The Nagoya Station and Sakae are the landmarks of this metropolis that prospered as a key trade route junction are the high-rise station building and castle.
The world famous Edo-period Nagoya Castle is the pride of Nagoya. Shachihoko, golden orcas adorning the castle roof signify prosperity.
Nagoya has prospered as a key junction for traffic between Edo (Tokyo) and Osaka for the past 400 years. The Nagoya station building, the JR Central Tower, is the city's modern landmark. Standing 245 meters high, it is the tallest station building in Japan. Various facilities are incorporated, including a department store, restaurants, and hotels. During the Christmas season, many people come to view the beautiful lights. Around the station, there has been a great deal of redevelopment, such as Midland Square, the Nagoya Lucent Tower, and other department stores, hotels, and office buildings stand side-by-side, all connected by a huge underground shopping arcade.
A 5-minute subway ride from the station brings you to Sakae, the city's major downtown area. In the center of town filled with department stores is OASIS21, an environmentally friendly three-dimensional park, where many exciting events are held.
Popular souvenirs from Nagoya include flat noodles called 'Kishimen,' a Japanese confectionery called 'Uiro' (cake made from rice powder), and ceramics. Noritake-no-Mori (Noritake Garden), a 15-minute walk from Nagoya Station, is a comprehensive ceramics museum opened by Noritake (a tableware manufacturer) on the premises of its headquarters. You can enjoy shopping for tableware, experience ceramic painting, and appreciate "Old Noritake" masterpieces in the expansive verdant grounds.
In contrast to the modern areas, Nagoya Castle is the city's old landmark. It is almost in the center of Nagoya City, and is famous for 'shachihoko,' the golden orcas that adorn the roof of its castle tower. The castle was built in 1612 by Tokugawa Ieyasu, the shogun of the Edo government, and florished as the residence of the Owari Tokugawas, the largest of the three Tokugawa houses. Much of the castle burnt in 1945 during the World War II air raids, but the tower was rebuilt in 1959 as a reinforced concrete building with seven stories above ground and a basement. Since then, the castle has continued to be a beautiful symbol of Nagoya.
Directions
From Tokyo : [Rail] 2h from Tokyo to Nagoya Station by JR Tokaido Shinkansen Line.