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Architecture in and Around Nagoya

See the past, present, and future through the most representative buildings of Nagoya.

Japan has some fascinating architecture all across the country. Kyoto is famous for its traditional temples and buildings, while Tokyo is renowned for its ultramodern cityscapes and awe-inspiring skyscrapers that dominate its skyline. 

Nagoya is very much a mixture of the two that is quickly becoming a major hub in development with new high-rise apartment buildings and offices popping up in its city center. But it’s not all flashy apartments that help create Nagoya’s impressive array of buildings. 

Read more to discover some of the city’s traditional and modern architecture and make sure to check out the links to more detailed articles for some of the locations mentioned in this post! 

Nagoya view
The Nagoya cityscape is a constantly growing view that continues to impress

Remnants of Nagoya’s Ancient Days 

Nagoya was heavily shaped in Japan’s Edo Period (1603 – 1867) in which the country closed its doors to the outside world. During this time, Tokugawa Ieyasu, the unifier of the country moved the region’s capital from Kiyosu to Nagoya which has remained the capital of Aichi ever since, becoming the most prosperous city in the area. Much of Nagoya’s Edo Period architecture remains to be enjoyed to this day. 

For more information on this period of history and Tokugawa Ieyasu, check out our Okazaki city guide, where he was born. 

Nagoya Castle 

Possibly the most famous building in Nagoya that has stood the test of time for hundreds of years.
Possibly the most famous building in Nagoya that has stood the test of time for hundreds of years.

The eponymous castle has stood where it stands now for about four centuries, marking the official beginning of Nagoya’s position as the capital of the Owari (now western Aichi) prefecture. It has undergone many renovations throughout the years. In style, it remains nearly identical to what it would have looked like but what we see today is not wholly what once was. 

The castle palace was bombed during World War II and had been rebuilt from its remains using many of the same techniques that would have been used hundreds of years ago. Nowadays the castle and its grounds is a museum with exhibits and events that teach all visitors the long history of Nagoya and its famous castle. Its remnants can be seen around the Nagoya castle area in great stone walls that mark its old moat and defenses. 

You can find out some more information on this symbolic building here

Nagoya Castle (名古屋城)
Entry Fee:  Adults: 500 yen; Adults over 65: 100 yen, Children: free
Opening Hours:  9:00 – 16:30
Address:  1-1 Honmaru, Naka Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 460-0031
Website | Google Maps

Arimatsu

Arimatsu will take you back in time even for a brief moment to see what old Japan was really like.
Arimatsu will take you back in time even for a brief moment to see what old Japan was really like.

Even today Nagoya is still described as a “hub” due to its perfect positioning between Tokyo and Osaka/Kyoto. Historically Nagoya has played that role as a convenient stop along the Tokaido Road along with a few other towns that have since been brought under the Nagoya city umbrella. 

Possibly the most famous of these towns is Arimatsu, which today is part of Nagoya’s Midori ward, south of Nagoya’s city center. This small town is well known for its traditional buildings that have been maintained well over hundreds of years along with its age-old traditional tie-dying technique. 

Japan’s Taste for Western Culture

After Japan swung open its doors again to overseas, the country underwent great changes socially and economically. As western culture began to permeate throughout Japan, its cities began to take a new shape and style reflecting what was considered the much more sophisticated western world. This shift in style can be seen in Nagoya, particularly on the northeast side of Nagoya down as you stroll down the Cultural Path. 

Yokiso

Drop into Yokiso as you wander round the popular Kakuozan shopping streets for a glimpse of the wealthy lifestyle of old Japan.
Drop into Yokiso as you wander round the popular Kakuozan shopping streets for a glimpse of the wealthy lifestyle of old Japan.

A great example of this shift can be found in Yokiso, located in Kakuozan in the Chikusa ward east of downtown Nagoya. Kakuozan is known for its more traditional architecture, but if you visit the Yokiso just next to the Nittaji temple, you’ll find a villa that is a great combination of western and Japanese architecture dating from the early 20th century.

Built by the 15th president of the famous department store Matsuzayaka, the buildings on the premises show typical early 20th-century western decor in a very Japanese setting. 

Find out more about Yokiso and Kakuozan in general, here.

Yokiso (揚輝荘)
Entry Fee: Adults: 300 yen, Junior High Students and those over 65: 100 yen
Opening Hours: 9:30 – 16:30. Closed Mondays or the following weekday if it’s a national holiday. 
Address: 2-5-17 Ho-cho, Chikusa Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 
Website | Google Maps

Nagoya City Archives and Museum

A hidden gem tucked away in a quiet neighborhood, often used now as a wedding photo backdrop.
A hidden gem tucked away in a quiet neighborhood, often used now as a wedding photo backdrop.

Redbrick is not commonly used in Japan nowadays but was very popular at the start of the Meiji period as the main material for buildings in the UK and America. The Nagoya City Archives and Museum was built in the early 20th century to emulate the Baroque architectural styling of Europe and was used as a courtroom up until the end of the 1970s. 

It is now a free museum that provides not only the history of Nagoya but a popular backdrop for newlyweds. The building is surrounded by a red brick wall that encases a pleasant green area that shows off an array of cherry blossom trees throughout the Hanami (flower viewing) season. 

Nagoya City Archives and Museum (名古屋市市政資料館)
Entry Fee: Free
Opening Hours: 9:00 – 17:00. Closed Mondays.
Address: 1-3 Shirakabe, Higashi Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 461-0011
Website (Japanese only) | Google Maps

Nagoya City Hall 

An impressive solid structure just down the road from Nagoya Castle still used today by governmental workers.
An impressive solid structure just down the road from Nagoya Castle still used today by governmental workers.

Nagoya City Hall is a fantastic structure that thankfully did survive the WWII bombing unlike its unfortunate neighbor Nagoya Castle. We’ve mentioned the blending of East and West a few times already, but nowhere is it seen quite so clearly as Nagoya City Hall. This impressive structure shows off both architectural types with its heavy stone walls and traditional western-style windows, with heavy Japanese-style roofing. 

It is unique in that it still operates under its original purpose as a governmental building while many others now act as tourist attractions of historical significance.

Nagoya City Hall (名古屋市役所)
Opening Hours: 8:45 – 17:15. Closed Saturdays and Sundays. 
Address: 3-1-1 Sannomaru, Naka Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 460-8508
Website (Japanese only) | Google Maps

Cultural Path Houses 

Nagoya’s Higashi (east) ward is home to many historical buildings along what is called Bunka No Michi (the cultural path). The area from Nagoya castle to Tokugawaen was where many low- and middle-ranking Samurai lived in the Edo period and then later successful journalists, artists, missionaries, etc. came in during the Meiji period after the abolition of the Samurai. On this path, you can find old Samurai houses alongside early 20th-century western architecture. 

Hyakka Hyakuso

The aptly named building boasts a flurry of flowers in its wonderful garden to enjoy all year round.
The aptly named building boasts a flurry of flowers in its wonderful garden to enjoy all year round.

First up on our list for the Cultural Path is Hyakka Hyakuso (literally “a hundred flowers, a hundred weeds”) that is named after an important folding screen that was founded in the Tokugawa Art Museum of the same name. It is a traditional Japanese house built circa 1920 and was the residence of the Okaya family, the founder of Okaya Koki, an independent trading company that handles steel and machinery. Unlike the other buildings on Nagoya’s Cultural Path, it is still owned by the original family, not Nagoya city. 

It is currently used as a multi-purpose venue that can be rented out to users. The building’s appeal is not only its style but also the garden that comes with it, offering a peaceful retreat in an otherwise busy area and a Tatami room with a tea ceremony display that offers a free tea service and coffee and sweet snacks along with books about flowers and gardens. 

Hyakka Hyakuso (百花百草)
Entry Fee:
Adults: 500 yen, Junior High and Elementary Students: 200 yen, Children Under Elementary: free
Opening Hours:
10:00 – 16:00 Wednesday to Saturday. Closed from Sunday to Tuesday.
Address: 4-91 Shirakabe, Higashi Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 461-0011
Website (Japanese only) | Google Maps

Futaba Museum

A popular spot amongst the locals with some high quality restaurants within walking distance.
A popular spot amongst the locals with some high quality restaurants within walking distance.

Another one to add to the list of East meets West, the Futaba Museum wears a striking orange roof atop a western-style stone exterior and stained glass windows that look into a much more Japanese interior. It was home to Sadayakko Kawakami, the “first Japanese actress” giving it an extremely important cultural heritage to not only Nagoya but Japan as a whole. 

Futaba Museum (二葉館)
Entry Fee: Adults: 200 yen, Junior High School and under: free.
Opening Hours: 10:00 – 17:00. Closed Mondays.
Address: 3-23 Shumokucho, Higashi Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 461-0014
Website | Google Maps

 Shumokukan

The perfect example of the traditional Japanese homes and its rich, green garden.
The perfect example of the traditional Japanese homes and its rich, green garden.

Once the house of famous Japanese ceramic exporter Tamesaburo Imoto, Shumokukan is a snapshot of Japan’s Taisho era (1912-1926) as it transitioned into the much longer Showa period (1926 – 1989). This part of Nagoya was extremely active in the ceramics industry with up to 80% of ceramic painting done here in Nagoya city. 

Although its surroundings have changed considerably in the past 100 years, it remained an actual residence up until 2002, after which it was eventually bought by Nagoya city and now is marked as a landmark of cultural significance. The building and its grounds evoke a strong sense of nostalgia for many and its garden changes with the seasons making it a great place to visit any time of the year. 

Shumokukan (撞木館)
Entry Fee: Junior High School and under: free, Nagoya residents of 65 and over: 100 yen, Adults: 200 yen. Discounts are available for large groups and a joint ticket with Futaba Museum.
Opening Hours: 10:30 – 17:00. Closed Mondays (or the following day when a national holiday)
Address: 2-18 Shumokucho, Higashi Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 461-0014
Website | Google Maps

Former Toyoda Sasuke House

Get a taste for the rich Japanese lifestyle of the early 20th century in a building related to a rather famous car manufacturer.
Get a taste for the rich Japanese lifestyle of the early 20th century in a building related to a rather famous car manufacturer.

While perhaps not the most famous of the Toyodas, Sasuke was the brother of Sakichi, known as the “king of inventors” (and also the founding father of a well-known car manufacturer called “Toyota” that you may have heard of!). His house is the only one remaining in the area, offering a fantastic example of how the rich lived during the early 20th century. It has both a western-style and Japanese-style house for you to enjoy showing a real-time comparison of the two styles. 

Former Toyoda Saskue House (旧豊田佐助邸)
Entry Fee:
Free
Opening Hours: 10:00 – 15:30. Closed on Mondays (or the following day when a national holiday)
Address: 3-8 Chikaramachi, Higashi Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 461-0018 Aichi
Website (Japanese only) | Google Maps

Former Haruta Tetsujiro House

Cozying up next to the Toyodas is another famous residence of a bygone age.
Cozying up next to the Toyodas is another famous residence of a bygone age.

Just next door to the famous Toyoda residence, we have the residence of another successful ceramic merchant, Haruta Tetsujiro. Similar in style to Toyoda Sasakue’s residence, the grounds have both a Western and a Japanese style house, the former of which is now used as a French fusion restaurant on the ground floor that offers tours of the building on request. It was also used as a headquarters for the US military after the end of WWII (1947 – 1951). 

Former Haruta Tetsujiro House (旧春田鉄次郎邸)
Entry Fee: Free
Opening Hours: 10:00 – 15:30. Closed Mondays, Fridays, and Sundays.
Address: 3-6 Chikaramachi, Higashi Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 461-0018
Website (Japanese only) | Google Maps

Chikaramachi Catholic Church

Traditional churches are a rare sight in Japan that can be appreciated right here in Nagoya.
Traditional churches are a rare sight in Japan that can be appreciated right here in Nagoya.

Established in 1888 by French Catholic missionary Fr. Augustin Tulpin and doctor Shusai Inoue, it is the oldest church in Aichi. With its very modest blend of Japanese and western architecture, it certainly stands out from its surroundings that are now far from what this area would have looked like at the end of the 19th century. The church has gone through a lot of reconstruction and expansion over the years and very much like the Nagoya City Hall, it still fulfills its primary function as a church and holds mass every Sunday (Japanese only). 

Chikaramachi Catholic Church (カトリック主税町教会)
Entry Fee: Free
Opening Hours: 9:30 – 16:30 Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat.
Address: 3-33 Chikaramachi, Higashi Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 461-0018
Website | Google Maps

Museum Meiji Mura (Inuyama)

A reconstruction of Tokyo's Imperial Hotel amongst a variety of Japan's Meiji era buildings.
A reconstruction of Tokyo’s Imperial Hotel amongst a variety of Japan’s Meiji era buildings.

Meiji Mura is a real feat of imagination and a treat for history buffs. This 250-acre area of land is dedicated to the preservation of buildings from the Meiji era and the start of the Taisho era, whereby buildings from all over the country have been painstakingly deconstructed and then reconstructed here in Aichi to protect them from an ever-changing taste of architecture in Japan. 

This open museum has a wide array of buildings from old banks to prison cells located next to the pleasant Lake Iruka and its surrounding countryside. 

Visitors can spend the day leisurely walking around this wide area or alternatively hop on a Meiji era-style bus that will take you where you want to go. Meiji Mura also offers TV producers a great location to film period dramas, which is of course perfect for amateurs looking for a good shot. 

Meiji Mura (明治村)
Entry Fee: Adults: 2,000 yen, University Students/Seniors: 1,600 yen, High School Students: 1,200 yen, Elementary Students: 700 yen.
Opening Hours: 10:00 – 17:00 (hours vary slightly by season)
Address: 1 Uchiyama, Inuyama, Aichi  484-0000
Website | Google Maps

From Past to Present and to the Future 

Meiji Mura is the gatekeeper of traditional architecture that fended off the changing cityscapes in Japan, and as we will now see, Nagoya is no exception to the large-scale modernization of city architecture not only in Japan but across the globe. While many old buildings proudly remain, they are overshadowed by the great glass towers that now dominate Nagoya’s skyline and offer a lot more than museums. 

Mode Gakuen Spiral Towers

One of the first buildings you will see as you exit Nagoya station, it sets the mood for Nagoya's futuristic architecture.
One of the first buildings you will see as you exit Nagoya station, it sets the mood for Nagoya’s futuristic architecture.

Possibly the most visibly intriguing of all the buildings in Nagoya, the Spiral Tower is an educational facility comprising three schools right outside of Nagoya station. As the name suggests, the tower is a twisted building that helps it stand out in the forest of buildings in this area and just screams “modern”. 

Mode Gakuen Spiral Towers (モード学園スパイラルタワーズ)
Opening Hours:
10:00 – 20:00
Address: 4-27-1 Meieki, Nakamura Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 450-0002
Website | Google Maps

Dai Nagoya Building

The Dai Nagoya Building with its Sky Garden lining the base of its tower.
The Dai Nagoya Building with its Sky Garden lining the base of its tower.

One of the more recent additions to the Nagoya station area. This building replaced the old Dai Nagoya Building with its completion in 2015. It houses offices, restaurants, bars, and clinics with a great underground shopping street that connects to the station as well as the “Sky Garden” that offers a bit of green in the otherwise concrete jungle. 

Dai Nagoya Building (大名古屋ビルヂング)
Opening Hours:
11:00 – 23:00
Address: 3-28-12 Meieki, Nakamura Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 450-6490
Website | Google Maps

Kitte Nagoya

A popular meeting spot and a great place to hang out with cafes and restaurants.
A popular meeting spot and a great place to hang out with cafes and restaurants.

Kitte Nagoya is a commercial building located right next to Nagoya station and along with the Dai Nagoya Building, is symbolic of a new age of success for the city of Nagoya. Found below is the JP Tower, it is dedicated to providing high-quality products and restaurants for locals and travelers alike and holds special events throughout the year for visitors to enjoy. 

Kitte Nagoya (キッテナゴヤ)
Opening Hours:
10:00 – 23:00
Address: JP Tower Nagoya 1-1-1 Nakamura Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 452-0002
Website | Google Maps

Misonoza 

This relatively newly remodeled theater is keeps its historical roots intact as it meets the modern age.
This relatively newly remodeled theater is keeps its historical roots intact as it meets the modern age.

Right in between Nagoya station and Sakae there lies Fushimi, which has become a fast developing area in the past few years. Misonoza is a Kabuki theater that is steeped in history and has clearly evolved over the years. It used to be a simple wooden structure in the Edo period and then was rebuilt with the western style brick structure, similar to the Nagoya Archives we introduced earlier, only to now be a very modern-looking building with a nod to Edo’s Namako style walls of crisscrossed white lines that encase the entire building. It continues to be a very popular Kabuki theater today with the impressive Misanoza Tower apartment building as its backdrop. 

Misonoza (御園座)
Opening Hours:
10:00 – 18:00
Address: 1-6-14 Sakae, Naka Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 460-8403
Website (Japanese only) | Google Maps

Nagoya City Science Museum

The perfect place to take your children where they can experience some hands-on science right in front of Shirakawa Park.
The perfect place to take your children where they can experience some hands-on science right in front of Shirakawa Park.

Nagoya City Science Museum is difficult to miss. If you’re walking around the town and then suddenly come across a big metal ball floating in the air, you’ve found it. That is Nagoya’s famous planetarium, which happens to be the largest in the world. Next to that is the very popular science museum which holds special events all year round and gives its visitors a very hands-on experience of science, extremely popular with children and a perfect place to go with your family. 

Nagoya City Science Museum (名古屋料学館)
Opening Hours: 9:30 – 17:00. Closed Mondays.
Address: 2-17-1 Sakae, Naka Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 460-0008 Aichi
Website (Japanese only) | Google Maps


Nagoya City Art Museum 

Stunning inside and out, this art museum offers new exhibits throughout the year.
Stunning inside and out, this art museum offers new exhibits throughout the year.

Just across from the Nagoya City Science Museum is another quirky building that holds many artistic treasures inside. Designed by famed architect Kisho Kurokawa and built-in 1977, the Nagoya City Museum of Art is described as a piece of art itself that sits in the quiet escape from the busy city in Shirakawa Park. 

The museum displays art from all over the world, such as the Mexican Renaissance, Ecole de Paris, and of course plenty of local Japanese art as well! Artwork is displayed on rotation with new displays and exhibitions happening throughout the year, so there is ample opportunity to experience this building over and over again.

Nagoya City Art Museum (名古屋市美術館)
Opening Hours:
9:30 – 17:00. Closed Mondays and open until 20:00 Fridays
Address: 2-17-25 Sakae, Naka Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 460-0008
Website | Google Maps

Nagoya TV Tower

Nagoya TV Tower

Officially named the Chubu Electric Power MIRAI TOWER but locally simply as the TV Tower, it was completed in 1954 but does not feel out of place surrounded by a constantly modernizing city. With a newly reopened park under it with restaurants, shops, and bars, it has once again become a great center point of the city, popular to people of all ages that has quickly turned into an outdoor drinking spot for many.

The tower itself has an observatory deck, offering an amazing view of the city. It also has a restaurant, cafe, and even a small hotel. It may not be as famous as the Eiffel or Tokyo Tower, but it lays claim to the title of the oldest TV tower in Japan that doesn’t show its age!

Nagoya TV Tower (名古屋テレビ塔)
Entry Fee: Adults: 900 yen, Elementary/Junior High Students: 400 yen
Opening Hours: 10:99 -21:00
Address: 3-6-15 Nishiki, Naka Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 460-0003
Website | Google Maps

Oasis 21

The Spaceship-Aqua dish that covers Oasis 21 gives an impressive view of the surrounding area, especially at night.
The Spaceship-Aqua dish that covers Oasis 21 gives an impressive view of the surrounding area, especially at night.

Right next door to Nagoya TV Tower, you will see a very odd flat disc hovering above the ground, most likely with a lot of noise coming from below. This is the “Spaceship Aqua”, which is part of Oasis 21, Nagoya’s futuristic structure that has an accessible glass roof that covers an open space below that is often used for events such as small music festivals, cosplay competitions, pop-up markets, and even a skating rink in the winter. It also acts as a public transport hub, with a bus station and links to multiple train lines. It has a variety of shops such as the popular Jump Comic shop selling all sorts of goods from comics such as One Piece and Naruto. 

Oasis 21 (オアシス21)
Opening Hours: 10:00 – 21:00
Address: 1-11-1 Higashisakura, Higashi Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 461-0005
Website | Google Maps

Nadya Park

The building is split into two halves: offices on the left and shopping on the right.
The building is split into two halves: offices on the left and shopping on the right.

Slightly outside of the main shopping area, the Nadya Park building dominates its surroundings with its impressive metallic structure that houses a variety of restaurants, offices, and shops, most famous of all being LOFT which takes up nearly half the building! As you walk through the entrance, it’d be hard not to be impressed by the wide-open area that stretches all the way up to the top of the building, emphasizing the sheer size.

Nadya Park (ナディアパーク)
Opening Hours: 10:30 – 20:00
Address: Sakae 3-18-1, Naka Ward, Nagoya-shi, Aichi 460-0008
Website | Google Maps

HASE-BLDG. 1

This jagged building is the perfect place for fashion and style, right in the middle of Nagoya's funky Osu town.
This jagged building is the perfect place for fashion and style, right in the middle of Nagoya’s funky Osu town.

Osu is known for its oddities and this building perfectly highlights the eccentricity of that area. Created in the shape of a honeycomb, this unique facade will no doubt turn every head that walks past it. This is the first of a series of “HASE” buildings and is easily the most striking. Inside you will find some clothes shops, hair salons and even a golf simulator! Be sure to keep your eyes peeled as you wander the funky Osu streets. 

HASE-BLDG. 1
Opening Hours: 11:00 – 19:00 Wed – Friday, 10:00 – 18:30 Sat – Sun, Closed Mon – Tues
Address: 3-5-13 Osu, Naka Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 460-0011
Website (Japanese only) | Google Maps

Ryoguchiya Korekiyo Higashiyama Store 

A funky roof that covers the most famous sweets shop in Nagoya.
A funky roof that covers the most famous sweets shop in Nagoya.

If you are making your way to Nagoya’s Zoo and Botanical Garden, you’ll surely come across this unique flat-top pyramid building that looks unlike any other building in the area. The history behind the Ryoguchiya confectionery shops goes back to the early 17th century and has for nearly 400 years perfected the art of making sweets with the highest quality ingredients and skills and continues to do so to this day. Famous to the locals, you won’t be disappointed with their products. 

Ryoguchiya Korekiyo Higashiyama Store (両口屋是清東山店)
Opening Hours: 9:00 – 17:00
Address: 4-4 Higashiyamatori, Chikusa Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 464-0807
Website (Japanese only) | Google Maps


Did you enjoy this article?

Then you might also enjoy this post: The Best Day Trips From Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture

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About the author

Hailing from the British Isles, he has lived in Nagoya for 7 years with plenty of travelling across the length and breadth of Japan. He would love to share his knowledge and experience of places to visit, eat and drink in Nagoya.
1 Response
  1. Anne Sundqvist

    As a regular visitor to Nagoya I love these articles to look at where I have been and to find somewhere new and exciting to go next time

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