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A sublime mix of the old and new with several state-of-the art, world-class attractions opening recently, there is such a cool collection of things to do in Nagoya, Japan.
Along with traditional temples and sightly shrines, Japan’s fourth biggest city has many modern attractions, from the awesome architecture of the Oasis 21 roof-park and Hisaya Odori centre through to the more vintage Mirai TV Tower (which looks just like the Eiffel Tower).
Historically, Nagoya has been an economic powerhouse and today, there are several Nagoya attractions relating to big manufacturing businesses such as a Toyota museum, a new Boeing aeroplane attraction and a joyful JR train museum.
Capital to the Aichi Prefecture, noble Nagoya has also recently welcomed the new Ghibli Park, one of Japan’s most anticipated theme parks and easily now one of the most popular things to do in Nagoya (tip – book your ticket WAY in advance).
From the (slightly) weird and wonderful Nana-chan Doll to the otaku utopia that is Akamon Dori, here is our guide to all the best things to do in Nagoya, Japan (2023):
SKIP TO THE THINGS TO DO IN NAGOYA LIST >
Where to stay in Nagoya
Budget ($)
Travelodge Nagoya Sakae
Cheap and cheerful 3-star chain hotel located close to a subway station and a couple blocks away from the Mirai Tower.
Mid-Range ($$)
Nishitetsu Hotel Croom Nagoya
Centrally located 3 star hotel just a few minutes walk from Hisaya Ōdori Park and a few steps away from exit 4 of Hisayaodori metro station. Rooms were compact but clean and comfortable and had a small sofa.
Luxury ($$$)
Nagoya Prince Hotel Sky Tower
5 star luxury hotel located on the 31st-36th floors of a high rise building, with large rooms and amazing views of Nagoya.
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How to get to Nagoya
By Plane
Nagoya’s Chubu Centrair International Airport has direct flights to cities such as Seoul, Hanoi, Taipei, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai and Manila.
Plus domestic flights to cities such as Tokyo, Fukuoka, Okinawa, Sapporo and Kagoshima.
By Shinkansen Bullet Train from Tokyo, Osaka or Kyoto (Covered by the Japan Rail Pass)
You can take a Shinkansen bullet train from these major cities:
- Tokyo station to Nagoya station (just under 2 hours on the Hikari and Nozomi trains)
- Shin-Osaka Station in Osaka to Nagoya station (between 55 and 70 minutes)
- Kyoto station to Nagoya station (35 minutes on the Nozomi train, and between 40 and 60 minutes on the Hikari and Kodama trains)
By Local Trains
You can take a local train from these major cities:
- Tokyo station to Nagoya station (about six hours with around three station transfers)
- Namba Station in Osaka to Nagoya station (just over two hours on a direct limited express train)
- Kyoto station to Nagoya station (2 hours and 15 minutes on the JR Tokaido Line and requires a transfer at Maibara Station)
By Highway Bus
You can take a direct bus from these major cities:
- Tokyo station to Nagoya station (around 5-6 hours)
- Namba Station in Osaka to Nagoya station (around three hours)
- Kyoto station to Nagoya station (around 2.5 hours)
Check train and bus timetables and fares on 12Go Asia:
How to get around Nagoya
Nagoya has an excellent subway system (with six different lines) and many railway lines, making getting around the city is very easy.
You can purchase a Nagoya Subway 24-Hour Ticket for 760 yen (children – 380 yen).
A Bus & Subway 1-Day Ticket costs 870 yen (children – 430 yen), however local buses in Nagoya are often not very tourist-friendly.
Me~guru Nagoya Sightseeing Route Bus
There is however a Me~guru Nagoya Sightseeing Route Bus that is more suitable for tourists and drives past many of Nagoya’s best sights.
You can purchase a one-day pass for unlimited rides, as well as receiving discounts and other benefits at tourist attractions.
The bus operates Tuesday to Sunday and costs 500 yen (children – 250 yen). Tickets can be purchased at tourist information centres (such as the Oasis 21 i Center), some hotels, Nagoya Bus Terminal or from the bus driver.
Things to do in Nagoya
1. Ghibli Park
Located on the outskirts of the city and easily one of the newest and most popular things to do in Nagoya, Ghibli Park opened in late 2022. It is the world’s first theme park dedicated to movies and animated works of Studio Ghibli.
Parts of the amusement park (Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse) are now open to overseas visitors and we were lucky enough to be one of the first foreign visitors.
Ghibli Park is located on the site of the former Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park, with the Grand Ghibli Warehouse located in one of the former expo pavilions.
To get a sense of scale, Ghibli Park is three times the size of Ghibli Museum in Tokyo!
Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse is packed full of Ghibli goodies and cute cartoon attractions. A magical town promising epic exhibits, theme playrooms, a vintage cinema, gift shops galore plus a ride on the Cat Bus, but does Ghibli Grand Warehouse deliver?
You might like this 2 Day 1 Night Ghibli Park (Grand Warehouse) Tour with Hotel & Breakfast >
2. Nagoya Castle
Easily one of the most beautiful castles in Japan (especially when we visited during cherry blossom / sakura), the original Nagoya Castle was originally built in the 1610s but sadly destroyed in 1945 by damage from an air-raid.
As such, the current Nagoya Castle is a concrete reconstruction of the original castle that was put up in the late 1950s. Note that the main castle keep is due to be demolished in 2024 and replaced by 2028 with a wooden recreation.
Up close and afar, Nagoya Castle looks incredible. There is also a recently restored museum on site that details the history of Nagoya Castle plus recreates how the rooms inside would have looked like (although when we visited, the queue was HUGE to get in the museum).
Alas the main Nagoya Castle concrete keep is not able to be visited as it is not earthquake proof. The gardens are also a pleasant stroll and you can walk around the outside of the entire castle via a garden walkway.
The Nagoya Castle grounds cost 500 Yen to visit per person (as of September 2023) – also enjoy tea in one of the traditional tea houses in Nagoya Castle gardens.
Try this – JR Rail Pass for the whole of Japan >
3. Oasis 21
One of the most unique things to do in Nagoya, Oasis 21 is a shopping centre that has the most incredible rooftop garden shaped like an oval UFO.
Whilst the shopping center itself is pretty average (lots of Japanese chain restaurants and fast food joints), the rooftop plaza at Oasis 21 is fantastic overing incredible views of Nagoya, particularly the iconic Nagoya TV Tower.
Free to visit, the Oasis 21 rooftop has a large pond of water which helps to cool the shopping center below but also makes for really interesting photos and reflective cityscapes, especially at night.
Nicknamed the ‘SpaceShip Aqua’, Oasis 21 rooftop garden is a wonderful waterside and architecturally awesome place to visit and quite like no other rooftop in Japan.
Try this – Sake Brewery Tour in Takayama >
4. Mirai Tower Nagoya
Despite initial appearances, the Mirai Tower in Nagoya isn’t a recreation of the Eiffel Tower but in fact a TV and radio tower that was built in the 1950s.
The 180 metre Mirai Tower has since been turned into a tourist hotspot with a viewing deck at the top plus a panoramic restaurant inside. At night, the Mirai Tower also lights up in a series of different colours.
An iconic Nagoya tower and landmark that can be seen from all over the city, we found the best place to view Mirai tower itself was either from the Oasis 21 roof park or from directly below in Hisaya Odori Park, with mirror like reflections on the pond (a really cool photo spot, especially during the evening light show).
As of 2021, the full title is the Chubu Electric Power Mirai Tower but we don’t think this exactly trips off the tongue.
Try this – Eat Like A Local In Nagoya: Private & Personalized food tour >
5. Hisaya Odori Park
A rather charming downtown park and retail concept space, Hisaya Odori Park is full of high end luxury stores and boutique restaurants.
With the Eiffel Tower like Mirai Tower looming large in the background, you could feel like you are walking along the Champs Elysee in Paris (ish).
Revamped with new shops in 2020, Hisaya Odori Park has around 50 shops and restaurants to enjoy including shops.
If shopping isn’t your thing, Nagoya’s Hisaya Odori Park is still worth a visit as there are gardens, fountains and ponds to enjoy with multiple seating spots that have nice views of the Mirai Tower.
6. Sky Promenade
For the best unspoilt panoramic views of Nagoya, head to Sky Promenade observatory deck located on the 44th to 46th floors of the Midland Square Office building.
For our money, this was one of our favourite things to do in Nagoya and also one of the more unusual sky deck designs we encountered in the whole of Japan.
It was part indoors / part outdoors and made really good use of the space with a central square in the middle of the viewing deck.
We were fortunate enough to visit the Sky Promenade on a very clear sunny day so we had a clear view of the city, Nagoya Castle and the snow capped mountains surrounding Nagoya.
Whilst the amenities at the top are quite limited (the Italian restaurant and other cafes seemed to be closed when we visited in March 2023), this is all about the incredible views and vistas.
We visited Sky Promenade in the daytime but at night, they spray mist / vapour every half to create a colourful fog effect that creates a whole new perspective of Nagoya’s skyline.
Connected directly to Nagoya Station, the Nagoya Sky Promenade costs 1,000 Yen per adult as of September 2023.
Get your Nagoya Sky Promenade tickets in advance here >
7. Eat Miso Katsu in Nagoya
The miso katsu dish is a Nagoya specialty and there are numerous miso katsu restaurants in the Nagoya area.
Miso katsu is based on your typical Japanese tonkatsu dish that is a deep fried pork loin cutlet served with shredded cabbage and rice. However a thick, rich and salty miso-based sauce is used instead of the traditional soy sauce-based sauce.
Founded in Nagoya in 1947, Misokatsu Yabaton is an extremely popular chain of miso katsu restaurants found all over the city (look out for the pig dressed as a Sumo wrestler logo).
We found the queues to get into these restaurants were insanely long, so our advice would be to eat here at off-peak times. We managed to get a seat straight away at Misokatsu Yabaton around 4pm on a weekday.
8. Nagoya City Science Museum
Home to the world’s biggest planetarium (check out the huge ‘sphere’ on the side of the building), Nagoya City Science Museum has several floors of permanent exhibits and temporary exhibitions, many of which are hands-on. Highlights include the Tornado Lab (breezy) and the Deep Freeze Lab (chilly!)
Admission to the Nagoya City Science Museum is 800 Yen per adult for the Museum and Planetarium, or 400 Yen to visit just the museum (prices correct as of September 2023).
Even if you don’t want to actually visit the Nagoya City Science Museum itself, we highly recommend a visit as the building architecture is really cool.
Plus outside the museum, you can see some epic free exhibits including a huge Japanese H-IIB (rocket) which once provided supplies to the International Space Station (ISS) and a vintage Nagoya tram.
Try this – Nagoya: UNESCO Tour to Shirakawago & Takayama >
9. Shirakawa Park
Located next to Nagoya City Science Museum, Shirakawa Park is one of Nagoya’s most popular city parks and also home to Nagoya City Art Museum.
A popular meeting place with huge fountains, Shirakawa Park has several outdoor features like a huge fountain and sun clock plus several modern art sculptures.
10. Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology
Calling all Japanese automobile aficionados and engineering enthusiasts – the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology is a mechanical marvel built on the site of the original Toyota factory.
Home to hundreds of well polished cars and aesthetically awesome automobiles, learn about the manufacturing history of Toyota and take part in a guided tour (Japanese and English speaking tours are available).
Opened in June 1994, the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2024 with some huge events.
For non car fans, there is also an on-site restaurant, garden and gift shop to enjoy so vroom vroom along to Nagoya’s Toyota museum.
Admission to the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology starts from 500 Yen per adult as of September 2023 – please note it is closed on Mondays.
Try this – Half-day tour to Noritake Garden & Toyota Commemorative Museum or full-day tour of Castle & Toyota Commemorative Museum.
11. SCMAGLEV and Railway Park
A rather good railway museum and uniquely Japanese attraction, Nagoya is home to the SCMAGLEV and Railway Park.
Ran by the Central Japan Railway (JR Central), this museum is not just for trainspotters as it has a huge array of both old and new trains from the super speedy shinkansens (bullet trains) to the more traditional steam powered locomotives and historic carriages.
You can also try driving a train for yourself with a driving simulator or there is even a train conductor simulator.
The SCMAGLEV and Railway Park costs 1,000 Yen per adult as of September 2023 – train simulators are additional costs ranging from 100 Yen to 500 Yen per simulator.
12. Osu shopping district including Osu Shopping Arcade
Nagoya’s best downtown area for shopping, the Osu Shopping District is a sprawling maze of shops, bars and restaurants and shopping streets which are mainly undercover.
Osu Shopping District is chock full of boutique, vintage and retro shops, plus hole in the wall eateries.
After the war, the Osu Shopping area flourished selling second hand items, thrift goods and homewares and is now the centre for anime, manga and comic shops – in other words, Osu Shopping District is ‘otaku’ heaven.
We found the best way to explore Osu Shopping District was to just wander around, browse whichever stores took our fancy plus grab bites at eateries that had big local queues. It is also a great place for discount beauty products and toiletries.
The Osu Shopping Arcade is a veritable and vintage treasure trove of Japanese goods plus leads directly to the Osu Kannon Shrine.
Try this – Nagoya Street Food Walking Tour of Osu >
13. Miwa Jinja Shrine AKA the Rabbit Shrine
Whilst in Nagoya, ‘hop’ along to the rabbit temple.
Miwa Jinja shrine (also known locally as the Shrine of Happiness) has a strong rabbit presence as the shrine’s deity (God) is said to be the same as Okuninushi, who was famous for his role in the legend of the Hare of Inaba, resulting in the strong connection to rabbits.
Popular with couples, the Miwa Jinja Shrine is believed to have strong powers over love and marriage – worshippers can wish for a long partnership by tying a string of fortune next to the 400+ year old ‘Tree of Marriage’.
Full of cute decorations plus a special torii gate and shop manned by old ladies, Miwa Jinja Shrine certainly brought up happiness and was one of our favourite things to do in Nagoya.
Try this – Nagoya Highlights Tour guided by a friendly local >
14. Akamon Dori / Street – Otaku Heaven
Get your inner otaku on at Akamon-Dori, Nagoya’s very own version of Akihabara (albeit on a slightly smaller scale).
Nagoya’s highest concentration of cool comic shops, gachapon stores, geek chic and epic entertainment shops, Akamon Street is home to great gaming stores and cute cafes like:
Super Potato Akamon Dori
One of the best video game shops specialising in classic arcade consoles and retro games, Super Potato Japan is a chain of glorious gaming stores which has a two floor outpost on Akamon Dori.
Here you’ll find old video games cartridges galore on the ground floor plus a retro style arcade on the second floor (and one of the biggest Nintendo Gameboys we’ve ever seen).
Jungle Entertainment Shop Akamon Dori
Similar to Manadrake and Super Potato, Jungle is a second-hand store that sells robots, anime and all manner of Manga models.
Rocat
Akamon-Dori has many thrift and vintage stores to browse as well including Rocat, a second hand clothing store full of used no name to big brand items for reasonable prices.
Lashinbang Akamon Dori
Lashinbang is billed as Japan’s biggest second-hand store, selling cosplay, Doujinshi and Otaku goods. Look out for the bright blue billboard along Akamon-dori.
15. Kinshachi Yokocho
Located a few footsteps away from Nagoya castle main gate, Kinshachi Yokocho is a small traditional-style alleyway with many wooden buildings that house boutique shops, cafes and restaurants. It is also known as Kinshachi Yokocho Gourmet Town.
You’ll find a branch of the famous Misokatsu Yabaton restaurant here as well.
At the far end of the street is an all-weather beer garden called Nagoya Castle BBQ Park, which has many street food stalls, plus BBQ set menus that include all you can eat and drink deals. Visit their website for more information >
16. Legoland Japan Resort, Nagoya
Plastic fantastic. Japan’s very first Legoland which opened in 2017, Nagoya Legoland Japan Resort has several themed zones likes Pirate Shores and Bricktopia.
They also have a Miniland where famous Japanese landmarks from Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Kyoto are recreated like Tokyo Skytree, Shibuya Crossing, Kobe Tower and Kiyomizu-dera.
There is also LEGO City located next door to Legoland where you’ll find the The Sea Life Nagoya Aquarium.
Skip the Queue – get your discounted LEGOLAND Japan Resort Tickets, exclusive to non Japanese residents >
17. Atsuta Jingu Shrine
Nagoya is never short on sublime shrines but Atsuta Jingu Shrine in southern Nagoya is one of the most revered Shinto shrines in the whole of Japan.
Here you can also visit the Kusanagi-kan museum which has an impressive collection of historic samurai swords (plus some non lethal swords you can get hands on with).
Plus next door, there is a small soup noodle shop that specialises in the shrine’s version of kishimen soup noodles – soup-er stuff!
Located in gorgeous green parkland, Atsuta Jingu Shrine is free to visit but there is a 500 Yen admission fee to the Treasure Hall.
If you visit to Nagoya happens to be in June, try to get along to the shrine to take part in the special Atsuta Rei-Sai festival that takes place every year on June 5th, to mark the start of the summer including huge lantern parades.
Try this – Half-day Tour to Atsuta Shrine and Shirotori Garden in Nagoya >
18. Shirotori Garden
A gorgeous green space sprawling over four hectares, Shirotori Garden is a peaceful place to explore and one of the more tranquil things to do in Nagoya.
Originally created for a World Design Expo, Shirotori Garden opened in the early 1990s and has several lovely lakes and pretty ponds plus is home to traditional tea ceremony rooms in the ‘Seui-tei’ tea house, designed in the shape of a swan.
A popular place any time of year in Nagoya, Shirotori Garden is particularly popular in spring and one of the best places to see sakura / cherry blossoms in Nagoya.
Try this – Experience Japanese calligraphy & tea ceremony at a traditional house in Nagoya >
19. Nagoya Castle Ninja Show
One of the most fun free things to do in Nagoya, there is a regular Ninja Show that takes place in the grounds of Nagoya Castle.
Aimed squarely at families and young kids, the early morning ninja show sees an epic battle take place between several samurai fighters and ninja warriors against the epic backdrop of Nagoya Castle.
The Nagoya Castle Ninja Show takes place on the weekends at 10am.
Please note we’ve read some older articles about things to do in Nagoya that say there is a fee to watch the ninja show at Nagoya Castle but we visited in March 2023 and it was included as part of the Nagoya Castle admission.
Try this – Takayama City and Shirakawago Village Tour from Nagoya >
20. Osu Kannon Shrine
A beautiful Buddhist temple in downtown Nagoya located at the end of Osu Shopping Arcade, Osu Kannon Shrine buildings are fairly modern, having been rebuilt in recent years being destroyed by the Nagoya Air Raids in 1945.
A small site with a couple of cherry blossom trees either side of the shrine, Osu Kannon is a popular shrine for Nagoya city workers and shoppers to pay their respects – it also appears very popular with pigeons (we spotted a man selling bird feed to tourists).
A flea market is also held at Osu Kannon Shrine at least once a month – inside you’ll also find a huge collection of old books and manuscripts. Osu Kannon shrine is free to visit.
Try this – Specialties of Nagoya Food Tour >
21. Tokugawaen Garden
A joyful Japanese garden situated next door to Tokugawa Art Museum, Tokugawaen Garden has something to see in each of the four seasons but especially so in the autumn with its red foliage.
From waterfalls and stone walkways, traditional tea houses to tall trees, there is much to see and enjoy at Tokugawaen Garden.
Admission to Tokugawaen Garden is 300 Yen per adult or a combo ticket can be purchased that includes Nagoya Castle admission for 640 Yen – prices correct as of September 2023.
22. JR Central Towers
Once Nagoya’s tallest building and observation deck (now taken over by Midland Square), the JR Central Towers are a looming landmark in Nagoya that were built in the late 1990s.
The observation deck here has since closed and been transformed into a panoramic restaurant and many of the floors are office space.
JR Central Towers’ lower floors are a shopping mall (Tower Plaza), Takashimaya department store and of course the train station itself.
Whilst not such a destination in itself, this is a good place to go shopping if you are catching a train to or from Nagoya and also has some excellent food court options plus a ubiquitous BIC Camera store.
23. Solo Pizza Napoletana
If you are feeling a little jaded by Japanese food and want to try some western food that isn’t McDonalds or Burger King, try a piece of Nagoya pizza.
Solo Pizza Napoletana is an award-winning Nagoya based pizza chain with two branches (one at Nagoya Station, one in the Osu Shopping District) which specialises in stone baked pizza at inexpensive prices.
We visited the Osu Shopping District Solo pizza Napoletana, located in a beautiful arcade and tried a margarita pizza. At around 500 Yen for a four slice pizza, it was pretty good value and tasted WAY better than the pizzas you get at the Saizeriya Italian chain.
24. Taito Station Osu Shop
Nagoya’s largest gaming arcade, Taito Station’s Nagoya branch has three floors of games consoles, arcade machines and more dance machines than you ever thought possible!
Here you can have a go at the legendary Japanese claw machines (UFO catchers) to try and win cute Kawaii gifts (harder than it looks) or have a gander at the gashapon toy capsule machines.
With over 1,000 machines including a whole floor dedicated to selfie style booths (complete with make-up and hair styling utensils), take a trip to Taito Station Osu Shop.
Try this – Ninja Samurai Kingdom Ise Ticket >
25. Don Quijote Nagoya Stores
No trip to Japan is complete without a visit to one of the numerous Don Quijote stores, Japan’s best loved discount chain.
You know you’ve found a Don Quiijote store as you’ll either see the bright blue penguin character Don Pen outside the store or hear the incredibly catchy Don Quijote theme tune on loop (the poor store staff must get so sick of it!)
Some (but not all) Don Quijote stores in Nagoya are open 24 hours and many have really cheap restaurants or hot food counters inside.
There are around six Don Quijote stores in the downtown Nagoya area including the MEGA Don Quijote UNY Nayabashi store. They are a great place to purchase cheap souvenirs such as Japanese Kit Kats.
Check out our ultimate guide to Japan’s Don Quijote stores >
Try this – Private Helicopter Flight Experience in Nagoya >
26. Sky Boat Ferris Wheel at Sunshine Sakae
Most major Japanese cities have some form of ferris wheel / sky wheel and Nagoya is no different with the Sky Boat Ferris Wheel. This one is a little more unusual than others as it hangs off the side of a shopping centre (Sunshine Sakae).
Over 40 metres wide and with perspex capsules to ride in, this is unique way to enjoy the Nagoya skyline (Sky Boat Ferris wheel admission fees apply).
Easy to find and located in the downtown core just across from Don Quijote Sakae Honten, Sky Boat Ferris Wheel is open daily until 10pm (11pm on Saturdays) and one of the most fun ways to see Nagoya all lit up at night.
Plan My Japan tip – the view from the Sky Boat Ferris Wheel is Nagoya is good but equally good views can be found from the nearby, free to visit Oasis 21 rooftop garden and sky park.
Try this – Eiho-ji, Ena Valley, Magome-juku & Tsumago-juku Day Tour From Nagoya >
27. Flight of Dreams at Nagoya Airport
A new Nagoya attraction takes flight! We first stumbled across this new thing to do in Nagoya when we flew into Nagoya airport’s domestic terminal from Fukuoka.
Flight of Dreams is essentially an aeroplane themed fun / amusement park with the main attraction being an actual Boeing 787 plane that you can go on board.
A plane-spotters wet dream, you can try your hands at flying a Boeing 787 or Boeing 747 Dreamlifter on a flight simulator.
Plan My Japan Tip
Even if you don’t fancy a visit to Flight of Dreams or don’t want to pay the admission fee, you can get some good views of the aircraft by dining in the bars and cafes in Seattle Terrace, centred around the Boeing 787 on display.
The best views of the plane can be had at the Pike Brewery taproom and restaurant, or the Starbucks.
Try this – Nagoya car rental from Nagoya Airport >
28. The HUB Pub
Cheers to this British pub chain in Nagoya (and across) Japan. In most Japanese cities we’ve stayed in, we’ve come across this ‘cheap as chips’ bar and British pub that has a very Happy Hour!
With each drink you buy, you get to choose a British snack like a small cone of fish and chips. Plus you can watch lots of sports at the HUB pubs like English Premier League soccer.
There are around four HUB Pubs in downtown Nagoya but the best one to visit is HUB Grampus Pub Mirai Tower as it has a beer garden directly underneath the Mirai Tower. So for incredible British style brews with views in Nagoya, head to one of the HUB Pubs.
Read more about British HUB pubs in our HUB pub guide >
29. Nagoya-City Nana-chan Mannequin
One of the more weird and wonderful things to do in Nagoya, this gigantic mannequin named Nana-chan stands a whopping 20-feet tall and is famous for her seasonal costumes changes including swimsuits, dresses, santa outfits, kimonos and even Wonder Woman!
A beloved city icon, Nana-chan was installed in 1973 to advertise products for the Meitetsu Department Store which she stands in-front of.
Located near Nagoya Station, the mannequin is regularly used by locals as a meeting place.
You can check out some of her past outfits on the Meitetsu Department Store website.
30. Underground Malls in Nagoya
We visited Nagoya in spring time and we found the weather to be quite hit and miss – lovely and sunny some days, rainy and miserable the others.
Luckily, Nagoya has several underground shopping malls which are ideal for all weather shopping – Sakae Chika Underground mall, Mori no Chikagai underground mall plus Central Park mall.
Nagoya is said to be the birthplace of underground shopping malls in Japan as it has such wide streets designed for lots of cars so it was only natural to build underground passageways and shopping centres.
As we were staying at the Nishitetsu Hotel Croom Nagoya hotel, we really appreciated being able to eat, drink and shop at Central Park Underground Mall as it was so close with loads of eateries inside (plus popular chain shops like the Can Do 100 YEN Store).
Try this – Market Tour and Authentic Nagoya Cuisine Cooking Class With a Local >
31. Pike Brewing Taproom and Restaurant Nagoya
A little piece of America in Nagoya, this is the first Japanese outpost of Seattle based Pike Brewing Co and the perfect place to try American style IPAs and West Coast wonderful beers.
Located at Nagoya Airport in the Seattle Terrace, even though this is an American brewery, it still has Japanese touches like a robot server.
The terrace at Nagoya’s Pike Brewing restaurant also has excellent views of the Flight of Dreams theme park and showpiece Boeing 787 plane plus has lots of beer pairing recommendations to go with your meals.
32. Mandarake Nagoya
Mandarake in Japan is renowned worldwide as one of the best chains to buy all manner of modern and retro collectables, from manga models through to 70’s trading cards or dated Doraemon relics.
Mandarake Nagoya has four floors with each one themed – for instance, level three is mainly cosplay items and the fourth floor dolls.
Seriously, we could happily spend hours browsing in Mandarake. We’ve found so many cool toys and otaku gifts here like James Bond 007 cars from the 1980s or even Hello Kitty Model trains.
Read more in our guide to Mandarake >
33. Endoji Shotengai Shopping Street
The oldest shopping street in Nagoya, Endoji Shotengai Shopping Street has certainly seen busier days and now seems to be mainly frequented by locals using the one supermarket in here.
A long parade with a covered roof, many of the shops in Endoji Shotengai Shopping Street seem to be vacant but several new eateries and cafes have popped up which may breathe back into the shopping arcade.
It is also a popular thoroughfare for rickshaw rides with tourists dressed up in traditional Japanese clothes
Dating back to the early 17th century, Endoji Shotengai Shopping Street is a nice place to take a quiet stroll free from cars or enjoy traditional Japanese food or international fare like Vietnamese or Italian.
Keep an eye out for the four statues at the western end of Endoji Shotengai Shopping Street too, depicting local heroes Hideyoshi Toyotomi, Nobunaga Oda, Ieyasu Tokugawa and Mitsukuni Tokugawa.
One final thing to do in Nagoya, Japan
34. Fuji Sengen Shrine
Located near Nagoya’s Osu Kannon shopping arcade, this is one of Nagoya’s oldest shrines originally dating back to 1495.
Whilst small in stature, the grounds here are very peaceful and you’ll often see elderly locals paying their respects.
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