Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Nagoya?
Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Nagoya?
Many travelers spend two to three days in Nagoya during their visit. After all, the under-rated city has plenty to explore such as the restaurant scene, the famous sights and museums, and the big city activities.
Nagoya is a port city that has long been a manufacturing center for the country. There are many interesting museums as well as gambling parlors in town. There are also entertainment districts and several historical sights. Many tourists don't add Nagoya to their itinerary, but those who do will appreciate the food and entertainment scene that the city offers.
Do you have one or two days to visit Nagoya? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is one day enough time in Nagoya?
Nagoya isn't a particularly popular city for tourists, despite having some sights and attractions worth seeing. So with one day, you'll probably feel rushed to see the main attractions around the city. You really need more time to appreciate everything that the under-rated city has to offer. Many visitors prefer to have two to three days to fully enjoy the city even though it's not huge. If you have one day or less, we still have some great ideas for what to do while you're in town.
How to spend a day in Nagoya
A number of fantastic museums and famous landmarks are found in Nagoya, so spend at least one full day exploring those that look the most appealing to you. There are shrines, temples, and other interesting sights in the city. Atsuta Jingu is an important Shinto shrine. Nagoya Castle is another interesting place to visit. If you're willing to head out of the city center a bit, the Meiji-mura Village Museum is an open air museum that has interesting Japanese architecture. There are also interesting museums in town such as the Nagoya City Art Museums and the Toyota Techno and Toyota Automobile Museums.
It's worth around 3 hours for SCMAGLEV and Railway Park. Entry is adult tickets cost 1,000 yen, children aged 7-15 pay 500 yen, and children 6 and under are free. It's known for showcasing Japan's advanced rail technology including the SCMAGLEV and Shinkansen trains along with historical locomotives.
Make sure to set aside around 3 hours for Nagoya City Science Museum, which is ¥800. It's great for families and is known for its large planetarium and interactive science exhibits.
You'll want to have around 2 hours for Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology. It's a nice activity for families and is known for its extensive exhibits on the history of Toyota’s industry and technological innovations. It's around ¥500 for adults, with discounts available for students and free admission for children under a certain age..
You'll want to have around 2 hours for Nagoya City Art Museum. It's a nice activity for anyone and is known for showcasing modern and contemporary art with a focus on post-war Japanese artists and avant-garde works. It's includes an entrance fee of around ¥500 for adults, with discounts available for students and children depending on exhibitions.
It's worth around 2 hours for Tokugawa Art Museum. Entry is around ¥1000 for adults, with discounted rates for children and seniors; special exhibition fees may apply separately.. It's known for its impressive collection of samurai-related artifacts, traditional Japanese art, and historical documents from the Tokugawa era.
Make sure to set aside around 2 hours for Nagoya Castle, which is ¥500. It's great for families and is known for its impressive architecture, golden shachihoko ornaments, and samurai history.
Nagoya TV Tower is worth visiting for around 2 hours, which is great for backpackers. Known for its panoramic city views and being Japan's oldest TV tower, entry is ¥700.
Make sure to set aside around 2 hours for Nagoya Station, which is free. It's great for families and is known for being one of the largest train stations in the world with extensive shopping and dining facilities.
You'll want to have around 2 hours for Atsuta Shrine. It's a nice activity for anyone and is known for enshrining the sacred Kusanagi no Tsurugi sword and its cultural and historical significance in Japan. It's free.
Osu Kannon Temple is worth visiting for around 2 hours, which is great for backpackers. Known for its striking Buddhist architecture, lively flea markets, and proximity to the bustling Osu Shopping District, entry is free.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Nagoya Tour in Inuyama Castle, Ena George, Magome and Tsumagojuku ($68)
- 2 Hour Private Scenic Mountain Castle Tour in Gifu ($138)
- Gifu: Half Day Private Tour Castle, Great Buddha and Old Town ($204)
The culinary scene in Nagoya is world famous, and draws visitors from around the globe. Make sure you spend time enjoying breakfast, lunch, and dinner at some of this city's best restaurants. And consider a food tour, too. Many are either a half day or just a few hours, so you can fit one into your schedule easily. The city has a strong food culture that's referred to as Nagoya meshi. It's a popular destination for foodies to Japan, even though the city itself is often overlooked by tourists. The city's food uses a lot of local vegetables and its influenced by several international flavors. Important ingredients in the dishes include unagi (freshwater eel), Nagoya cochin (chicken), tamari (soy sauce), and mame miso.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Osu Kannon Temple & Street Food Tour in Nagoya's Osu District ($103)
Nagoya is a walkable city and easy to explore on foot. With only a day in the city, you'll have no trouble seeing the local sights. The downtown area, where you'll find many of the sights, is walkable. The distances vary, but many sights can be reached on foot.
Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Nagoya?
A weekend trip is usually not enough time to experience the under-rated city of Nagoya, so you may find yourself somewhat rushed. Or, perhaps you'll want to return another time experience everything that this medium sized city has to offer. You don't want to miss the main attractions such as the restaurant scene, the famous sights and museums, the big city activities, and the nightlife scene. Many tourists set aside two to three days for their visit. However, if your schedule only gives you a couple of days, we have a handful of recommendations to make the most of your weekend adventure in Nagoya below.
Nagoya, Japan
How to spend 2 days in Nagoya
With a weekend (two to three days) in Nagoya, you'll have a bit more time to enjoy everything that the city has to offer.
In the large and diverse city of Nagoya, you'll want to dedicate at least a day to experiencing the unique neighborhoods, exciting attractions, and immersive activities offered around town. Don't miss out on visiting some of the city's famous landmarks as well. It is a major port city in Japan and capital of the Aichi Prefecture.
It's worth around 3 hours for Sakae District. Entry is free. It's known for its lively shopping streets, vibrant nightlife, and entertainment options.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Private Transfer from Nagoya Cruise Port to Nagoya City Hotels ($126)
- Private Transfer from Nagoya hotels to Nagoya Cruise Port ($139)
- Private Transfer from Nagoya Cruise Port to Nagoya hotels ($139)
The nightlife scene is very popular here. After dark, head out to one of the many venues around town. There are many bars around town, many of which have an international theme. Later in the evening, many people head out to a nightclubs, most of which are concentrated in either Sakae and Shin-sakae.
The public transit in Nagoya is fast and efficient. Over the course of a few days, you should be able to explore the city quite easily and affordably. The city has both a subway and public buses. The main bus stations are at Nagoya Station and Sakae Station and there are six subway lines throughout the city.
More Info
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