Nagoya
名古屋市
Things to Do in and Around Nagoya
It is the capital of Aichi Prefecture and the largest city in the Chubu (Tokai) region. Known as a place connected to the three great warlords of the Sengoku period—Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu—it offers many historic sites, and you can also enjoy its unique local food culture known as “Nagoya-meshi.”
Where is Nagoya?
Nagoya City is located in the western part of Aichi Prefecture and is the largest city in the Chubu region, serving as the prefectural capital. The port area extends along the southern side facing Ise Bay, while to the northeast it borders Kasugai City and Seto City, and to the west it is adjacent to Kiyosu City and Tsushima City. Because it has a stop on the Tokaido Shinkansen, it is also known as being located roughly halfway between Tokyo and Osaka, and it serves as a key access hub to the surrounding Gifu and Mie prefectures.
Getting Around
Nagoya is extremely easy to reach: it takes about 1 hour 40 minutes to 1 hour 50 minutes from both Tokyo and Osaka on the Tokaido Shinkansen. From Chubu Centrair International Airport (Centrair), it takes about 30 minutes to reach Nagoya Station by Meitetsu Railway. For getting around within the city, the subway is convenient, with lines such as the Higashiyama Line and Meijo Line connecting the main sightseeing spots. Nagoya Station is a major terminal where the Shinkansen, JR, Meitetsu, Kintetsu, and subway lines all come together. It is also helpful to remember Sakae Station and Kanayama Station as key transfer hubs, which will make getting around smoother.
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About Nagoya
The Holy Land of “Nagoya Meshi”
Ogura Toast / Photo AC
Nagoya is known as the birthplace of its own unique food culture, called “Nagoya-meshi.” Many distinctive dishes that you can’t easily find in other regions originated here, such as miso katsu (pork cutlet with miso sauce), hitsumabushi (grilled eel on rice eaten in several stages), tebasaki (seasoned chicken wings), kishimen (flat udon noodles), Taiwan ramen (spicy minced-meat ramen), and ankake spaghetti (thick starchy sauce spaghetti). In particular, the rich flavors created with Hatcho miso are a hallmark of Nagoya, and will be a refreshing surprise for first-time visitors.
Throughout the city, from long-established restaurants to new eateries, you’ll find places serving Nagoya-meshi, and Nagoya is also the birthplace of the “morning service” café culture. When you order a coffee at a café, toast, a boiled egg, and other items are often included for free—a service that has now become known across Japan.
The Center of Manufacturing
The Chukyo Industrial Zone, which includes Nagoya City, is Japan’s leading manufacturing hub in terms of the value of manufactured shipments. Centered on the automotive industry, with companies such as Toyota Motor Corporation, this area has cultivated world-class “monozukuri” (craftsmanship and manufacturing) technologies.
At the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology, you can learn about the history from textile machinery to automobile production through interactive exhibits. The SCMaglev and Railway Park offers insights into the history of the Tokaido Shinkansen and the latest maglev (linear motor car) technologies, making it a popular facility where you can experience Japan’s technological prowess up close.
Hometown of Heroes of the Sengoku Period
Nagoya is deeply connected to three warlords who greatly influenced Japanese history: Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu. Within the city, you can still find places where you can feel the atmosphere of the Sengoku (Warring States) period, such as the site of Nagono Castle where Nobunaga was born, Nakamura Park which is said to be Hideyoshi’s birthplace, and Nagoya Castle, built by Ieyasu.
Nagoya Castle was constructed in 1612 by order of Tokugawa Ieyasu and is famous for its golden shachihoko (golden tiger-fish ornaments) as a symbol. In 2018, the Honmaru Palace was reconstructed, allowing visitors to see the lavish and splendid interiors of the time. It is an unmissable destination for history enthusiasts.
A Global Hub of Cosplay Culture
The World Cosplay Summit, held every summer, is an international event originating in Nagoya that attracts participants from more than 30 countries. Parades are held in the Osu Shopping Street and the Sakae area, and the sight of the entire city filled with cosplayers is truly spectacular. For those interested in Japanese pop culture, visiting during the event period is highly recommended.
Osu Shopping Street is a unique area where anime shops, vintage clothing stores, and an electronics district coexist, and it is known as a popular spot where fans of subculture gather throughout the year.