Nagoya

Nagoya is a big and exciting city in Japan. It is the capital of Aichi Prefecture and lies on the Pacific coast in central Honshu. With over 2 million people, Nagoya is the fourth-most populous city in Japan.

The city has a rich history. In 1610, Tokugawa Ieyasu moved the capital of Owari Province to Nagoya, leading to the building of Nagoya Castle. The early 1900s saw fast growth as Nagoya became important for making cars, airplanes, and ships.

Today, Nagoya is a bustling hub of industry and culture. It connects to major cities like Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto by the Tokaido Shinkansen, Japan’s famous high-speed train. Visitors can explore famous spots such as Atsuta Shrine, Nagoya Castle, Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens, and the Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium.

In 2026, Nagoya will host the 2026 Asian Games, joining Tokyo in 1958 and Hiroshima in 1994 as Japanese cities to hold this event. The city is known for its neat grid-style streets, which began when Tokugawa Ieyasu helped plan Nagoya.

Nagoya also has many parks and gardens, such as Tokugawa Garden and Higashiyama Zoo. The city is a great place to start trips to nearby areas like Ghibli Park, Inuyama with Meiji Mura, and the beautiful Kōrankei in Toyota.