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. Nagoya’s central railway station 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. Nagoya offers diverse 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 nearby town of Inuyama. Meiji-mura, an open-air architectural museum, showcases buildings from Japan’s modernization period. Notable attractions within the city include the Tokugawa Art Museum, the SCMaglev and Railway Park, the Toyota Automobile Museum, and the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology. Nagoya, with its diverse offerings, proves to be a captivating destination that should not be overlooked by travelers seeking a unique Japanese experience.