Sightseeing in Nagoya – The Top Ten Sights

Nagoya’s best known attraction is its castle, but it also has a large number of museums, gardens, and historical temples and shrines. In this article we list the essential sights you should see when you visit Nagoya.

Nagoya Castle

Nagoya Castle is Nagoya’s most popular tourist attraction and is famous for the two golden shachihoko roof ornaments. Construction began under Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1610, the main keep was completed in 1612, and the castle was completed in 1615. Unfortunately, the original castle keep and palace were destroyed by bombing during World War 2, and the current main tower is a 1959 steel-reinforced concrete reconstruction.

The five-story main tower keep is currently closed to the public because of age and earthquake-resistance concerns, so visitors cannot use the former observation deck. The castle grounds, the reconstructed Hommaru Palace, and the Nishinomaru Okura Museum remain the main visitor areas.

Admission:
Adults: 500 yen
Junior high and younger: Free
Please note that admission fees are scheduled to change from October 1st, 2026.

Opening Hours: 9:00 – 16:30 (Last entry to Hommaru Palace and Nishinomaru Okura Museum: 16:00)
Closed: December 29th – January 1st

Location: Nagoya Castle is located in a large park close to Nagoya City Hall. The nearest subway stations are Sengen-cho Station on the Tsurumai Line and Nagoyajo Station on the Meijo Line. The Me~guru Sightseeing Bus also stops at this location and departs from Gate 11 in the Nagoya Station City Bus Terminal.

Tokugawa Art Museum

The Tokugawa Art Museum was founded in 1935 to house the priceless art and antique collection of the Owari branch of the Tokugawa family. Among the collection’s over 10,000 objects are nine designated National Treasures and 59 Important Cultural Properties. The most famous National Treasure is a 12th century illustrated scroll of the Tale of Genji; important works from the collection are displayed on rotation, and reproductions are on display throughout the year.

In the permanent exhibition you can see samurai armor and swords, antique silk kimonos, tea ceremony utensils and ceramics, Noh costumes and masks, calligraphy, paintings, and lacquerware. The museum was built on the site of the Owari Tokugawa family’s former home and there is a beautiful landscape garden called Tokugawa-en beside the museum that can also be visited for an additional fee.

Admission:
General: 2,000 yen
High school & university students: 1,200 yen
Elementary & junior high school students: Free

Opening Hours: 10:00 – 17:00 (Last entry 16:30)
Closed: Mondays (unless Monday is a national holiday when it will close the following weekday)
Also closed during the New Year period and for some exhibition changes.

Location: The Tokugawa Art Museum is a 15 minute walk south of Ozone Station on the Meijo Subway Line. It is also on the Me~guru Sightseeing Bus route from Gate 11 in the Nagoya Station City Bus Terminal. Alternatively take Key Route Bus No. 2 from Gate 10 at Nagoya Station and get off at the Tokugawa-en Shindeki stop.

Tokugawa-en Garden

Tokugawa-en is a traditional Japanese stroll garden centered on a large pond stocked with koi carp, with waterfalls, tea houses and bridges. A garden was first laid out here as part of a vast residence for the Owari Tokugawa family in 1695. However, this garden was destroyed in a bombing raid in World War 2. The new garden was built and opened to the public in 2004.

This garden is known for its seasonal flower displays of plum blossom from February to March, peonies in April, irises in late May and early June, and colorful maple leaves in November. A restaurant overlooks the garden and there is a gift shop too. A visit to this garden can be combined with a visit to the Tokugawa Art Museum which is on the same grounds.

Admission:
Adults: 300 yen
Junior high and younger: Free

Opening Hours: 9:30 – 17:30 (Last entry: 17:00)
Closed: Mondays (unless Monday is a national holiday when it will close the following weekday)
Also closed December 29th – January 1st

Location: Tokugawa-en Garden is a 15 minute walk south of Ozone Station on the Meijo Subway Line. It is also on the Me~guru Sightseeing Bus route from Gate 11 in the Nagoya Station City Bus Terminal. Alternatively take Key Route Bus No. 2 from Gate 10 at Nagoya Station and get off at the Tokugawa-en Shindeki stop.

Higashiyama Zoo & Botanical Gardens

Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens is a large recreation facility set in extensive parkland which includes an amusement park and observation tower among its attractions. The zoo was established in 1937 and currently has the largest collection of different animal species in Japan, with around 450 species such as koalas, elephants, lions, tigers, and bears. The greenhouse in the botanical gardens is Japan’s oldest public greenhouse and is a designated Important Cultural Property.

In the amusement park are a variety of rides which include a roller coaster, Ferris wheel, and merry-go-round. Another attraction is the Higashiyama Sky Tower. The tower is 134 meters high, but because it stands on an 80 meter high hill, it actually reaches a height of 214 meters. At the top of the tower is an observation deck and restaurant with great views over the city.

Admission:
Adults and high school students: 500 yen
Junior high students and younger: Free

Opening Hours: 9:00 – 16:50 (Tickets sold until 16:30)
Closed: Mondays (unless Monday is a national holiday when it will close the following Tuesday)
Also closed December 29th – January 1st

Location: The zoo and botanical gardens are a 3 minute walk from Higashiyama Koen Station on the Higashiyama Subway Line.

Koshoji Temple

Koshoji is a Buddhist temple in the woods of Yagoto-yama hill. The temple dates from 1686 and has many wooden buildings, a garden and a tea house. It is best known for its five-story wooden pagoda which was built in 1808. The pagoda stands 26 meters high and is the only wooden five-story pagoda in the Tokai region. Temple fairs are held on the temple grounds on the 5th and 13th of each month.

Admission: Free for the public temple area. Fumon Garden has a separate 500 yen fee.
Opening Hours: 8:00 – 17:00
Location: Koshoji Temple is a 3 minute walk from Exit 1 of Yagoto Station on the Meijo and Tsurumai Subway Lines.

Atsuta Jingu Shrine

Atsuta Jingu is a large Shinto shrine complex set in woodland in the Atsuta ward of Nagoya that is a very popular center of pilgrimage. The shrine is believed to be 1,900 years old and it is one of the most important Shinto shrines in Japan. According to legend the shrine was founded to house the sword Kusanagi which is one of the Three Sacred Treasures of Japan. It is believed that the sword is still kept safely by the shrine, but it is not on public display. There are however, other ancient swords, garments, masks, mirrors, paintings, and other artifacts on display in the shrine’s museum facilities, including the Atsuta Jingu Museum and Kusanagi-kan.

A number of festivals and ceremonies are held here throughout the year, but the main shrine festival is on June 5th. This features a costumed procession with a portable shrine and is held to give thanks for the safe return of the sacred sword Kusanagi after it was stolen in the 6th century.

Admission:
Shrine Grounds: Free
Atsuta Jingu Museum or Kusanagi-kan: Adults 500 yen; elementary and junior high school students 200 yen
Common ticket for both facilities: Adults 800 yen; elementary and junior high school students 300 yen

Opening Hours:
Shrine Grounds: 24 hours a day
Atsuta Jingu Museum and Kusanagi-kan: 9:00 – 16:30 (Last entry: 16:00)

Location: The shrine is a 7 minute walk from Atsuta Jingu Nishi Station on the Meijo Subway Line. Alternatively take bus 18 from Gate 3 at Nagoya Station to the Meitetsu Jingu-mae stop.

Osu Kannon Temple

Osu Kannon is one of Nagoya’s most popular Buddhist temples and is dedicated to Kannon, the goddess of mercy. The temple has a wooden image of Kannon that is said to have been carved by the monk Kukai, who was the founder of the Shingon sect of Buddhism. Originally built in Gifu Prefecture in 1333, the temple was moved to its current location in 1612. The temple buildings were badly damaged by a fire in the 1920s, but were reconstructed in the 1970s.

A large antique market is held here on the 18th and 28th of each month, when you can buy all kinds of antiques, curios, and street stall snacks. The Osu district around the temple has a large network of covered shopping arcades with electronics shops, secondhand clothing stores, restaurants, cafes, subculture shops, and many other small businesses.

Admission: Free
Opening Hours:
Main Hall: 6:00 – 19:00
Temple Office: 9:00 – 17:00
Location: The temple is located beside Osu Kannon Station on the Tsurumai Subway Line. Alternatively take bus 18 from Gate 3 at Nagoya Station to the Nishi-Osu stop.

SCMAGLEV and Railway Park

The SCMAGLEV and Railway Park is one of Japan’s most popular railway museums with displays of rolling stock ranging from historic steam trains to modern shinkansen bullet trains and the Superconducting Maglev. There are 39 full-sized trains on display, an enormous model railway diorama, train driving simulators, and displays of historical artifacts.

Free audio guides are available in the following languages: Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, French, German, Spanish and Portuguese.

Admission:
Adults: 1,200 yen
School children: 500 yen
Children aged 3 and over: 200 yen

Opening Hours: 10:00 – 17:30 (Last entry: 17:00)
Closed: Tuesdays (unless Tuesday is a national holiday when the museum will close on the following Wednesday)
Also closed December 28th – January 1st.

Location: The SCMAGLEV and Railway Park is located in the Nagoya Port area and is a 2 minute walk from Kinjofuto Station on the Aonami Line. From Nagoya Station this is a 24 minute journey and the train fare is 360 yen. LEGOLAND Japan Resort is also nearby.

Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology

Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology is located in the original red brick textile factory where Sakichi Toyoda, who invented the automatic weaving machine, established a weaving factory in 1911. From this beginning Toyota Industries and Toyota Motor Company were born.

The museum covers the history of these companies with displays of automatic looms, automobiles, and the very latest technology including robots. There is also an educational play area for children called Technoland, which requires a same-day numbered ticket. Free guided tours are available on a schedule in Japanese and English.

Admission:
Adults: 1,000 yen
Senior citizens (65+): 600 yen
University students: 500 yen
Junior & senior high students: 300 yen
Elementary school students: 200 yen

Opening Hours: 9:30 – 17:00 (Last entry: 16:30)
Closed: Mondays (unless Monday is a national holiday when the museum will close on the following day)
Also closed during the New Year holidays.

Location: The nearest rail access is Sako Station, about a 3 minute walk away, and Kamejima Station on the Higashiyama Subway Line is about a 10 minute walk from the museum. The Me~guru Sightseeing Bus also stops at this location and departs from Gate 11 in the Nagoya Station City Bus Terminal. Alternatively, take city bus Meieki 11 from Gate 5 at Nagoya Station and get off at the Toyota Sangyo Gijutsukan stop.

Noritake Garden & Pottery Museum

Noritake Garden was founded on the grounds of the Noritake tableware company’s former factory. The garden is arranged around several red brick Meiji era buildings which house a cafe, restaurant, and pottery gift shop, as well as the Craft Center and Noritake Museum. In the Craft Center you can take a factory tour, watch the process by which Noritake pottery is created, and take part in pottery making and painting workshops. The museum displays old Noritake ceramics from the early 1900s.

Admission:
Garden: Free
Craft Center and Noritake Museum:
Adults: 500 yen
Seniors over 65: 300 yen
High school students and younger: Free

Opening Hours:
Garden: 10:00 – 18:00
Craft Center and Noritake Museum: 10:00 – 17:00
Closed: Mondays (unless Monday is a national holiday when it will close the following Tuesday)
Also closed for the New Year holidays.

Location: Noritake Garden is a 5 minute walk from Kamejima Station on the Higashiyama Subway Line. The Me~guru Sightseeing Bus also stops at this location. Alternatively, take city bus Meieki 13 from Gate 6 at Nagoya Station and get off at the Noritake-no-Mori stop.

Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved. Last updated 19-Jul-2026.