Okazaki is a peaceful city with a rich history that’s clearly evident in its castle, temples, and historical sites. Okazaki prides itself as being the birthplace of one of the most famous men in Japanese history – Tokugawa Ieyasu, who was a major player in the unification of Japan and the establishment of the feudal...Read More
Traveling with kids adds an extra challenge to all travel plans. You need to find activities that are interesting to your little ones because many probably won’t want to see the same attractions that adults do. This post highlights the top things to do in and around Nagoya with your family. It is filled with...Read More
Kiyosu with its castle is just minutes from Nagoya Station, and yet it is generally never mentioned in guidebooks or travel magazines. In fact, many people in Nagoya have never heard of Kiyosu Castle, and even I didn’t hear about it until I had been in Nagoya for more than 10 years! This is unfortunate,...Read More
Most people know Toyota as the name of Japan’s leading car brand, but did you know that Toyota is also the name of a city in Aichi Prefecture? Toyota city is the home of Toyota Corp., where thousands of cars are produced every day. The city is a paradise for car lovers, with exciting museums...Read More
The Buddha’s ashes, an old villa, and modern delicacies. All of these can be found in Kakuozan, a contemporary, artsy district of Nagoya city. The Kakuozan area extends half a kilometer from Kakuozan Station all the way to Nittaiji temple, which enshrines some ashes of the Buddha (yes, the actual Buddha!) given to Japan by...Read More
The New Year holiday period, known as “Oshōgatsu” in Japan, is one of the most important and widely celebrated occasions in Japanese culture. It is a major holiday in Japan, and many citizens return to their hometowns to celebrate it with their families. As a result, public transportation tends to be crowded and a lot...Read More
Did you know that the Japanese archipelago contains almost 7,000 total islands, only 430 of which are inhabited? Located a short distance from Nagoya is Sakushima, a crab-shaped island home to amazing seafood and a number of modern art installations that you are able to touch, sit on and crawl all over. Sakushima, also known...Read More
Many people buy their clothing from the multitude of discount and fast fashion clothing stores that have become the norm nowadays. But, after a visit to Chita, a city south of Nagoya, you will gain a new appreciation for the simplest of textiles – cotton. The craftsmen in the Chita area have specialized in producing...Read More
If you think that Matcha is only from Kyoto, you are in for a big surprise! Matcha tea can be enjoyed all across Japan. The three most famous and regarded tea-producing regions in Japan are Uji in Kyoto, Fuji in Shizuoka, and Nishio, which is just a short train ride from Nagoya. Nishio is located...Read More
Toyokawa, a city located in the east of Aichi Prefecture, is home to one of Japan’s most marvelous shrines: Toyokawa Inari. A must-visit destination when visiting Japan. Toyokawa Inari is considered one of Japan’s Big Three Inari Temples and it is a place worshipped by millions of visitors every year. Toyokawa Inari, officially named Enpukuzan...Read More
