Aichi · Japan

Nagoya (Japan): Nagoya; Inuyama

The large city between Tokyo and Kyoto, with the castle of golden fish, the shrine that guards the sacred sword, industry museums and, nearby, Inuyama’s original castle.

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In the photo: Honmaru Palace and Nagoya Castle keep.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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Nagoya is the capital of Aichi Prefecture and the fourth-largest city in Japan, roughly halfway between Tokyo and Kyoto on the Shinkansen line. It grew up around the castle built by the Tokugawa shogunate at the start of the 17th century and became, in the 20th century, the center of one of the country’s largest industrial regions, with factories for cars, aircraft, ceramics and machinery.

Nagoya Castle, with the golden dolphins on its roof, is the city’s symbol, and the Honmaru Palace, rebuilt in wood beside the keep, shows the luxury of the lords of that era. Atsuta Shrine, to the south, is one of Shinto’s most important shrines and houses the sword Kusanagi, one of the three imperial regalia. The Tokugawa Art Museum brings together the collection of one of the most powerful families of the Edo period, and the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology, in a brick textile mill, tells the story from looms to automobiles.

The city also has its own cuisine, called Nagoya meshi: hitsumabushi, grilled eel over rice served three ways; miso katsu, a breaded cutlet with dark miso sauce; tebasaki, chicken wings; and kishimen, flat noodles. The Osu neighborhood, around Osu Kannon Temple, mixes shopping arcades, secondhand stores and street food.

About 30 minutes by train, Inuyama has one of the few original castle keeps in Japan, perched over the Kiso River, as well as the Urakuen garden and the Meiji Mura open-air museum. Nagoya is also a starting point for the Japanese Alps, Takayama, Ise and the Kiso Valley.

This destination brings together 2 cities: Nagoya, Inuyama.

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The cities on this trip

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Where Nagoya (Japan): Nagoya; Inuyama is

Dados cartográficos: © OpenStreetMap contributors, via Wambacher / geoBoundaries (ODbL 1.0). Adapted by Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Nagoya (Japan): Nagoya; Inuyama

✈ Aeroporto Internacional Chubu Centrair (NGO), in Tokoname · 46 km to Nagoya

The Tokaido Shinkansen connects Tokyo to Nagoya in about 1 hour 40 minutes and Kyoto to Nagoya in about 35 minutes. Chubu Centrair International Airport is roughly 45 km away, about 30 minutes from the city center on the Meitetsu express train.

Suggested arrival point: Nagoya

Aichi · Nagoya (Japan): Nagoya; Inuyama Capital Suggested arrival point

Nagoya

Capital of Aichi Prefecture and Japan’s fourth-largest city, Nagoya lies on the Tokaido Shinkansen line between Tokyo and Kyoto. It has Nagoya Castle and the Honmaru Palace, Atsuta Shrine, the Tokugawa Art Museum, the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology, and its own local cuisine featuring eel, dark miso, and chicken wings.

Aichi · Nagoya (Japan): Nagoya; Inuyama

Inuyama

City on the banks of the Kiso River, north of Nagoya, Inuyama preserves a castle keep from the Edo period, a national treasure, overlooking the river. At the foot of the castle are the old castle-town street and the Urakuen garden, while just outside the center is the Meiji Mura open-air museum.

The local experience

Things to do in Nagoya (Japan): Nagoya; Inuyama

Inuyama · Aichi · Castle

Inuyama Castle

Castle on the banks of the Kiso River, with one of Japan’s oldest main towers, a national treasure, and an open balcony on the top floor overlooking the river and the plain.

Nagoya · Aichi · Castle

Nagoya Castle

A castle built by order of Tokugawa Ieyasu from 1610, with the main keep crowned by golden dolphins, original corner towers and the Honmaru Palace, rebuilt in wood with painted sliding doors.

Inuyama · Aichi · Garden

Urakuen Garden

Japanese garden at the foot of Inuyama Castle that houses the Joan tea house, a national treasure, built in 1618 in Kyoto by Oda Urakusai, the younger brother of Oda Nobunaga and a tea master.

Nagoya · Aichi · Shrine

Atsuta Shrine (Atsuta Jingu)

One of Japan’s most venerated shrines, set in a grove of camphor trees in southern Nagoya, guardian of the sacred sword Kusanagi, with a museum of swords and sacred objects.

See 3 more places in Nagoya (Japan): Nagoya; Inuyama

Inuyama · Aichi · Open-air museum

Meiji Mura

Open-air museum in Inuyama with more than 60 buildings from the Meiji era brought from across Japan and abroad, located on a hill by a lake, with an operational steam train and historic tram.

Nagoya · Aichi · Museum

Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology (Toyota Sangyo Gijutsu Kinenkan)

Museum in a former red-brick weaving factory near Nagoya Station that shows the development of looms and automobiles, with machines in operation and demonstrations.

Nagoya · Aichi · Museum

Tokugawa Art Museum (Tokugawa Bijutsukan)

Museum housing the Owari Tokugawa family collection, the lords of Nagoya, with armor, swords, tea-ceremony objects and illustrated scrolls of The Tale of Genji, next to Tokugawa-en garden.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

March to May and October to November usually have pleasant weather, with the castle’s cherry trees blooming in early April. June and early July bring the rainy season; after that comes a humid summer, and typhoons occur mainly between August and October. Nagoya’s winters are dry and cold, with little snow.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Two days cover the castle, Atsuta Shrine, one museum and the Osu neighborhood. With three days, add Inuyama, including the castle, Urakuen garden and Meiji Mura, which requires half a day on its own.

Which city to stay in

The area around Nagoya Station is best for those using the Shinkansen and day trips. Sakae, in the city center, has more restaurants and nightlife, and is close to the castle and the Tokugawa Art Museum by subway. In Inuyama, the Kiso Riverbank has lodgings with hot-spring baths.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Nagoya (Japan): Nagoya; Inuyama

How many days to stay in Nagoya?

Two days for the city, covering the castle, Atsuta and one museum. Three days if you want to include Inuyama and Meiji Mura.

Can you visit Nagoya as a day trip from Kyoto or Tokyo?

From Kyoto, yes: the Shinkansen takes around 35 minutes. From Tokyo, the round trip is over three hours, and one day is rushed.

Do I need a car in Nagoya?

No. The subway, JR and Meitetsu trains and buses cover the city and Inuyama. The Me-guru tourist bus runs a circuit of the main museums and the castle.

What to eat in Nagoya?

Hitsumabushi (grilled eel over rice); miso katsu; tebasaki (chicken wings); kishimen (flat noodles); and miso nikomi udon (noodles simmered in miso broth).

Is Nagoya a good base for other trips?

Yes. Trains depart from here to Takayama, the Kiso Valley, Ise and the Japanese Alps, as well as the Shinkansen to Tokyo and Kyoto.

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Beyond the guide

Nagoya (Japan): Nagoya; Inuyama

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

The cities on this trip