Nagoya - Sightseeing

Sightseeing

Nagoya's two most famous sightseeing spots are Atsuta Shrine and Nagoya Castle.

  • Atsuta Shrine is known as the second-most venerable shrine in Japan, after Ise Shrine. It is said to enshrine the Kusanagi sword, one of the three imperial regalia of Japan, but it is not on display to the public. It holds around 70 festivals in a year, and many people visit the shrine year-round. Also, the shrine has over 4,400 national treasures representing its 2,000 year history.
  • Nagoya Castle was built in 1612. Although a large part of it burned down in the fires of World War II, the castle was restored in 1959, adding some modern amenities such as elevators. The castle is famous for two magnificent Golden tiger-headed carp (金の鯱, Kin no Shachihoko?) on the roof, often used as the symbol of Nagoya.

Other Nagoya attractions include:

  • The Nagoya TV Tower and Hisaya-Ōdori Park, located in the central Sakae district
  • JR Central Towers of Nagoya Station
  • Midland Square: The new international sales headquarters for the Toyota Motor Corporation features Japan's highest open-air observation deck.
  • The Nagoya Port area: The Nagoya port area includes a themed shopping mall called Italia Mura as well as the popular Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium.
  • Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens and the Higashiyama Sky Tower.
  • The Toyota museums: The Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology near Nagoya station.
  • The Noritake factory: The home of Noritake fine chinaware is open to visitors and allows people to browse through the history of the establishment. Complete with cafe and information/technology displays, as well as shopping facilities, visitors can spend a whole day wandering through the displays and grounds. It also holds a few sad reminders of devastation during the final stages of WWII.
  • The Nagoya/Boston Museum of Fine Arts (N/BMFA)
  • The Ōsu shopping district and nearby temples, Ōsu Kannon and Banshō-ji.
  • The Tokugawa Art Museum and the Tokugawaen, a surrounding Japanese garden
  • The Nagoya City Science and Art Museums, located in Shirakawa Park, not far from Fushimi Subway Station.
  • The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Money Museum, now located near the Akatsuka-shirakabe 赤塚白壁 bus stop on Dekimachi-dori.
  • Nagoya Noh Theatre
  • Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium
  • Yagoto district with Kōshō-ji
  • Shiroyama Hakusan Shrine, formerly Suemori Castle
  • Togan-ji
  • Nittai-ji
  • Nunoike Cathedral
  • Nagoya City Museum
  • Nagoya City Science Museum
  • Aichi Prefectural Ceramic Museum
  • IdcN International Design Centre
  • Little Italy—Villaggio Italia (closed in 2008)
  • Pachinko Museum
  • Koma (Spinning Tops) Museum
  • Toyota Municipal Museum of Art
  • Nagoya City Tram & Subway Museum
  • Nagoya Agricultural Center

Nagoya is also a starting point for short visits in the surrounding area, such as Inuyama, Little World Museum of Man, Meiji Mura, Kasadera Kannon, Toyohashi and Arimatsu. Reachable within a two hour radius by car or train are Gifu, Gujo Hachiman, Gifu, Ise Shrine, Takayama, Gifu, Gero Onsen and the hill stations in the Kiso Valley Magome and Tsumago.

  • JR Central Towers (Nagoya Station) and Nagoya Castle

  • Nagoya TV Tower at Hisaya-Odori park at night

  • Ōsu Kannon

  • Nagoya City Hall (front) and the Aichi Prefectural Government Office in Naka ward

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