A Day in Nagoya

As one of Japan’s major cities, with a population of well over two million, Nagoya truly has something for everyone! Home to sites such as Nagoya Castle, the Tokugawa Museum, Atsuta Shrine, Tganji Temple, Toyota’s Museum of Industry and Technology, a zoo, an aquarium and much more, there seems to be an endless array of choices. Even if you wish to venture outside of the city for a day, there are options to visit Inuyama with its castle and Meiji era buildings or Ise, Japan’s most sacred shrine.

Not only does Nagoya offer an abundance of daytime choices, but it also has an exceptional array of restaurants, bars and clubs. With the main areas in Sakae, Nagoya Station and Fushimi.

Quick Tips:

Nagoya has traditionally received a bad rap from the guidebooks. This is something that absolutely puzzles me. It is definitely an undeserved reputation…perhaps they are trying to keep the city to themselves. Don’t always believe what you read! Trust me, when I read the books I was not at all excited to visit the city, however after spending a short amount of time I realized that I wanted to stay longer to see everything the area had to offer.

The city has a well-organized tourism sector. It is possible to find tourist information centers in Nagoya Station and at the Nagoya International Center.

Best Way To Get Around:

The city is easy to navigate by subway, trains, buses, taxis or even on foot. Depending on the area of the city you wish to visit, it is usually easiest and most affordable to take the subway or a bus and then walk to your destination.

A hotel in a train station? It doesn't exactly seem like it would be a pleasant experience! However, this hotel goes way beyond being merely pleasant. It is a high quality, extremely modern facility with more amenities than normal. The rooms are spacious and clean with fabulous views of the city below. Rooms have high-speed internet access, coffee/tea service, robes, slippers, toiletries, TV with English channels, a mini fridge and a press. The service in the hotel is exceptional and the included breakfast in the morning is amazing (one of the best in Japan).

This hotel is a great place to base your exploration of Nagoya, especially if you really want to be taken care of. Of course, the service does come at a somewhat high cost!

Ryotei is a traditional Japanese restaurant offering several types of rooms for dining. Choose from traditional tatami rooms to modern sushi bars. I ate at a modern sushi bar, although I tried more than just sushi. This restaurant has exceptional cuisine and great service, however it is best to take someone who can speak at least a little Japanese! They will make almost anything you desire, including Kobe beef!

Museums are places that I absolutely love to visit while traveling, as they normally provide a great deal of local information. Initially when I read the description of this museum it didn’t sound too exciting, nonetheless I decided to make a visit. The description and the museum are totally different…this facility is actually very cool and not as boring as it description makes it out to be!

There are great exhibits on forges, weaving, automobiles and even a fun hands-on area. All of the exhibits are well done and very interesting, with real demonstrations. It is definitely worth a visit. During the week it is often filled with schoolchildren, so I advise you to visit early and get a head start on these groups! It is a large facility and comfortable shoes are necessary. It is easy to get there on the subway: from the Sako Station on Meitetsu line, walk 3 minutes, or from Kamejima Station on Higashiyama Subway Line (Exit #2) and walk 10 minutes.

Centrally located in the city, Nagoya Castle is a very popular site for visitors to the area. The castle was built in the early 17th century by one of the shoguns of the Edo era. Unfortunately during World War II a majority of the castle burnt down during the air raids. However, in 1959 they rebuilt the main tower, which now serves as a museum. Five of the floors have beautiful displays depicting the history of Nagoya. The castle is well known for the whales that decorate the roof of its tallest tower and the originals can be seen inside the exhibits. In addition to the displays, it is also very nice to walk around the castle grounds. There is a huge moat, tall rock walls and a variety of gardens. Wear comfortable shoes, it is not a long walk, but the gravel pathways are not the most fun surface in sandals! The castle has a nice gift shop at the entrance, which has a number of well priced souvenirs (and umbrellas, if you are there on a rainy day, as I was). The easiest way to get there is by taking the Meijo Subway to the #7 exit (Shiyakusho Station) and then walking about 5 minutes.

The Tokugawa Art Museum is one of the oldest private museums in Japan, founded by the Tokugawa Reimeikai Foundation in 1935. Many of the displays are from the Owari branch of the Tokugawa family, probably because they were in the area during the Edo period and very influential. This branch always took a keen interest in maintaining the history of the family.

The museum is filled with not only gorgeous art, but also every day articles. There are displays with furniture, clothing, hairpieces and books. However, one of the most fascinating holdings at the museum are the beautifully illustrated sections from the twelfth century Tale of Genji. The majority of the pieces are well documented and in very good conditions, as the family had always taken such good care to preserve their history. If you are a history buff, or even if you just like museums, you could easily spent several hours here! The easiest way to get there is by taking the Jiyugaoka city bus line to Shindeki and then walking 3 minutes. The museum is open from 10AM-5PM and closed on Mondays. The entrance fee is 1200Y.