Nagoya

109 Cinemas Nagoya

Located in a relatively new entertainment complex, this large movie theater contains 10 cinemas with stadium seating and shows a mix of Hollywood and mainstream Japanese films.

Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art

愛知県美術館 Aichi-ken-bijutsukan

Collection features international and Japanese 20th century art, including works by Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Gustav Klimt, Paul Klee, Joan Miro, Max Ernst, German Expressionists, Surrealists, and postwar US artists. Japanese collection features the art of Yuichi Takahashi, Ryuzaburo Umehara, Sotaro Yasui, Taikan Yokoyama, and Shunso Hishida. Two private collections donated to the museum also include Edo-period paintings and traditional crafts.

Tue-Thu Sat Sun 10:00-18:00; Fri 10:00-20:00 (last admission: 30 min before closing), closed Mon (or Tue if Mon is a public holiday), Dec 28-Jan 3·Permanent collection: ¥500; high-school/college students: ¥300; high-school groups, junior high-school students, children 12 and under, disabled visitors and escorts: free

Antica Roma

Excellent high-class Italian food (like seafood risotto, broccoli pasta or herb-stuffed pork rolls), but also delicious oven-baked pizzas. All this in three superbly furnished rooms. The main room is baroque-style with chandeliers and has not only a live pianist, but also a live opera singer every night (dress code for this room).

Cafe 14:00-16:00 (Terrazza, Pizzeria); dinner 17:30-23:30 (last order 22:30)·The course menus start at ¥4,000, the pizzas at ¥1,500, a half-bottle of house wine is ¥2,500

Arako Kannon Temple

荒子観音

This small temple is the oldest building in Nagoya, with original construction on the site dating from the Heian Period (8th century). Despite several fires which destroyed older portions of the temple, the Tahoto pagoda on site remains intact after 472 years.

Atsuta Shrine

熱田神宮 Atsuta Jingū

This shrine houses the sacred Kusanagi no mitsurugi (草薙神剣) sword, one of the three Imperial regalia of Japan — but unfortunately nobody but the emperor and a few high priests get to see it. There are some 4,400 other artifacts on the grounds though and the shrine hosts some 70 festivals every year.

Café de Metro

Serves up basic curry and donburi dishes, including a decent misokatsu, for ¥480 with coffee/tea, or ¥680 with miso soup and pickles.

Cigar Club Kanou

Near the Hilton hotel, Cigar Club Kanou offers food, drink and a wide array of cigars (with a walk-in humidor.)

Tue-Sat 16:30-01:00

Club JB's

Another good Nagoya club, around the corner from Club Daughter.

Club Mago

In Shin-Sakae on the basement level of the Flex-building. Great for house, techno, electro-clash, progressive house. ¥2500-3000 cover.

Club Quattro Nagoya

クラブクアトロ Kurabu-kuatoro

One of Nagoya's main live houses, featuring a wide array of Japanese and international rock and pop music acts.

Concerts in early evening (17:30-20:00 start)·Ticket price varies per artist

Danpusan Kofun

断夫山古墳

The Dampusan Kofun is a large keyhole-shaped kofun burial mound located within the grounds of the Atsuta Shrine.

Open now · open 24 hours

Desperados

デスペラードス

Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurant and bar operated by Mexican-born and American-raised owner Rudy and his wife Takako. Features a variety of Mexican dishes and a selection of premium tequilas.

Tue-Sat 18:00-00:00 (kitchen closes at 23:00) Closed Sun, Mon

Fujigaoka

Fujigaoka is known for its cherry blossoms (sakura) trees in the spring lining the streets. It is close to the site of the 2005 World Expo held in Nagakute, a 15-min linear motor car (Linimo) train ride from Fujigaoka station. This quaint little area at the edge of town has a plethora of shops, boutiques, patisseries and coffee shops. They also hold a market the 3rd Sunday of every month.

Garden Restaurant Tokugawa-en

ガーデンレストラン徳川園

This eatery serves Japanese-French cuisine with views of the beautiful Tokugawa-en Japanese gardens located next door.

Restaurant: 11:00-14:00 (last order), 17:00-22:30 (last order). Bar & Lounge 10:00-17:00, 19:00-00:00·¥10,000-15,000

Hisaya-Odori Park

久屋大通公園, hisaya-ōdōri kōen

Nice trees and fountains, Nagoya TV Tower observation deck. On weekend afternoons and evenings, local musicians set up in and around the park and strut their stuff for the passers-by. Shops and restaurants can be found around the area as well.

ID club

The most popular and well-known club in Nagoya. Nagoya's largest club, 5 different floors of style and music. R & B, Hip Hop, Reggae, Hard House, All Mix, 1970s & 80s disco.

Thu-Sun 20:00-closing (closed at 01:00 on a Fri night)·Entry M-Th ¥1000 (2 drinks), F ¥2000 (4 drinks), Sa ¥3000 (4 drinks), Su ¥2000 (4 drinks)

Jerry's UNO

It's a nice little taco shop that will run you about ¥500 per taco. They also have a nice selection of international beers.

Kōshō-ji Temple

興正寺

Koshoji Temple was established in the 17th century by the Tokugawa family. The temple hosts the annual "1,000 Lantern Festival." There are numerous restaurants and universities surrounding the Koshoji Temple area.

Maruzen

丸善

Offers a reasonable selection of English books, magazines, and newspapers on the 3rd floor, including travel guidebooks, maps, a wide array of books on Japan, and Japanese language study materials.

Mon-Fri 09:00-20:00, Sat Sun 09:00-19:00

Maverick

In Fushimi, it attracts foreigners and Japanese for weekend dance events. Entry fee is usually ¥2000-3000, with a couple of drinks included.

Midland Square Cinemas

ミッドランドスクエア・シネマ

On the 5th floor of the towering Midland Square building, this complex boasts 7 screens with stadium seating, and shows a range of popular Hollywood and Japanese mainstream movies.

Nagoya Castle

名古屋城 Nagoya-jō

Trumpeted as a famous landmark, particularly the two golden carp (金の鯱 kin-no-shachi) on the roof. The original castle was home to Oda Nobunaga, one of Japan's famous warlords. Largely destroyed during World War II, the main keep was rebuilt in concrete in 1959, but is being demolished to make way for a more faithful reconstruction using traditional materials and methods. The honmaru goten, the main palace of the castle's lords, was reconstructed using traditional materials and methods in 2018. Free English tours with volunteer English-speaking Japanese guides are sometimes available. See also Japanese castles.

Daily 09:00-16:30, closed Dec 29-Jan 1·Adults ¥500, Jr. high school students and younger free

Nagoya City Art Museum

名古屋市美術館 Nagoya-shi-bijutsukan

Collection of 2,000 works including pieces by Modigliani, Laurencin, and Utrillo, as well as those of local artists, such as Takanori Ogisu and Tamiji Kitagawa.

Tue-Thu Sat Sun 09:30-17:00, Fri 09:30-20:00 (last admission 30 min before closing), closed Mon (Tue when Mon is a national holiday), Dec 29-Jan 3·Permanent collection: adults ¥300, students over 16 ¥200, under 15 free

Nagoya City Science Museum

名古屋市科学館, Nagoya-shi Kagakukan

Located in the city centre, this museum houses loads of interactive exhibitions and a planetarium. It's mostly geared towards children and there is very little information in English, although they offer a guide app.

Tue-Sun 09:30-17:00; closed Mon, third Fri every month, and Dec 29-Jan 3·¥400 (¥800 incl. planetarium)

Nagoya Sumo Tournament

大相撲名古屋場所 Ō-zumō-Nagoya-basho

Watch the big boys of Japanese sumo battle it out in Nagoya. An annual tradition. Tickets are generally available at the counter unless it is the first or last day. Ticket prices start at ¥3,200 and up. The cheapest seats are fine for first-time sumo watchers and are not much worse than the ¥4,700 seats.

15 days mid-July

Nagoya TV Tower

名古屋テレビ塔 Nagoya-terebi-tō

Standing 180 meters tall, the Nagoya TV Tower is Japan's oldest - predating even the Tokyo Tower. Take an elevator to the 100-m-high sky balcony for great views of Hisaya-odori park and Sakae. Under the tower is a small terrace with tables and a number of small food stands.

Daily 10:00-21:00·Adult ¥1300, child ¥800

Nittai-ji Temple

覚王山日泰寺, kakuōzan nittai-ji

Among the 165,000 m² of temple grounds is the 15 meter Gandhara-style Taian Pagoda, which houses relics of the Buddha that were presented to Japan by the king of Thailand. Unlike any other temple in Japan, Nittai-ji does not belong to a particular sect, and is instead managed by a different sect every 3 years.

Port of Nagoya Aquarium

名古屋港水族館 Nagoya-kō-suizoukan

(site in Japanese) Large aquarium featuring a number of different marine environments, including killer whales.

Daily 09:30-17:00 (until 20:00 Jul 21-Aug 31)·Adults ¥2,000

STEPS

Food and drinks from ¥500 including pasta, hamburgers, and steak dishes. TVs covering live sports events. Music from noon with DJs, occasional live music. Hip Hop, Reggae, R&B.

Mon-Sat 18:00-06:00, closed Sun

Sanseido Books

Offers a corner with English books, magazines and newspapers. Features books on Japan plus a decent selection of current nonfiction titles and business books. A small selection of guidebooks are also available.