How I Spent 3 Days in Nagoya, Japan [Things To Do, What To Eat]

Nagoya, Japan, is a bustling metropolis in central Japan, between the better-known tourist hot spots of Tokyo and Osaka. Unfortunately, many travelers skip it because it is commonly thought of as Japan’s most boring city.

However, the city has a ton to offer travelers, including a unique food scene, historic temples and shrines, bustling shopping districts, and the famous Nagoya Castle. The city is also a hub of industry and innovation, as it is the birthplace of Toyota.

More than 3 years had passed since I had last visited Nagoya, and I wanted to bring my wife this time to see the city from a first-timer’s perspective.

Here’s an in-depth look at how my wife and I spent 3 days in Nagoya.

Arriving in Nagoya

Nagoya is a massive city, with over 10 million people living in the metropolitan area. Its international airport, Chubu Centrair International Airport (NGO), serves many international airlines.

As of May 2025, Japan Airlines offers nonstop flights between Nagoya and only 1 U.S. airport: Honolulu International Airport (HNL).

Fortunately, Nagoya is about an hour from 2 major Japanese cities: Tokyo (HND and NRT) and Osaka (KIX). Several airlines offer nonstop flights between those 2 cities and various U.S. destinations, including All Nippon Airways, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Japan Airlines, and United Airlines.

The easiest way to get from Chubu Centrair International Airport to Nagoya Station is by using the Meitetsu Limited Express. The journey costs ¥980 (about $7) and takes about 40 minutes. Alternatively, you can take the μSky Limited Express. The journey costs ¥1,430 (about $10; including the first class ticket), but takes less than 30 minutes.

Hot Tip:

Are you also planning on visiting Osaka from Nagoya? Here’s how I spent 72 hours in Osaka, with tips on where to stay, what attractions to visit, and where to eat.

Where To Stay in Nagoya

Sakae Area

Sakae is Nagoya’s downtown and a popular destination for travelers. It is the city’s main shopping and entertainment district, with numerous department stores, boutiques, and restaurants.

The area also has many of Nagoya’s biggest tourist attractions, including the Nagoya City Art Museum, Nagoya City Science Museum, Oasis 21, and the Nagoya TV Tower.

The area offers several hotels from Western hotel chains, including the Hilton Nagoya and the Courtyard Nagoya.

Nagoya Station Area

The area around Nagoya Station is another great place to stay. It is the city’s central transportation hub and connection point to the rest of Japan. The bustling hub features numerous shops, bars, and restaurants.

The area around Nagoya Station has many large hotels, ranging from high-end to budget. Western hotels include the Nagoya Marriott Associa Hotel and the Four Points Flex by Sheraton Nagoya Station.

Atsuta-Ku Area

Although the Atsuta-Ku area is best known for its famous Atsuta Shrine, other tourist attractions are nearby, including the popular Shiratori Garden. The area also has excellent accommodations. Western hotel chains include the ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel Grand Court Nagoya, which is where my wife and I stayed.

Day 1

After arriving in Nagoya from Nagano via the Shinkansen, we headed straight to the ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel Grand Court Nagoya to drop off our bags and freshen up.

Since it was unexpectedly warm (and we were coming from the colder, mountainous regions of Nagano), we decided we would spend most of the first day visiting indoor attractions while we waited for the weather to cool down.

Tsutaya Bookstore Noritake Shinmachi

Our first stop in Nagoya was Aeon Mall Nagoya Noritake Garden, where we visited the famous Tsutaya Bookstore. This iconic bookstore has been featured across social media, and for good reason. Tsutaya, the Japanese bookstore and retail chain, is best known for its library-café settings, which blend traditional bookstores with a place to hang out and relax.

This specific Tsutaya is on the second floor inside Aeon Mall and features a glass ceiling that creates the illusion that a full bookshelf extends to the ceiling. Thanks to the mirrored ceiling, it looks as if there is also a staircase on the ceiling.

Tsutaya Bookstore features a coffee shop, children’s play areas, art displays, and, of course, reading lounges.

Aeon Mall Nagoya Noritake Garden is less than a 10-minute walk from Kamejima Station and Sakō Station. Tsutaya Bookstore is open daily between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m.

Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology

Next, we headed to the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology, a 5-minute walk from Aeon Mall Nagoya Noritake Garden. Toyota, the world’s leading car manufacturer, has its headquarters and several domestic production plants around Nagoya.

The Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology opened in June 1994, 100 years after the birth of Toyota Motor’s founder, Toyoda Kiichiro. It showcases the history and cultural importance of one of the region’s most important companies. Toyota started as a textile machinery manufacturer and gradually became an automobile maker. The museum is divided into 2 main sections: the history of textile manufacturing and automobiles.

Since I am a huge fan of Toyota automobiles, I spent most of my time in the car section. The museum features many exhibits on automotive technologies and the car production process. Here you could also see more than 50 different vehicles on display and arranged by time periods.

In addition to many of Toyota’s classic cars over the last 100 years, there were many modern cars. This included Japanese luxury supercars like the Lexus LFA, which is widely regarded as one of the best and fastest modern supercars.

The museum emphasized the future with various robots, including automotive machinery. It has also scheduled live demonstrations of many robots, showing their capabilities.

Overall, the museum does an excellent job of showcasing the history of technology.

The Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission tickets to the museum cost ¥1,000 ($7) for adults. The museum is a short walk from Kamejima Station and Sakō Station.

Pokémon Center Nagoya

After a few hours at the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology, we headed to the Pokémon Center Nagoya, in the Nagoya Parco East Building. Pokémon, also known as Pocket Monster, has become one of the most recognizable games and anime worldwide. As a 1990s kid, I spent countless hours watching the anime, trading cards with my friends, and playing several Pokémon video games.

Pokémon Centers are official Pokémon shops that sell a variety of merchandise and are an absolute treat for fans, as they immerse visitors in the world of Pokémon. There are more than 20 Pokémon Centers across Japan, each with unique features that make visiting each store a new experience. So far, I have visited nearly half of the locations in Japan. Many offer themed experiences, limited-edition items, and location-based exclusive items.

Although I have been to several Pokémon Centers across Japan, this was my first time visiting the one in Nagoya. The Pokémon Center Nagoya had a nice, unique display with various Pokémon near its entrance.

As with most Pokémon Centers, much of the space was dedicated to plush Pokémon toys. Thousands of these plush toys were on display, though the most beloved Pokémon characters were in much lower supply.

I didn’t buy a plush toy, as I had limited space in my travel bag, and with 6 more weeks of travel across Asia ahead, I didn’t want to carry the extra bulk.

In addition to the plush toys, numerous other Pokémon products were available throughout the store, including collectible cards, booster packs, Poké Balls, socks, stationery, and home goods.

The Pokémon Center is open daily between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. The Nagoya PARCO East Building is directly connected to the Meijo Subway Line.

Nagoya Castle

Next, we headed to Nagoya Castle, the city’s symbol and one of Japan’s most historically significant castles.

Nagoya Castle was built in 1612 by the Owari Domain during the Edo period, in the heart of one of Japan’s most important castle towns. The castle served as the seat of the Owari branch of the Tokugawa shogunate.

The castle is best known for its golden shachihoko (mythical tiger-headed carp) on the roof. Much of the original castle, including the castle keep and the palace buildings, was reduced to ashes in 1945 during World War II air raids, and a massive reconstruction project has been ongoing to restore it to its former glory.

The castle’s palace (Honmaru Goten) was rebuilt in 2018 using traditional construction materials and techniques. It features reception halls and paintings depicting the castle’s history. However, the castle’s main keep has been closed since 2018 for concerns about its earthquake resistance.

Nagoya Castle is one of Japan’s most iconic castles and serves as a dramatic reminder of the city’s importance throughout Japanese history. It is open daily between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Admission tickets to the castle cost ¥500 ($3.50) for adults.

The castle is centrally located and easily accessible. It is a short walk from Nagoyajo Station, Sengencho Station, and Higashiōte Station.

Hot Tip:

Viator offers lots of different guided tours and excursions in Nagoya, including a sumo experience, a food tour, or a private guided tour of Nagoya Castle.

Day 2

After a busy first day visiting some popular attractions, I wanted to spend most of the second day visiting popular Nagoya photo spots.

Great Buddha at Hotei

To start the second day in Nagoya, we took a short train ride north to a residential area in Konan City to visit the Great Buddha at Hotei (Hotei no Daibutsu), which I have wanted to visit for years.

The statue represents Yakushi Nyorai, the Buddha of Healing. The 60-foot-tall statue was built in 1954 by an acupuncturist as a gesture of gratitude for his recovery from illness.

Over the last few years, the Buddha statue has become famous among photographers on social media. Near the Buddha statue is a train crossing gate, which, when lined up correctly, creates the illusion of the Buddha wearing sunglasses. Fortunately, I was able to get the perfect shot.

The Great Buddha at Hotei is a 12-minute walk from Hotei Station.

Sky Promenade (Midland Square)

Next, we returned to downtown Nagoya to visit the Sky Promenade, an open-air observation deck on the 44th to 46th floors of the Midland Square Building. At 755 feet, the observation deck offered sweeping panoramic views of Nagoya’s skyline.

From Sky Promenade, we could see many of the city’s landmarks, including Nagoya Castle, the JR Central Towers, and Nagoya Port. With so many modern buildings and skyscrapers, Nagoya Castle really stood out as an iconic view.

We could even see the Nagoya Dome and Ichinomiya Tower on a clear day in the distance.

Sky Promenade is open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Admission tickets cost ¥1,000 ($7) for adults. Sky Promenade is less than a 5-minute walk from Nagoya Station.

Aichi Arts Center

Next, we headed to the Aichi Arts Center to another viewpoint. However, this one offered exceptional Oasis 21 and the Nagoya TV Tower views.

The Aichi Arts Center is the main venue for the performing arts in Nagoya. The complex includes several buildings, including the Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art, Aichi Prefectural Arts Theater, Aichi Prefectural Arts Promotion Service, and Aichi Prefectural Library.

It also has a relatively unknown observation corridor on the 11th floor, which offers incredible views of downtown Nagoya, including Oasis 21.

We arrived slightly before sunset and caught this incredible view.

Unfortunately, the corridor had many lights that reflected on the windows. Still, we found that if you are persistent enough, you can get excellent pictures without a reflection. Best of all, this observation point was completely free.

The Aichi Arts Center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and is a 5-minute walk from Sakae Station and Sakae-Machi Station.

Oasis 21 and Nagoya TV Tower

After catching the sunset at the observation corridor in the Aichi Arts Center, we headed down to Oasis 21 and the Nagoya TV Tower area. Oasis 21 is a complex with numerous restaurants, stores, a bus terminal, and a tourist information area.

The building also featured a large oval glass roof with a garden and several walking paths. The roof was designed to fill with water, creating a nice visual effect and cooling down the temperature of the shopping area and the public spaces below.

From the roof, we got excellent views of Chubu Electric Power Mirai Tower (also known as the Nagoya TV Tower), the oldest TV tower in Japan. The TV tower is famous in Japanese cinema, as it was the tower that Godzilla tore down in the 1964 movie “Mothra vs. Godzilla.”

We found the Nagoya sign nearby. I captured a picture including the Nagoya sign, Oasis 21, and the Nagoya TV Tower.

Oasis 21 is open daily between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m., with no admission charge.

Day 3

We dedicated our final full day in Nagoya to the city’s eastern part, which featured the massive zoological garden.

Toyota Automobile Museum

To start the day, we headed to the Toyota Automobile Museum, another important museum depicting Toyota’s impact as an automobile manufacturer and, in general, the automobile’s impact on the world. Although the name suggests it would revolve around Toyota vehicles, it featured 140 cars from different manufacturers worldwide. In fact, there were fewer than 20 Toyota automobiles.

The museum divided the automobile showcase by period, emphasizing Japanese, European, and American automobiles from the late 1800s to the 2000s.

Some beautifully maintained vehicles from popular manufacturers were on display, including Alfa Romeo, Bentley, Bugatti, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Daihatsu, Ford, Honda, Lotus, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Porsche, Rolls-Royce, and Saab.

In addition to the historic classics, there were more modern classics, including the legendary Porsche 911 2.0 coupe, which was in impeccable condition.

Surprisingly, no Toyota Supra MK4 was on display, which was a shame considering it is arguably Toyota’s most iconic vehicle. Instead, the museum featured another Japanese flagship icon, a 1991 Honda NSX NA1.

The Toyota Automobile Museum was massive and a great way to spend a few hours.

It is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is a ¥1,200 ($8.25) admission fee. It is less than a 10-minute walk from Geidaidori Station, a stop on the Linimo elevated train.

Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens

Next, we visited the Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens, one of Japan’s largest and most diverse wildlife and plant attractions. Opened in 1937, it spans nearly 150 acres and features over 450 animal species and approximately 7,000 plant species.

The zoo is the second-busiest zoo behind Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo and home to the most animals of any zoo in Japan, including elephants, penguins, bears, tigers, giraffes, birds, reptiles, hippos, apes, lions, monkeys, and rhinos.

The zoo offered detailed educational displays on each animal’s ecology and habitat. Many of the animal enclosures also offered some fantastic picture opportunities.

The highlight was the massive giraffe enclosure, where several giraffes roamed up close. Being this close to the giraffes made me want to book an African safari soon.

We did not visit the botanical gardens because of time constraints. They are home to around 7,000 species of plants.

The Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens are open from Tuesdays through Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission tickets cost ¥500 ($3.50) per adult. The zoo is easily accessible from Higashiyama Koen Station and Hoshigaoka Station.

Tōgan-ji Temple

Lastly, we headed to Tōgan-ji Temple, home to a 50-foot-tall statue called the Great Buddha of Nagoya. The Buddhist temple of the Soto sect was founded in the 1500s and offered a peaceful retreat with its lush gardens, traditional architecture, and spiritual ambience. 

While the Buddha is typically depicted atop a lotus flower, 10 life-sized statues of elephants support the Great Nagoya Buddha. The body is painted a vivid green with gold foil on its eyes, lips, ears, and other areas.

Tōgan-ji Temple is open daily between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. The temple is a short walk from Motoyama Station. There is no admission fee to enter the temple.

What We Ate in Nagoya

Although it may not be on the level of world-class food cities like Tokyo and Osaka, Nagoya is also quite famous for its distinct cuisine.

Hitsumabushi

Nagoya is Japan’s largest producer of freshwater eel, or unagi. Hitsumabushi is a famous Nagoya dish featuring grilled eel covered in a rich, dark sauce and served over rice.

It is typically served in a traditional wooden bowl accompanied by a rice bowl, a plate of condiments (such as green onions, wasabi, and nori), and a pot of broth.

Tebasaki

Tebasaki are seasoned, deep-fried chicken wings without batter, and they are arguably Nagoya’s most popular and famous food.

Although Tebasaki is popular across Japan, no city does it like Nagoya. The wings are coated in a sweet, spicy sauce with sesame seeds and pepper.

Misokatsu

Misokatsu is Nagoya’s take on the popular tonkatsu dish. It features deep-fried pork cutlets served with shredded cabbage and rice. However, unlike most tonkatsu dishes across Japan, Nagoya’s misokatsu is topped with a thick miso sauce instead of traditional tonkatsu sauce.

Final Thoughts

Nagoya is one of Japan’s most underrated cities, often overlooked in favor of megacities like Tokyo and Osaka. The city has a ton to offer, with fascinating tourist sites and an incredible food scene.

Although I have visited Nagoya twice, I plan to visit again soon. The city has a ton to offer and is a great getaway from Japan’s most touristic cities.