Visit Nagoya

A city often passed through without stopping, wrongly: Nagoya offers a castle crowned with golden fish, one of the country's most revered shrines, fascinating technical museums and a cuisine with real character. Two days are enough, and it makes an ideal base for Takayama or Ise.

Is Nagoya really worth a stop?

Yes, for at least one night. With about 2.3 million people, Nagoya is Japan's fourth city, the cradle of Toyota and the former seat of the Owari branch of the Tokugawa. Every Nozomi shinkansen stops here, halfway between Tokyo and Kyoto, and the city opens the way to the Japanese Alps and the Ise peninsula.

Nagoya's must-sees

Tokugawa heritage, industrial culture and the Ghibli universe, to combine over two or three days.

Nagoya Castle

The golden shachihoko on its roof are the city's emblem. The reconstructed Honmaru Palace, with screens painted with tigers and landscapes, is the real reason to visit.

Atsuta-jingū

One of Japan's most important Shinto shrines, guardian of the sacred Kusanagi sword. Its museum displays swords and offerings gathered over the centuries.

Toyota Industry Museum

In the former Toyoda mill, working looms and car assembly lines tell a century of Japanese industry, with regular live demonstrations.

SCMAGLEV and Railway Park

JR Central's museum bringing together steam locomotives, generations of shinkansen and maglev prototypes. Driving simulators available by reservation.

Tokugawa Art Museum

Armour, swords, lacquerware and ceremonial objects of the Owari Tokugawa family. The Tale of Genji scrolls are only displayed a few days a year.

Ghibli Park

Opened in late 2022 in Nagakute, in the Expo 2005 memorial park, it recreates sets from the studio's films. Tickets by reservation only, released weeks in advance.

What to see in Nagoya, area by area?

Meieki, the station district

Around Nagoya station, one of the largest in the world by floor area, Meieki lines up office towers, department stores and hotels. It is the most convenient base for exploring: the shinkansen, JR lines, Meitetsu and Kintetsu all leave from here. Ten minutes' walk north, the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology fills the Toyoda family's former textile mill; allow three hours. From Tokyo, the Nozomi arrives here in about 1 hour 35 minutes.

The castle and northern Meijō

North of the centre, Meijō Park surrounds the castle built from 1610 on the orders of Tokugawa Ieyasu, crowned by two golden shachihoko. The keep, rebuilt in concrete in 1959, has been closed since 2018 pending a wooden reconstruction, but the Honmaru Palace, faithfully rebuilt with its painted screens, is open. Allow two hours. To the east, the Tokugawa area holds the Tokugawa Art Museum and Tokugawa-en garden, about 20 minutes away by bus.

Sakae and Ōsu

Sakae is the shopping and nightlife centre: Oasis 21 with its water-filled glass roof, the Mirai Tower, a former 1954 television tower, and broad avenues of department stores. Two metro stops south, Ōsu revolves around Ōsu Kannon temple and its covered arcades, where vintage shops, electronics stores and food stalls sit side by side. This is the place to try miso katsu, tebasaki chicken wings and kishimen noodles. Allow half a day in the late afternoon, when things get busy.

Atsuta and Nagoya Bay

To the south, Atsuta-jingū guards the Kusanagi sword, one of the three sacred treasures of the imperial family, amid a forest of centuries-old camphor trees. Next door, several restaurants serve hitsumabushi, grilled eel on rice. Further on, the Aonami line reaches Kinjō-futō in about 25 minutes, home to the SCMAGLEV and Railway Park and Legoland Japan, while the port aquarium is at Nagoya-kō. Allow a day for this southern half, and keep half a day for Osaka, 50 minutes away by shinkansen.

Frequently asked questions about Nagoya

Can you still go inside Nagoya Castle's keep?

No, the concrete keep has been closed since May 2018 ahead of a wooden reconstruction whose timeline remains uncertain. The visit covers the Honmaru Palace, the ramparts and the gardens, which easily fill two hours.

How do you get tickets for Ghibli Park in Nagoya?

Only online and in advance: tickets for a given month go on sale about two months earlier, with a dedicated site for overseas visitors and approved resellers. No tickets are sold at the gate. The park is reached by metro then the Linimo line.

How should you eat hitsumabushi properly?

Divide the bowl into four. Eat the first quarter plain, the second with the condiments, spring onion, wasabi and nori, the third with dashi broth poured over, then finish the last one your favourite way. Expect a noticeably higher bill than a noodle meal.

Inuyama or Takayama as a trip from Nagoya?

Inuyama, about 30 minutes away by Meitetsu, takes half a day: its keep is one of the country's twelve originals. Takayama, about 2 hours 30 minutes on the Hida express, deserves at least one night, possibly extended to Shirakawa-gō.

Can the Ise Grand Shrine be done as a day trip from Nagoya?

Yes. The Kintetsu train reaches Ise in 1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes. Visit the outer shrine, Gekū, first, then the inner shrine, Naikū, and Oharai-machi street. Leave early: it makes for a full day.

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