The city of Nagoya is the crossroads of Japan. It doesn't often make it onto tourist itineraries, ex...

1. Things to do in Nagoya, Japan
The city of Nagoya is the crossroads of Japan. It doesn't often make it onto tourist itineraries, except
as a brief stopover while changing trains. While it doesn't have the glitz and glamour of Tokyo or the
rich cultural history of Kyoto, it is a fascinating city in its own right and well worth a few days of
exploration. Although it is a large city by international standards, with a population of over 2 million
within the city proper, Nagoya has more of a small town feel than other more metropolitan cities in
Japan. This may be attributed to its conservative, working-class culture that largely revolves around
the heavy industries.
A tourist will encounter far less English in Nagoya than in Tokyo or Kyoto; this may be a welcome
challenge to some visitors, while others may find this a significant disadvantage. Although the
residents are generally less willing to attempt to use English in conversation, the signage is still
sufficient to travel around the city using the subway or train system. Also, because the city is a
fraction of the size of Tokyo, visitors will likely find that navigation is much less intimidating.
A visit to this city is highly recommended; it's good to get off of the main tourist route and
experience another facet of Japanese life. Plus, the food is definitely worth the detour!
The following is a list of some of the city's highlights, in no particular order.
1. Nagoya Castle and Meijo Koen

2. Construction of the
original Nagoya Castle was completed in 1619, but the current structure that stands on the site
today is a post-war reconstruction. The inside of the castle has been transformed into a museum,
displaying relics of both noble and peasant life during the 17th century. The view from the
observation floor at the top of the castle is really quite stunning, though it's difficult to imagine the
countryside as the rulers would have seen it hundreds of years ago. The castle is topped by two
famous kinshachi, or golden "dolphins" that were indicative of the city's immense wealth.
The expansive grounds are also worth exploring, especially during the springtime when the cherry
trees are in bloom. The castle grounds feature several gardens and walking paths that meander
through the trees. A multi-year project to restore the Honmaru Palace is currently underway, so
access to the palace site varies. During the construction, a number of exhibits display the traditional
construction techniques used in the reconstruction project.
Meijo Koen is a park situated across the street from the castle. The park offers a number of gardens,
a conservatory, a biking/walking path, and plenty of space for sports and relaxation. It is a great
place to enjoy a picnic lunch and a stroll through the gardens.

3. 2. Nagoya Station
Most visits to Nagoya begin and end at the train station, as it is the main point of entry for the city.
The train station is extremely clean, modern, and offers countless amenities. The twin towers house
office space and a Marriott hotel in the upper floors, but the first 13 floors are devoted to shopping -
most of which is part of the JR Takashimaya department store. There is also an adjacent
underground shopping area comprised of four separate malls, with the claim to fame as being the
largest underground shopping mall in all of Japan.
3. Port of Nagoya
_Ohio-ColumbusNightSkyline2.jpg" width="394" />
The Port of Nagoya is a busy industrial port as well as a key tourist attraction for the city. Visitors
can walk along the waterfront and watch ships being loaded with cargo for distribution all over the
world. An observation tower offers a bird's-eye view of the activity. The port also features an
amusement park, a garden on a manmade island, and the retired Antarctic exploration ship Fuji. The
Fuji now serves as a floating museum of Antarctic expeditions.

4. The most popular attraction at the port, however, is the Port of Nagoya Aquarium. This family-
friendly aquarium features displays of marine life from all around the world, including regular
dolphin and orca shows.
4. Sakae

5. T he district of Sakae is located in the
heart of downtown Nagoya. The most prominent feature is the Nagoya TV Tower, which offers an
observation deck for visitors to look out on the expansive downtown area. Nearby is Oasis 21, a
quirky building that serves as a bus station as well as a shopping area.
Sakae is mainly known for its endless shopping opportunities. Many major department stores have
branches here, such as Matsuzakaya and Mitsukoshi, in addition to high-end designer shops such as
Tiffany and Co., Coach, Louis Vuitton, and many more. Like the area around Nagoya Station, Sakae
also features an underground shopping mall that stretches for several blocks in all directions from
Sakae subway station.
Â
5. Osu-Kannon temple and shopping arcade

6. This large, Buddhist temple was relocated to the current site in 1612. Visitors can walk around the
temple grounds and climb the stairs to view the main hall. The temple festival is held each month on
the 18th, when the grounds are filled with vendors selling antiques and other curiosities.
Adjacent to the temple grounds is the Osu shopping arcade, which is an eclectic collection of second-
hand stores and other non-mainstream shops. One of the primary attractions is Akamon Street,
which features a vast array of electronics stores. Although Osu borders the Sakae district, the area
is vastly different in population and culture, with predominantly funky style instead of designer
fashion. People-watching is fascinating in this district.
6. Atsuta Shrine

7. This vast shrine dates back thousands of years as an important Shinto landmark. In fact, Atsuta
Shrine is considered to be one of the three most important shrines in all of Japan. Visitors can tour
the grounds, stopping to appreciate sites of immense historical and religious value. The shrine
features several prayer halls, a garden, and a treasure hall that houses a fascinating collection of
relics and other items.
Atsuta Shrine hosts a number of festivals throughout the year. During these times, the otherwise
quiet grounds are transformed into a bustling collection of vendors, cultural demonstrations, and
events.
7. Yabaton

8. Nagoya is known for its unique
style of food, which many refer to as "soul food". One of the cornerstones of Nagoya cuisine is the
richly flavored red miso. The best application of red miso is misokatsu, which is a deep-fried pork
cutlet coated in a bold miso sauce. This uniquely Nagoya take on the more traditional tonkatsu is not
to be missed.
The best place to try misokatsu is at the restaurant where it all started, Yabaton. The original
location near Yaba-cho station in Sakae is the flagship restaurant, but there are several other
locations around the city (including one in the underground shopping mall at Nagoya station). Look
for the iconic pig in a sumo outfit. No visit to Nagoya is complete without a meal at Yabaton and,
perhaps, even a souvenir t-shirt to commemorate the experience.