This time, we will introduce tourist spots that you should visit when you come to Nagoya.
"Nagoya Castle", famous for the golden dolphins (shachihoko) that decorates the castle tower; "Oasis 21", a three-dimensional park whose symbol is a "water spaceship"; "Ghibli Park", a must-see for Ghibli fans; marine life and entertainment "Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium". There are plenty of fun sightseeing spots, including Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens, which boasts the largest number of exhibits!
Let's experience the charm of Nagoya!
Table of Contents
A park that expresses the world of Studio Ghibli works
"Ghibli Park"
"Ghibli Park" is a park expressing the world of "Studio Ghibli" that opened on November 1, 2022 in Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park City, Aichi Prefecture.
The first phase of the park will open in November 2022, with "Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse", "Hill of Youth" and "Dondoko Forest". "Mononoke no Sato" is scheduled to open in the fall of 2023, and "Witch's Valley" is scheduled to open in March 2024.
You can experience the world of Studio Ghibli works.
[Ghibli Park]
Address: Nagakute City Ibaragabasama Otsu 1533-1 Aichi Expo Commemorative Park
https://ghibli-park.jp/
Enjoy all day in the world of LEGO blocks
"LEGOLAND Japan"
"LEGOLAND Japan" opened in 2017.
LEGOLAND Japan is an outdoor theme park for families where visitors can enjoy a full day in the world of LEGO bricks. The park has more than 40 rides, shows, theaters, restaurants, stores, and more.
[LEGOLAND Japan]
Address: 2-7-1 Kinjo Futo, Minato Ward, Nagoya City, Aichi
Business hours: 10:00~ (*Closing time varies depending on the day)
Regular holiday: According to the park calendar
Parking lot: None (Please use "Kinjofuto parking lot")
Aquarium surrounded by LEGO blocks
"SEA LIFE Nagoya"
"SEA LIFE Nagoya" is located next to LEGOLAND. Since opening in Scotland in 1979, it is the world's largest aquarium brand with locations in more than 50 countries around the world. "SEA LIFE Nagoya"' was created with the theme of nurturing children's natural interest in the sea, and allows them to enjoy collaborations between sea creatures and LEGO.
[SEA LIFE Nagoya]
Address : 2-2-1, Kinjo-futo, Minato-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
Opening hours: 9:00 - (*Closing hours vary depending on the day)
Closed :Follows the park calendar
Parking :No parking (please use "Kinjofuto Parking Lot")
Let's enjoy making things for adults and children!
"Maker's Pier"
Along with LEGOLAND Japan and SEA LIFE Nagoya, you should also visit Maker's Pier, located at Kinjo futo, Minato Ward, Nagoya City. It is a complex facility where you can experience various manufacturing activities based on the theme of "giving energy and vitality to people through manufacturing things and experience".You can experience various things such as making samples and making original T-shirts!
In addition to hands-on facilities, there are plenty of things to enjoy from morning to evening, such as "Central Park" where restaurants are lined up, and "Uptown" which mainly sells miscellaneous goods and accessories.
[Maker's Pier]
Address: 2-7-1 Kinjofuto, Minato Ward, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture 455-0848
Business hours: Varies by store*Please check the business hours of each shop as the business hours differ depending on the shop.
Meet Sea Friends from All Over the World
"Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium"
"Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium" is located at Nagoya Port Garden Pier.
The aquarium offers the dolphin performances in one of the largest pools in Japan. Also, there are public training of killer whales, which are currently kept in only two locations in Japan. Visitors can encounter as many as 50,000 marine creatures of about 500 species. A school of about 35,000 Japanese pilchards can be seen swimming in the Kuroshio large tank!
What you can not miss are the dolphin performances that take place in one of the largest pools in Japan. The main pool is 60 meters wide, 30 meters deep, and water depth is up to 12 meters, with a stadium that can accommodate 3,000 people, making it one of the largest in Japan. The dolphins' speedy performance is breathtaking.
It's basically a tour inside the building, so it's a nice point that it's easy to visit even on rainy days!
[Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium]
Address :1-3 Minato-cho, Minato-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture
Telephone number : 052-654-7080
Free admission amusement park
"Nagoya Port Sea Train Land"
Nagoya Port Sea Train Land is an amusement park located in Nagoya Port with free admission. It's located next to Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium, so it's recommended for returning from the aquarium!
Since it is a system where you pay for each attraction, the point is that you can enjoy it at your leisure! It's a perfect spot for a family outing or a date.
[Nagoya Port Sea Train Land]
Address : 1-51 Nishikura-cho, Minato-ku, Nagoya City
Telephone number :052-661-1520
Business hours :See official website
Closed :See official website
The largest number of exhibits in Japan!
”Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens"
The zoo boasts approximately 450 species of animals. Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens and Botanical Garden is famous for its handsome gorillas and koalas, but that's not the only attraction. It is full of highlights, including the red panda house that opened in March 2021 and Japan's oldest public greenhouse, which has been designated as a national important cultural property.
There is also a botanical garden on the premises. On April 23, 2021, the "Greenhouse Front Pavilion," an important cultural property that has been undergoing conservation and repair work since 2014, will reopen after renovations.
The botanical garden exhibits approximately 7,000 species of plants in greenhouses and natural forests on the hillside.
[Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens]
Address :3-70 Higashiyama-Motomachi, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture Chikusa ward
Phone Number :052-782-2111(Representative)
Admission Hours : 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (Closes at 4:50 p.m.)
Closed: Mondays (If Monday is a national holiday or a substitute holiday, the park is closed on the immediately following non-holiday day), December 29 - January 1
Parking: 1,600 cars*For the latest information, please check the official website of Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens
Irresistible for Railway Lovers!
"SCMAGLEV and Railway Park"
"SCMAGLEV and Railway Park" located at Kinjofuto, Minato Ward, Nagoya City.
The museum exhibits 39 actual rolling stock from conventional railways to superconducting linear trains, centering on the Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train. Another major attraction of the facility is that visitors can learn about the history and mechanisms of railroads through hands-on experiences, such as the Superconducting Linear Exhibit Room, where visitors can simulate speeds of 500 km/h, and a full-scale driving simulator.
[SCMAGLEV and Railway Park]
Address: 3-2-2 Kinjofuto, Minato Ward, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture 455-0848
Opening hours: 10:00-17:30 (last admission 30 minutes before closing)
Closed: Every Tuesday (the next day if it falls on a national holiday), December 28th to January 1st
*Open on Tuesdays during spring break, Golden Week, summer vacation, etc.
Learn about Japan's No. 1 International Trading Port, the Port of Nagoya!
"Nagoya Maritime Museum"
Nagoya Maritime Museum is a museum related to the sea located in the Port Building of Nagoya Port. With the theme of "Nagoya Port, Japan's No. 1 international trading port," they provide an easy-to-understand introduction to the role of ports, their relationship with people's lives, and the history of Nagoya Port.
It is also a good place to go out as there are many family-friendly corners such as a corner where you can experience crane operation, a Q&A corner where you can learn about the sea and ports, and a paper craft workshop!
[Nagoya Maritime Museum]
Address :1-9 Minato-cho, Minato-ku, Nagoya City
Phone Number :052-652-1111
Hours : 9:30~17:00 (Entry until 30 minutes before closing time)
Closed :Every Mondayhttps://nagoyaaqua.jp/garden-pier/museum/
[Observation room]
Business hours: 9:30~17:00 (Last admission 30 minutes before closing time)
Closed: Every Monday
Experience a simulated trip to the Antarctic on the "Antarctic Observation Ship FUJI"
Along with Nagoya Maritime Museum, you should also visit Antarctic Observation Ship FUJI located in Nagoya Port. It served as an icebreaker for Antarctic research for 18 years.
The interior of the ship remains as it was back then, so you can experience a simulated trip to Antarctica. Furthermore, the "Antarctic Museum" exhibition room, which was created in a converted helicopter hangar, introduces the beauty of Antarctica, as well as the history and achievements of past Antarctic expeditions.
[Antarctic Observation Ship FUJI]
Address :1-9 Minato-cho, Minato-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture
Telephone number :052-652-1111
Hours : 9:30~17:00 (Entry until 30 minutes before closing time)
Closed :Every Monday
"Nagoya Castle", famous for its golden Shachihoko
Nagoya Castle is a castle built by Ieyasu Tokugawa as a castle for the Owari domain. It is famous for the golden dolphines (shachihoko) that decorate the castle tower, and is also called Kinsyachi or Kinjo. It has been selected as one of Japan's top 100 castles and is designated as a special national historic site.
The "Nagoya Omotenashi Bushotai,'' the forerunner of the nationwide Bushotai (army generals) boom, welcomes guests inside the castle every day. On Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, "hospitality demonstrations" are also held.
【Nagoya Castle】
Address: 1-1 Honmaru, Naka-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture
Business hours: 9:00-16:30 (Entry to Hommaru Palace is until 16:00)
Closed: December 29th to 31st, January 1st
https://www.nagoyajo.city.nagoya.jp/info/
The appearance of 400 years ago revives "Nagoya Castle Hommaru Palace"
Nagoya Castle Hommaru Palace was revived in June 2018 after a 10-year restoration project. Nagoya Castle Hommaru Palace, which brought together the most advanced techniques of craftsmen at the time, is said to be the greatest masterpiece of early modern castle palaces and has been designated as the first national treasure.
Please visit and feel the appearance of 400 years ago!
[Hommaru Palace]
Address : 1 Honmaru, Naka-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi 460-0031
Business hours : 9:00-17:00
https://www.nagoyajo.city.nagoya.jp/guide/honmarugoten/
Enjoy eating while walking!
"Kinshachi Alley", the castle town of Nagoya Castle
“Kinshachi Alley” opened in Nagoya Castle in March 2018.
It has a strong image of being a tourist spot, but in fact, it is also a place where you can enjoy eating while walking! There are plenty of gourmet foods that you can eat quickly, such as miso gourmet, Nagoya fooid, and unique ice cream.
[Kinshachi Alley]
○ Main Gate Area Yoshinao Zone (10:30-17:30)
Address: 1-2-3-5 Sannomaru, Naka-ku, Nagoya
○East Gate Area Muneharu Zone (10:30-22:30)
Address: 1-2-3 Ninomaru, Naka-ku, Nagoyahttp://kinshachi-y.jp/index.html
*Business hours vary depending on the store, so please check the website in advance.
Park-integrated commercial facility “RAYARD Hisaya-odori Park”
“RAYARD Hisaya-odori Park” is a park-integrated commercial facility that opened on September 18, 2020. There will be approximately 35 stores including popular stores from all over the country, as well as food and merchandise stores. There are commercial stores, restaurants, sports-related stores, bookstores, and so on.
There are many outdoor rest spots such as grassy areas and benches, so it's recommended for a short break.
[RAYARD Hisaya-odori Park]
Address: Nishiki 3-chome, Marunouchi 3-chome, Naka-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture
https://mitsui-shopping-park.com/urban/hisaya/
"Chubu Electric Power MIRAI TOWER" offers a panoramic view of Nagoya
Chubu Electric Power MIRAI TOWER (formerly Nagoya TV Tower) is the first centralized radio tower built in Japan in 1954. It has been certified as a nationally registered tangible cultural property, and reopened in September 2020 after undergoing its first complete renovation since it opened in 1954.
Inside the tower is THE TOWER HOTEL NAGOYA, the world's first tower hotel in collaboration with artists from the Tokai region, as well as a goods shop and a cafe where you can enjoy the scenery.
You can also enjoy lighting up according to the season or event.
[Chubu Electric Power MIRAI TOWER (formerly Nagoya TV Tower)]
Address: 6-15 Nishiki 3-chome, Naka-ku, Nagoya
Business hours: Weekdays and Sundays / 10:00-21:00 Saturdays / 10:00-21:40
Closed: None (closed for maintenance twice a year)<Observatory fee>
Adults (high school students and above) ¥900
Children (elementary and junior high school students) ¥400
Landmark of Osu "Osu Kannon"
“Osu Kannon” is widely loved by locals. It is a highly prestigious Kannon sacred place that is considered one of Japan's three major Kannons, along with Asakusa Kannon and Tsu Kannon.
It houses valuable cultural properties such as Japan's oldest manuscript of Kojiki, which is a national treasure, the Masakado-ki, which is designated as a national important cultural property, and the Osu Bunko (Osu Collection), one of the three sutra libraries.
[Osu Kannon]
Address: 2-21-47 Osu, Naka Ward, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture
http://www.osu-kannon.jp/
"Osu Shopping Arcade" with more than 1,200 stores
Osu Kannon and Osu Shopping Arcade is a cultural center in Nagoya where the old and the new mix together. Shrines and temples, long-established stores, fashionable cafes and select stores, subculture stores, idol stores, and restaurants where you can eat and walk around, it is a town where a variety of people from young to old come and go.
It is made up of nine shopping streets, starting from Osu Kannon, to Osu Hondori, Niomon-dori, Monzenmachi-dori, Akamon-dori, Manshoji-dori, and Higashi-Niomon-dori.
There are approximately 1,200 stores and facilities in the entire Osu Shopping Arcade area.
[Osu Shopping Arcade]
Address: 3 Osu, Naka-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan
https://osu.nagoya/ja/
A Beautiful Garden that Changes with the Seasons
"Tokugawaen", a Feudal Lord's Garden
"Tokugawaen" is the seasonal garden which gently soothes the hearts of visitors, allowing them to forget the hustle and bustle of the city.
Adjacent to it are the Tokugawa Art Museum, which displays the National Treasure Emaki of the Tale of Genji, and the Nagoya City Housa Bunko of The Tale of Genji.
We also recommend visiting them together.
[Tokugawaen]
Address: 1001 Tokugawa-cho, Higashi-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture
Business hours: 9:30-17:30 (admission until 17:00)
Regular holiday: Monday (if Monday is a holiday, the next day that is not a holiday)
Year-end and New Year holidays (December 29th to January 1st)*Hours may be changed or the park may be opened due to special events.
* The park may be temporarily closed due to typhoons, etc.
https://www.tokugawaen.aichi.jp/
No worries even on rainy days! "Endoji Shopping Street"
Endoji Shopping Street is located close to Nagoya Station and retains the atmosphere of a downtown area. The shopping street consists of three shopping districts: Endoji, Endoji Honmachi, and Endoji, and stretches for more than 1 km from east to west.
There are many attractive restaurants, including long-established coffee shops that have been in business for over 80 years, as well as Spanish, Italian, and French cuisine.
The shopping street also has an arcade, so you don't have to worry about it even on rainy days.
[Endoji Shopping Street]
Address: 1-6-16, Nagono, Nishi-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi, Japan
https://endojishotengai.com/home.html
We have the world's largest planetarium!
"Nagoya City Science Museum"
Nagoya City Science Museum is famous for having one of the world's largest planetariums, which is certified by Guinness.
This facility is full of attractions, including the world's largest planetarium, which has been certified by the Guinness Book of Records, the "Seep Freezing Lab" where you can experience the world at minus 30 degrees Celsius, and the "Electric Discharge Lab", a huge 1.2 million volt electric discharge experience device!
[Nagoya City Science Museum]
Address : Shirakawa Park, Forest of Art and Science, 2-17-1 Sakae, Naka-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture
Telephone number :052-201-4486
Hours: 9:30-17:00 *entry by 16:30
Closed: Mondays (if Monday is a national holiday, the museum is open on Monday and closed the following weekday), the 3rd Friday of each month (if Monday is a national holiday, the museum is open on Friday and closed the following Friday), December 29-January 3, and other times when the museum is open or closed.
An old shrine that has been around for over 1900 years
"Atsuta Shrine", also known as a spiritual spot
Atsuta Shrine is located in a forest called "Atsuta no Mori" in Atsuta Ward, Nagoya City. It is an old shrine that has been in existence for over 1900 years, and is affectionately known as "Atsuta-san" by the locals. It is also known as a power spot because the Kusanagi sword, one of the three sacred treasures, is enshrined here as a sacred object.
On the 1st of every month, the "Tsuitachi Market" is held in conjunction with the "Atsuta Tsuitachi Visit".
[Atsuta Shrine]
Address: 1-1-1 Jingu, Atsuta-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture 456-8585
Entrance to the treasure museum is from 9:00 to 16:30 (entrance time until 16:10)
A hidden flower garden near Nagoya Port
"Wildflower Garden Bluebonnet"
Wildflower Garden Bluebonnet is a wildflower garden surrounded by the sea and greenery in Minato Ward, Nagoya City.
In the park, flowers with a wild atmosphere are in full bloom, including the Texas state flower "Bluebonnet", which is also the name of the facility.
This is a "natural garden" where you can feel the four seasons while enjoying the beautiful greenery, flowers, and sparkling water surface.
[Nagoya Port Wildflower Garden Bluebonnet]
Address: 42 Shiomi-cho, Minato-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture
Business hours: 9:30-17:00
Closed: Mondays (the next day if Monday is a holiday)
http://www.wfg-bluebonnet.com/
Learn the History and Technology of the Toyota Group
"Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology"
Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology is a museum where you can learn about the history and technology of the Toyota Group, including Toyota Motor Corporation.
Although a memorial museum may sound a bit stuffy, this facility is very popular as a museum that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike! The popularity of the museum is so great that it has been ranked No. 1 for four consecutive years in TripAdvisor's "Travelers' Choice: Factory Tours & Social Studies Tours Ranking"! In recent years, many people from overseas have visited the museum.
[Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology]
Address :4-1-35 Noritake-shinmachi, Nishi-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture
Telephone number :052-551-6115
Business hours: 9:00-17:00 (Admission until 16:30)
Closed: Mondays (or the following day if Monday is a national holiday) and year-end and New Year holidays
Parking :220 cars (free of charge)
http://www.tcmit.org/
An urban oasis in the middle of Sakae
"Hisaya Odori Garden Flarie"
"Flarie" is located at the southernmost tip of Hisaya Odori Garden. We reopened as "Ran no Yakata" on September 27, 2014. Although it's free, it's a hidden gem where you can enjoy a full-fledged garden all year round.
The name "Flarie" is a coined word of "furari (casually passing by)" + "flower" + "atelier" and has the meaning of "an atelier full of flowers where you can casually drop by." As the name suggests, it is an oasis in the city where you can forget the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
[Hisaya Odori Garden Flarie]
Address: 4-4-1 Osu, Naka-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture
Business hours: 9:00-17:30
No regular holiday
http://www.flarie.jp/
Real tableware created by 100 years of history
Noritake Garden is located about 15 minutes on foot from Nagoya Station. This is a complex facility opened on the site of the former headquarters factory in Nagoya City as part of the 100th anniversary commemoration of Noritake, a Western tableware manufacturer loved all over the world.
On the green grounds, you can enjoy a whole day of activities such as touring a ceramics factory and a museum displaying Old Noritake mushrooms, and even trying your hand at painting.
[Noritake Garden]
Address :3-1-36 Noritake-shinmachi, Nishi-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture
Hours : 10:00-18:00 (Admission until 16:30)
Phone number : 052-561-7290
Closed :Every Monday (or the following weekday if Monday is a national holiday), Year-end and New Year holidays
Admission fee :Free *Only the Craft Center & Museum is charged
http://www.noritake.co.jp/mori/
(Please refer to the official website for information on hours of operation and admission fees for each facility.)
"Shirotori Garden" that can be enjoyed throughout the four seasons
Shirotori Garden is located close to Atsuta Shrine.
The Shirotori Garden, one of the largest in the Chubu region, is a pond garden with a theme of a "story of water" from the headwaters to the great sea.
Even though it's not far from Nagoya station, you can enjoy beautiful greenery and flowers.
[Shirotori Garden]
Address: 2-2-5 Atsuta Nishimachi, Atsuta-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture
Business hours: 9:00-17:00 (Entry: until 16:30)
Closed: Every Monday (if Monday is a holiday, then the next day is not a holiday), New Year holidays (December 29th to January 3rd)
Entrance fee: 300 yen
http://www.shirotori-garden.jp/index.html
A commercial facility under an elevated railway track with a total length of 600m
"SAKUMACHI shopping street"
SAKUMACHI Shopping Street is located under the elevated railway between Amagasaka Station and Shimizu Station on the Seto Line. There are a variety of shops lined up, including apparel shops, record stores, and restaurants that are open at night, so you can enjoy walking between stations.
[SAKUMACHI Shopping Street]
Address: Outside 1-1801 Osugi, Kita-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture
Phone/ Business hours/ Closed days vary depending on the store.
https://sakumachi-syoutengai.jp
Japan's first actress Sadayakko Kawakami lived here
Taisho Roman House "Futaba Museum"
"The Cultural Path Futaba Museum" is a building that was relocated and restored from the Japanese-Western building where Sadayakko Kawakami, said to be "Japan's first actress," lived during the Taisho era.
Along with panels introducing Sadayakko Kawakami's life, there are also exhibits of her daily life, including materials and favorite items from her time as an actress.
In addition to Futaba Museum, there are over 15 other historical buildings in the surrounding area, which have been named the "The Cultural Path". Please come and visit!
[The Cultural Path Futaba Museum]
Address : 3-23, Shumoku-cho, Higashi-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture
Phone number :052-936-3836
Business hours : 10:00-17:00
Closed: Mondays (or the following day if Monday is a national holiday) / December 29 - January 3
Parking :Paid parking lot (10 spaces) 300 yen / one time (free within 30 minutes)
Learn about Brother's manufacturing history
"Brother Museum"
Brother Museum is located in Mizuho Ward, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture.
Operated by Brother Industries, this is a hands-on museum where you can have fun learning about Brother's history and products. It opened in 2005, the year of the Aichi Expo.
Consisting of three exhibition zones, the Sewing Machine Zone, History Zone, and Product Zone, you can learn about the history of "mono-zukuri (manufacturing)" that Brother has cultivated for over 100 years.
Admission is free. There is also a hands-on section, perfect for outings with children!
[Brother Museum]
Address :5-15 Shioiri-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
Telephone number :052-824-2227
Business hours : 10:00-17:00
Closed: Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays, Golden Week, summer holidays, year-end and New Year holidays
Parking: Available (up to 11 cars)*Advance reservation is required to prevent infection of COVID-19
This time, we introduced recommended sightseeing spots in Nagoya.
Please feel free to use it as a reference when you plan a trip to Nagoya.