NOW IN CENTRAL JAPAN — November · Peak autumn foliage (koyo) See the festival calendar →
A local's guide — since 2026

Honest travel guides to Nagoya & Central Japan, written by a local of 35 years.

No press trips, no copy-paste. I was born here, I live in Osu, and every restaurant, shrine and day trip on this site is somewhere I have actually been — most of them dozens of times. — Yuu

Start here: 3-day itinerary About Yuu
Night view of Sakae, Nagoya — the Matsuzakaya neon sign seen from a restaurant window

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六つの入口 — six doors into the region
Things to Do Castles, Ghibli Park, Osu Where to Stay By area & budget Getting Around Trains, passes, airport Food Guide Nagoya meshi & kissaten Day Trips Takayama, Kanazawa, Ise Plan Your Trip Itineraries, budget, SIM Festivals & Events Matsuri across the year
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Asian Games 2026 Without a Ticket: Nagoya’s Fan Zone and Free Live Site Asian Games 2026 Without a Ticket: Nagoya’s Fan Zone and Free Live Site Nagoya Asian Para Games 2026 Nagoya: Dates, 18 Sports, Venues & Tickets from ¥1,000 Asian Para Games 2026 Nagoya: Dates, 18 Sports, Venues & Tickets from ¥1,000 Nagoya Asian Games 2026 Cricket Tickets: 22 Sessions from ¥2,000 Asian Games 2026 Cricket Tickets: 22 Sessions from ¥2,000 Nagoya Japan Festival Calendar 2027: 50 Matsuri, Month by Month Japan Festival Calendar 2027: 50 Matsuri, Month by Month Festivals
All posts →
1. When to go

Seasons, festivals and the honest truth about August. Best time to visit →

2. Build your itinerary

A weekend or a full week — day by day. 2-day plan · 3-day plan →

3. Book the essentials

Hotels by neighborhood, Ghibli tickets, rail passes. Where to stay →

Hi, I'm Yuu — born and raised in Nagoya.

35 years in this city, ten of them in the neighborhoods around Osu, where I live now. When a bus schedule changes, I update the article. When a restaurant closes, I remove it. When I haven't been somewhere, I tell you.

Read my story

Complete guides — every article by topic

Plan Your Trip Nagoya 3-Day Itinerary Nagoya 2-Day Weekend Itinerary Best Time to Visit Nagoya Nagoya Trip Cost & Budget Japan Travel Essentials Pocket WiFi & SIM Guide Do You Need Travel Insurance for Japan? Luggage Forwarding in Japan (Takkyubin)
Getting Around Getting Around Nagoya JR Pass Guide (Central Japan) Centrair Airport to the City Tokyo to Nagoya Transport Kintetsu Rail Pass Guide SmartEX App Guide How to Book Shinkansen Tickets Online Is the Japan Rail Pass Worth It? Suica & IC Cards in Japan
Things to Do — Top Sights Top Things to Do in Nagoya Nagoya Castle Complete Guide Ghibli Park Complete Guide Ghibli Park Tickets Guide Ghibli Park One-Day Itinerary Ghibli Park Souvenir Guide How to Get to Ghibli Park Atsuta Jingu Shrine Osu Shopping Street Arimatsu Shibori District LEGOLAND Japan
Museums, Gardens & Rainy-Day Port of Nagoya Aquarium Toyota Commemorative Museum Tokugawa Garden & Art Museum Flarie Garden (Free) Nagoya on a Rainy Day
Food & Drink Nagoya Meshi Food Guide Hitsumabushi (Grilled Eel) Nagoya Ramen Guide Morning & Kissaten Culture Vegan & Vegetarian Restaurants in Nagoya Halal Food in Nagoya
Where to Stay Where to Stay in Nagoya Hotels Near Nagoya Station Luxury Hotels in Nagoya Budget Hotels in Nagoya Family Hotels in Nagoya Ryokan Near Nagoya How to Book a Ryokan in Japan Where to Stay Near Ghibli Park Courtyard by Marriott Nagoya Review TIAD, Autograph Collection Review Nagoya Marriott Associa Hotel Review
Day Trips from Nagoya Best Day Trips from Nagoya Takayama & Shirakawa-go Kanazawa Day Trip Inuyama Castle & Meiji Mura Ise Grand Shrine Toba & Shima: Ise-Shima Guide Gifu City Day Trip Magome & Tsumago: Kiso Valley Gujo Hachiman Town Guide Korankei Autumn Leaves Day Trip Gero Onsen Best Onsen Near Nagoya Nagoya City Onsen Guide
Seasons, Festivals & Tours Central Japan Festival Calendar Nagoya Cherry Blossom Guide Tours & Experiences Nagoya in Winter Nagoya Christmas Markets & Winter Illuminations Nabana no Sato Illumination Guide Shirakawa-go Winter Light-Up Winter Festivals & New Year Asian Games 2026 Nagoya Guide Asian Games 2026 Tickets Asian Games 2026 Venues & Access Where to Stay for the Asian Games 2026 Asian Games 2026: Schedule Guide Asian Games 2026: Transport Guide Asian Games 2026: Spectator Day Plans Asian Games 2026: Opening Week Asian Games 2026 Without a Ticket Asian Games 2026 Cricket Asian Para Games 2026 Guide After the Asian Games: Takayama
Festivals — In Nagoya City Nagoya Matsuri Atsuta Matsuri Osu Daido Machinin Matsuri Nagoya Minato Matsuri Fireworks Nagoya Summer Festivals Autumn Festivals in Nagoya & Central Japan Japanese Festival Guide for First-Timers Japanese Festival Food: Yatai Guide How to Enjoy Japanese Fireworks Festivals
Festivals — Day Trips Across Central Japan Inuyama Festival Owari Tsushima Tenno Festival Konomiya Hadaka Matsuri Kariya Mando Festival Kamezaki Shiohi Festival Toyohama Tai Matsuri Koromo Matsuri Okazaki Fireworks Setomono Matsuri Ueno Tenjin Festival Kuwana Ishidori Festival Gifu Nobunaga Festival Nagara River Cormorant Fishing Gifu Nagaragawa Fireworks Mino Festival Mino Washi Akari Art Exhibition Hida Furukawa Festival Takayama Festival Gujo Odori Toride Shrine Whale Boat Festival Hamamatsu Festival F1 Japanese GP at Suzuka: Spectator Guide