Se hva du kan gjøre og oppleve i Nagoya

Nagoya Castle is where the Tokugawa shogun made their home for over 250 years up until 1868, the year in which Japan’s partial isolation from the West came to an end with the beginning of the Meiji period. The castle was nearly destroyed in bombing raids of 1945 and authentically rebuilt only in 2018.

The Atsuta Shrine is one of the most important sacred places in Japan, ranking second only to the Ise Shrine. It stores one of the so-called Imperial regalia, the sacred sword Kusanagi and is well known for its peaceful and relaxing atmosphere.

Nagoya TV Tower, built in 1954, is the oldest broadcasting radio in Japan, located right in the centre of the city. With its 180 meters, the Tower offers one of the best views of Nagoya. Here, tourists can enjoy their time in coffee shops or buying souvenirs.

The huge Toyota Museum is a must-visit for all those interested in automotive history. The automotive pavilion features a great range of vintage trucks and cars, while kids will love spending their time in the Technoland, a hands-on series of interactive displays.The Textile Machinery Pavilion offers a throwback to the time when the textile Industry was the main industry of Japan.

Higashiyama Zoological and Botanical Garden is a vast green expanse right in the heart of Nagoya City. The 20 hectare open-range zoo is one of Asia’s largest, featuring lions, tigers, giraffes, bears and many other species. Gaze out onto the park from the Higashiyama Sky Tower and enjoy a good meal in the restaurant located in the 7th floor.

These lavish gardens were constructed in 1694 as a residential retreat for Mitsutomo, the second Lord of the Owari clan. Sadly, however, most of the garden and its buildings were destroyed during World War II. Restoration took a long time, with the garden being finally opened as a public park in 2004. If time permits, visit the adjacent Tokugawa Art Museum, the third oldest private museum in Japan, which miraculously survived the World War II air raids.

Four hundred years ago, both Magome and Tsumago were two of 69 staging posts on the 500 km Nakasendo “Highway”, a foot-trail along which local warlords had to make an annual pilgrimage to the then-capital Edo (now Tokyo), to report in. Today, Magome and Tsumago look much as they once did. Magome, easily accessible from Nagoya by rail and bus, has a modern part of town with a few low-key gift shops but once you veer onto the broad foot-trail leading north through “old” Magome, it is very easy to forget that the subsequent centuries ever existed.

Yanagibashi Central Market is home to over 400 shops and fish stalls, dating back to the Edo era (1603–1868) and second in size only to Tokyo’s giant Tsukiji Fish Market. Giant tuna, octopus, shrimp and many other varieties of fish are on sale here from early morning (around 6 am is best).

About 30 minutes by rail from downtown Nagoya via Hamatsu City, Hamanako Garden Park is what remains of Pacific Flora, a floral exhibition that ran as a precursor to Expo 2005. Now the site, superbly located on a peninsula in Lake Hamana, has become a permanent civic attraction. Flowing through the grounds, just as during Pacific Flora, is the scenic Iridori Canal, still bridged by the classic Taikobashi (“tympani”) Bridge. The park is now a popular staging ground for rally events, including the HPI Challenge All Asia Finals.

Take a culture break in the Design Museum and Design Gallery. These cover everything from industrial and commercial to historical design, and have the visitor wondering (as happens every few minutes or so in Japan): “just where does this astonishing creativity come from?”

Housed in two separate buildings (one on five levels and the other three levels), this is a huge museum. Large underwater viewing rooms make it easy to appreciate dolphins and other marine species close-up.

Atsuta Horaiken is famous for their delicious grilled eel, the"hitsumabushi". Tourists can enjoy their meal even more by familiarising themselves with the instructions in English of how to eat the Nagoya histumabushi. The restaurant is very popular, especially during weekends, lunch and dinner time. If you come during rush hour, be prepared to queue.

If you're craving pizza, Trattoria Cesari is the place to go. Italian speaking waiters serve delicious Italian dishes at affordable prices at this well-visited restaurant. If you are unlucky and the restaurant is full you can always take a seat at the café side.

Unagi is taken very seriously at this popular spot for lunch, and dinners are provided with instructions on the different ways to have this savoury delight. You might have to wait to be seated, but the food is very much worth the wait. Take a look at the menu and you won't be disappointed.

Ichiran is a nationwide chain specialising in noodles, so if quality Japanese tonkotsu ramen is what you're after, Ichiran will not disappoint. Customize your dish and choose your level of spiciness, amount of green onions and softness of noodles. A visit to this country-wide chain is an experience in itself: guests sit at individual stalls, and food is delivered from underneath a curtain that separates diners from the kitchen.

Sanfuku is a restaurant with a homey feel that is known for its unparalleled eel dishes. It is located within a short walk from the Kanayama station.

Coat of Arms is an expat magnet, and is a good choice for anyone who feels they have been on a diet of noodles and eel for a little too long. The establishment is a restaurant and a pub, so perfect for an evening drink while listening to good live music or for a hearty lunch.

Located on the 52nd floor of the Marriott Associa hotel, the Sky Lounge Zenith is a bar and restaurant that offers diners splendid birds-eye views of the city. Perfect for a special meal or an evening drink.

Air Café is a Parisian style upmarket café serving gourmet coffee sandwiches, cakes and desserts. The red brick walls, climbing vines and the outdoor terrace further add to the French ambience and are what distinguish this café from the others around.

The coffee shop Jazz & Coffee Yuri is not just a coffee shop, but, as its name implies, also a place to enjoy jazz music. They serve not only coffee but also delicious food. If you have the chance to go here don't forget to order the chicken rice, their number one dish.

If you're looking for an authentic Japanese breakfast experience, come have the first meal of the day at the Kato Coffee Shop. Here, you will find high quality coffee at very low prices. The number one set, loved by both tourists and locals, is the "Nagoya set".

Take a break from the sightseeing at the MITTS Coffee Stand. This cosy cafe is the perfect place to enjoy a good cup of cappuccino or just have a light lunch. Choose what best fits your mood from their menu and let yourself be cuddled by the aroma of freshly roasted beans.

After a long day of visiting temples there is nothing better than a good coffee with a delicious cake. The Café Gentiane JR Nagoya Station is famous all over Nagoya for their adorable and incredibly photogenic "pyorin chick" desserts.

Looking for a unique experience? Take advantage of having just that at an owl cafe in Nagoya. You have to pay a fee to get in, which includes coffee and other drinks for the entire duration of your stay. Choose your favourite owl before leaving to snap that perfect picture.

The Nagoya branch of this three-city nightclub chain (with two other branches in Tokyo and one in Hiroshima) is well known for Its quality live music from both international and domestic bands. As for foreign artists, some big names need to be mentioned, such as Lanny Kravitz, Nirvana, OASIS and more, all of which have played here.

Zepp Nagoya is a famous live music venue in Nagoya with six other concert halls all around the country. The place boasts the largest dance hall in Nagoya and holds live concerts on a regular basis. It lies just a ten minute walk from the Central Station. So, if you are in search of a good live concert take a look at their schedule.

“Open house to live house” describes the gamut of music at this new night space. Latin-influenced music and dance (including tango) often feature in the line-up. Snacks from a basic menu are offered until late hours.

Coat of Arms is an expat magnet, and is a good choice for anyone who feels they have been on a diet of noodles and eel for a little too long. The establishment is a restaurant and a pub, so perfect for an evening drink while listening to good live music or for a hearty lunch.

Located on the 52nd floor of the Marriott Associa Hotel, the Sky Lounge Zenith is a bar and restaurant that offers diners splendid birds-eye views of the city. Perfect for a special meal or an evening drink.

This bar and eatery is located not far from the Nagoya station, and is a safe bet when it comes to beer and Japanese food to go along. In this bar you are all but guaranteed to have one of the best craft beers in the city.

Located on the 41st floor of a high-rise building, this bar is the perfect spot for an evening drink with a view. A variety of drinks, including artisan cocktails, are on the menu.

Shooters is a sports bar that is very popular among expats and draws a very international crowd in the evenings. This friendly and welcoming bar is also a great place to play pool and darts.

This factory outlet for the renowned range of Noritake china and porcelain is well worth a visit, if only to see how the products are made.

Loft Department Store is located in Nadya Park. Loft Nagoya occupies seven floors in a towering 27-level building (23 of them above ground level), and features a travel goods shop, anime figurine shop, cutting-edge clothing outlets, Kinokiya bookshop, stationery shop and many other outlets.

This big antiques market is held on the 18th and 28th of every month. A little expertise in antiques evaluation would be very useful, as it is often difficult to find genuine items amongst a sea of dross.

These two connected towers are adjacent to the JR station, and are home to the Marriot Associa Hotel. Hotel guests don't have to look far for good shopping - it is available in the mall located right inside the tower complex

Uni Mall houses 700 stores, all of which are located in a huge underground complex. Beside shopping there are also good options for dining, as the mall offers restaurants and fast food chains.

Oasis 21 is a shopping and entertainment centre located right next to the TV tower, one of the big landmarks of Nagoya. There are plenty of shopping options and boutiques here, as well as entertainment venues, but what truly makes this mall stand out is its inviting open air atrium.

Mozo Wonder City is one of the city's biggest shopping malls, with its multiple floors packed with shops, boutiques, dining venues and movie theatres. This is a shopping destination that shouldn’t be missed.

Asunal Kanayama is a popular shopping mall with authentic dining venues and a selection of local as well as international boutiques. The mall has 60 shops offering a variety of goods, so you will probably not leave it empty handed.

Yanagibashi Central Market is home to over 400 shops and fish stalls, dating back to the Edo era (1603–1868) and second in size only to Tokyo’s giant Tsukiji Fish Market. Giant tuna, octopus, shrimp and many other varieties of fish are on sale here from early morning (around 6 am is best).

Flights to Nagoya land at the new Chubu Centrair International Airport (Central Japan International Airport), about 40 km south of Nagoya. The airport is located about 40 km south of Nagoya on an artificial island. The fastest way to reach the city is by train. The best service is the Sky Limited Express which brings you to Nagoya Central Station in just 28 minutes. Other ways to reach Nagoya include by bus, which is less expensive but takes longer (around 70 minutes). Taxis are also readily available (expect to pay around 14,000 yen), and so are rental cars.

Japan may be visited visa-free for up to 90 days by citizens of all European Union member states, Australia, Canada, the USA, as well as several other world countries. The up-to-date list of visa exemptions by country may be found at: https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/short/novisa.html Citizens of countries not listed as not requiring visa will need to apply in advance via a Japanese mission or consulate closest to them. Special visa requirements apply to citizens of China and the Philippines, as well as travellers visiting Japan as part of a cruise journey.

If you are planning your trip and wondering what the best time to visit Nagoya may be, it is certainly Spring and Autumn. In spring, the cherry blossoms (Sakura), make the city the perfect place for a romantic getaway. In Autumn, the main streets are all coloured in red, orange and yellow. The "mapple hunting" (momijigari) makes it a true delight to explore. Avoid June and July, which are considered to be the rainiest months, also notoriously hot and humid. Some interesting events throughout the year: January: Coming of Age Day (Seijin no hi) March: Dolls Festival (Hinamatsuri) April: Flower viewing (Hanami) November: Seven-five-three (Shichi go san) October: Nagoya Festival (Nagoya Matsuri)

The best way to get around Nagoya is by Metro (underground or subway). There are five main subway lines, connecting at Nagoya Central station, Marunouchi and ten other hubs. Stations are well signed in English and Japanese as well colour coded. There is also a bus service, including late-night buses. Day Subway Passes are available from vending machines and ticket counters. Meitetsu Operates train services from Meitetsu Nagoya Station into the suburbs, surrounding regions and the international airport. JR (Japan Railways) connects Nagoya with Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto.

Taxis can be hailed anywhere, but as many Japanese taxi drivers don't speak English is highly recommended, unless you speak Japanese, to have the address in writing. Here are a few major taxi companies in Nagoya: Kintetsu Taxi +81 52 221 6611 Tsubame Taxi +81 52 203 1212 Meitetsu Taxi +81 52 331 2211 Takahara Taxi +81 52 682 6000

Japanese postal service are known for being one of the most organised and precise in the world. Search for the orange "JP" logo, drop in, and send your item.

Throughout Japan, drugs are mainly prescribed and issued by doctors’ offices, clinics, and hospitals. Some city drug stores include: Biandodei (B&D) +81 52 259 7575 Ark Pharmacy +81 52 252 1723 Vdrug +81 52 249 3600

Country code: +81 Area code: 05

Electricity in Japan is 100 volts in 50 Hz, (60 Hz for the Nagoya and Osaka areaa), which is different from Europe (220 volts) and the United States (110 volts). Power plugs have two flat-sided prongs.