Nagoya's Top 10 Attractions: From Ancient Shrines to Ghibli Park
Nagoya, the fourth-largest city in Japan, presents a captivating mix of history, culture, and contemporary attractions. Among the top 10 activities listed by Lonely Planet is Atsuta-jingū, a Shintō shrine that dates back 1,900 years and is home to the revered sword Kusanagi-no-tsurugi. The Tokugawa Art Museum boasts 10,000 treasures from the samurai era, including the earliest pictorial scroll of The Tale of Genji. Vintage shopping thrives in the Ōsu district, which hosts a monthly antique market. Visitors can enjoy immersive experiences at Ghibli Park and view works by Frida Kahlo and Amedeo Modigliani at the Nagoya City Art Museum. Originally constructed in 1615, Nagoya Castle was rebuilt in 1959. The city’s culinary highlights include hitsumabushi and miso-katsu, while the Toyota Commemorative Museum showcases the company's beginnings. Nagoya's subway system conveniently links these attractions.
Key facts
- Atsuta-jingū is over 1,900 years old and houses the sacred sword Kusanagi-no-tsurugi.
- Tokugawa Art Museum displays the 12th-century Tale of Genji scroll only in late November.
- Ōsu district has hundreds of vintage boutiques and a monthly antique market on the 18th and 28th.
- Ghibli Park tickets are released three months in advance on the 10th of each month.
- Nagoya City Art Museum holds 8,500 artworks, including pieces by Frida Kahlo and Amedeo Modigliani.
- Nagoya Castle's Honmaru Palace was reconstructed in 2009 using traditional methods.
- Toyota began as a weaving machine company in 1919; its first car was produced in 1936.
- Sakae features the Sky Promenade at Midland Square, Japan's tallest open-air observation deck at 247 meters.
Entities
Artists
- Kisho Kurokawa
- Frida Kahlo
- Amedeo Modigliani
Institutions
- Atsuta-jingū
- Tokugawa Art Museum
- Ghibli Park
- Studio Ghibli
- Nagoya City Art Museum
- Noritake Garden Gallery
- Nagoya Castle
- Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry & Technology
- SCMAGLEV & Railway Park
- Nagoya City Science Museum
- Chubu Electric Power Mirai Tower
- Midland Square
- Oasis 21
- Sunshine Sakae
- Lonely Planet
Locations
- Nagoya
- Japan
- Tokyo
- Kyoto
- Osaka
- Mt Fuji
- Atsuta-jingū
- Ōsu
- Sakae
- Nishiki
- Fujigaoka
- Mitaka
- Nagoya Station
- Hori River
- Tokugawa-en
Sources
- Quartz —