The centrally located city of Nagoya has a long history and a deep culture that is often overlooked by the rest of the country, let alone the rest of the world. There's a joke that goes "All travelers within Japan go to Nagoya! The bullet train stops there for a whole two minutes on its run between Tokyo and Osaka!" Despite the put down, the capital of Aichi Prefecture, Nagoya, is indeed seen by many as a conservative, nondescript city, however locals will tell you of its many benefits. One hour forty minutes from Tokyo by bullet train, less than an hour from Kyoto and Osaka, a major commercial hub that remains close to nature. Nagoya is one of Japan's most important economic centers.
Nagoya's Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens is one of Asia's biggest zoos too! Two of the greatest samurai battles, Okehazama and Nagakute, were both fought within the current city confines, and the city, with its surrounding Aichi Prefecture was host to the 2005 World EXPO.
Japan's third largest city by size and fourth by population, Nagoya is an industrial city, and home to many world-renowned companies including Toyota Motor Corporation, Brother Industries and Noritake Fine China. Having long been a commercial and industrial center meant that Nagoya was heavily targeted and the city was destroyed by allied bombing in World War Two. For that reason, few historical buildings remain, however the city was able to rebuild itself in an easy to navigate and understand grid like pattern with long straight, wide streets and plentiful parklands. Public transport is plentiful and most efficient, and the attractions Nagoya has to offer, such as the Maglev and Train Museum, Toyota Automobile Museum, and the magnificent Tokugawa Art Museum housing the treasures of the prominent Tokugawa family who ruled Nagoya, and the nation with an iron-or in the case of many of the treasures-a golden fist!
Don't believe any underhyped accounts you may find - Nagoya is an exciting, vibrant city with a long history and a deep culture. Its been kept a secret for some time, but now the cat is out of the bag, we expect to see you here soon!
Osu shopping district has a vast array of food, so filling up one's stomach was definitely unavoidable. Not only there was a..
Atsuta Jingu Shrine in Nagoya is a holy haven of nature as well as a sacred sanctuary of Shinto belief.
Aichi, Gifu, and Mie Prefectures have beautiful views and rich history - all hidden in plain sight! Dig deeper into the "real"..
Old school snacks shop in the heart of the Osu shopping district bringing back nostalgic childhood memories.