Nagoya, a city in central Japan, often goes unnoticed by international travelers despite its rich offerings. With a population of 2.3 million and a surrounding metropolis of 10 million, Nagoya boasts historical castles, delicious cuisine, scenic rail journeys, theme parks, vibrant nightlife, and excellent museums. To counter this perception, Nagoya residents Lena Yamaguchi and Elisabeth Llopis founded “Nagoya Is Not Boring,” a local tour company aimed at showcasing the city’s hidden gems to visitors. They emphasize the city’s blend of traditional and modern attractions, such as exploring castles and temples during the day and experiencing the local culture at izakaya bars during the night.

Nagoya’s central railway station, surrounded by a skyscraper district, offers a modern shopping experience with department stores, electronics outlets, and craft stores. The area also features a variety of hotels catering to different budgets. The city’s cuisine, known as Nagoya-meshi, reflects its historical location as a port and a stop along the Tokaido road. The city offers a diverse range of dishes, including chicken wings, Italian fusion spaghetti, raw chicken sashimi, and various noodle dishes. Nagoya’s attractions extend beyond the city limits. Inuyama Castle, one of Japan’s original castles, stands in the town of Inuyama, just a short train ride from Nagoya. Meiji-mura, an open-air architectural museum near Inuyama, showcases buildings from Japan’s modernization period. Other notable attractions include the Tokugawa Art Museum, which houses the National Treasures of Japan, and the SCMaglev and Railway Park, a comprehensive railway museum. The Toyota Automobile Museum and the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology cater to automobile enthusiasts.