s history, antique porcelain and production process demonstrations, hands-on workshops and gift shops. The grounds on site are beautiful and there are also restaurants on site.
Address: 3-1-36 Noritakeshinmachi, Nishi Ward, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture 451-8501
Official site: www.noritake.co.jp/eng/mori/
related questions
Which airport does it serve Nagoya
The main airport that serves Nagoya is Chubu Centrair International Airport (NGO). It is located on an artificial island in Ise Bay, about 35 kilometers (22 miles) south of Nagoya city center.
You can find cheap flights to Chubu Centrair International Airport through Swati Travel. Here are some indicative prices for one-way flights from Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) to Chubu Centrair International Airport (NGO) on Swati Travel for the dates of September 20-27, 2023:
- Japan Airlines: ¥5,000
- All Nippon Airways: ¥6,000
- Peach Aviation: ¥4,000
Please note that these prices are subject to change and may not be available on all dates. To find the best deals, it is always best to book your flights in advance.
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