Golden castle, industry & bold local cuisine
Nagoya
名古屋 · Castles, industry & hearty flavors
Japan's manufacturing heartland and fourth-largest city, Nagoya is an underrated stop between Tokyo and Kyoto. It boasts a magnificent golden-tiger castle, cutting-edge museums and a distinctive, boldly flavored local food culture.
Top sightsSights
Nagoya Castle
A grand reconstructed castle crowned by two golden shachihoko tiger-fish ornaments.
Toyota Commemorative Museum
A fascinating museum tracing the company’s roots from looms to cars and robots.
Atsuta Shrine
One of Shinto’s most sacred shrines, said to house the imperial sacred sword.
Osu Shopping District
A lively covered arcade mixing temples, retro shops, street food and subculture stores.
SCMaglev and Railway Park
A museum of bullet trains and the record-breaking maglev, great for families.
What to eatFood
Miso katsu
A crispy pork cutlet smothered in rich, sweet-savory red miso sauce.
Hitsumabushi
Grilled eel over rice eaten three ways — a Nagoya delicacy.
Tebasaki
Sweet-and-spicy glazed fried chicken wings, a local izakaya staple.
Good to know
- Nagoya sits on the Tokaido Shinkansen, under 1h40m from Tokyo and 40 min from Kyoto.
- It is the gateway to the old post towns of the Kiso Valley and the Japan Alps.
- Try the "Nagoya meshi" set of bold local dishes — flavors here run richer than elsewhere.
Getting there
Chubu Centrair International Airport (NGO) sits on an artificial island with a fast train to downtown; the Shinkansen puts Nagoya between Tokyo and Kyoto.
Next city
Kumamoto