JPN: Nagoya Downtown (Part 1)
1-1 Honmaru, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
Daily: 9.00am - 4.30pm
Nagoya, the capital of Aichi Prefecture, is the fourth largest city in Japan. Both before and after World War II, the city has been known as one of the leading industrial and manufacturing hubs in the country. Earning the nickname "Houston and Montreal of the Orient", the city is home to global giants like Toyota.
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JPN: Nagoya Downtown <YOU ARE HERE!>
JPN: Hotel Park
JPN: Gifu Castle
JPN: Gifu Downtown
JPN: Ise Shrine
JPN: Nagoyaeki Access Hotel
JPN: Flight of Dreams
JPN: Chubu Centrair International Airport
JPN: All Nippon Airways NH494 (Economy)
JPN: All Nippon Airways NH833 (Business)
VIE: Le Saigon Hotel
VIE: Tan Son Nhat International Airport
VIE: Le Saigonnais Business Lounge
SIN: Singapore Airlines SQ177 (Business)
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From Chubu Centrair International Airport, the heart of Nagoya city is easily accessible in less than an hour.
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| I purchased a ¥890 (~S$8.00) ticket for the Meitetsu Airport Line train. |
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| The journey to Nagoya station took less than 40 minutes. |
I always love spotting vending machines in Japan.
Nagoya Castle was my first main destination, and I decided to reach it on foot from Smile Hotel Nagoya Shinkansenguchi.
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| Standing at 170 m, Mode Gakuen Spiral Towers is home to three vocational schools. |
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| A striking sculpture of hands has stood here since 1992. |
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| Lovely mural of mother dolphin and her calf! |
Walking through the city allowed me to take in the urban landscape, blending modern developments with traces of history.
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| I was expecting the river to be clear instead of murky. |
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| No matter where you go, vending machines are always within sight. |
The first shrine I encountered in the city felt like a quiet oasis.
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| Summoning my inner poet: through crimson gates, a sacred world awaits... |
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| Hello, my spirit animals! |
I stumbled upon a shopping street that goes by the name Endo-ji Shotengai, but it was eerily quiet as most of the stores were closed.
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| Blue colour! So unusual! |
Not far from Nagoya Castle stands Nagoya Shrine.
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| The shrine was established in 911. |
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| Originally nestled within the grounds of Nagoya Castle, the shrine was relocated to its current site in 1876. |
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| The shrine is dedicated to Susanoo, the Shinto god of the sea and storms. |
The closest shrine to the castle, however, is Aichi Prefecture Gokoku Shrine.
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| The serenity was further enhanced by the beauty of hydrangeas. |
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| The shrine serves as a place of remembrance for fallen soldiers from Aichi Prefecture. |
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| As usual, I couldn't resist drawing a fortune slip that I got to keep in my wallet. |
After exploring the castle grounds, I went to the Yoshinao Zone of Kinsachi Yokocho, a gourmet street lined with restaurants.
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| The street first opened to the public in 2018. |
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| Probably the most ornate water fountain I've ever seen thus far! |
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| The cherry blossom trees planted in the area were made possible through funds from national lottery. |
The Muneharu Zone of Kinshachi Yokocho is located less than a kilometre away.
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| Designed in the Imperial Crown style, Nagoya City Hall survived the bombings during World War II. |
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| Ninja corn dog or ice cream, anyone? |
Meijo Park spans 76 hectares. It's also home to Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium and Nagoya City Archives.
There's an 18th-century Dutch windmill in the park. It was a totally unexpected, yet charming surprise.
Tired from all the walking, especially after not sleeping the previous night, I decided to head back to the hotel for a much needed nap before going out again in the evening.
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| Perhaps only in Japan would you come across decorative elements at a construction site. |
Stay tuned for Part 2, where I'll take you on a journey through more vibrant spots in the city!
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