Nagoya Castle is where the Tokugawa shogun made their home for over 250 years up until 1868, the year in which Japan’s partial isolation from the West came to an end with the beginning of the Meiji period. The castle was nearly destroyed in bombing raids of 1945 and authentically rebuilt only in …

The Atsuta Shrine is one of the most important sacred places in Japan, ranking second only to the Ise Shrine. It stores one of the so-called Imperial regalia, the sacred sword Kusanagi and is well known for its peaceful and relaxing …

Nagoya TV Tower, built in 1954, is the oldest broadcasting radio in Japan, located right in the centre of the city. With its 180 meters, the Tower offers one of the best views of Nagoya. Here, tourists can enjoy their time in coffee shops or buying …

The huge Toyota Museum is a must-visit for all those interested in automotive history. The automotive pavilion features a great range of vintage trucks and cars, while kids will love spending their time in the Technoland, a hands-on series of interactive displays.The Textile Machinery Pavilion offers a throwback to the time when the textile …

Higashiyama Zoological and Botanical Garden is a vast green expanse right in the heart of Nagoya City. The 20 hectare open-range zoo is one of Asia’s largest, featuring lions, tigers, giraffes, bears and many other species. Gaze out onto the park from the Higashiyama Sky Tower and enjoy a good meal in the restaurant …

These lavish gardens were constructed in 1694 as a residential retreat for Mitsutomo, the second Lord of the Owari clan. Sadly, however, most of the garden and its buildings were destroyed during World War II. Restoration took a long time, with the garden being finally opened as a public park in 2004. If time …

Four hundred years ago, both Magome and Tsumago were two of 69 staging posts on the 500 km Nakasendo “Highway”, a foot-trail along which local warlords had to make an annual pilgrimage to the then-capital Edo (now Tokyo), to report in. Today, Magome and Tsumago look much as they once did. Magome, easily accessible …

Yanagibashi Central Market is home to over 400 shops and fish stalls, dating back to the Edo era (1603–1868) and second in size only to Tokyo’s giant Tsukiji Fish Market. Giant tuna, octopus, shrimp and many other varieties of fish are on sale here from early morning (around 6 am is …

About 30 minutes by rail from downtown Nagoya via Hamatsu City, Hamanako Garden Park is what remains of Pacific Flora, a floral exhibition that ran as a precursor to Expo 2005. Now the site, superbly located on a peninsula in Lake Hamana, has become a permanent civic attraction. Flowing through the grounds, just as …

Take a culture break in the Design Museum and Design Gallery. These cover everything from industrial and commercial to historical design, and have the visitor wondering (as happens every few minutes or so in Japan): “just where does this astonishing creativity come …

Housed in two separate buildings (one on five levels and the other three levels), this is a huge museum. Large underwater viewing rooms make it easy to appreciate dolphins and other marine species …