Travel to Nagoya, Japan may not be at the top of the list for most tourists, but it is well worth a visit. It has all the conveniences of a large city, but it feels more relaxing than Tokyo or Osaka.
Getting around Nagoya is easy via the subway system. You can buy a 24-hour pass for 760 yen, or 620 yen on weekends and holidays. Nagoya is centrally located making it easy to access and to visit the surrounding areas of Gifu, Inuyama, and the Japan Alps.
Best 10 Attractions for Travel in Nagoya, Japan
1. Nagoya Castle
Nagoya Castle is the highlight of any trip to Nagoya. The castle is 48 meters high and surrounded by impressive walls, two moats, and a beautiful park.
Admission inside the castle grounds is 500 yen, and it is open everyday from 9:00 am-4:30 pm.
Update: The castle was scheduled to be demolished in 2023, but plans have been put on hold because of funding. The new castle would be rebuilt using traditional construction materials and techniques. The Castle Palace, Honmaru Goten, was recently rebuilt in the architectural style of Samurai mansions and opened in 2018.
2. Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology
The Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology (Techno Museum) is a large museum featuring the history of Toyota, automotive technologies, and the production process. The museum is open 9:30 am-5:00 pm and costs 1000 yen (closed Mondays).
The headquarters of Toyota is located in the city of Toyota, about an hour from Nagoya. At the headquarters is the Kaikan Museum displaying new models and technologies. The museum is open 9:30 am-5:00 pm (closed Sundays).
3. Tokugawa Art Museum
The Tokugawa Art Museum was built in 1935 on the site of the former Tokugawa mansion. It features rare articles from the Edo Period (1600-1868), such as suits of armor, helmets, swords, costumes, poems, paintings, and maps. The museum is open from 10:00 am-5:00 pm and costs 1,600 yen (closed Mondays).
Next to the museum is a beautiful Japanese garden with walking trails, a pond, and a teahouse. The garden is open from 9:30 am-5:30 pm and costs 300 yen (closed Mondays).
4. Osu Kannon Temple
Osu Kannon is a Buddhist temple located near the Osu Shopping Arcade, a popular covered shopping area with hundreds of shops and restaurants. It is a great place to find electronics, secondhand clothing, cosplay, and anime.
The temple is open everyday. The shopping arcade is open from 11:00 am-8:00 pm.
5. Atsuta-jingu Shrine
Atsuta-jingu Shrine is one of the most important shrines in Japan visited by nine million visitors annually. It features the oldest stone bridge in Nagoya and over 4,000 articles donated by shoguns, feudal lords, and the Imperial Family. Articles include clothing, furniture, utensils, swords, and masks.
6. Noritake Garden
The ceramics brand, Noritake started in Nagoya in 1904. Noritake Garden is a beautiful public garden located on the old factory grounds and offers a museum, shop, and restaurant.
The Craft Center demonstrates each stage of making bone china, from mixing the clay to glazing, firing, and painting. Entrance to the Craft Center and Museum is 500 yen.
Noritake Garden is open from 10:00 am-5:00 pm (closed Mondays).
7. Nagoya Port
Nagoya Port is one of the largest ports in Japan and features the Nagoya Aquarium, the Antarctic Museum, Maritime Museum, and a 53-meter high observatory.
It is open 9:30 am-5:00 pm and a combination ticket which includes everything costs 2,440 yen (closed Mondays).
Photo by 名古屋太郎 / CC BY-SA
8. Nagoya Science Museum
The Nagoya Science Museum features one of the largest planetariums in the world with a 35-meter dome. Programs are in Japanese, but still interesting to watch.
The museum is open 9:30 am-5:00 pm and costs 800 yen (closed Mondays).
9. Railway Museum
The SCMAGLEV and Railway Park is a museum featuring old and new railway technologies including experimental bullet trains and magnetic levitating trains (maglev).
There are also train simulators where you can experience what it is like to drive a train.
The museum is open from 10:00 am-5:30 pm and costs 1,200 yen (closed Tuesdays).
10. Sakae
Sakae is the downtown area of Nagoya. You can find department stores, boutique stores, underground walkways, and lots of dining options.
The Nagoya TV Tower is a 180-meter steel tower that offers a panoramic observatory at 90 meters. It is open from 10:00 am-9:00 pm and costs 1,300 yen.
Oasis 21 is a futuristic multi-level park. The basement features shops, restaurants, and various events.
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Becki and Shawn
Japan Travel Specialists
Hi, we’re Becki and Shawn! We love Japan and are truly passionate about Japan and Japan travel.
We’ve lived, worked, and traveled in Japan for 20+ years, so we know where to go, what to see, and how to get there. Join us in Japan for an adventure of a lifetime!
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