Nagoya is located nearly at the midway point on the Pacific coast side of Japan's main island of Honshu. It has a population of approximately 2.2 million. The city was founded 400 years ago, and began with the construction of Nagoya Castle by Tokugawa Ieyasu - the shogun who united Japan. Today, Nagoya is one of the major cities of the global automobile industry and is a commercial city that includes large shopping areas featuring department stores, well-known brand shops, and electronics stores. In addition, it is also a tourist city with many sightseeing spots such as Nagoya Castle that evoke the city's samurai past. Enjoy Nagoya with its many faces and appealing aspects.
Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo Shogunate, constructed Nagoya Castle in 1612 as the castle of his ninth son Yoshinao and also as a strategic defense in the direction of the Osaka area. It is an elegant castle notable for its jade green roof tiles as well as its golden dolphins (kinsyachi).
Meitetsu bus (17 min.)
Opening hours: 9:00 - 16:30 (Entrance to castle tower permitted until 16:00)
Closed: December 29 - 31, January 1
The Tokugawa Art Museum houses approximately 10,000 objects that belonged to feudal lords of successive generations of the Owari Tokugawa family focusing mainly on the personal effects of Tokugawa Ieyasu. The museum contains nine national treasures including an illustrated handscroll of the Tale of Genji as well as a number of exquisite items that have been deemed important cultural properties.
Meitetsu bus (26 min.)
Opening hours: 10:00 - 17:00 (Entrance is permitted until 16:30)
Closed: Mondays (Closed the following day if Monday is a national holiday.)
Osu Kannon is a temple that was built over 670 years ago. It is famous for housing the oldest copy of the Kojiki (Record of Ancient Manners), the oldest extant historical chronicle of Japan. An antique market featuring Japanese antiques is also held at the temple on the 18th and 28th of each month.
Subway (7 min.)
Arimatsu-Narumi tie-dyeing produces cloth using a traditional Japanese dyeing method in which cotton fabric is dyed using flowers. The dyeing process produces a deep indigo blue. At the museum, visitors can observe the process of shibori (tie-dyeing), which is considered one of Japans traditional arts.
Meitetsu train (27 min.)
Opening hours: 9:30 - 17:00
Closed: Wednesdays (Closed the following day if Wednesday is a national holiday.)
Atsuta Shrine has long been revered by Japanese people as a temple with special importance. The expansive grounds of the shrine contain an abundant amount of trees including camphor trees that are over 1,000 years old. The atmosphere of the shrine gives visitors a feeling for Japanese tradition.
Meitetsu train (12 min.)
The Higashiyama Zoo houses approximately 550 types of animals from koalas, giraffes, and elephants to killifish. Animal feeding events are held on the 1st and 4th Sundays of each month and reptile touching events are held on Sunday every week.
Subway (32 min.)
Opening hours: 9:00 - 16:50 (Entrance permitted until 16:30)
Closed: Mondays (Closed the following day if Monday is a national holiday.)
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