Nagoya is home to numerous incredible sightseeing spots, from Nagoya Castle’s magnificent spires and moat to cozy street food carts and sake night tours – there’s so much to experience here.
Start off your day right by visiting Honmaru Palace and experience luxury in all forms, such as lavish fusumae. Additionally, don’t miss the science museum with many fascinating exhibits for children such as tornado lab. Jakarta to Nagoya is accessible through Cathay Pacific now.
SCMAGLEV Railway Park
Train enthusiasts must visit SCMAGLEV Railway Park as part of their visit to Nagoya. Owned and maintained by JR Central, this museum showcasing their railway technology through 39 actual-sized train cars will delight anyone passionate about all things railroad-related. From older trains to shinkansen models and modern maglev (bullet train) prototypes – SCMAGLEV Railway Park provides something for all enthusiasts with an interest in railway technology!
Children especially love this museum, which provides hands-on experiences and train simulators. Additionally, there is also a massive train diorama where visitors can observe various landscapes along Japan’s railways while learning how people once lived there.
The SCMAGLEV Railway Park can be reached from Nagoya Station by taking the direct train (25 minutes, 360 yen one-way ticket). Once at Kinjofuto Station on the Aonami Line, just a short walk takes you to reach its museum.
SCMAGLEV Railway Park boasts more than just impressive train displays; visitors can also engage in several interactive activities like tornado lab and freezing lab to conduct cool science experiments and special shows featuring amazing scientists and engineers. Furthermore, it excels at welcoming international visitors with nearly all displays and information available in English.
Outside the museum, you can witness actual train tracks and experience first-hand train simulation. However, please note that test rides only occur on weekends or certain holiday periods.
Beyond the train experience, Noritake Garden showcases beautiful porcelain and ceramic pieces made locally. If you want to gain more knowledge on pottery making history and techniques yourself, take part in one of their workshops to hone your own skills!
Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens is a must-visit for animal enthusiasts, offering a diverse collection of species from across the globe in enclosures dedicated to conservation. Additionally, botanical gardens feature plants from across the globe.
Arimatsu Tie-dyeing Museum
Nagoya’s south-eastern suburbs hold the key to time travel back to shogunate days through Arimatsu Narumi Shiborizome Museum’s 400-year old tradition of tie dyeing cloth by artisans who still practice it – producing some exquisite kimono designs which require anywhere between 50000 to 200000 handmade stitches and four or six months to finish!
The museum features historical artifacts and a gift shop, while upstairs masters demonstrate the process of the art. Visitors can participate in hands-on workshops for an even richer experience (reservations required). After touring the museum, head over to Dasenka Kura bakery for some authentic brick oven baked treats featuring high-quality ingredients that will surely satisfy your appetite!
Korankei Valley, one of Central Japan’s prime spots for fall colors, is another top attraction in this area. Shaped by 254-metre-high Mount Iimori and home to 17th-century temple Kojakuji – its peaceful atmosphere making it an ideal spot for relaxation and meditation.
Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology offers visitors who are curious about Toyota’s history an interesting exhibition covering over 8,000 square meters, which depicts every stage of production process with exhibits on every step of production process.
This museum provides the ideal way to gain an in-depth knowledge of Japan’s rich arts and cultural history with an abundance of exhibits and activities, with traditional Japanese crafts on display on its first-floor collection while modern art takes over its second.
As well as traditional art and crafts, the museum also hosts events and programs tailored specifically for children. This gives them an ideal opportunity to gain more insight into Japanese culture while having fun! There is also a tornado laboratory and freezing lab where they can conduct cool science experiments!
Arimatsu Dolphin Park
Arimatsu Dolphin Park may not be one of Nagoya’s main draws, but it adds an intriguing character to this city. Home to various marine animals ranging from dolphins and sea urchins to tropical fish species found only here and Antarctica’s ice sheets, Arimatsu Dolphin Park features regular dolphin shows that amaze and entertain visitors, plus there is an impressive tank displaying marine ecosystems from rivers in Japan to Antarctica’s ice sheets in one large tank display; additionally there is also an interactive museum offering interactive exhibits – ideal for kids!
Higashiyama Zoo & Botanical Garden is Asia’s largest combined zoological and botanical garden and one of Nagoya’s premier tourist attractions. A year-round attraction, but particularly lively during cherry blossom season in early April. Home of world sexiest gorilla Shabani who is an internet phenomenon; not to be missed for animal lovers!
Futaba Museum provides an enriching cultural experience. Nestled along Nagoya’s Cultural Path, this historic residence now serves as a museum that highlights the lifestyle of early 20th-century Japan’s wealthy residents. Visitors can explore their collection of furnishings and architecture before learning more about this time period from interactive exhibits within.
At Sakae district and central Nagoya, visitors can spend their days strolling or watching sumo (Xiang Pu) matches, but come nightfall, the area comes alive as locals visit its many bars and clubs – two popular choices being T2 Cafe and iD Cafe, which feature multiple floors featuring different genres of music; there are also plenty of restaurants so that whatever suits your palate can be found!
No matter your mood or activity level, Arimatsu offers something for everyone. Their extensive leisure complex boasts spa, amusement park, outlet shopping mall and flower park so visitors can experience all sorts of fun in one location. They even host entertainment events such as live music performances and dance competitions – perfect for family outings or relaxing evenings spent with friends!
Meiji-mura Museum
Meiji Mura, Japan’s open-air architectural museum/theme park, offers visitors an unforgettable journey back in time to Japan’s industrializing Meiji period. Set around Iruka Pond, this site houses structures moved from their original locations around Japan; many feature classical Western styles combined with Japanese construction techniques in their construction techniques.
Attraction is also known for offering activities designed specifically to engage kids, including a tornado laboratory and freezing lab, plus live shows featuring science experiments that children will love to experiment with.
Nagoya residents sometimes accuse it of being dull and boring, but that can only be understood through cliched depictions of its landscape and amenities. Lena Yamaguchi and Elisabeth Llopis created Nagoya Is Not Boring as a means of showing that this vibrant city offers more than it initially appears and features some very enjoyable attractions for tourists.
Nagoya offers many top things to do, and one of these activities is visiting Noritake Garden where you can learn how to create traditional porcelain and ceramic pieces. Plus, its gardens make for great spots to stroll and admire all of its craftsmanship on display!
Meiji-mura Museum, featuring buildings from Japan’s Meiji, Taisho and early Showa periods. Here you can take photos wearing schoolgirl uniforms or summer uniforms from these periods and ride the Meiji-mura Railway (only open on weekends).
Meiji-mura Museum features paintings, sculptures, and ceramic pieces by Japanese artists spanning generations. You’ll have an excellent opportunity to observe how their art has progressed throughout time and try your hand at painting or drawing yourself!
Atsuta Jingu Shrine in Nagoya is another must-see site. Dating back over millennia, this sacred Shinto shrine is said to house Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi, an iconic figure who protected against invasion from foreign powers during ancient times. You can visit any season but autumn brings special beauty with the blossoming of its sakura trees.
