Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Nagoya?
Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Nagoya?
Many travelers spend two to three days in Nagoya during their visit. After all, the often overlooked city has plenty to explore such as the restaurant scene, the famous sights and museums, and the big city activities.
Nagoya is a port city that has long been a manufacturing center for the country. There are many interesting museums as well as gambling parlors in town. There are also entertainment districts and several historical sights. Many tourists don't add Nagoya to their itinerary, but those who do will appreciate the food and entertainment scene that the city offers.
Do you have one or two days to visit Nagoya? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is one day enough time in Nagoya?
Nagoya isn't a particularly popular city for tourists, despite having some sights and attractions worth seeing. So with one day, you'll probably feel rushed to see the main attractions around the city. You really need more time to appreciate everything that the often overlooked city has to offer. Many visitors prefer to have two to three days to fully enjoy the city even though it's not huge. If you have one day or less, we still have some great ideas for what to do while you're in town.
How to spend a day in Nagoya
A number of fantastic museums and famous landmarks are found in Nagoya, so spend at least one full day exploring those that look the most appealing to you. There are shrines, temples, and other interesting sights in the city. Atsuta Jingu is an important Shinto shrine. Nagoya Castle is another interesting place to visit. If you're willing to head out of the city center a bit, the Meiji-mura Village Museum is an open air museum that has interesting Japanese architecture. There are also interesting museums in town such as the Nagoya City Art Museums and the Toyota Techno and Toyota Automobile Museums.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Guided Half-day Tour(AM) to Nagoya Castle & Toyota Commemorative Museum ($118)
- Guided Half-day Tour(AM) to Nagoya Castle & Tokugawa Museum and Garden ($145)
- Nagoya Sumo Tournament and Castle Tour ($184)
The culinary scene in Nagoya is world famous, and draws visitors from around the globe. Make sure you spend time enjoying breakfast, lunch, and dinner at some of this city's best restaurants. And consider a food tour, too. Many are either a half day or just a few hours, so you can fit one into your schedule easily. The city has a strong food culture that's referred to as Nagoya meshi. It's a popular destination for foodies to Japan, even though the city itself is often overlooked by tourists. The city's food uses a lot of local vegetables and its influenced by several international flavors. Important ingredients in the dishes include unagi (freshwater eel), Nagoya cochin (chicken), tamari (soy sauce), and mame miso.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Nagoya Special Food Tour ($66)
Nagoya is a walkable city and easy to explore on foot. With only a day in the city, you'll have no trouble seeing the local sights. The downtown area, where you'll find many of the sights, is walkable. The distances vary, but many sights can be reached on foot.
Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Nagoya?
A weekend trip is usually not enough time to experience the often overlooked city of Nagoya, so you may find yourself somewhat rushed. Or, perhaps you'll want to return another time experience everything that this medium sized city has to offer. You don't want to miss the main attractions such as the restaurant scene, the famous sights and museums, the big city activities, and the nightlife scene. Many tourists set aside two to three days for their visit. However, if your schedule only gives you a couple of days, we have a handful of recommendations to make the most of your weekend adventure in Nagoya below.
Nagoya, Japan
How to spend 2 days in Nagoya
With a weekend (two to three days) in Nagoya, you'll have a bit more time to enjoy everything that the city has to offer.
In the large and diverse city of Nagoya, you'll want to dedicate at least a day to experiencing the unique neighborhoods, exciting attractions, and immersive activities offered around town. Don't miss out on visiting some of the city's famous landmarks as well. It is a major port city in Japan and capital of the Aichi Prefecture.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Walking Small-Group Nagoya City Tour ($131)
- Private Full-day Nagoya City Tour ($151)
- Private Transfer from Nagoya hotels to Nagoya Cruise Port ($66)
The nightlife scene is very popular here. After dark, head out to one of the many venues around town. There are many bars around town, many of which have an international theme. Later in the evening, many people head out to a nightclubs, most of which are concentrated in either Sakae and Shin-sakae.
The public transit in Nagoya is fast and efficient. Over the course of a few days, you should be able to explore the city quite easily and affordably. The city has both a subway and public buses. The main bus stations are at Nagoya Station and Sakae Station and there are six subway lines throughout the city.
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Nagoya, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
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