Nagoya (pop. 2,109,000) is Japan's fourth largest city. The local economy is dominated by Toyota, the car manufacturer, based in Toyota city, 15 km (10 miles) south-east of central Nagoya. Nagoya is also Japan's biggest producer of porcelain.
The EXPO 2005 was held in the outskirt of Nagoya. The Suzuka International Racing Course, where the Japanese Grand Prix of the Formula One World Championship has been held for five decades, is also close to Nagoya.
Although the 3 great leaders of the Azuchi-Momoyama period, Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu, were all born in the vicinities of Nagoya, the city is not a major tourist destination. It is nevertheless conveniently located on the shinkansen line, 30-45 min east of Kyōto and Osaka and 2 hours west of Tokyo, and makes a good base to visit Ise Jingu, Inuyama (actually a suburb of Nagoya), or the superb rural towns and scenery of the adjacent Gifu prefecture such as Gujō Hachiman, Takayama or the Kiso Valley.
Nagoya Station Area
Visitors coming by train will first set eyes on the JR Central Towers above the station. The JR Central Tower Office has 51 floors for a total height of 245 metres. Its slightly shorter twin, the JR Central Tower Hotel (226 metres), houses the Marriott Associa Hotel on its 53th floors. The Takashimaya and Matsuzakaya department stores are also installed in the station.
Attractions
| Historical Attractions Nagoya Castle, Tokugawa Art Museum, Atsuta-jingū Imperial Shrine and Ōsu Kannon Temple.
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| Industrial Attractions Visit the three Toyota museums (Automobile Museum, Toyota HQ & Factory, and Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology), as well as the world of ceramics at Noritake Garden.
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| Nagoya Port & Other Attractions Stroll along Nagoya's seafront, check its impressive aquarium, get onboard an icebreaker, or relaw in an orchid or wildflower garden.
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How to get there and around
Nagoya is the main transport hub in between the Kansai and Kanto regions. All trains between Kyōto or Osaka and Tokyo pass through Nagoya. There are direct flights to Nagoya's Central Japan International Airport from Europe and North America.
The Greater Nagoya is served by an extensive metro/subway and railway network of 47 lines.
Map of attractions in Nagoya
