Discover the Heart of Chubu in Nagoya
Explore the vibrant cultural hub of Nagoya on this exciting 7-day tour! Nagoya serves as the perfect home base to experience both classic Japanese heritage and modern innovations.
Weather is generally mild all year with humidity in summer. Daytime highs range 26°C in August to 7°C in January. Pack layers! Rain likely March-May.
General Tips:
Public transit is excellent but English signage limited. Consider a tourist SIM for navigation apps. Most major attractions have English maps.
Hotel: Vessel Inn Sakae Ekimae
Flight: Check Here
Day 1: Arrival and Shopping Spree
Afternoon: Land at Chubu Centrair International Airport and try not to lose your luggage (good luck!). Hop on the transport to Vessel Inn Sakae Ekimae. Check-in and breathe a sigh of relief—home sweet hotel! Estimated cost: JPY 7,372 per night.
Dinner: Head to Miso Katsu Yabaton (map) for some deep-fried pork cutlet. Trust us, your taste buds will thank you! Estimated cost: JPY 500-3,000.
Recommended: Waraji Tonkatsu, Teppan Tonkatsu, Skewered Deep-fried Pork Cutlet
Shopping: Need to walk off that dinner? Don Quijote Nagoya Sakae Branch (map) is open 24/7 and will happily take your money in exchange for random goodies. Estimated cost: JPY 1,000-5,000.
Back to the hotel: Return to your comfy bed (Approx. 11 mins walk).
Day 2: Castles, Food Streets, and TV Towers
Breakfast: Start your day at Komeda's Coffee Shop Nishiisemachi-dori Branch (map) (Approx. 2 mins walk). Sip on coffee and pretend you're an early bird. Estimated cost: JPY 1,000-3,000.
Morning: Visit Nagoya Castle (map) (Approx. 8 mins). Explore Honmaru Palace and Ninomaru Square. Estimated cost: JPY 500.
Recommended: Explore the Hommaru Palace, View the golden shachi (tiger-headed carp) statues, Enjoy the castle gardens.
Lunch: Enjoy grilled eel at Kinshachi Yokocho Food Street (map) (Approx. 2 mins walk).
Recommended:"Bicho" Kinjirushi Unagi Hitsumabushi (Three ways to enjoy grilled eel), Sample Tebasaki Chicken Wings, Taste Miso Katsu,etc.
Estimated cost: JPY 2,000-3,000.
Afternoon: Feel on top of the world at Nagoya TV Tower (map) (Approx. 18 mins). Estimated cost: JPY 800-1,300.
Recommended: Visit the Sky Deck,Experience the Night Illumination,Walk in Hisaya Odori Park
Dinner: Treat yourself to Oyakodon at Torikai Sohonke (map), Sakae LACHIC Branch (Approx. 12 mins walk).
Recommended: Oyakodon (Chicken and egg rice bowl).
Estimated cost: JPY 1,500-3,000.
Shopping: Pick up some essentials at Cocokarafine Drugstore (Approx. 5 mins walk). Estimated cost: JPY 2,000-5,000.
Back to the hotel: End your busy day with a peaceful stroll back (Approx. 10 mins walk).
Day 3: Shrimp Sandwiches, Shrines, and Shopping Streets
Breakfast: Dive into a fried shrimp sandwich at Konparu Sakae Nishi Branch (map) (Approx. 5 mins walk). Estimated cost: JPY 480-1,000.
Recommended: Ebi Furai Sandwich, Katsu Sandwich
Morning: Visit Atsuta Shrine (map) and explore Kusunagi Hall and Treasure Hall, Bekku Hachikenomiya Shrine, Uwachiagamashi Shrine, Kiyomizu Shrine
(Approx. 27 mins).
Recommended: See the Sacred Sword Kusanagi, Walk Through the Torii Gates,Visit the Treasure Hall Museum, Purchase Omamori Charms, Drink from the Sacred Well
Lunch: Indulge in some Yakiniku at Yakiniku no Andou Meieki Branch - Grilled Meat /BBQ (map) (Approx. 25 mins). Estimated cost: JPY 1,500-3,000.
Recommended: A5 ranked Kuroge Wagyu, Specialty Matsusaka Beef, Award-winning Kobe Beef
Afternoon: Marvel at the Osu Kannon Temple (map) (Approx. 18 mins). Don’t miss the Statue of Hotei and Seven Lucky Gods, Osu Bunko Library
Recommended: Draw a Fortune Slip (Omikuji),Write a Wish on an Ema
Dinner & Shopping: Roam Osu Shopping Street (map) for dinner and unique finds (Approx. 4 mins walk). Estimated cost: JPY 1,000-2,500.
Recommended: Watch a clockwork puppet show
Back to the hotel: Head back with your treasures (Approx. 18 mins).
Day 4: LEGOLAND and Oasis 21
Breakfast: Fuel up at Kato Coffee Shop (map) (Approx. 9 mins walk). Estimated cost: JPY 1,500-3,000.
Morning: Become a kid again / With your kids at Legoland Japan (map) (Approx. 47 mins). Don’t miss the Squid Surfer, Lego Friends 4D Movie, Miniland, Adventure, Brick House Burger. Estimated cost: JPY 5,400-7,500.
Afternoon: Explore Oasis 21 (map) for shopping and dinner (Approx. 47 mins). Check out the observation deck, Donguri Republic (map), Matsumoto Kiyoshi Drugstore and try Sushi-Go-Round (Kaitensushi).(map)
Estimated cost: JPY 1,500-4,500.
Back to the hotel: Walk off that sushi (Approx. 5 mins walk).
Day 5: Parks, Museums, and Underground Shopping
Breakfast: Enjoy a Japanese breakfast at Nakau (map) (Approx. 15 mins walk). Try the traditional breakfast you never had it before. For me, this is a good experience to have in Japan. Estimated cost: JPY 1,000-2,500.
Morning: Stroll through Shirakawa Park (map) and enjoy the scenery, and if you are with your kids there, there are playgrounds for children, making it a family-friendly destination. And I would suggest to come in spring, the cherry blossoms (sakura) attract many visitors who come to enjoy hanami (flower viewing).(Approx. 5 mins walk). Estimated cost: JPY 300.
Recommended: Visit Nagoya City Science Museum, Explore Nagoya City Art Museum
Lunch: Try Italian at Italian Restaurant Yokoi Sumiyoshi Honten (map) (Approx. 5 mins walk). why I would suggest it?? This dish is a Nagoya specialty and differs from traditional Italian pasta. With around 20 types of toppings available, diners can customize their spaghetti with options like eggs, deep-fried shrimp, sausage, and corn1. and their recommended dish is the “mirakan,” which includes a dense sauce made over two days, filled with a variety of vegetables, meats, and spices, served over 2.2 mm thick spaghetti. And the popular choice is the “ebi-nese,” ankake spaghetti topped with crispy deep-fried shrimp, a Nagoya specialty.
Estimated cost: JPY 1,000-3,000.
Afternoon: The next stop was SCMAGLEV and Railway Park (map) (Approx. 51 mins). Whether you’re a train enthusiast or just looking for an interesting place to visit in Nagoya, the SCMAGLEV and Railway Park is definitely worth a visit. It’s a place where you can learn about the past, present, and future of train travel in Japan. Estimated cost: JPY 400-800.
Recommended: Experience the Train Simulator, See the SCMAGLEV Train
Dinner & Shopping: Dive into SakaeChika Sakae Underground Shopping Street (map) (Approx. 43 mins) and enjoyed a delicious dinner of crispy chicken wings at Furaibo Sakae Ganso chicken wings fried (map) with around JPY 1,500-5,000 cost. Recommended: Tebasaki Karaage (deep-fried chicken wings)
Day 6: Aquariums, Ferris Wheels, and Hida Beef
I started my day with a quick coffee and pastry at Doutor Coffee (map) (Just 3 mins walk from Hotel), then headed to the Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium (map) (31 mins from Coffee shop). I saw beluga whales perform, watched sea turtles and penguins, and enjoyed lunch at the Jetty. (Estimated Cost: Around JPY 500-5,000).
Recommended: Watch the Dolphin Show, See the Orca Performance,
Explore the Antarctic Research Vessel, Visit the Penguin Exhibit
In the afternoon, I visited Nagoya Port Sea Train Land (map) (around 4 mins walk from Aquarium), where I rode the Ferris wheel and enjoyed the amusement park. I ended the day with a luxurious Hida beef shabu-shabu dinner at Bajikuichi - Hida Beef Shabu-Shabu Sukiyaki (map) (around 36 mins from Train Land). (Estimated Cost: Around JPY 2,000-7,000)
Recommended: Hida Beef Shabu-Shabu, Hida Beef Sukiyaki
Day 7: Ghibli Dreams and Farewell Nagoya
I started my day with a leisurely breakfast at Café de Crié (map) (Estimated Cost:Around JPY 1,000-3,500), then headed to Ghibli Park (map)(Approximately: 53 minutes), a magical park inspired by the beloved Studio Ghibli films.
Recommended: Visit the Grand Warehouse, Walk Through Dondoko Forest, See the Giant Totoro, Experience the Catbus, Enjoy the Hill of Youth, Visit the Witch’s Valley, Explore Satsuki and Mei's House.
I explored the park, enjoyed a delicious lunch at the Transcontinental Flight Café (map) (Estimated Cost: Around JPY 1,000-2,000) and picked up some souvenirs at ESCA Underground Shopping Street (map)
After a final dinner, I headed to Chubu Centrair International Airport, filled with memories of a truly unforgettable trip.
Sayonara, Nagoya! You've stolen my heart with your delicious food, vibrant culture, and friendly people. I can't wait to come back for more miso-katsu, Ghibli magic, and maybe even a few more Donki adventures!
P.S. Don't forget to pack layers, as Nagoya's weather can be unpredictable. And if you're looking for a more budget-friendly option, consider staying in a hostel or guesthouse.
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