5 Top Things to Do in Nagoya, Japan
If you decide to put Nagoya on your Japan itinerary, no matter how long you decide to visit Japans 4th largest city, there are a couple of things you really should not miss. This post is written by foodie Lena from Nagoya Foodie and covers the 5 top things to do in Nagoya.
Nagoya Meshi
The top reason to visit Nagoya is its unique food, called Nagoya Meshi. These are delicious dishes that can be found only in Nagoya, such as Hitsumabushi (grilled freshwater eel served on rice), Miso Katsu (a pork cutlet served with a dark and flavorful Miso sauce), Tebasaki (Japanese chicken wings), Miso Nikomi Udon (Udon noodles served in a steaming hot Miso soup) and many more.
If you want to find out more about Nagoya Meshi check out the Nagoya Food Guide on my blog Nagoya Foodie, where you will learn about all the different dishes that are famous in Nagoya as well as the best restaurants to try them.
Nagoya Castle
Nagoya Castle is the top landmark of Nagoya. It is actually the reason Nagoya exists in its current form because when Nagoya castle was constructed in 1615 a city grew naturally around it.
Nagoya Castle is a great place to explore, a highlight is the newly renovated Hommaru Palace with beautifully intricate drawings on walls and doors and detailed metal workings in all rooms.
This makes it easy to imagine a time when the castle and its administration buildings were in use by the ruling Owari family some 400 years ago.
Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology
Nagoya is the birthplace of Japans most successful car manufacturer Toyota. But the now world-famous company didn’t start as a car maker. When the company was founded at the beginning of the 20th century it was a producer of textiles.
At the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology, you can learn about Toyota’s beginnings as a textile manufacturer as well as the steps that lead Toyota to become a car manufacturer. You can learn the history of Toyota and what makes it so successful today.
Osu Shopping Street
If you want to do some shopping there is no better place to do it in Nagoya than the Osu shopping arcades. This labyrinth of roofed-over streets is filled with clothing and shoe shops as well as countless restaurants and shops selling Japanese sweets and snacks.
You will also find many places selling popular sweets like rolled ice cream, bubble tea, and colorful donuts, a dream for all the young Instagram influencers of Japan.
Osu district has a long history and in many places, you can feel just how old and full of historical important the place is. Pay a visit to Osu Kannon temple on the west side of the district but also keep your eyes open while strolling the streets and you might just find a couple of little shrines and temples hidden away around corners.
Atsuta Jingu
The most sacred place in Nagoya is Atsuta Jingu, a Shinto shrine which precedes the city by hundreds of years (it is believed to be almost 2000 years old). Atsuta Shrine is located in the south of the city in a small forest. The atmosphere is relaxing and serene and it is a great place to get away from the hustle of the city.
Atsuta Jingu is so important because it houses one of the three sacred treasures of Japan, the sword Kusanagi no Tsurugi which gives the emperor the holy right to rule.
The legend says it was given by the sun goddess Amaterasu, the most important goddess in the Shinto religion.
Lena is in love with Japanese food and she wants to share this love with all travelers coming to Japan. Her home Nagoya has a lot to offer in terms of travel and unique food culture which she shares with the world on her website Nagoya Foodie. Find Nagoya Foodie on , , and .
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