Centrally located on the main island of Japan, the city of Nagoya is the capital of the Aichi Prefecture and is the third largest metropolitan region in Japan.
Nagoya was founded in the early 1600s when Nagoya Castle and Atsuta Shrine were established, becoming the capital of the province that is now part of Aichi Prefecture. Both the Castle and Shrine still exist in the same locations today, although they are mostly reconstructions from the late 1950s, due to the heavy damage Nagoya suffered during World War II.
From its early beginnings, Nagoya became a manufacturing hub and a busy port. Pottery was one of the city’s first industries and still thrives today, thanks to the world-renowned Noritake porcelain company. Nagoya is also the birthplace of Toyota Corporation, which now operates the city’s largest automotive production facilities. Toyota’s exports of cars through Nagoya Port have made it Japan’s largest trading port. Many of Toyota’s facilities are located east of central Nagoya in an area now known as the City of Toyota (formerly the town of Koromo). Nagoya is sometimes referred to as the “Detroit of Japan,” as many automotive parts manufacturers have a presence in the city. Mitsubishi also has a research facility in the area and was historically involved in aircraft production during World War II, which contributed to Nagoya’s firebombing during the war.
The most popular attractions in Nagoya include Nagoya Castle, Atsuta Shrine, Nagoya TV Tower, and the Toyota factory and museums. Many of these attractions are easily accessible via the subway around central Nagoya. Of the Toyota-related sites, the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology and the Toyota display at Midland Square are the most convenient to visit, with the former located next to the Noritake factory museum and the latter situated opposite the massive JR Central Towers. The Toyota Automobile Museum is a bit farther from the city center but can be reached via subway and the maglev Linimo train near Expo Memorial Park, while the Toyota Kaikan Museum and plant tour are located in Toyota City, east of Nagoya.
Since the 2005 Expo was held in Nagoya, the city has seen an increase in tourism. The opening of Nagoya’s Chubu Centrair Airport has also attracted many airlines, taking advantage of the airport’s lower landing fees to offer discounted international flights to Nagoya. If you’re traveling between Tokyo and Osaka via the Shinkansen bullet train, Nagoya makes an ideal stopover, being just over halfway between the two cities, with Tokyo accessible in around 100 minutes and Osaka in 50 minutes.
