Nagoya

Japan is most famous for their beautiful cherry blossoms and high tech electronics. When you say Japan, people will automatically think of Tokyo or Osaka. There’s another city in the nation that is overlooked, because it’s not as commercialized as the other two mentioned. It contributes a lot to the economic growth of Japan, and that city is called Nagoya.

Nagoya is the 4th largest city in Japan. You can get there faster from Tokyo by taking the shinkansen, also called the “bullet train.” It’s about a 2-hour ride and it’s quicker than flying, because from the airport to the city alone is about 30-minutes by bus. Nagoya is also a major shinkansen stop between Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Hiroshima.

Because of the severe damaged Nagoya suffered during the WWII, it was rebuilt from the ground up. This is Japan’s exemplary rise to the top. Starting from scratch, it’s become the nation’s industrial powerhouse. All the high tech-manufacturing industries in tool machineries, automobiles, aviation, fine ceramics and others are found in this city. A couple of companies in Nagoya are Toyota and Noritake.

This city is not as popular as other tourists’ destinations like Tokyo and Osaka. They don’t have the attractions that the other cities have to offer. But, they do have the most important Shinto Shrine in the nation, the Atsuta-Jingu.

Some of the attractions to see in Nagoya include: the Atsuta- Jingu, Meieki District
(Nagoya Station), the Nagoya-Jo, Ran no Yakata Orchid Gardens, and the Nagoya/Boston Museum of Fine Arts.

The best time to travel in Nagoya is from April-October, when it’s a bit warmer. It gets chilly there from November to March.

One nice feature for English-speaking tourists is the signs, which are also in English.

So, if you happen to be in Japan, make sure to include Nagoya in your itinerary. This is a beautiful city that has a lot of ancient historic significance.