is the largest city in the
Chūbu region
The , Central region, or is a region in the middle of Honshū, Japan's main island. In a wide, classical definition, it encompasses nine prefectures (''ken''): Aichi, Fukui, Gifu, Ishikawa, Nagano, Niigata, Shizuoka, Toyama, and Ya ...
of Japan. It is the
fourth-most populous city in Japan, with a population of 2.3million in 2020, and the principal city of the
Chūkyō metropolitan area
, or the , is a major metropolitan area in Japan that is centered on the city of Nagoya (the "Nagoya#Etymology, Chūkyō", i.e., the "capital in the middle") in Aichi Prefecture. The area makes up the most urbanized part of the Tōkai region. The ...
, which is the
third-most populous metropolitan area in
Japan
Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
with a population of 10.11million. Located on the
Pacific
The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean, or, depending on the definition, to Antarctica in the south, and is bounded by the cont ...
coast in central
Honshu
, historically known as , is the largest of the four main islands of Japan. It lies between the Pacific Ocean (east) and the Sea of Japan (west). It is the list of islands by area, seventh-largest island in the world, and the list of islands by ...
, it is the capital and most populous city of
Aichi Prefecture
is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshū. Aichi Prefecture has a population of 7,461,111 () and a geographic area of with a population density of . Aichi Prefecture borders Mie Prefecture to the ...
, with the
Port of Nagoya
The , located in Ise Bay, is the largest and busiest trading port in Japan, accounting for about 10% of the total trade value of Japan. Notably, this port is the largest exporter of cars in Japan and where the Toyota Motor Corporation exports most ...
being Japan's largest seaport.
In 1610, the warlord
Tokugawa Ieyasu
Tokugawa Ieyasu (born Matsudaira Takechiyo; 31 January 1543 – 1 June 1616) was the founder and first ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan, which ruled from 1603 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. He was the third of the three "Gr ...
, a retainer of
Oda Nobunaga
was a Japanese ''daimyō'' and one of the leading figures of the Sengoku period, Sengoku and Azuchi-Momoyama periods. He was the and regarded as the first "Great Unifier" of Japan. He is sometimes referred as the "Demon Daimyō" and "Demo ...
, moved the capital of
Owari Province
was a province of Japan in the area that today forms the western half of Aichi Prefecture, including the modern city of Nagoya. The province was created in 646. Owari bordered on Mikawa, Mino, and Ise Provinces. Owari and Mino provinces w ...
from
Kiyosu
is a city in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 69,687 in 29,477 households, and a population density of 4,017 persons per km2. The total area of the city is .
Geography
Kiyosu is located in far western Aichi Pr ...
to Nagoya. This period saw the renovation of
Nagoya Castle
is a Japanese castle located in Nagoya, Japan.
Nagoya Castle was constructed by the Owari Domain in 1612 during the Edo period on the site of an earlier castle of the Oda clan in the Sengoku period. Nagoya Castle was the heart of one of the ...
. The arrival of the 20th century brought a convergence of economic factors that fueled rapid growth in Nagoya during the
Meiji Restoration
The , referred to at the time as the , and also known as the Meiji Renovation, Revolution, Regeneration, Reform, or Renewal, was a political event that restored Imperial House of Japan, imperial rule to Japan in 1868 under Emperor Meiji. Althoug ...
, and it became a major industrial hub for Japan. The traditional manufactures of timepieces, bicycles, and sewing machines were followed by the production of special steels, ceramic, chemicals, oil, and petrochemicals, as the area's automobile, aviation, and shipbuilding industries flourished. These factors made the city a target for
air raids during the
Pacific War
The Pacific War, sometimes called the Asia–Pacific War or the Pacific Theatre, was the Theater (warfare), theatre of World War II fought between the Empire of Japan and the Allies of World War II, Allies in East Asia, East and Southeast As ...
.
Following the war, Nagoya's economy diversified, but the city remains a significant centre for industry and transport in Japan. It is linked with Tokyo, Kyōto, and Osaka by the
Tokaido Shinkansen
The is a Japanese high-speed rail line that is part of the nationwide Shinkansen network. Along with the San'yō Shinkansen, it forms a continuous high-speed railway through the Taiheiyō Belt, also known as the Tokaido corridor. Opening in 19 ...
, and is home to the
Nagoya Stock Exchange
Nagoya Stock Exchange (名古屋証券取引所 ''Nagoya Shōken Torihikijo'', NSE) is a stock trading market in Nagoya, Japan. It is Japan's second largest exchange, behind the Tokyo Stock Exchange. It is operated by Nagoya Stock Exchange, Inc. ...
as well as the headquarters of
Brother Industries
is a Japanese multinational corporation, multinational electronics and electrical equipment company headquartered in Nagoya, Japan. Its products include Printer (computing), printers, multifunction printers, desktop computers, consumer and indu ...
,
Ibanez
is a Japanese guitar brand owned by Hoshino Gakki. Based in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Aichi, Japan, Hoshino Gakki was one of the first Japanese musical instrument companies to gain a significant foothold in import guitar sales in the United Stat ...
,
Lexus
is the luxury vehicle division of the Japanese automaker Toyota, Toyota Motor Corporation. The Lexus brand is marketed in more than 90 countries and territories worldwide and is Japan's largest-selling make of premium cars. It has ranked amon ...
, and
Toyota Tsusho
is a sōgō shōsha (trading company), a member of the Toyota Group. Toyota Tsusho has a worldwide presence through its many subsidiaries and operating divisions, including over 150 offices, and 900 subsidiaries and affiliates around the world. ...
, among others. Nagoya is home of educational institutes such as
Nagoya University
, abbreviated to or NU, is a Japanese national research university located in Chikusa-ku, Nagoya.
It was established in 1939 as the last of the nine Imperial Universities in the then Empire of Japan, and is now a Designated National Universit ...
, the
Nagoya Institute of Technology
The , abbreviated to Nitech (or in Japanese to 名工大, ''Meikōdai''), is a public educational institution of science and technology located in Nagoya, Japan.
Nitech was founded in 1905 as ''Nagoya Higher Technical School'', then renamed ''Na ...
, and
Nagoya City University
, abbreviated to , is a public university in Japan. The main campus (Kawasumi) is located in Mizuho-ku, Nagoya City. Other three campuses (Yamanohata, Tanabe-dori and Kita Chikusa) are also located in the city.
History
Nagoya City Universit ...
. Famous landmarks in the city include
Atsuta Shrine
is a Shinto shrine, home to the sacred sword '' Kusanagi no Tsurugi'', one of the three Imperial Regalia of Japan—traditionally believed to have been established during the reign of Emperor Keikō (reigned 71–130 CE). It is located in Atsu ...
,
Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens
The is a joint zoo and botanical garden located at Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Japan. It is open every day except Monday, and charges a modest admission fee.
Established in 1937, the Higashiyama Zoo is one of Asia's largest attractions, featuring a ...
,
Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium
The is a public aquarium in Minato-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
It is a member of the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums (JAZA), and It is the public aquarium with the largest tank capacity and total area in Japan. It also own ...
,
Nagoya Castle
is a Japanese castle located in Nagoya, Japan.
Nagoya Castle was constructed by the Owari Domain in 1612 during the Edo period on the site of an earlier castle of the Oda clan in the Sengoku period. Nagoya Castle was the heart of one of the ...
,
Hisaya Ōdori Park, and
Nagoya TV Tower
The (formerly but still referred to as the ) is a TV tower in Nagoya, central Japan.
History
It is the oldest TV tower in Japan, and was completed in 1954. It is located in the centre of Hisaya Ōdori Park. The tower is 180 metres high, and ...
, one of the oldest TV towers in Japan. Nagoya will host the
2026 Asian Games
The 2026 Asian Games (), also known as 20th Asian Games () and Aichi-Nagoya 2026 (), will be a multi-sport event celebrated around Aichi Prefecture in Japan from 19 September to 4 October 2026. The prefecture capital Nagoya will be the epicent ...
, making it the third Japanese city to host the Asian Games after
Tokyo 1958 and
Hiroshima 1994.
Toponymy
The city's name was historically written as or (both read as ''Nagoya''). One possible origin is the adjective , meaning 'calm'.
The name , consisting of ''chū'' (middle) + ''kyō'' (capital) is also used to refer to Nagoya. Notable examples of the use of the name Chūkyō include the
Chūkyō Industrial Area
The is another name for the Chūkyō Metropolitan Area and the surrounding prefectures, which have strong economic links to it. This industrial region includes the Aichi, Gifu, and Mie prefectures.
One of the dominant companies of the regio ...
,
Chūkyō Metropolitan Area
, or the , is a major metropolitan area in Japan that is centered on the city of Nagoya (the "Nagoya#Etymology, Chūkyō", i.e., the "capital in the middle") in Aichi Prefecture. The area makes up the most urbanized part of the Tōkai region. The ...
,
Chūkyō Television Broadcasting
JOCH-DTV (channel 4), branded as , is the Chūkyō metropolitan area flagship station of the Nippon News Network and Nippon Television Network System (NNS), owned by , a subsidiary of Yomiuri Chukyo FS Broadcasting Holdings. Its studios are lo ...
,
Chukyo University
is a private university in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, with campuses in Nagoya and Toyota. The main building is located in Yagoto, Shōwa-ku, Nagoya.
Campus
File:View of Chukyo University (1), Yamanote-tori Showa Ward Nagoya 2022.jpg, Nagoya C ...
and the
Chukyo Racecourse
is located in Toyoake, Aichi, Japan. It is used for horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian performance activity, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance ...
.
History
Origins
;Jōmon period
In the
Jomon and
Yayoi period
The Yayoi period (弥生時代, ''Yayoi jidai'') (c. 300 BC – 300 AD) is one of the major historical periods of the Japanese archipelago. It is generally defined as the era between the beginning of food production in Japan and the emergence o ...
, the
Ōguruwa Shell Midden
260px, Oguruwa shell mounds-Flexed burial
The is an archaeological site with a shell midden and Jōmon period settlement site located in the Yamashitatori neighborhood of Mizuho ward of Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture in the Tōkai region of Japan. T ...
was discovered before the settlement of Nagoya.
;Kofun period
In the
Kofun period
The is an era in the history of Japan from about 300 to 538 AD (the date of the introduction of Buddhism), following the Yayoi period. The Kofun and the subsequent Asuka periods are sometimes collectively called the Yamato period. This period is ...
, Nagoya was settled and the
Danpusan Kofun
250px, Sketch of Danpusan Kofun
The is a large keyhole-shaped ''kofun'' burial mound located within the grounds of the Atsuta Shrine complex in the Hayata neighborhood of Atsuta-ku, Nagoya, Japan. The tumulus was designated a National Histori ...
and Shiratori Kofun was built in this area. The
Atsuta Shrine
is a Shinto shrine, home to the sacred sword '' Kusanagi no Tsurugi'', one of the three Imperial Regalia of Japan—traditionally believed to have been established during the reign of Emperor Keikō (reigned 71–130 CE). It is located in Atsu ...
is of ancient origin, it is home to the
Imperial Regalia of Japan
The are the imperial regalia of Japan and consist of the sword , the mirror , and the jewel . They represent the three primary virtues: valour (the sword), wisdom (the mirror), and benevolence (the jewel). , the legendary sword ''
Kusanagi no Tsurugi
is a legendary Japanese sword and one of three Imperial Regalia of Japan. It was originally called , but its name was later changed to the more popular ("Grass-Cutting Sword"). In folklore, the sword represents the virtue of valor.
Legends
...
''. According to traditional sources,
Yamato Takeru
, originally , was a Japanese folk hero and semi-legendary prince of the imperial dynasty, son of Emperor Keikō, who is traditionally counted as the 12th Emperor of Japan. The kanji spelling of his name varies: it appears in the ''Nihon Shoki'' ...
died in 113 AD. The possessions of the dead prince were gathered together along with the sword Kusanagi; and his widow venerated his memory in a shrine at her home.
File:Oguruwa Kaizuka 20160815.jpg, The Ōguruwa Shell Midden
260px, Oguruwa shell mounds-Flexed burial
The is an archaeological site with a shell midden and Jōmon period settlement site located in the Yamashitatori neighborhood of Mizuho ward of Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture in the Tōkai region of Japan. T ...
was discovered before the settlement.
File:Atsuta Shrine.jpg, The Atsuta Shrine
is a Shinto shrine, home to the sacred sword '' Kusanagi no Tsurugi'', one of the three Imperial Regalia of Japan—traditionally believed to have been established during the reign of Emperor Keikō (reigned 71–130 CE). It is located in Atsu ...
, which dates back to c. 100 AD and houses the holy sword Kusanagi
is a legendary Japanese sword and one of three Imperial Regalia of Japan. It was originally called , but its name was later changed to the more popular ("Grass-Cutting Sword"). In folklore, the sword represents the virtue of valor.
Legends
...
, one of the Imperial Regalia of Japan
The are the imperial regalia of Japan and consist of the sword , the mirror , and the jewel . They represent the three primary virtues: valour (the sword), wisdom (the mirror), and benevolence (the jewel).
File:Danpusan Kofun zenkei.JPG, The Danpusan Kofun
250px, Sketch of Danpusan Kofun
The is a large keyhole-shaped ''kofun'' burial mound located within the grounds of the Atsuta Shrine complex in the Hayata neighborhood of Atsuta-ku, Nagoya, Japan. The tumulus was designated a National Histori ...
was built in the 6th century.
;Heian period
The
Seigan-ji was built by the
Fujiwara clan
The was a powerful family of imperial regents in Japan, descending from the Nakatomi clan and, as legend held, through them their ancestral god Ame-no-Koyane. The Fujiwara prospered since ancient times and dominated the imperial court until th ...
in the late
Heian period
The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. It followed the Nara period, beginning when the 50th emperor, Emperor Kammu, moved the capital of Japan to Heian-kyō (modern Kyoto). means in Japanese. It is a ...
. A member served as the head priest of the nearby Atsuta Shrine, one of the legendary shrines of Japan. It is believed that Yura-Gozen, also known as Urahime, a daughter of
Fujiwara no Suenori
Fujiwara no Suenori (藤原 季範, 1090 – December 27, 1155) was a Japanese nobleman and High Priest of Atsuta Shrine during the late Heian period. He was the grandfather of Minamoto no Yoritomo, the founder and first shogun of the Kamakura ...
, was married to
Minamoto no Yoshitomo
(1123 – 11 February 1160) was the head of the Minamoto clan and a general of the late Heian period of Japanese history. His son Minamoto no Yoritomo became ''shōgun'' and founded the Kamakura shogunate, the first shogunate in the history o ...
(1123–60) and their son
Minamoto no Yoritomo
was the founder and the first shogun of the Kamakura shogunate, ruling from 1192 until 1199, also the first ruling shogun in the history of Japan.Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Minamoto no Yoriie" in . He was the husband of Hōjō Masako ...
's birthplace is Nagoya, he is also the founder of the
Kamakura shogunate
The was the feudal military government of Japan during the Kamakura period from 1185 to 1333. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005)"''Kamakura-jidai''"in ''Japan Encyclopedia'', p. 459.
The Kamakura shogunate was established by Minamoto no Yori ...
.
File:Seigan-ji (Nagoya) sanmon.JPG, The Seigan-ji former family villa was the birthplace of Minamoto no Yoritomo
was the founder and the first shogun of the Kamakura shogunate, ruling from 1192 until 1199, also the first ruling shogun in the history of Japan.Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Minamoto no Yoriie" in . He was the husband of Hōjō Masako ...
, founder of the Kamakura Shogunate
The was the feudal military government of Japan during the Kamakura period from 1185 to 1333. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005)"''Kamakura-jidai''"in ''Japan Encyclopedia'', p. 459.
The Kamakura shogunate was established by Minamoto no Yori ...
.
Feudal period
;Azuchi–Momoyama period
Oda Nobunaga
was a Japanese ''daimyō'' and one of the leading figures of the Sengoku period, Sengoku and Azuchi-Momoyama periods. He was the and regarded as the first "Great Unifier" of Japan. He is sometimes referred as the "Demon Daimyō" and "Demo ...
and his protégés
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
, otherwise known as and , was a Japanese samurai and ''daimyō'' (feudal lord) of the late Sengoku period, Sengoku and Azuchi-Momoyama periods and regarded as the second "Great Unifier" of Japan.Richard Holmes, The World Atlas of Warfare: ...
and
Tokugawa Ieyasu
Tokugawa Ieyasu (born Matsudaira Takechiyo; 31 January 1543 – 1 June 1616) was the founder and first ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan, which ruled from 1603 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. He was the third of the three "Gr ...
were powerful warlords based in the Nagoya area who gradually succeeded in unifying Japan. In 1610, Tokugawa Ieyasu moved the capital of
Owari Province
was a province of Japan in the area that today forms the western half of Aichi Prefecture, including the modern city of Nagoya. The province was created in 646. Owari bordered on Mikawa, Mino, and Ise Provinces. Owari and Mino provinces w ...
from Kiyosu, about away, to a more strategic location in present-day Nagoya.
In May–June 1560, the
Battle of Okehazama
The took place on 12 June 1560 in Owari Province, in today's Aichi Prefecture. In this battle, the heavily outnumbered Oda clan troops, commanded by Oda Nobunaga, defeated Imagawa Yoshimoto and established Oda as one of the front-running warlo ...
took place in Dengakuhazama,
Owari Province
was a province of Japan in the area that today forms the western half of Aichi Prefecture, including the modern city of Nagoya. The province was created in 646. Owari bordered on Mikawa, Mino, and Ise Provinces. Owari and Mino provinces w ...
which was just outside of what would become Nagoya city. In this battle,
Oda Nobunaga
was a Japanese ''daimyō'' and one of the leading figures of the Sengoku period, Sengoku and Azuchi-Momoyama periods. He was the and regarded as the first "Great Unifier" of Japan. He is sometimes referred as the "Demon Daimyō" and "Demo ...
defeated
Imagawa Yoshimoto
was a Japanese ''daimyō'' (feudal lord) of the Sengoku period. Based in Suruga Province, he was known as ; he was one of the three ''daimyō'' that dominated the Tōkaidō region. He died in 1560 while marching to Kyoto to become Shogun. He ...
and established himself as one of the leading warlords in the
Sengoku period
The was the period in History of Japan, Japanese history in which civil wars and social upheavals took place almost continuously in the 15th and 16th centuries. The Kyōtoku incident (1454), Ōnin War (1467), or (1493) are generally chosen as th ...
.
File:Oda Nobunaga statue in Kiyosu park.jpg, Oda Nobunaga
was a Japanese ''daimyō'' and one of the leading figures of the Sengoku period, Sengoku and Azuchi-Momoyama periods. He was the and regarded as the first "Great Unifier" of Japan. He is sometimes referred as the "Demon Daimyō" and "Demo ...
File:Jousenji2.JPG, Toyotomi Hideyoshi
, otherwise known as and , was a Japanese samurai and ''daimyō'' (feudal lord) of the late Sengoku period, Sengoku and Azuchi-Momoyama periods and regarded as the second "Great Unifier" of Japan.Richard Holmes, The World Atlas of Warfare: ...
File:Bishū Okehazama-gassen.jpg, Battle of Okehazama
The took place on 12 June 1560 in Owari Province, in today's Aichi Prefecture. In this battle, the heavily outnumbered Oda clan troops, commanded by Oda Nobunaga, defeated Imagawa Yoshimoto and established Oda as one of the front-running warlo ...
(May–June 1560)
Early modern period
During this period
Nagoya Castle
is a Japanese castle located in Nagoya, Japan.
Nagoya Castle was constructed by the Owari Domain in 1612 during the Edo period on the site of an earlier castle of the Oda clan in the Sengoku period. Nagoya Castle was the heart of one of the ...
was constructed, built partly from materials taken from
Kiyosu Castle
is a Japanese castle located in Kiyosu, western Aichi Prefecture, Japan. It is noted for its association with the rise to power of the Sengoku period warlord Oda Nobunaga. The kanji in the name of the castle was written as 清須城. The curren ...
. During the construction, the entire town around Kiyosu Castle, consisting of around 60,000 people, moved from Kiyosu to the newly planned town around Nagoya Castle. Around the same time, the nearby ancient
Atsuta Shrine
is a Shinto shrine, home to the sacred sword '' Kusanagi no Tsurugi'', one of the three Imperial Regalia of Japan—traditionally believed to have been established during the reign of Emperor Keikō (reigned 71–130 CE). It is located in Atsu ...
was designated as a
waystation, called Miya (the Shrine), on the important
Tōkaidō road, which linked the two capitals of
Kyoto
Kyoto ( or ; Japanese language, Japanese: , ''Kyōto'' ), officially , is the capital city of Kyoto Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan's largest and most populous island of Honshu. , the city had a population of 1.46 million, making it t ...
and
Edo
Edo (), also romanized as Jedo, Yedo or Yeddo, is the former name of Tokyo.
Edo, formerly a (castle town) centered on Edo Castle located in Musashi Province, became the '' de facto'' capital of Japan from 1603 as the seat of the Tokugawa shogu ...
(now Tokyo). A town developed around the temple to support travelers. The castle and shrine towns formed the city.
File:Aichi Osu Kannon hondo 2021-07 ac (1).jpg, Ōsu Kannon
is a Buddhist temple of the Shingon sect located in Ōsu, in central Nagoya, Japan. It belongs to the Owari Thirty-three Kannon. Its address is 愛知県名古屋市中区大須2-21-47 (Aichi Ken, Nagoya-shi, Naka-ku Osu, 2-21-47).
History
...
is a Buddhist temple, originally built in 1333, later relocated in 1612.
File:180405 Tenshu and Honmaru Goten of Nagoya castle 2.jpg, Nagoya Castle
is a Japanese castle located in Nagoya, Japan.
Nagoya Castle was constructed by the Owari Domain in 1612 during the Edo period on the site of an earlier castle of the Oda clan in the Sengoku period. Nagoya Castle was the heart of one of the ...
was constructed as the seat of the Owari branch
The is a branch of the Tokugawa clan, and it is the seniormost house of the '' Gosanke'' ("three honourable houses of the Tokugawa").[Tokugawa clan
The is a Japanese dynasty which produced the Tokugawa shoguns who ruled Japan from 1603 to 1868 during the Edo period. It was formerly a powerful ''daimyō'' family. They nominally descended from Emperor Seiwa (850–880) and were a branch of ...](_blank)
.
File:Shikemichi Nagoya (1).JPG, Edo era buildings in Shikemichi (四間道)
File:Tokaido41 Miya.jpg, Miya-juku
was the forty-first of the fifty-three stations of the Tōkaidō. It is located in former Owari Province in what is now part of the Atsuta-ku section of the city of Nagoya, in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. It was six km from Narumi-juku, the ...
(Atsuta Shrine
is a Shinto shrine, home to the sacred sword '' Kusanagi no Tsurugi'', one of the three Imperial Regalia of Japan—traditionally believed to have been established during the reign of Emperor Keikō (reigned 71–130 CE). It is located in Atsu ...
) in the 1830s, as depicted by Hiroshige
or , born Andō Tokutarō (; 1797 – 12 October 1858), was a Japanese ''ukiyo-e'' artist, considered the last great master of that tradition.
Hiroshige is best known for his horizontal-format landscape series '' The Fifty-three Stations ...
File:Arimatsushibori.JPG, Arimatsu Town
File:Hongan-ji Nagoya Betsuin - Owari Meisho Zue.png, Woodcut print of Hongan-ji Nagoya Betsuin (Nishi-Honganji)
Modern period
;Meiji period
During the
Meiji Restoration
The , referred to at the time as the , and also known as the Meiji Renovation, Revolution, Regeneration, Reform, or Renewal, was a political event that restored Imperial House of Japan, imperial rule to Japan in 1868 under Emperor Meiji. Althoug ...
Japan's provinces were restructured into prefectures and the government changed from family to bureaucratic rule. Nagoya was proclaimed a city on October 1, 1889, and designated a city on 1 September 1956, by
government ordinance. Nagoya became an industrial hub for the region. Its economic sphere included the famous
pottery
Pottery is the process and the products of forming vessels and other objects with clay and other raw materials, which are fired at high temperatures to give them a hard and durable form. The place where such wares are made by a ''potter'' is al ...
towns of
Tokoname
is a Cities of Japan, city in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 57,872 in 24,872 households, and a population density of 1,035 persons per km2. The total area of the city is .
Geography
Tokoname is located on ...
,
Tajimi
is a city located in Gifu, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 110,070 in 46,580 households, and a population density of 1200 people per km2. The total area of the city was . The city is famous for its production of Mino ware ceramic ...
and
Seto
Seto may refer to:
Places
*Seto, Aichi, production place of Japanese pottery and venue of Expo 2005
* Seto, Ehime, facing the Seto Inland Sea
* Seto, Okayama, adjacent to Okayama, in Okayama Prefecture
*Seto Inland Sea of Japan
*Setomaa (''Seto ...
, as well as
Okazaki Okazaki may refer to:
*Okazaki (surname)
*Okazaki, Aichi, a city in Japan
*Okazaki Castle, a castle in Japan
*Okazaki fragments
Okazaki fragments are short sequences of DNA nucleotides (approximately 150 to 200 base pairs long in eukaryotes) w ...
, one of the only places where
gunpowder
Gunpowder, also commonly known as black powder to distinguish it from modern smokeless powder, is the earliest known chemical explosive. It consists of a mixture of sulfur, charcoal (which is mostly carbon), and potassium nitrate, potassium ni ...
was produced under the
shogunate
, officially , was the title of the military rulers of Japan during most of the period spanning from 1185 to 1868. Nominally appointed by the Emperor, shoguns were usually the de facto rulers of the country, except during parts of the Kamak ...
. Other industries included
cotton
Cotton (), first recorded in ancient India, is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective case, around the seeds of the cotton plants of the genus '' Gossypium'' in the mallow family Malvaceae. The fiber is almost pure ...
and complex mechanical dolls called ''
karakuri ningyō
are traditional Japanese mechanized puppets or automata, made from the 17th century to the 19th century. The dolls' gestures provided a form of entertainment. The word has also come to mean "mechanisms" or "trick" in Japanese. It is used to ...
''.
;Taisho period
Mitsubishi Aircraft Company was established in 1920 in Nagoya and became one of the largest aircraft manufacturers in Japan. The availability of space and the central location of the region and the well-established connectivity were some of the major factors that lead to the establishment of the aviation industry there.
File:Photo of Nagoya Town, 1880-1890.jpg, Photo of Nagoya, 1880–1890
File:Nagoya Station 1886.jpg, Nagoya Station
is a major railway station in Nakamura-ku, Nagoya, Japan. It is Japan's, and one of the world's largest train stations by floor area (410,000 m2), and houses the headquarters of the Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central). Much of this space ...
in 1886
File:Nagoya-Hirokoji_in_the_Meiji_era.JPG, Hirokoji in Nagoya during the Meiji era
The was an Japanese era name, era of History of Japan, Japanese history that extended from October 23, 1868, to July 30, 1912. The Meiji era was the first half of the Empire of Japan, when the Japanese people moved from being an isolated feu ...
File:御大典奉祝名古屋博覧会 正門.jpg, Main Gate of the Nagoya Expo in Tsuruma Park
Tsuruma Park (鶴舞公園) is a park located in Shōwa-ku, Nagoya, Shōwa-ku, Nagoya, Nagoya city, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
History
The park's history goes back to the year 1909. In 1910, the 10th Kansai Area Prefectural Union Joint Exposit ...
, 1928
File:Nagoya map circa 1930.PNG, Nagoya map circa 1930
File:Toyota Motor Corporation Koromo plant in 1938.jpg, Toyota Motor Corporation
is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive manufacturer headquartered in Toyota City, Aichi, Japan. It was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda and incorporated on August 28, 1937. Toyota is the List of manuf ...
Koromo plant (now the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology
The , also known as Toyota Tecno Museum, is a technology museum located in Nishi-ku in the city of Nagoya, central Japan.
History
Toyota started as a textile firm and evolved over decades into an international automobile producer. The museum ...
) in 1938
File:TBCN Kakunai Line.JPG, Nagoya City Hall
is the city hall of the city of Nagoya, Japan.
It is designed in the Imperial Crown style, a fusion Japanese and modern style. It survived the bombings of World War II and is registered as a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan.
It is located ...
in the Showa period
;Pacific War and post-war years
Nagoya was the target of
air raids during the
Pacific War
The Pacific War, sometimes called the Asia–Pacific War or the Pacific Theatre, was the Theater (warfare), theatre of World War II fought between the Empire of Japan and the Allies of World War II, Allies in East Asia, East and Southeast As ...
. The population of Nagoya at this time was estimated to be 1.5million, fourth among Japanese cities and one of the three largest centers of the Japanese aircraft industry. It was estimated that 25% of its workers were engaged in aircraft production. Important Japanese aircraft targets (numbers 193, 194, 198, 2010, and 1729) were within the city itself, while others (notably 240 and 1833) were to the north of
Kagamigahara. It was estimated that they produced between 40% and 50% of Japanese combat aircraft and engines, such as the vital
Mitsubishi A6M Zero
The Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" is a long-range carrier-capable fighter aircraft formerly manufactured by Mitsubishi Aircraft Company, a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. It was operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) from 1940 to 1945. The ...
fighter. The Nagoya area also produced machine tools, bearings, railway equipment, metal alloys, tanks, motor vehicles and processed foods during the war.
Air raids began on April 18, 1942, with an
attack on a
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational engineering, electrical equipment and electronics corporation headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. MHI is one of the core companies of the Mitsubishi Group and its automobile division is the prede ...
aircraft works, the Matsuhigecho oil warehouse, the Nagoya Castle military barracks and the Nagoya war industries plant. The bombing continued through the spring of 1945, and included large-scale
firebombing
Firebombing is a bombing technique designed to damage a target, generally an urban area, through the use of fire, caused by incendiary devices, rather than from the blast effect of large bombs. In popular usage, any act in which an incendiary d ...
. Nagoya was the target of two of
Bomber Command
Bomber Command is an organisational military unit, generally subordinate to the air force of a country. The best known were in Britain and the United States. A Bomber Command is generally used for strategic bombing (although at times, e.g. during t ...
's attacks. These incendiary attacks, one by day and one by night, devastated . The
XXI Bomber Command
The XXI Bomber Command was a unit of the Twentieth Air Force in the Mariana Islands for strategic bombing during World War II.
The command was established at Smoky Hill Army Air Field, Kansas on 1 March 1944. After a period of organization and ...
established a new
U.S. Army Air Force record with the greatest tonnage ever released on a single target in one mission—3,162 tons of incendiaries. It also destroyed or damaged twenty-eight of the numbered targets and raised the area burned to almost one-fourth of the entire city. Nagoya Castle, which was being used as a military command post, was hit and mostly destroyed on May 14, 1945, followed by the
Yokkaichi bombing in June 1945. Reconstruction of the main building was completed in 1959. Later in the same year on July 26, 1945, the ''
Enola Gay
The ''Enola Gay'' () is a Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomber, named after Enola Gay Tibbets, the mother of the pilot, Colonel (United States), Colonel Paul Tibbets. On 6 August 1945, during the final stages of World War II, it became the Atomi ...
'' also dropped a conventional
pumpkin bomb
Pumpkin bombs were conventional aerial bombs developed by the Manhattan Project and used by the United States Army Air Forces against Japan during World War II. Its physical characteristics closely replicated those of the Fat Man plutonium b ...
in the
Yagoto
is a neighbourhood that straddles Mizuho ward, Shōwa ward, and Tempaku ward in eastern Nagoya, central Japan.
History
The area is also known as Yagotoyama.
During the Edo period, the area thrived as a pilgrimage area with various temple ...
area of Nagoya as part of a bombing raid in order to train for their mission to
Hiroshima
is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture in Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 1,199,391. The gross domestic product (GDP) in Greater Hiroshima, Hiroshima Urban Employment Area, was US$61.3 billion as of 2010. Kazumi Matsui has b ...
. In 1959, the city was flooded and severely damaged by the
Ise-wan Typhoon
Typhoon Vera, also known as the , was an exceptionally intense tropical cyclone that struck Japan in September 1959, becoming the strongest and deadliest typhoon on record to make landfall (meteorology), landfall on the country, as well as ...
.
Contemporary period
After the war the city was able to rebuild and take up its role again as one of the country's leading industrial and manufacturing centers, it became known as the "
Houston
Houston ( ) is the List of cities in Texas by population, most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas and in the Southern United States. Located in Southeast Texas near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, it is the county seat, seat of ...
and
Montreal
Montreal is the List of towns in Quebec, largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Quebec, the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-largest in Canada, and the List of North American cit ...
of the Orient". It also plays an increasing role in the
meetings, incentives, conferencing, exhibitions
Meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions tourism (MICE tourism) is a type of tourism in which large groups, usually planned well in advance, are brought together. Recently there has been an industry trend toward using the term "meetin ...
(MICE) industry, hosting the
Expo 2005
Expo 2005 was a world expo held for 185 days between Friday, March 25 and Sunday, September 25, 2005, in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, east of the city of Nagoya. Japan has also hosted Expo '70 Osaka (World Expo), Expo '75 Okinawa (Specialised Expo) ...
and the
Nagoya Protocol
The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization to the Convention on Biological Diversity, also known as the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS), is ...
conference in 2010.
File:Burning Nagoya Castle-2.JPG, Nagoya Castle on fire 1945
File:Nagoya after the 1945 air raid.JPG, View of Nagoya after the bombing
A bomb is an explosive weapon that uses the exothermic reaction of an explosive material to provide an extremely sudden and violent release of energy. Detonations inflict damage principally through ground- and atmosphere-transmitted mechan ...
in 1945
File:Typhoon Vera 1959 CBC Location.jpg, Damage from the Ise-wan Typhoon (Typhoon Vera
Typhoon Vera, also known as the , was an exceptionally intense tropical cyclone that struck Japan in September 1959, becoming the strongest and deadliest typhoon on record to make landfall (meteorology), landfall on the country, as well as ...
) in 1959
File:Expo2005 Overview.jpg, The Expo 2005
Expo 2005 was a world expo held for 185 days between Friday, March 25 and Sunday, September 25, 2005, in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, east of the city of Nagoya. Japan has also hosted Expo '70 Osaka (World Expo), Expo '75 Okinawa (Specialised Expo) ...
was the second world's fair
A world's fair, also known as a universal exhibition, is a large global exhibition designed to showcase the achievements of nations. These exhibitions vary in character and are held in different parts of the world at a specific site for a perio ...
held in Japan.
File:Nagoya-city-1945-post-WWII-GAG01.jpg, 1945, after WWII
Geography and administrative divisions
Geography
Nagoya lies north of
Ise Bay
is a bay located at the mouth of the Kiso Three Rivers between Mie prefecture, Mie and Aichi prefecture, Aichi Prefectures in Japan. Ise Bay has an average depth of and a maximum depth of . The mouth of the bay is and is connected to the small ...
on the
Nōbi Plain
The is a large plain in Japan that stretches from the Mino area of southwest Gifu Prefecture to the Owari area of northwest Aichi Prefecture and extreme northern Mie Prefecture, covering an area of approximately . . The city was built on low-level
plateau
In geology and physical geography, a plateau (; ; : plateaus or plateaux), also called a high plain or a tableland, is an area of a highland consisting of flat terrain that is raised sharply above the surrounding area on at least one side. ...
s to ward off floodwaters. The plain is one of the nation's most fertile areas. The
Kiso River
The is a river in the Chubu region of Japan roughly long, flowing through the prefectures of Nagano, Gifu, Aichi, and Mie before emptying into Ise Bay a short distance away from the city of Nagoya.Nussbaum, Louis Frédéric ''et al.'' (200 ...
flows to the west along the city border, and the
Shōnai River
The is a Class 1 river flowing through Gifu and Aichi prefectures in Japan. In Gifu Prefecture, it is also referred to as the Toki River (土岐川 ''Toki-gawa''); around the city of Kasugai in Aichi Prefecture, it is referred to as the Tam ...
comes from the northeast and turns south towards the bay at Nishi Ward. The human-made
Hori River
The flows north to south through Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, and is part of the Shōnai River system.
History
The river is a man-made canal excavated in 1610 by order of Fukushima Masanori to allow ships to bring goods to the city. The riv ...
was constructed as a canal in 1610. It flows from north to south, as part of the Shōnai River system. The rivers allowed for trade with the hinterland. The Tempaku River feeds from a number of smaller river in the east, flows briefly south at Nonami and then west at Ōdaka into the bay.
The city's location and its position in the
centre of Japan allowed it to develop economically and politically.
File:Nobi_Plain_from_Mount_Miroku.JPG, Nagoya and Nobi Plain seen from Mirokuzan (Kasugai city
is a Cities of Japan, city in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 306,764, and a population density of 3,306 persons per km2. The total area of the city is . The city is sometimes called Owarikasugai to avoid confus ...
)
File:Nobi Plain and Nagoya from Mount Sanpo 2008-9-24.jpg, View of the Nōbi Plain, Kiso Three Rivers
The are the three major rivers that make up the alluvial plain area of the Nōbi Plain of Japan. The three rivers are the Kiso River, the Ibi River and the Nagara River. Given their location, they are sometimes referred to as the Nōbi Three R ...
and Nagoya from Mount Sanpo and Mount Yōrō
File:Aerial photographs of Nagoya Night view.jpg, Aerial photographs of Nagoya
File:Nagoya_Port_Aichi_pref_Japan01s8.jpg, Nagoya Port in 2013
Climate
Nagoya has a
humid subtropical climate
A humid subtropical climate is a subtropical -temperate climate type, characterized by long and hot summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between ...
(
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...
: ''Cfa'') with hot, humid summers and cool winters. The summer is noticeably wetter than the winter, although rain falls throughout the year.
Area
Wards

Nagoya has 16
wards.
Demographics

One of the earliest
census
A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...
es, carried out in 1889, counted 157,496 residents. The population reached the 1million mark in 1934 and as of December 2010 had an estimated population of 2,259,993 with a
population density
Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geog ...
of . Also an estimated 1,019,859 households resided there—a significant increase from 153,370 at the end of the
Pacific War
The Pacific War, sometimes called the Asia–Pacific War or the Pacific Theatre, was the Theater (warfare), theatre of World War II fought between the Empire of Japan and the Allies of World War II, Allies in East Asia, East and Southeast As ...
in 1945.
The area is . Its
metropolitan area
A metropolitan area or metro is a region consisting of a densely populated urban area, urban agglomeration and its surrounding territories which share Industry (economics), industries, commercial areas, Transport infrastructure, transport network ...
extends into the
Mie and
Gifu
is a Cities of Japan, city located in the south-central portion of Gifu Prefecture, Japan, and serves as the prefectural capital. The city has played an important role in Japan's history because of its location in the middle of the country. Durin ...
prefectures, with a total population of about 10million people, surpassed only by Osaka and Tokyo.
Surrounding municipalities
*
Aichi Prefecture
is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshū. Aichi Prefecture has a population of 7,461,111 () and a geographic area of with a population density of . Aichi Prefecture borders Mie Prefecture to the ...
**
Ama
**
Kanie
is a List of towns in Japan, town located in Ama District, Aichi, Ama District, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. , the town had an estimated population of 37,082 in 16,647 households, and a population density of 3,344 persons per km2. The total area of ...
**
Kasugai
**
Kitanagoya
is a city in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 86,068 in 36,904 households, and a population density of . The total area of the city is . Kitanagoya is a member of the World Health Organization’s Alliance for ...
**
Kiyosu
is a city in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 69,687 in 29,477 households, and a population density of 4,017 persons per km2. The total area of the city is .
Geography
Kiyosu is located in far western Aichi Pr ...
**
Nagakute
is a city located in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 61,503 in 24,352 households, and a population density of 2,854 persons per km2. The total area of the city is . Nagakute is a member of the World Health Organ ...
**
Nisshin
**
Ōbu
is a Cities of Japan, city located in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 92,179 in 39,382 households, and a population density of 2,739 persons per km2. The total area of the city is . Ōbu has been a member of the ...
**
Ōharu
**
Owariasahi
is a city located in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 81,954 in 35,583 households, and a population density of 3,897 persons per km². The total area of the city is .
Geography
Owariasahi is located in west-ce ...
**
Seto
Seto may refer to:
Places
*Seto, Aichi, production place of Japanese pottery and venue of Expo 2005
* Seto, Ehime, facing the Seto Inland Sea
* Seto, Okayama, adjacent to Okayama, in Okayama Prefecture
*Seto Inland Sea of Japan
*Setomaa (''Seto ...
**
Tobishima
Meiko West Bridge
is a village located in Ama District, Aichi Prefecture, in the Tōkai region of Japan. , the town had an estimated population of 4,609 in 1765 households, and a population density of 206 persons per km². The total area of ...
**
Tōgō
**
Tōkai
**
Toyoake
**
Toyoyama
is a town located in Nishikasugai District, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. , the town had an estimated population of 15,630 in 6,757 households, and a population density of 2,529 persons per km2. The total area of the town is .
Geography
Toyoyama ...
Public services
Police
;
Aichi Prefectural Police
The is the prefectural police force responsible, under the control of the Aichi Prefectural Public Safety Commission, for policing Aichi Prefecture.
The mascot character is "Konoha-keibu", or "Chief Inspector Konoha" (Japanese: コノハ� ...
*Atsuta Police Station
*Chikusa Police Station
*Higashi Police Station
*Kita Police Station
*Meito Police Station
*Midori Police Station
*Minami Police Station
*Minato Police Station
*Mizuho Police Station
*Moriyama Police Station
*Naka Police Station
*Nakagawa Police Station
*Nakamura Police Station
*Nishi Police Station
*Showa Police Station
*Tenpaku Police Station
Firefighting
;Nagoya City Fire Bureau
*Atsuta Fire Department
*Chikusa Fire Department
*Higashi Fire Department
*Kita Fire Department
*Meito Fire Department
*Midori Fire Department
*Minami Fire Department
*Minato Fire Department
*Mizuho Fire Department
*Moriyama Fire Department
*Naka Fire Department
*Nakagawa Fire Department
*Nakamura Fire Department
*Nishi Fire Department
*Showa Fire Department
*Tenpaku Fire Department
Health care
;Hospital
*Chubu Rosai Hospital
*Social Insurance Chukyo Hospital
*Nagoya City East Medical Center
*
Nagoya City West Medical Center
*Nagoya City University Hospital
*Nagoya Daiichi Red Cross Hospital
*Nagoya Daini Red Cross Hospital
*Nagoya Ekisaikai Hospital
*Nagoya Memorial Hospital
*Nagoya University Hospital
*National Hospital Organization Nagoya Medical Center
Post office
*Atsuta Post Office
*Chikusa Post Office
*Meito Post Office
*Mizuho Post Office
*Moriyama Post Office
*Nagoya Central Post Office
*Nagoya Higashi Post Office
*Nagoya Jingu Post Office
*Nagoya Kita Post Office
*Nagoya Midori Post Office
*Nagoya Minami Post Office
*Nagoya Minato Post Office
*Nagoya Naka Post Office
*Nagoya Nishi Post Office
*Nakagawa Post Office
*Nakamura Post Office
*Showa Post Office
*Tenpaku Post Office
Library
*Aichi Prefectural Library
*Nagoya City Library
*Nagoya City Atsuta Library
*Nagoya City Chikusa Library
*Nagoya City Higashi Library
*Nagoya City Kita Library
*Nagoya City Kusunoki Library
*Nagoya City Meito Library
*Nagoya City Midori Library
*Nagoya City Minami Library
*Nagoya City Minato Library
*Nagoya City Mizuho Library
*Nagoya City Moriyama Library
*Nagoya City Nakagawa Library
*Nagoya City Nanyo Library
*Nagoya City Nishi Library
*Nagoya City Nakamura Library
*Nagoya City Shidami Library
*Nagoya City Tenpaku Library
*Nagoya City Tokushige Library
*Nagoya City Tomida Library
*Nagoya City Tsuruma Library
*Nagoya City Yamada Library
Playhouses and cultural facilities
*
Aichi Arts Center
*Atsuta Playhouse
*Chikusa Playhouse
*
Chunichi Theatre
was a venue for the performing arts in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture
is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshū. Aichi Prefecture has a population of 7,461,111 () and a geographic area of with a po ...
*Higashi Playhouse
*Kita Playhouse
*Meito Playhouse
*Midori Playhouse
*Minami Playhouse
*Minato Playhouse
*
Misono-za
*Mizuho Playhouse
*Moriyama Playhouse
*Munetsugu Hall
*Nagoya Citizens' Auditorium
*
Nagoya Noh Theater
The Nagoya Noh Theater (名古屋能楽堂) is a Noh drama theatre building located in the city of Nagoya, central Japan.
History
The history of Noh in Owari Province dates back to the heyday of feudal rule, when performances were shown at ...
*Nakagawa Playhouse
*Nakamura Playhouse
*Nishi Playhouse
*Osu Engeijo
*Showa Playhouse
*Shirakawa Hall
*Tenpaku Playhouse
File:国立名古屋医療センター - panoramio.jpg, National Hospital Organization Nagoya Medical Center
File:JR Gate Tower and JP Tower Nagoya.jpg, JP Tower Nagoya (Nagoya central Post office)
File:Aichi Prefectural Library 1F hall ac.jpg, Aichi Prefectural Library
File:Misonoza-1.jpg, Misono-za
Sister cities
The
Nagoya International Center
The Nagoya International Center (''Japanese: ''名古屋国際センター ''Nagoya Kokusai Sentaa'') is a non-profit organization based in Nakamura-ku, Nagoya, Japan. The center was established in 1984 and is known locally as the "NIC."
Descr ...
promotes international exchange in the local community. It houses the U.S. Consulate on the 6th floor and the United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD) on the 7th floor.
Nagoya is
twinned with:
International
;Sister cities
The sister city relationship with
Nanjing
Nanjing or Nanking is the capital of Jiangsu, a province in East China. The city, which is located in the southwestern corner of the province, has 11 districts, an administrative area of , and a population of 9,423,400.
Situated in the Yang ...
, China was suspended on February 21, 2012, following public comments by Nagoya mayor
Takashi Kawamura denying the
Nanjing Massacre
The Nanjing Massacre, or the Rape of Nanjing (formerly Chinese postal romanization, romanized as ''Nanking'') was the mass murder of Chinese civilians, noncombatants, and surrendered prisoners of war by the Imperial Japanese Army in Nanji ...
.
;Partner cities
National
;Partner city
Sister airport
Nagoya Airfield
, also known as Komaki Airport or Nagoya Airport, is an airport within the local government areas of Toyoyama, Komaki, Kasugai and Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Prior to 2005 it was an international airport, but is now a domestic secon ...
's sister airport is:
*
Grant County International Airport
Grant County International Airport is a public use airport located northwest of the central business district of Moses Lake in Grant County, Washington, United States. Formerly a military facility, the airport is owned by the Port of Moses ...
,
WA, United States (2016)
Economy

Nagoya is the center of
Greater Nagoya, which earned nearly 70 percent of Japan's 2003 trade surplus.
Automotive industry
Nagoya's main industry is automotive.
Toyota
is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive manufacturer headquartered in Toyota City, Aichi, Japan. It was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda and incorporated on August 28, 1937. Toyota is the List of manuf ...
's luxury brand
Lexus
is the luxury vehicle division of the Japanese automaker Toyota, Toyota Motor Corporation. The Lexus brand is marketed in more than 90 countries and territories worldwide and is Japan's largest-selling make of premium cars. It has ranked amon ...
,
Denso
is a global automotive components manufacturer headquartered in the city of Kariya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
After becoming independent from Toyota Motor, the company was founded as in 1949. About 25% of the company is owned by Toyota. Despi ...
,
Aisin Seiki Co.
is a Japanese corporation that develops and produces components and systems for the automotive industry. Aisin is a Fortune Global 500 company, ranked 359 rankings. Aisin is a member of the Toyota Group of companies.
Aisin was founded in 1965 ...
,
Toyota Industries
is a Japanese machine maker. Originally, and still actively (), a manufacturer of automatic looms, it is the company from which Toyota Motor Corporation developed. It is the world's largest manufacturer of forklift trucks measured by revenues. ...
,
JTEKT
JTEKT Corporation TYO: 6473.T is a Japanese corporation created in January 2006 upon the merger of two companies: Koyo Seiko Co. and ''Toyoda Machine Works''.
Toyoda Machine Works, Machine tool sales for North, Central and South America, afterm ...
and
Toyota Boshoku
is a Japanese automotive component manufacturer. It is a member of the Toyota Group of companies. Toyota Boshoku Corporation entered the North American market via Toyota Boshoku America (located, inter alia, in Erlanger, Kentucky).
History
Toy ...
have their headquarters in or near Nagoya.
Mitsubishi Motors
is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automobile manufacturer headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. has an
R&D division in the suburb of
Okazaki Okazaki may refer to:
*Okazaki (surname)
*Okazaki, Aichi, a city in Japan
*Okazaki Castle, a castle in Japan
*Okazaki fragments
Okazaki fragments are short sequences of DNA nucleotides (approximately 150 to 200 base pairs long in eukaryotes) w ...
. Major component suppliers such as
Magna International
Magna International Inc. is a Canadian parts manufacturer for automakers. It is one of the largest companies in Canada and was recognized on the 2020 ''Forbes'' Global 2000. The company is the largest automobile parts manufacturer in North Amer ...
and
PPG PPG may stand for:
Science and technology
* Pacific Proving Grounds, a former US-operated nuclear test site
* Photoplethysmograph, an optically obtained volumetric measurement of an organ
* Pterygopalatine ganglion, one of the four Parasympathet ...
also have a strong presence here.
Spark plug
A spark plug (sometimes, in British English, a sparking plug, and, colloquially, a plug) is a device for delivering electric current from an ignition system to the combustion chamber of a spark-ignition engine to ignite the compressed fuel/air ...
maker
NGK
is a public company established in 1936 and based in Nagoya, Japan. Formerly known as NGK Spark Plug Co. Ltd., the company’s automotive business (with its brands NGK Ignition Parts and NTK Vehicle Electronics) revolves around the manufacturin ...
and
Nippon Sharyo
, formed in 1896, is a major rolling stock, Heavy equipment, heavy equipment, Diesel generator, generator, Special-purpose entity, special purpose vehicle and bridge manufacturer based in Nagoya, Japan. In 1996, it abbreviated its ...
, known for manufacturing
rolling stock
The term rolling stock in the rail transport industry refers to railway vehicles, including both powered and unpowered vehicles: for example, locomotives, Railroad car#Freight cars, freight and Passenger railroad car, passenger cars (or coaches) ...
including the
Shinkansen
The , colloquially known in English as the bullet train, is a network of high-speed railway lines in Japan. It was initially built to connect distant Japanese regions with Tokyo, the capital, to aid economic growth and development. Beyond lon ...
are headquartered there.
Aviation industry
The aviation history has historically been of importance since the industrialization. During the Second World War the
Mitsubishi A6M Zero
The Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" is a long-range carrier-capable fighter aircraft formerly manufactured by Mitsubishi Aircraft Company, a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. It was operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) from 1940 to 1945. The ...
fighter was constructed in Nagoya. The aviation tradition continues with
Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation
, abbreviated MITAC, was a Japanese company that developed, produced, sold and supported the Mitsubishi SpaceJet (formerly MRJ) passenger airliners. The manufacturing of the aircraft was planned to be carried out by parent company Mitsubishi He ...
headquartered in the
Nagoya Airfield
, also known as Komaki Airport or Nagoya Airport, is an airport within the local government areas of Toyoyama, Komaki, Kasugai and Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Prior to 2005 it was an international airport, but is now a domestic secon ...
's terminal building in
Komaki
is a city located in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 148,872 in 68,174 households, and a population density of . The total area of the city was . Komaki is commonly associated with the former Komaki Airport, whi ...
. The
Mitsubishi Regional Jet
The Mitsubishi SpaceJet (, originally named ''Mitsubishi Regional Jet'') was a regional jet project by Japanese company Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation (MAC), a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) subsidiary.
MHI first announced the concept in Ju ...
(MRJ) aircraft is produced at a factory adjacent to the airport. The MRJ is a partnership between majority owner Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Toyota with design assistance from Toyota affiliate
Subaru Corporation
, formerly , is a Japanese multinational corporation and conglomerate primarily involved in both terrestrial and aerospace transportation manufacturing. It is best known for its line of Subaru automobiles. Founded in 1953, the company was nam ...
, already a manufacturer of aircraft. It is the first airliner designed and produced in Japan since the
NAMC YS-11
The NAMC YS-11 is a turboprop airliner designed and built by the Nihon Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation (NAMC), a Japanese consortium. It was the only post-war airliner to be wholly designed and manufactured in Japan until the development of t ...
of the 1960s.
[Anselmo, Joe.]
Milestone for the MRJ
''Aviation Week & Space Technology
''Aviation Week & Space Technology'', often abbreviated ''Aviation Week'' or ''AW&ST'', is the flagship magazine of the Aviation Week Network, a division of Informa. The weekly magazine is available in print and online, reporting on the aeros ...
'', 24 October 2014. Accessed: 25 October 2014.[Mecham, Michael & Anselmo, Joe.]
Big ambitions
" ''Aviation Week & Space Technology
''Aviation Week & Space Technology'', often abbreviated ''Aviation Week'' or ''AW&ST'', is the flagship magazine of the Aviation Week Network, a division of Informa. The weekly magazine is available in print and online, reporting on the aeros ...
'', 17 March 2008. Accessed: 25 October 2014. The MRJ's first flight was on November 11, 2015.
Ceramics
Japanese pottery and porcelain
is one of the oldest Japanese crafts and art forms, dating back to the Neolithic period. Types have included earthenware, pottery, stoneware, porcelain, and blue-and-white ware. Japan has an exceptionally long and successful history of cer ...
has a long tradition due to suitable clay being available in
Owari Province
was a province of Japan in the area that today forms the western half of Aichi Prefecture, including the modern city of Nagoya. The province was created in 646. Owari bordered on Mikawa, Mino, and Ise Provinces. Owari and Mino provinces w ...
. Before and during the
Edo period
The , also known as the , is the period between 1600 or 1603 and 1868 in the history of Japan, when the country was under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate and some 300 regional ''daimyo'', or feudal lords. Emerging from the chaos of the Sengok ...
there were two main kilns in the region:
Seto
Seto may refer to:
Places
*Seto, Aichi, production place of Japanese pottery and venue of Expo 2005
* Seto, Ehime, facing the Seto Inland Sea
* Seto, Okayama, adjacent to Okayama, in Okayama Prefecture
*Seto Inland Sea of Japan
*Setomaa (''Seto ...
and
Tokoname
is a Cities of Japan, city in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 57,872 in 24,872 households, and a population density of 1,035 persons per km2. The total area of the city is .
Geography
Tokoname is located on ...
. In Nagoya Castle a type of ''oniwa-yaki'' (literally "garden ware") called
Ofukei ware was produced by the feudal lord's court. Almost every feudal lord had his own ''oniwa-yaki'', also to have gifts made. In the town itself
Toyoraku ware and
Sasashima ware
Sasashima ware (笹島焼 ''Sasashima-yaki'') is a type of Japanese pottery from Nagoya, Owari province, later Aichi prefecture, central Japan.
History
It was based in the Sasashima-chō neighbourhood, not far from Nagoya Station, today a par ...
Japanese tea utensils
are the tools and utensils used in , the Japanese way of tea.
Tea utensils can be divided into five major categories:
*
*
*
*
*
A wide range of utensils, known collectively as , is necessary for even the most basic tea ceremony. Genera ...
were made with refined tastes. Ofukei ware started under the first Owari lord
Tokugawa Yoshinao
was a Japanese ''daimyō'' of the early Edo period.
Biography
Born the ninth son of Tokugawa Ieyasu with his concubine, Okame no Kata. His childhood name was Gorōtamaru (五郎太丸). While still a young child, he was appointed leader ...
and was interrupted once, but continued on until the end of the
Edo period
The , also known as the , is the period between 1600 or 1603 and 1868 in the history of Japan, when the country was under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate and some 300 regional ''daimyo'', or feudal lords. Emerging from the chaos of the Sengok ...
. It became widely known in Japan. The lord's taste in ceramics was also imitated by other Owari samurai, such as
Hirasawa Kurō
Hirasawa Kurō (平澤九朗 1772–1840) was a Japanese ''samurai'' and potter during the late Edo period from Owari Province. He produced Shino ware tea utensils using the potter's wheel.
His style was influenced by the tastes at the Owari T ...
and
Masaki Sōzaburō
Masaki Sōzaburō (正木惣三郎 1801–50) was a Japanese ''samurai'' and potter during the Edo period from Owari Province
was a province of Japan in the area that today forms the western half of Aichi Prefecture, including the modern ci ...
, who made their own pieces.
Toyoraku ware continued on until the
Taishō era
The was a period in the history of Japan dating from 30 July 1912 to 25 December 1926, coinciding with the reign of Emperor Taishō. The new emperor was a sickly man, which prompted the shift in political power from the old oligarchic group ...
under the 8th generation. Colourful pieces and gorgeous tea utensils were highly valued. Sasashima ware also experienced its heyday during this time. Colourful and soft ceramic items such as sake and tea utensils and objects were produced and intently collected.
An early type of manufactured production was the blue-and-white
Kawana ware
refers to a type of Japanese porcelain produced in and around the area of Kawana (川名), today Kawanayama-chō (川名山町) in Shōwa-ku, Nagoya, central Japan. It is of the ''sometsuke'' (染付) blue and white pottery type, but notable ...
. With the advent of industrialization during the
Meiji era
The was an Japanese era name, era of History of Japan, Japanese history that extended from October 23, 1868, to July 30, 1912. The Meiji era was the first half of the Empire of Japan, when the Japanese people moved from being an isolated feu ...
of the late 19th century, some export wares were produced. Industrial-scale export porcelain was made by old
Noritake
, commonly known as "Noritake," is a tableware and technology company headquartered in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
History
In 1876, Ichizaemon Morimura VI and his brother Toyo founded Morimura Gumi with the intent of establishing overse ...
, also ''Nagoya E-tsuke'' () became popular.
Production of industrial ceramics continues to be an important economic factor with companies such as
INAX
is a Japanese company that manufactures plumbing fixtures, tiles, and other housing equipment.
INAX is the toilet and plumbing subsidiary of the Lixil Group
is a Japanese group of companies that manufactures building materials, plumbi ...
,
NGK
is a public company established in 1936 and based in Nagoya, Japan. Formerly known as NGK Spark Plug Co. Ltd., the company’s automotive business (with its brands NGK Ignition Parts and NTK Vehicle Electronics) revolves around the manufacturin ...
, and
NGK Insulators
is a Japanese ceramics company. It primarily produces insulators but also produces other products, especially ceramic products. NGK is headquartered in Tokyo (Marunouchi Bldg. 25F, 2-4-1, Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100–6325) and is list ...
.
Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions (MICE)
The city has an increasing role in the
meetings, incentives, conferencing, exhibitions
Meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions tourism (MICE tourism) is a type of tourism in which large groups, usually planned well in advance, are brought together. Recently there has been an industry trend toward using the term "meetin ...
(MICE) industry. It hosted in 1989 the
World Design Expo (世界デザイン博覧会) for which the
Nagoya Congress Center
The is a multi-purpose convention center, in the city of Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
The centre was constructed for the World Design Exhibition 1989 (世界デザイン博覧会). Other venues included Nagoya Castle and Nagoya Port.
It ha ...
was constructed. It hosted the
Expo 2005
Expo 2005 was a world expo held for 185 days between Friday, March 25 and Sunday, September 25, 2005, in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, east of the city of Nagoya. Japan has also hosted Expo '70 Osaka (World Expo), Expo '75 Okinawa (Specialised Expo) ...
and the
Nagoya Protocol
The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization to the Convention on Biological Diversity, also known as the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS), is ...
conference in 2010, as well as the
G20
The G20 or Group of 20 is an intergovernmental forum comprising 19 sovereign countries, the European Union (EU), and the African Union (AU). It works to address major issues related to the global economy, such as international financial stabil ...
Aichi-Nagoya Foreign Ministers' Meeting in November 2019, which was held at the
Nagoya Kanko Hotel
The Nagoya Kanko Hotel (名古屋観光ホテル) is one of the oldest city hotels in Nagoya, central Japan. It is owned by the Kowa Company. The hotel is located in the prestigious area near the Hirokoji- Fushimi intersection, Nagoya's old comme ...
and
Kawabun
The is Nagoya's oldest (traditional restaurant), located in Marunouchi 2-chome, Naka-ku, Nagoya.
History
Founded during the Edo period (1603–1867), the became a successful business that was patronised by the Owari Tokugawa rulers. In t ...
.
Technology
Mechanized puppets, called "
karakuri ningyō
are traditional Japanese mechanized puppets or automata, made from the 17th century to the 19th century. The dolls' gestures provided a form of entertainment. The word has also come to mean "mechanisms" or "trick" in Japanese. It is used to ...
", are a traditional craft from the area.
Robot
A robot is a machine—especially one Computer program, programmable by a computer—capable of carrying out a complex series of actions Automation, automatically. A robot can be guided by an external control device, or the robot control, co ...
technology is another rapidly developing industry.
A
materials engineering
Materials science is an Interdisciplinarity, interdisciplinary field of researching and discovering materials. Materials engineering is an engineering field of finding uses for materials in other fields and industries.
The intellectual origi ...
industry is developing.
Brother Industries
is a Japanese multinational corporation, multinational electronics and electrical equipment company headquartered in Nagoya, Japan. Its products include Printer (computing), printers, multifunction printers, desktop computers, consumer and indu ...
, which is known for office electronics such as
multifunction printer
An MFP (multi-function product/printer/peripheral), multi-functional, all-in-one (AIO), or multi-function device (MFD), is an office machine which incorporates the functionality of multiple devices in one, so as to have a smaller footprint in a ...
s is based in Nagoya, as is Hoshizaki Electric, which is known for commercial ice machines and refrigeration equipment. Many small
machine tool
A machine tool is a machine for handling or machining metal or other rigid materials, usually by cutting, Boring (manufacturing), boring, grinding (abrasive cutting), grinding, shearing, or other forms of deformations. Machine tools employ some s ...
and electronics companies are also based in the area.
The
World Expo 2005
Expo 2005 was a world expo held for 185 days between Friday, March 25 and Sunday, September 25, 2005, in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, east of the city of Nagoya. Japan has also hosted Expo '70 Osaka (World Expo), Expo '75 Okinawa (Specialised Expo), ...
, also known as Aichi Expo was held near Nagoya in the neighboring cities of
Nagakute
is a city located in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 61,503 in 24,352 households, and a population density of 2,854 persons per km2. The total area of the city is . Nagakute is a member of the World Health Organ ...
and
Seto
Seto may refer to:
Places
*Seto, Aichi, production place of Japanese pottery and venue of Expo 2005
* Seto, Ehime, facing the Seto Inland Sea
* Seto, Okayama, adjacent to Okayama, in Okayama Prefecture
*Seto Inland Sea of Japan
*Setomaa (''Seto ...
from March 25 to September 25, 2005.
Retail
Retail is of importance in the city. Traditional department stores with roots in Nagoya are
Matsuzakaya
(Tokyo Stock Exchange, TYO: 8235, delisted) is a major Japanese Depato, department store chain operated by Daimaru Matsuzakaya Department Stores, a subsidiary of J. Front Retailing. When the chain was an independent company, , it had its headq ...
,
Maruei
Maruei (丸栄) () is a department store in Nagoya Japan. Toyohashi Maruei (豊橋丸栄) in Toyohashi, Aichi is a subsidiary company.
Along with Matsuzakaya
(Tokyo Stock Exchange, TYO: 8235, delisted) is a major Japanese Depato, departme ...
and the
Meitetsu Department Store
is a department store chain in the Chūbu region of Japan. It is headquartered in Nagoya
is the largest city in the Chūbu region of Japan. It is the list of cities in Japan, fourth-most populous city in Japan, with a population of 2.3mil ...
.
Oriental Nakamura
was a Japanese department store
A department store is a retail establishment offering a wide range of consumer goods in different areas of the store under one roof, each area ("department") specializing in a product category. In modern m ...
was bought by Mitsukoshi from Tokyo in 1977.
Arts and crafts
The Owari province was historically well known for the ''
cloisonné
Cloisonné () is an ancient technology, ancient technique for decorating metalwork objects with colored material held in place or separated by metal strips or wire, normally of gold. In recent centuries, vitreous enamel has been used, but inla ...
'' art form. The
Ando Cloisonné Company
is a Japanese ''cloisonné'' making company located in Sakae, Nagoya, central Japan.
History
Owari province was one of the foremost production centres of enamel in the country. During the Edo period the Andō family operated a pipe shop c ...
continues the long tradition.
Others
The
confectionery
Confectionery is the Art (skill), art of making confections, or sweet foods. Confections are items that are rich in sugar and carbohydrates, although exact definitions are difficult. In general, however, confections are divided into two bro ...
company
Marukawa
is a Japanese manufacturer of confectioneries. Its head office is in Nishi-ku, Nagoya.[Company Profile]
." Marukawa. Retriev ...
is well known.
The city offers venues for conferences and congresses such as the
Nagoya Congress Center
The is a multi-purpose convention center, in the city of Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
The centre was constructed for the World Design Exhibition 1989 (世界デザイン博覧会). Other venues included Nagoya Castle and Nagoya Port.
It ha ...
and the Nagoya International Exhibition Hall.
Education

Nagoya has mostly state-run primary and secondary schools. The area in the city limits includes international schools such as the
Nagoya International School
Nagoya International School (NIS) is a private non-sectarian day international school in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan. Instruction is in English. The co-educational school serves students in preschool through high school. Graduates earn a standard NIS di ...
and Colégio Brasil Japão Prof. Shinoda
Brazilian school.
Universities
State and private colleges and universities primarily located in the eastern area. Some Western-style institutions were founded early in the
Meiji era
The was an Japanese era name, era of History of Japan, Japanese history that extended from October 23, 1868, to July 30, 1912. The Meiji era was the first half of the Empire of Japan, when the Japanese people moved from being an isolated feu ...
, with more opening during the
Taishō and
Shōwa
Shōwa most commonly refers to:
* Hirohito (1901–1989), the 124th Emperor of Japan, known posthumously as Emperor Shōwa
** Shōwa era (昭和), the era of Hirohito from 1926 to 1989
* Showa Corporation, a Japanese suspension and shock manufactu ...
eras.
Nagoya University
, abbreviated to or NU, is a Japanese national research university located in Chikusa-ku, Nagoya.
It was established in 1939 as the last of the nine Imperial Universities in the then Empire of Japan, and is now a Designated National Universit ...
was set up in 1871 as a medical school and has produced seven
Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prizes ( ; ; ) are awards administered by the Nobel Foundation and granted in accordance with the principle of "for the greatest benefit to humankind". The prizes were first awarded in 1901, marking the fifth anniversary of Alfred N ...
laureates in science.
Nanzan University
is a Private university, private, Catholic and Mixed-sex education, coeducational higher education institution run by the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) in the Shōwa-ku, Nagoya, Shōwa Ward of Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. It is consi ...
was established by the Roman Catholic
Society of the Divine Word
The Society of the Divine Word (), abbreviated SVD and popularly called the Verbites or the Divine Word Missionaries, and sometimes the Steyler Missionaries, is a Catholic clerical religious congregation of Pontifical Right for men. As of 2020, i ...
in 1932 as a high school and expanded to include
Nanzan Junior College and the
Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture The is one of the largest centers in the world devoted to scholarly research on the interface of philosophy and religions within the East and West. Founded in 1976 on the campus of Nanzan University, it has established itself in Japan and around th ...
. The main campus was designed in the 1960s by the renowned architect
Antonin Raymond
Antonin Raymond (or ), born as Antonín Reimann (10 May 1888 – 25 October 1976)"Deaths Elsewhere", ''Miami Herald'', 30 October 1976, p. 10 was a Czech American architect. Raymond was born and studied in Bohemia (now part of the Czech Republic ...
. Some universities specialise in engineering and technology, such as Nagoya University Engineering school,
Nagoya Institute of Technology
The , abbreviated to Nitech (or in Japanese to 名工大, ''Meikōdai''), is a public educational institution of science and technology located in Nagoya, Japan.
Nitech was founded in 1905 as ''Nagoya Higher Technical School'', then renamed ''Na ...
and
Toyota Technological Institute
The (commonly referred to as TTI) is a university located in Nagoya, Japan. Founded in 1981 by a large endowment from Toyota Motor Corporation, it originally only accepted students with some industrial work experience.
Programs
TTI has a Scho ...
; these universities receive support and grants from companies such as
Toyota
is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive manufacturer headquartered in Toyota City, Aichi, Japan. It was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda and incorporated on August 28, 1937. Toyota is the List of manuf ...
.
Other colleges and universities include:
Aichi Prefectural College of Nursing & Health,
Aichi Shukutoku Junior College,
Aichi Toho University,
Chukyo University
is a private university in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, with campuses in Nagoya and Toyota. The main building is located in Yagoto, Shōwa-ku, Nagoya.
Campus
File:View of Chukyo University (1), Yamanote-tori Showa Ward Nagoya 2022.jpg, Nagoya C ...
,
Daido University
is a coeducational private university in Minami-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
History
The university began as the Daido Technical-Educational Foundation in 1939. In 1969, the school became the Daido Institute of Technology. The universi ...
,
Doho University
is a private university in Nakamura-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. The predecessor of the school was founded in 1826, and it was chartered in 1950. It includes the Nagoya College of Music (名古屋音楽大学, ''Nagoya Ongaku Daigaku''), ...
,
Kinjo Gakuin University
is a private women's university in Moriyama-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
History
The predecessor of the school was founded in 1889. It was chartered as a university in 1949. The university is named after Nagoya Castle, which has h ...
,
Kinjo Gakuin University Junior College
was a junior college in Moriyama-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Established in 1950, it stopped recruiting new students in 2002.
See also
* Kinjo Gakuin University
is a private women's university in Moriyama-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefe ...
,
Meijo University
is a private university in Japan. Its main campus is in Tempaku-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, and it has two other campuses in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture. It had two faculty members who were Nobel laureates as of 2021.
History
The name Meij� ...
,
Nagoya City University
, abbreviated to , is a public university in Japan. The main campus (Kawasumi) is located in Mizuho-ku, Nagoya City. Other three campuses (Yamanohata, Tanabe-dori and Kita Chikusa) are also located in the city.
History
Nagoya City Universit ...
,
Nagoya College of Music
is a private university at Nakamura-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan
Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Jap ...
,
Nagoya Future Culture College,
Nagoya Gakuin University
is a private university located in Nagoya, Japan (名古屋市). Founded in 1887 by Dr. Frederick C. Klein, an American Methodist minister, as Aichi English School; the present-day university was established in 1964 with the Faculty of Economi ...
,
Nagoya Management Junior College,
Nagoya Women's University
is a private women's university in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends ...
,
St. Mary's College, Nagoya,
Sugiyama Jogakuen University
is a private women's college in Hoshigaoka in Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Japan, with a subsidiary campus in the city of Nisshin. The predecessor of the school was founded in 1905 as a sewing school, and it was chartered as a university in 1949.
Local ...
,
Sugiyama Jogakuen University Junior College,
Tokai Gakuen Women's College
was a junior college in Tenpaku-ku, Nagoya, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan
Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea o ...
. Various universities from outside Nagoya have set up satellite campuses, such as
Tokyo University of Social Welfare.
The
Hōsa Library
The Hōsa Library (蓬左文庫) is a library located on the compound of the ''Ōzone Shimoyashiki'' in Nagoya, central Japan.
History
Tokugawa Yoshinao, the first lord of the Owari Domain, established it as an official archive. It was transfe ...
dates to the 17th century and houses 110,000 items, including books of classic literature such as historic editions of ''
The Tale of Genji
is a classic work of Japanese literature written by the noblewoman, poet, and lady-in-waiting Murasaki Shikibu around the peak of the Heian period, in the early 11th century. It is one of history's first novels, the first by a woman to have wo ...
'' that are an heirloom of the
Owari Tokugawa
The is a branch of the Tokugawa clan, and it is the seniormost house of the '' Gosanke'' ("three honourable houses of the Tokugawa").[Nagoya City Archives
Nagoya City Archives (名古屋市市政資料館) is a historic building located in the city of Nagoya, central Japan
Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland ...](_blank)
store a large collection of documents and books.
Tsuruma Central Library
is a public library serving Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.
It is a central library of the consisting of 20 buildings. It was established in 1923 but burned down in 1945 in the Second World War and reopened in 1952. It is closed every Monday, unless tha ...
is a public library and
Nagoya International Center
The Nagoya International Center (''Japanese: ''名古屋国際センター ''Nagoya Kokusai Sentaa'') is a non-profit organization based in Nakamura-ku, Nagoya, Japan. The center was established in 1984 and is known locally as the "NIC."
Descr ...
has a collection of foreign-language books.
;National Universities
*
*
;Prefectural University
*
*
;Private Universities
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Transport
Airways
Airport
Nagoya is served by
Chubu Centrair International Airport
is an international airport on an artificial island (which also houses the ) in Ise Bay, Tokoname City in Aichi Prefecture, south of Nagoya in central Japan. The airport covers about 470 hectares (1,161 acres) of land and has one runway.
...
(NGO), built on an artificial island in
Tokoname
is a Cities of Japan, city in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 57,872 in 24,872 households, and a population density of 1,035 persons per km2. The total area of the city is .
Geography
Tokoname is located on ...
. The airport has international flights and a high volume of domestic flights.
A second airport is
Nagoya Airfield
, also known as Komaki Airport or Nagoya Airport, is an airport within the local government areas of Toyoyama, Komaki, Kasugai and Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Prior to 2005 it was an international airport, but is now a domestic secon ...
(Komaki Airport, NKM) near the city's boundary with
Komaki
is a city located in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 148,872 in 68,174 households, and a population density of . The total area of the city was . Komaki is commonly associated with the former Komaki Airport, whi ...
and
Kasugai. On February 17, 2005, Nagoya Airport's commercial international flights moved to Centrair Airport. Nagoya Airfield is now used for
general aviation
General aviation (GA) is defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) as all civil aviation aircraft operations except for commercial air transport or aerial work, which is defined as specialized aviation services for other ...
and as an
airbase
An airbase (stylised air base in American English), sometimes referred to as a military airbase, military airfield, military airport, air station, naval air station, air force station, or air force base, is an aerodrome or airport used as a mi ...
and is the main
Fuji Dream Airlines
is a Japanese regional airline headquartered in Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture. It operates a fleet of 15 Embraer E-Jets with bases at Fukuoka Airport, Kobe Airport, Nagoya Airfield and Shizuoka Airport. The airline commenced ...
hub.
Railways
Nagoya Station
is a major railway station in Nakamura-ku, Nagoya, Japan. It is Japan's, and one of the world's largest train stations by floor area (410,000 m2), and houses the headquarters of the Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central). Much of this space ...
, the world's largest train station by floor area, is on the
Tōkaidō Shinkansen
The is a Japanese high-speed rail line that is part of the nationwide Shinkansen network. Along with the San'yō Shinkansen, it forms a continuous high-speed railway through the Taiheiyō Belt, also known as the Tokaido corridor. Opening in 19 ...
line, the
Tōkaidō Main Line
The Tōkaidō Main Line () is one of the most important railway corridors in Japan, connecting the major cities of Tokyo and Kobe via Shizuoka (city), Shizuoka, Nagoya, Kyoto and Osaka. The line, with termini at Tokyo Station, Tokyo and Kōbe St ...
, and the
Chūō Main Line
The , commonly called the Chūō Line, is one of the major trunk railway lines in Japan. It connects Tokyo and Nagoya, although it is the slowest direct railway connection between the two cities; the coastal Tōkaidō Main Line is slightly faste ...
, among others.
JR Central
is the main railway company operating in the Chūbu (Nagoya) region of central Japan. It is officially abbreviated in English as JR Central and occasionally as JR Tokai (). The term ''Tōkai'' refers to the southern portion of Central Japan, ...
, which operates the
Tōkaidō Shinkansen
The is a Japanese high-speed rail line that is part of the nationwide Shinkansen network. Along with the San'yō Shinkansen, it forms a continuous high-speed railway through the Taiheiyō Belt, also known as the Tokaido corridor. Opening in 19 ...
, has its headquarters there.
Meitetsu
, publicly trading as , is a private railway company operating around Aichi Prefecture and Gifu Prefecture of Japan.
Some of the more famous trains operated by Meitetsu include the '' Panorama Car'' and the '' Panorama Car Super'', both of w ...
is also based in Nagoya, and along with
Kintetsu provides regional rail service to the
Tōkai and
Kansai region
The or the lies in the southern-central region of Japan's main island Honshū. The region includes the prefectures of Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyōgo and Shiga, often also Mie, sometimes Fukui, Tokushima and Tottori. The metropol ...
s.
High-speed rail
;
JR Central
is the main railway company operating in the Chūbu (Nagoya) region of central Japan. It is officially abbreviated in English as JR Central and occasionally as JR Tokai (). The term ''Tōkai'' refers to the southern portion of Central Japan, ...
*

Tōkaidō Shinkansen
The is a Japanese high-speed rail line that is part of the nationwide Shinkansen network. Along with the San'yō Shinkansen, it forms a continuous high-speed railway through the Taiheiyō Belt, also known as the Tokaido corridor. Opening in 19 ...
line
Conventional lines
;
JR Central
is the main railway company operating in the Chūbu (Nagoya) region of central Japan. It is officially abbreviated in English as JR Central and occasionally as JR Tokai (). The term ''Tōkai'' refers to the southern portion of Central Japan, ...
*

Tōkaidō Main Line
The Tōkaidō Main Line () is one of the most important railway corridors in Japan, connecting the major cities of Tokyo and Kobe via Shizuoka (city), Shizuoka, Nagoya, Kyoto and Osaka. The line, with termini at Tokyo Station, Tokyo and Kōbe St ...
*

Chūō Main Line
The , commonly called the Chūō Line, is one of the major trunk railway lines in Japan. It connects Tokyo and Nagoya, although it is the slowest direct railway connection between the two cities; the coastal Tōkaidō Main Line is slightly faste ...
*

Kansai Main Line
The is a railway line in Japan, which connects Nagoya Station with JR Namba Station in Osaka. It is jointly run by the Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central) and West Japan Railway Company (JR West), with the boundary between both compan ...
Subways
Nagoya Subway
The , also referred to as simply the Nagoya Subway, is a rapid transit system serving Nagoya, the capital of Aichi Prefecture in Japan. It consists of six lines that cover of route and serve 87 stations. Approximately 90% of the subway's total t ...
provides urban transit service.
Buses
Several private and public bus companies operate with of routes throughout the region. Most local bus routes complement existing rail service to form an effective intermodal transit network.
*
Nagoya Municipal Bus
*
Meitetsu Bus
is a bus company in the Meitetsu Group.
Bus Lines Highway Buses
*Chuo Highway Bus
**Meitetsu BC - Shinjuku
**Meitetsu BC - Iida
**Meitetsu BC - Ina, Komagane, Minowa
**Meitetsu BC - Matsumoto
**Meitetsu BC - Nagano
**Meitetsu BC - ...
*
Mie Kotsu
, also known as , is a public transportation company which operates local and long-distance buses in Mie prefecture, Japan. The company has other ventures, including a taxicab business and real estate. Mie Kotsu used to also own railway lines, ...
Roads
Expressways
*

Nagoya Expressway
The is a network of urban Expressways of Japan, expressways in Japan serving the greater Nagoya area. It is owned and managed by .
Overview
The first section of the Nagoya Expressway network opened to traffic in 1979. As of 2008, of the networ ...
*
Mei-Nikan Expressway
*

Tōmei Expressway
The is a national expressway on the island of Honshū in Japan. It is operated by Central Nippon Expressway Company. The expressway is designated as E1 under the "2016 Proposal for Realization of Expressway Numbering", because it parallels Na ...
*

Isewangan Expressway
The is a national expressway in the Tōkai region of Japan. It is owned and operated by Central Nippon Expressway Company.
Naming
The route primarily follows the north shore of Ise Bay (wangan means bayshore in Japanese).
Officially, the rou ...
*
Higashi-Meihan Expressway
*

Chitahantō Road
The (lit. Chita Peninsula Road) is a 4-laned toll road in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. It is managed by Aichi Prefectural Road Public Corporation.
Overview
A portion of the road was opened to traffic in 1970 and the entire road was completed in 197 ...
Japan National Route
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Seaways
Seaport
Nagoya Port
The , located in Ise Bay, is the largest and busiest trading port in Japan, accounting for about 10% of the total trade value of Japan. Notably, this port is the largest exporter of cars in Japan and where the Toyota Motor Corporation exports most ...
is the largest port by international trade value in Japan.
Toyota Motor Corporation
is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive manufacturer headquartered in Toyota City, Aichi, Japan. It was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda and incorporated on August 28, 1937. Toyota is the List of manuf ...
exports via this port.
Nagoya is known for its orderly grid street plan for which the shōgun
Tokugawa Ieyasu
Tokugawa Ieyasu (born Matsudaira Takechiyo; 31 January 1543 – 1 June 1616) was the founder and first ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan, which ruled from 1603 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. He was the third of the three "Gr ...
is ultimately responsible.
File:Nagoya Station at night01.jpg, Nagoya Station
is a major railway station in Nakamura-ku, Nagoya, Japan. It is Japan's, and one of the world's largest train stations by floor area (410,000 m2), and houses the headquarters of the Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central). Much of this space ...
File:Oasis 21 - Spaceship Aqua - 01.JPG, Oasis 21
Oasis 21 is a modern facility located adjacent to Nagoya TV Tower in Sakae, Nagoya which was opened to the public in 2002. It contains restaurants, stores, and a bus terminal, as well as an area for tourist information.
The building is mostly un ...
bus terminal
File:Shiyakusho Station 1060.JPG, Entrance to Shiyakusho Subway Station
File:KAMIYASHIRO STATION.JPG, Nagoya Municipal Subway
The , also referred to as simply the Nagoya Subway, is a rapid transit system serving Nagoya, the capital of Aichi Prefecture in Japan. It consists of six lines that cover of route and serve 87 stations. Approximately 90% of the subway's total t ...
File:Airport Walk NAGOYA 01.JPG, Nagoya Airfield
, also known as Komaki Airport or Nagoya Airport, is an airport within the local government areas of Toyoyama, Komaki, Kasugai and Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Prior to 2005 it was an international airport, but is now a domestic secon ...
File:Nagoya Port 02.jpg, Port of Nagoya
The , located in Ise Bay, is the largest and busiest trading port in Japan, accounting for about 10% of the total trade value of Japan. Notably, this port is the largest exporter of cars in Japan and where the Toyota Motor Corporation exports most ...
File:Meikou.jpg, Isewangan Expressway
The is a national expressway in the Tōkai region of Japan. It is owned and operated by Central Nippon Expressway Company.
Naming
The route primarily follows the north shore of Ise Bay (wangan means bayshore in Japanese).
Officially, the rou ...
File:Nagoya Expwy. Ring Route 20160401B.JPG, Nagoya Expressway
The is a network of urban Expressways of Japan, expressways in Japan serving the greater Nagoya area. It is owned and managed by .
Overview
The first section of the Nagoya Expressway network opened to traffic in 1979. As of 2008, of the networ ...
Sightseeing

Nagoya's two most famous sightseeing spots are
Atsuta Shrine
is a Shinto shrine, home to the sacred sword '' Kusanagi no Tsurugi'', one of the three Imperial Regalia of Japan—traditionally believed to have been established during the reign of Emperor Keikō (reigned 71–130 CE). It is located in Atsu ...
and
Nagoya Castle
is a Japanese castle located in Nagoya, Japan.
Nagoya Castle was constructed by the Owari Domain in 1612 during the Edo period on the site of an earlier castle of the Oda clan in the Sengoku period. Nagoya Castle was the heart of one of the ...
.
* Atsuta Shrine is the second-most venerable shrine in Japan, after
Ise Grand Shrine
The , located in Ise, Mie Prefecture of Japan, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the solar goddess Amaterasu Ōmikami and the grain goddess Toyouke-hime (Toyouke Omikami). Also known simply as , Ise Shrine is a shrine complex composed of many Shi ...
. It is said to hold the
Kusanagi
is a legendary Japanese sword and one of three Imperial Regalia of Japan. It was originally called , but its name was later changed to the more popular ("Grass-Cutting Sword"). In folklore, the sword represents the virtue of valor.
Legends
...
sword, one of the three
imperial regalia of Japan
The are the imperial regalia of Japan and consist of the sword , the mirror , and the jewel . They represent the three primary virtues: valour (the sword), wisdom (the mirror), and benevolence (the jewel). , but it is not on public display. It holds around 70 festivals per year. The shrine hosts over 4,400
national treasures
A national treasure is a structure, artifact, object or cultural work that is officially or popularly recognized as having particular value to the nation, or representing the ideals of the nation. The term has also been applied to individuals or ...
that span its 2,000-year history.
* Nagoya Castle was built in 1612. Although a large part of it burned down during the Pacific War, the castle was restored in 1959, adding amenities such as elevators. The castle is famous for two magnificent on the roof, often used as the symbol of Nagoya.
Other attractions include:
*
Gokiso Hachimangū
is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Nagoya, central Japan
Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and e ...
shinto shrine
*
Nagoya TV Tower
The (formerly but still referred to as the ) is a TV tower in Nagoya, central Japan.
History
It is the oldest TV tower in Japan, and was completed in 1954. It is located in the centre of Hisaya Ōdori Park. The tower is 180 metres high, and ...
and Hisaya-Ōdori Park, located in the central
Sakae district
*
JR Central Towers is part of the
Nagoya Station
is a major railway station in Nakamura-ku, Nagoya, Japan. It is Japan's, and one of the world's largest train stations by floor area (410,000 m2), and houses the headquarters of the Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central). Much of this space ...
*
Midland Square: The new international sales headquarters for
Toyota
is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive manufacturer headquartered in Toyota City, Aichi, Japan. It was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda and incorporated on August 28, 1937. Toyota is the List of manuf ...
features Japan's highest open-air observation deck.
* The
Port of Nagoya
The , located in Ise Bay, is the largest and busiest trading port in Japan, accounting for about 10% of the total trade value of Japan. Notably, this port is the largest exporter of cars in Japan and where the Toyota Motor Corporation exports most ...
area, which includes the former Italian-themed shopping mall called
Italia Mura
was a themed commercial complex operated within the Nagoya Port Garden area within Nagoya Port in Minato-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. It consisted of theme park attractions such gondola and horse-drawn carriage rides as well as Italian- ...
as well as the popular
Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium
The is a public aquarium in Minato-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
It is a member of the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums (JAZA), and It is the public aquarium with the largest tank capacity and total area in Japan. It also own ...
.
*
Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens
The is a joint zoo and botanical garden located at Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Japan. It is open every day except Monday, and charges a modest admission fee.
Established in 1937, the Higashiyama Zoo is one of Asia's largest attractions, featuring a ...
and the
Higashiyama Sky Tower
The Higashiyama Sky Tower is a pencil-shaped building located in the Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens in the city of Nagoya, central Japan.
It contains observation decks and a restaurant 100 metres above ground.
History
The Higashiyama Sk ...
* The
Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology
The , also known as Toyota Tecno Museum, is a technology museum located in Nishi-ku in the city of Nagoya, central Japan.
History
Toyota started as a textile firm and evolved over decades into an international automobile producer. The museum ...
near Nagoya station
*
Danpusan Kofun
250px, Sketch of Danpusan Kofun
The is a large keyhole-shaped ''kofun'' burial mound located within the grounds of the Atsuta Shrine complex in the Hayata neighborhood of Atsuta-ku, Nagoya, Japan. The tumulus was designated a National Histori ...
: The largest burial mound (
Kofun
are megalithic tombs or tumulus, tumuli in Northeast Asia. ''Kofun'' were mainly constructed in the Japanese archipelago between the middle of the 3rd century to the early 7th century AD.岡田裕之「前方後円墳」『日本古代史大辞 ...
) in Aichi.
* The
Noritake
, commonly known as "Noritake," is a tableware and technology company headquartered in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
History
In 1876, Ichizaemon Morimura VI and his brother Toyo founded Morimura Gumi with the intent of establishing overse ...
factory: The home of Noritake fine chinaware is open to visitors and allows people to learn about the history of the establishment. It includes a cafe, information/technology displays, and shopping facilities. It also holds a few unrestored areas that serve as reminders of devastation caused by the final stages of the Pacific War.
* The
SCMaglev and Railway Park
The is a railway museum owned by the Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central) in Nagoya, Japan. The museum opened on 14 March 2011.
The museum features 39 full-size railway vehicles and one bus exhibit, train cab simulators, and model railwa ...
* The
Ōsu
is an area located in the Naka-ku, Nagoya, Naka ward of Nagoya, central Japan.
Ōsu is a historic area which has many small shops offering everything from Japanese traditional food to handicrafts. A large department store is OSU301. It is pop ...
shopping district and nearby temples,
Ōsu Kannon
is a Buddhist temple of the Shingon sect located in Ōsu, in central Nagoya, Japan. It belongs to the Owari Thirty-three Kannon. Its address is 愛知県名古屋市中区大須2-21-47 (Aichi Ken, Nagoya-shi, Naka-ku Osu, 2-21-47).
History
...
and
Banshō-ji
Banshō-ji (万松寺) is a small temple located in Ōsu in central Nagoya, Japan.
Lord Oda Nobuhide (1510?-1552) built this Sōtō Buddhist temple in the then village of Nagoya in 1540, and invited the priest Daiun to open it. Katō Kiyomasa ( ...
* The
Tokugawa Art Museum
The is a private art museum, located on the former '' Ōzone Shimoyashiki'' compound in Nagoya, central Japan. Its collection contains more than 12,000 items, including swords, armor, Noh costumes and masks, lacquer furniture, Chinese and Japane ...
and the
Tokugawa Garden
The Tokugawa Garden (徳川園 Tokugawa-en) is a Japanese garden in the city of Nagoya, central Japan. It is located next to the Tokugawa Art Museum.
History
In the early Edo period (1603-1867), Tokugawa Mitsutomo (1625-1700), the second lord o ...
, a surrounding Japanese garden
* The Nagoya City Science and Art Museums, located in Shirakawa Park, not far from Fushimi Subway Station
* The
MUFG
is a Japanese bank holding and financial services company headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. MUFG was created in 2005 by merger between and UFJ Holdings (株式会社UFJホールディングス; ''kabushikigaisha yūefujei hōrudingusu'' ...
Money Museum, now located near the Akatsuka-shirakabe 赤塚白壁 bus stop on Dekimachi-dōri.
*
Legoland Japan Resort
is a theme park in Nagoya, Japan. Opening on 1 April 2017, it was the first Legoland theme park in Japan and the second in Asia (after the Legoland Malaysia Resort), and the eighth worldwide. Upon opening, the park was projected to attract over ...
, Japan's first
Legoland
Legoland (, trademarked in uppercase as LEGOLAND) is a chain of family amusement parks focusing on the Lego building toy brand. They are owned and operated by the British theme park company Merlin Entertainments, which shares a common owner ...
resort.
Gallery
File:Ferris Wheel at Sakae.jpg, Sakae Town
File:愛知県名古屋市中村区名駅1丁目1 - panoramio.jpg, Meieki Town
File:Kanayama Station south entrance 2020-10 ac (2).jpg, Kanayama Town
File:名古屋ドームから - panoramio.jpg, Ozone Town
File:Nagoya Imaike night view 2016.JPG, Imaike Town
File:HoshigaokaTerrace West Upstairs.jpg, Hoshigaoka Town
File:Yabacho.JPG, Yabacho Town
File:Atsuta Shrine.jpg, Atsuta Shrine
is a Shinto shrine, home to the sacred sword '' Kusanagi no Tsurugi'', one of the three Imperial Regalia of Japan—traditionally believed to have been established during the reign of Emperor Keikō (reigned 71–130 CE). It is located in Atsu ...
File:Tenshuhonmaru.jpg, Nagoya Castle
is a Japanese castle located in Nagoya, Japan.
Nagoya Castle was constructed by the Owari Domain in 1612 during the Edo period on the site of an earlier castle of the Oda clan in the Sengoku period. Nagoya Castle was the heart of one of the ...
File:Jorakuden1.jpg, Honmaru Palace (Nagoya Castle)
File:Osukannon.jpg, Ōsu Kannon
is a Buddhist temple of the Shingon sect located in Ōsu, in central Nagoya, Japan. It belongs to the Owari Thirty-three Kannon. Its address is 愛知県名古屋市中区大須2-21-47 (Aichi Ken, Nagoya-shi, Naka-ku Osu, 2-21-47).
History
...
File:Banshoji.jpg, Banshō-ji
Banshō-ji (万松寺) is a small temple located in Ōsu in central Nagoya, Japan.
Lord Oda Nobuhide (1510?-1552) built this Sōtō Buddhist temple in the then village of Nagoya in 1540, and invited the priest Daiun to open it. Katō Kiyomasa ( ...
File:Arako kannon2.jpg, Arako Kannon
File:Toyotasangyoukinen8.JPG, Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology
The , also known as Toyota Tecno Museum, is a technology museum located in Nishi-ku in the city of Nagoya, central Japan.
History
Toyota started as a textile firm and evolved over decades into an international automobile producer. The museum ...
File:SCMaglev and Railway Park1.JPG, SCMaglev and Railway Park
The is a railway museum owned by the Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central) in Nagoya, Japan. The museum opened on 14 March 2011.
The museum features 39 full-size railway vehicles and one bus exhibit, train cab simulators, and model railwa ...
File:オアシス21から臨むテレビ塔(Night view of illuminated Nagoya TV Tower from Oasis 21) 23 Aug, 2015 - panoramio.jpg, The Nagoya TV Tower
The (formerly but still referred to as the ) is a TV tower in Nagoya, central Japan.
History
It is the oldest TV tower in Japan, and was completed in 1954. It is located in the centre of Hisaya Ōdori Park. The tower is 180 metres high, and ...
and Oasis 21
Oasis 21 is a modern facility located adjacent to Nagoya TV Tower in Sakae, Nagoya which was opened to the public in 2002. It contains restaurants, stores, and a bus terminal, as well as an area for tourist information.
The building is mostly un ...
File:Nagoya TV Tower4.jpg, Hisaya Ōdori Park
(Nagoya Central Park)
File:Osu1.JPG, Ōsu shopping district
File:Aquarium + Giant wheel + Fuji Icebreaker - view from the lighthouse - Nagoya Port - Japan (15676490678).jpg, Port of Nagoya
The , located in Ise Bay, is the largest and busiest trading port in Japan, accounting for about 10% of the total trade value of Japan. Notably, this port is the largest exporter of cars in Japan and where the Toyota Motor Corporation exports most ...
Garden Wharf
File:Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium1.jpg, Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium
The is a public aquarium in Minato-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
It is a member of the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums (JAZA), and It is the public aquarium with the largest tank capacity and total area in Japan. It also own ...
File:Higashiyamashokubutu7.JPG, Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens
The is a joint zoo and botanical garden located at Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Japan. It is open every day except Monday, and charges a modest admission fee.
Established in 1937, the Higashiyama Zoo is one of Asia's largest attractions, featuring a ...
File:Tougokusan2.JPG, Togokusan Fruits Park
File:Shonai-ryokuchi05.jpg, Shōnai Greens
The , also known as ''Shōnai Park'', are located in Nishi-ku, Nagoya in central Japan
Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west ...
File:Tsurumakouen1.JPG, Tsuruma Park
Tsuruma Park (鶴舞公園) is a park located in Shōwa-ku, Nagoya, Shōwa-ku, Nagoya, Nagoya city, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
History
The park's history goes back to the year 1909. In 1910, the 10th Kansai Area Prefectural Union Joint Exposit ...
File:Tokugawa Museum.JPG, Tokugawa Art Museum
The is a private art museum, located on the former '' Ōzone Shimoyashiki'' compound in Nagoya, central Japan. Its collection contains more than 12,000 items, including swords, armor, Noh costumes and masks, lacquer furniture, Chinese and Japane ...
File:Sirotoriteien.JPG, Shirotori Park
File:WILDFLOWER GARDEN BLUEBONNET.jpg, Nagoya Port Wildflower Garden BlueBonnet
File:Arimatsu Historic Townscape, Midori Ward Nagoya 2013.jpg, Arimatsu
File:Nakamurakouen1.JPG, Nakamura Park
File:Hutabahouse.jpg, Cultural Path
The Cultural Path (文化のみち, ''Bunka-no-michi'') is located between Naka-ku and Higashi-ku in the centre of Nagoya, Japan. It shows a number of historic buildings that are under heritage protection.
The area was designated in 1999. ...
Futaba Museum (The residences of Sada Yacco
Sada Yacco or was a Japanese geisha, actress and dancer.
Early life
Sadayakko Kawakami was born July 18, 1871, the youngest of twelve children. "My grandfather on my mother's side was an assistant magistrate and rather famous, I hear. Our house ...
)
File:Toyotasasukehouse.jpg, Cultural Path Sasuke Toyoda House
File:Nixtutaiji5.JPG, Nittai-ji
Kakuōzan Nittai-ji (覚王山日泰寺, ''Japan-Thailand Temple'') is a Buddhist temple located in the city of Nagoya, Aichi prefecture, Japan. It was built in 1904 in order to keep the ashes of Buddha, given to Japan by the Kingdom of Thailan ...
Noritake garden2.jpg, Noritake Garden The Noritake Garden is located in the city of Nagoya in central Japan, founded in 2001.
History
The garden was constructed on the former Noritake factory grounds and exhibits the company, its history and products. In the various showrooms visit ...
File:Nagoya Cty Science Museum 03, Sakae Naka Ward Nagoya 2020.jpg, Nagoya City Science Museum
The is a museum located in Sakae, Nagoya, the center of Nagoya City, in central Japan.
The museum houses one of the largest planetariums in the world and has three main sections on modern technology, life sciences and general science with a v ...
File:Danpusan-kofun 04.JPG, Danpusan Kofun
250px, Sketch of Danpusan Kofun
The is a large keyhole-shaped ''kofun'' burial mound located within the grounds of the Atsuta Shrine complex in the Hayata neighborhood of Atsuta-ku, Nagoya, Japan. The tumulus was designated a National Histori ...
File:Maker’s Pier Overview1 201706.jpg, Maker's Pier
File:Legoland japan.jpg, Legoland Japan
File:@NAGOYA.jpg, @NAGOYA( Sannomaru)
Surrounding area
Nagoya is a starting point for visits to the surrounding area, such as
Inuyama,
Little World Museum of Man,
Meiji Mura
is an open-air architectural museum/theme park in Inuyama, near Nagoya in Aichi prefecture, Japan. It was opened on March 18, 1965. The museum preserves historic buildings from Japan's Meiji (1867–1912), Taishō (1912–1926), and early ...
,
Tokoname
is a Cities of Japan, city in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 57,872 in 24,872 households, and a population density of 1,035 persons per km2. The total area of the city is .
Geography
Tokoname is located on ...
,
Himakajima
is an inhabited island in Mikawa Bay in Aichi Prefecture, Japan off the coast of the Chita Peninsula, which is administered by the town of Minamichita, Aichi. All of the island is within the borders of the Mikawa-wan Quasi-National Park. I ...
,
Tahara,
Toyohashi
is a Cities of Japan, city in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 377,453 in 160,516 households and a population density of 1,400 persons per km2. The total area of the city was . By area, Toyohashi was Aichi Prefec ...
and
Toyokawa
is a Cities of Japan, city in the eastern part of Aichi Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 183,930 in 72,949 households, and a population density of 1,141 persons per km2. The total area of the city is . Toyokawa, famou ...
and
Hamamatsu
is a Cities of Japan, city located in western Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. In September 2023, the city had an estimated population of 780,128 in 340,591 households, making it the prefecture's largest city, with a population density of over the t ...
. Reachable with at most a two-hour journey are
Gifu
is a Cities of Japan, city located in the south-central portion of Gifu Prefecture, Japan, and serves as the prefectural capital. The city has played an important role in Japan's history because of its location in the middle of the country. Durin ...
, Gujo Hachiman, Gifu,
Ise Shrine
The , located in Ise, Mie Prefecture of Japan, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the solar goddess Amaterasu Ōmikami and the grain goddess Toyouke-hime (Toyouke Omikami). Also known simply as , Ise Shrine is a shrine complex composed of many Shi ...
,
Takayama, Gifu
Takayama City Hall
is a city located in Gifu Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 88,473 in 35,644 households, and a population density of 41 persons per km2. The total area of the city was making it the largest cit ...
, Gero Onsen and the hill stations in the Kiso Valley
Magome and
Tsumago
was the forty-second of the sixty-nine post towns on the Nakasendō. It is located in Nagiso, Kiso District, Nagano Prefecture, Japan. It has been restored to its appearance as an Edo-era post town and is now a popular tourist destination.
...
.
Culture
Nagoya was a major trading city and political seat of the Owari lords, the most important house of the Tokugawa clan. They encouraged trade and the arts under their patronage, especially
Tokugawa Muneharu, the 7th lord, who took a keen interest in drama and plays and lived lavishly. Under his rule, actors and actresses began to visit Nagoya. Arts and culture was further supported by the city's wealthy merchants. Culture flourished after the feudal
Edo period
The , also known as the , is the period between 1600 or 1603 and 1868 in the history of Japan, when the country was under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate and some 300 regional ''daimyo'', or feudal lords. Emerging from the chaos of the Sengok ...
and the beginning of the Meiji era. During the Pacific War many old buildings and artefacts were destroyed. The region's economic and financial power in the post-war years rekindled the artistic and cultural scene. The city is recognized as a "
Design City" by UNESCO.
File:Tokugawabijutsukan1.JPG, The Tokugawa Art Museum, which houses some of the finest art treasures of Japan
File:Toyotasangyoukinen5.JPG, Textile Machinery Pavilion in the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology
File:SCMaglev and Railway Park in Aichi Prefecture.jpg, SCMaglev and Railway Park
File:Shirakawa Park 20161119A.jpg, Nagoya City Science Museum
File:Aichi Arts Center exterior ac.jpg, Aichi Arts Center in Sakae
File:Tokugawaendashizoroe1.JPG, Tsutsui-chō/Dekimachi tennōsai
File:Nagoyamatsuri7.JPG, Nagoya matsuri
File:Arimatsu festival.jpg, Arimatsu autumn festival
File:Osu-2008 Oiran-dochu-02.jpg, ''Daidō-chōnin Matsuri'' in Ōsu
is an area located in the Naka-ku, Nagoya, Naka ward of Nagoya, central Japan.
Ōsu is a historic area which has many small shops offering everything from Japanese traditional food to handicrafts. A large department store is OSU301. It is pop ...
File:Nagoya obi.JPG, The Nagoya ''obi'', the most popular type for ''kimono'' throughout Japan
Museums
Nagoya has multiple museums, including traditional and modern art, handicrafts to industrial high-tech, natural and scientific museums.
Nagoya Castle's collection is from the Owari Tokugawa era. The main tower is a museum that details the history of the castle and the city. The Honmaru Palace, destroyed in the Pacific War, was reconstructed in 2018; it is a prime example of the ''
Shoin-zukuri
is a style of Japanese architecture developed in the Muromachi period, Muromachi, Azuchi–Momoyama period, Azuchi–Momoyama and Edo period, Edo periods that forms the basis of today's traditional-style Japanese houses. Characteristics of the ...
'' architecture of the feudal era.
Tokugawa Art Museum
The is a private art museum, located on the former '' Ōzone Shimoyashiki'' compound in Nagoya, central Japan. Its collection contains more than 12,000 items, including swords, armor, Noh costumes and masks, lacquer furniture, Chinese and Japane ...
is a private museum belonging to the Owari Tokugawa, who lived in Nagoya castle for 16 generations. Among other things, it contains 10 designated
national Treasures of Japan
Some of the National Treasures of Japan
A is " Tangible Cultural Properties designated by law in modern Japan as having extremely high value." Specifically, it refers to buildings, arts, and crafts designated as especially valuable from ...
, including some of the oldest scrolls of ''
The Tale of Genji
is a classic work of Japanese literature written by the noblewoman, poet, and lady-in-waiting Murasaki Shikibu around the peak of the Heian period, in the early 11th century. It is one of history's first novels, the first by a woman to have wo ...
''. The Nagoya Noh Theatre houses various precious objects of
Noh theatre
is a major form of classical Japanese dance-drama that has been performed since the 14th century. It is Japan's oldest major theater art that is still regularly performed today. Noh is often based on tales from traditional literature featuri ...
. The
Nagoya City Museum
The is a museum of the city of Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
The Nagoya City Museum was established in 1977. Its collection includes archaeological materials, fine art, crafts, documents, books and folk materials including samurai armor a ...
showcases the history of the town.
Yōki-sō
''Yōki-sō'' (揚輝荘) is a Japanese villa and gardens located in Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, central Japan. It is close to Nittai-ji temple.
History
The grounds were built for Itō Suketami (1878-1940), the president of the Matsuzakaya Comp ...
is a villa and gardens located in Chikusa-ku, close to Nittai-ji. It was constructed in the Taishō era for Ito Jirozaemon Suketami XV, the first president of
Matsuzakaya
(Tokyo Stock Exchange, TYO: 8235, delisted) is a major Japanese Depato, department store chain operated by Daimaru Matsuzakaya Department Stores, a subsidiary of J. Front Retailing. When the chain was an independent company, , it had its headq ...
.
Paintings and sculpture are exhibited at the
Nagoya City Art Museum
The is located in the city of Nagoya in central Japan.
The museum building itself was constructed by Kisho Kurokawa, one of the leading Japanese architects, from 1983 to 1987.
Works by the surrealist Kansuke Yamamoto, Sean Scully, and Alexan ...
. Modern art is displayed at the
Aichi Arts Center. The Aichi Arts Center also is the venue of rotating exhibitions.
The art of
porcelain
Porcelain (), also called china, is a ceramic material made by heating Industrial mineral, raw materials, generally including kaolinite, in a kiln to temperatures between . The greater strength and translucence of porcelain, relative to oth ...
and ceramics can be seen at the
Noritake Garden The Noritake Garden is located in the city of Nagoya in central Japan, founded in 2001.
History
The garden was constructed on the former Noritake factory grounds and exhibits the company, its history and products. In the various showrooms visit ...
. Toyota has two museums in the city, the
Toyota Automobile Museum
The is a large museum showcasing the history of Toyota as an automobile manufacturer. In addition to displaying its own vehicles that Toyota has manufactured over the years, numerous vehicles from other manufacturers of various makes are also be ...
which shows vintage cars, and the
Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology
The , also known as Toyota Tecno Museum, is a technology museum located in Nishi-ku in the city of Nagoya, central Japan.
History
Toyota started as a textile firm and evolved over decades into an international automobile producer. The museum ...
, which showcases company history, including its start as a
textile mill
Textile manufacturing or textile engineering is a major industry. It is largely based on the conversion of fibre into yarn, then yarn into fabric. These are then dyed or printed, fabricated into cloth which is then converted into useful good ...
.
The
Nagoya City Tram & Subway Museum
The is a museum located in the city of Nisshin, Aichi, Japan. It is owned and operated by the Transportation Bureau of the City of Nagoya.
The museum houses a collection of Nagoya's old subway trains and trams. The museum visitors can exper ...
has trams and subway cars, as well as the
Nagoya City Science Museum
The is a museum located in Sakae, Nagoya, the center of Nagoya City, in central Japan.
The museum houses one of the largest planetariums in the world and has three main sections on modern technology, life sciences and general science with a v ...
. The
SCMaglev and Railway Park
The is a railway museum owned by the Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central) in Nagoya, Japan. The museum opened on 14 March 2011.
The museum features 39 full-size railway vehicles and one bus exhibit, train cab simulators, and model railwa ...
opened in March 2011 with various trains from the Central Japan Railway Company.
Other art museums in Aichi prefecture are the
Aichi Prefectural Ceramic Museum
The is a prefectural art museum located in the city of Seto, north of the metropolis of Nagoya in central Japan. This museum was formally named "Aichi-ken Toji Shiryokan (愛知県陶磁資料館)", but the name in English has been the same as ...
and the
Toyota Municipal Museum of Art
The is an art museum located in the city of Toyota, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
History
The museum features works by Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele, Edvard Munch, and others. The museum building was constructed by Yoshio Taniguchi, who also renovate ...
.
Meiji Mura
is an open-air architectural museum/theme park in Inuyama, near Nagoya in Aichi prefecture, Japan. It was opened on March 18, 1965. The museum preserves historic buildings from Japan's Meiji (1867–1912), Taishō (1912–1926), and early ...
is an open-air museum with salvaged buildings from the Meiji, Taishō and Showa eras. Another museum in Nagoya is the
Mandolin Melodies Museum
is a private museum in Nagoya. It is the only museum that specializes specifically in mandolins in the world.
History
Mandolin Melodies Museum was founded by mandolin player Hirokazu Nanya in a renovated pharmacy. The museum opened on May 8, ...
.
Other museums in the city include the
International Design Centre Nagoya
The , abbreviated as ''IdcN'', is a museum and exhibition hall located in Sakae, Nagoya, central Japan.
History
The World Design Exhibition 1989 was held in Nagoya. The museum was established in 1992 and opened in 1996 in the Nadya Park skysc ...
, the
Japan Spinning Top Museum
The Japan Spinning Top Museum (日本独楽博物館) is a toy museum located in the city of Nagoya, central Japan.
History
The spinning top, called ''koma'' (独楽) was and still is a popular traditional toy in Japan and the Chubu region. Th ...
and the
Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Money Museum
The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Money Museum (三菱東京UFJ銀行貨幣資料館) is a numismatic museum located in Nagoya, central Japan.
As "Tokai Bank Money Museum", it opened in 1961. After a name change due to bank mergers, the present n ...
.
The civic authorities promote tourism and have taken steps to safeguard architectural heritage by earmarking them as cultural assets. Apart from the castle, temples, shrines and museums in the city, a "
Cultural Path
The Cultural Path (文化のみち, ''Bunka-no-michi'') is located between Naka-ku and Higashi-ku in the centre of Nagoya, Japan. It shows a number of historic buildings that are under heritage protection.
The area was designated in 1999. ...
" was instituted in the 1980s, located between the Tokugawa Art Museum and Nagoya Castle. This residential area has historic buildings such as the Nagoya City Archives, the Nagoya City Hall main building, the Aichi Prefectural Office main building, the Futaba Museum, the former residence of Sasuke Toyoda, the former residence of Tetsujiro Haruta and the Chikaramachi Catholic Church. Most buildings date from the Meiji and Taishō era and are protected.
Theatres
''
Nō
is a major form of classical Japanese dance-drama that has been performed since the 14th century. It is Japan's oldest major theater art that is still regularly performed today. Noh is often based on tales from traditional literature featuri ...
'' and ''
Kyōgen
is a form of traditional Japanese comic theater. It developed alongside '' Noh'', was performed along with ''Noh'' as an intermission of sorts between ''Noh'' acts on the same stage, and retains close links to ''Noh'' in the modern day; there ...
'' theatre date back to the feudal times of the Owari Tokugawa lords. The
Nagoya Noh Theater
The Nagoya Noh Theater (名古屋能楽堂) is a Noh drama theatre building located in the city of Nagoya, central Japan.
History
The history of Noh in Owari Province dates back to the heyday of feudal rule, when performances were shown at ...
at Nagoya Castle continues that tradition and is a prominent feature in the cultural life of the city, with monthly performances.
Developed during the Edo period, one of Japan's ''
kabuki
is a classical form of Theatre of Japan, Japanese theatre, mixing dramatic performance with Japanese traditional dance, traditional dance. Kabuki theatre is known for its heavily stylised performances, its glamorous, highly decorated costumes ...
'' grand stages is
Misono-za, which also hosts various other Japanese entertainment such as concerts.
In 1912, the musician Gorō Morita invented the
Nagoya harp
is the largest city in the Chūbu region of Japan. It is the fourth-most populous city in Japan, with a population of 2.3million in 2020, and the principal city of the Chūkyō metropolitan area, which is the third-most populous metropolit ...
music instrument.
In 1992, the large, modern
Aichi Arts Center was opened in Sakae. It is the main venue for
performing art
The performing arts are arts such as music, dance, and drama which are performed for an audience. They are different from the visual arts, which involve the use of paint, canvas or various materials to create physical or static art objects. Pe ...
s, featuring a main hall that can be used for
opera
Opera is a form of History of theatre#European theatre, Western theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by Singing, singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically ...
and theatre and a concert hall. The
Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra
The is a symphony orchestra based in Nagoya, Japan, founded in 1966. The orchestra gives concerts primarily at the Aichi Prefectural Arts Theater Concert Hall and the Chukyo University Center for Culture & Arts Aurora Hall.
The orchestra gave ...
performs there, as well as many visiting guest orchestras.
''Ikebana''
is a school of ''
Ikebana
is the Japanese art of flower arrangement. It is also known as . The origin of ikebana can be traced back to the ancient Japanese custom of erecting Evergreen, evergreen trees and decorating them with flowers as yorishiro () to invite the go ...
'', or
Japan
Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
ese
floral art
Flowers, also known as blooms and blossoms, are the reproductive structures of flowering plants (angiosperms). Typically, they are structured in four circular levels, called whorls, around the end of a stalk. These whorls include: calyx, mo ...
. It was founded in 1922 and is headquartered in Nagoya.
Festivals
Apart from the main national
festivals
A festival is an event celebrated by a community and centering on some characteristic aspect or aspects of that community and its religion or cultures. It is often marked as a local or national holiday, Melā, mela, or Muslim holidays, eid. A ...
and holidays, other
festivals in Nagoya are unique to the city/region.
Major events include the June Atsuta Festival, the July Port Festival, the August Nagoya Castle Summer Festival Castle and the October Nagoya Festival. Wards and areas host local festivals such as the in Ōsu.
Dialect
The is spoken in the western half of Aichi Prefecture, centering on Nagoya. It is also called . The Nagoya dialect is relatively close to
standard Japanese
is the principal language of the Japonic languages, Japonic language family spoken by the Japanese people. It has around 123 million speakers, primarily in Japan, the only country where it is the national language, and within the Japanese dia ...
and to the
Kansai dialect
The is a group of Japanese dialects in the Kansai region (Kinki region) of Japan. In Japanese, is the common name and it is called in technical terms. The dialects of Kyoto and Osaka are known as , and were particularly referred to as su ...
, differing in pronunciation and vocabulary.
Handicrafts
The industry of
Japanese handicrafts
Traditional in Japan have a long tradition and history. Included in the category of traditional crafts are handicrafts produced by an individual or a group, as well as work produced by independent studio artists working with traditional craft mat ...
in the city is centuries old.
* Arimatsu and Narumi dye: during the construction of Nagoya Castle in the 17th century, the lords of Owari called in skilled craftsmen from
Bungo Province
was a province of Japan in the area of eastern Kyūshū, corresponding to most of modern Ōita Prefecture, except what is now the cities of Nakatsu and Usa. Bungo bordered on Hyūga to the south, Higo and Chikugo to the west, and Chikuze ...
in
Kyushu
is the third-largest island of Japan's Japanese archipelago, four main islands and the most southerly of the four largest islands (i.e. excluding Okinawa Island, Okinawa and the other Ryukyu Islands, Ryukyu (''Nansei'') Ryukyu Islands, Islands ...
, known for their tie-dyed fabrics. These craftsmen and their families were treated generously by the Owari and settled in the Arimatsu und Narumi neighbourhoods. Only the base fabric is dyed, leaving parts that were knotted as white spots. This highly specialised process requires 6–12 months to complete.
* ''
Geta
Geta may refer to:
Places
*Geta (woreda), a woreda in Ethiopia's Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region
*Geta, Åland, a municipality in Finland
*Geta, Nepal, a town in Attariya Municipality, Kailali District, Seti Zone, Nepal
*Get� ...
''
clog
Clogs are a type of footwear that has a thick, rigid sole typically made of wood, although in American English, shoes with rigid soles made of other materials are also called clogs.
Traditional clogs remain in use as protective footwear in a ...
straps: wooden clogs called ''geta'' were the shoes of the feudal era. The Owari devised a unique pattern for the cotton straps of the clogs and ordered them to be made by local weavers. The technique has developed over the generations. The straps became stronger and more resilient but more comfortable for the feet with the discovery of cotton velvet.
* ''Shippo'': the technique for
enamelware
Vitreous enamel, also called porcelain enamel, is a material made by fusing powdered glass to a substrate by firing, usually between . The powder melts, flows, and then hardens to a smooth, durable vitreous coating. The word ''vitreous'' comes ...
called ''shippo'' arrived from the Netherlands towards the end of the Edo period. The patterns appear almost transparent and are often used on pottery.
* Candles:
wax
Waxes are a diverse class of organic compounds that are lipophilic, malleable solids near ambient temperatures. They include higher alkanes and lipids, typically with melting points above about 40 °C (104 °F), melting to give lo ...
is taken from a
wax tree and painted around a rope made of grass and Japanese paper (''
washi
is traditional Japanese paper processed by hand using fibers from the inner bark of the gampi tree, the mitsumata shrub (''Edgeworthia chrysantha''), or the paper mulberry (''kōzo'') bush.
''Washi'' is generally tougher than ordinary ...
'') over and over again into layers. When cut in half, the candle looks as if it grew like a tree with rings. Japanese candles produce less smoke and are harder to blow out, since the
wick
Wick most often refers to:
* Capillary action ("wicking")
** Candle wick, the cord used in a candle or oil lamp
** Solder wick, a copper-braided wire used to desolder electronic contacts
Wick or WICK may also refer to:
Places and placenames ...
tends to be larger. Artists paint the candles in coloured patterns.
* ''Yuzen'': the art of
silk
Silk is a natural fiber, natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be weaving, woven into textiles. The protein fiber of silk is composed mainly of fibroin and is most commonly produced by certain insect larvae to form cocoon (silk), c ...
dyeing was introduced by craftsmen from Kyoto during the rule of Owari Togukawa. The initial designs were extravagant and brightly coloured, but over time became more muted and light-coloured.
* ''Sekku Ningyo'': festival dolls were introduced by markets during the Meiji era. Nagoya craftsmen rank among the top producers.
* The city also gave its name to a type of ''
obi'', the sash that is used to tie a ''
kimono
The is a traditional Japanese garment and the national dress of Japan. The kimono is a wrapped-front garment with square sleeves and a rectangular body, and is worn Garment collars in hanfu#Youren (right lapel), left side wrapped over ri ...
''. The term ''Nagoya obi'' can refer to an older type of ''obi'' used centuries ago. This type was cord-like.
The current – or to differentiate from the ''fukuro Nagoya obi'', also called – is the most-used ''obi'' type today. It was developed by a seamstress living in Nagoya at the end of the 1920s. The new, easy-to-use obi gained popularity among Tokyo's geisha, from whom it then was adopted by fashionable city women for their everyday wear. The ''Nagoya obi'' was originally for everyday wear, not for ceremonial outfits, but one made from exquisite brocade can be accepted as semi-ceremonial wear. A more formal version is called the or , which is more formal.
*
Japanese pottery and porcelain
is one of the oldest Japanese crafts and art forms, dating back to the Neolithic period. Types have included earthenware, pottery, stoneware, porcelain, and blue-and-white ware. Japan has an exceptionally long and successful history of cer ...
has a long tradition due to suitable clay being available in
Owari Province
was a province of Japan in the area that today forms the western half of Aichi Prefecture, including the modern city of Nagoya. The province was created in 646. Owari bordered on Mikawa, Mino, and Ise Provinces. Owari and Mino provinces w ...
.
Seto ware
is a type of Japanese pottery, stoneware, and ceramics produced in and around the city of Seto, Aichi, Seto in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. The Japanese term for it, ''setomono'', is also used as a generic term for all pottery. Seto was the locatio ...
and
Tokoname ware
is a type of Japanese pottery, stoneware, and ceramics produced in and around the municipality of Tokoname, Aichi, in central Japan. Tokoname was the location of one of the Six Ancient Kilns of Japan.
History
Pottery made in Tokoname dates ba ...
are from the region. In the town itself
Ofukei ware,
Toyoraku ware,
Sasashima ware
Sasashima ware (笹島焼 ''Sasashima-yaki'') is a type of Japanese pottery from Nagoya, Owari province, later Aichi prefecture, central Japan.
History
It was based in the Sasashima-chō neighbourhood, not far from Nagoya Station, today a par ...
and
Kawana ware
refers to a type of Japanese porcelain produced in and around the area of Kawana (川名), today Kawanayama-chō (川名山町) in Shōwa-ku, Nagoya, central Japan. It is of the ''sometsuke'' (染付) blue and white pottery type, but notable ...
were produced.
* ''
Netsuke
A is a miniature sculpture, originating in 17th century Japan. Initially a simply-carved button fastener on the cords of an box, later developed into ornately sculpted objects of craftsmanship.Yuji Yamashita (2014), ''Meiji no saimitsu kogei'' ...
'' artists such as
Tametaka
Tametaka (為隆) was a renowned '' netsuke'' carver from Nagoya, Owari province, central Japan. He is considered the founder of the art of ''netsuke'' carving in Nagoya.
Biography
He was mentioned in the '' Sōken Kishō'' (装劍奇賞), a ...
and
Ikkan Ikkan (一貫) (1817–1893) was one of the most renowned '' netsuke'' artists in Japan during the Edo period.
Biography
He was from Nagoya, Owari province
was a province of Japan in the area that today forms the western half of Aichi Pr ...
were well known during the Edo period.
Cuisine
The city and the region are known for their unique local . Dishes include:
* ''Tebasaki'': chicken wings marinated in a sweet sauce with sesame seeds, basically a type of ''
yakitori
is a Japanese type of skewered chicken. Its preparation involves attaching the meat to a skewer, typically made of steel, bamboo, or similar materials, after which it is grilled over a charcoal fire. During or after cooking, the meat is ty ...
''
* ''
Tenmusu
Tenmusu, also spelled as ten-musu, is a dish in Japanese cuisine that consists of a rice ball wrapped with nori that is filled with deep-fried tempura shrimp. Tenmusu is sometimes included as a food in bento boxes.
History
Tenmusu originated in ...
'': a rice ball wrapped with nori that is filled with deep-fried tempura shrimp
* ''Kishimen'': flat ''
udon
Udon ( or ) is a thick noodle made from wheat flour, used in Japanese cuisine. There are a variety of ways it is prepared and served. Its simplest form is in a soup as with a mild broth called made from dashi, soy sauce, and mirin. It is usual ...
'' noodles with a slippery texture, dipped in a light soy sauce soup and a sliced
leek
A leek is a vegetable, a cultivar of ''Allium ampeloprasum'', the broadleaf wild leek (synonym (taxonomy), syn. ''Allium porrum''). The edible part of the plant is a bundle of Leaf sheath, leaf sheaths that is sometimes erroneously called a "s ...
or other flavouring added. It can be eaten cold or hot.
* Red ''miso'': various dishes that use red ''
miso
is a traditional Japanese seasoning. It is a thick paste produced by fermenting soybeans with salt and kōji (the fungus ''Aspergillus oryzae''), and sometimes rice, barley, seaweed, or other ingredients. It is used for sauces and spreads; p ...
'', such as ''miso katsu'' (
pork cutlet Pork cutlet may refer to:
* Tonkatsu, a Japanese breaded pork cutlet
* Dongaseu, a Korean breaded pork cutlet
* Kotlet schabowy, a Polish breaded pork cutlet
See also
* pork
* cutlet
In cuisine, cutlet (derived from French ''côtelette'', '' ...
) with sweet ''miso'' sauce and ''miso nikomi udon'' (hard ''udon'' stewed in ''miso'' soup)
* ''Hitsumabushi'': rice dish with ''unagi'' in a lidded wooden container. This dish is enjoyed three ways; as ''unadon'', with spice and as ''chazuke''.
* ''Miso nikomi udon'': Firmer texture udon noodles. It is served in a Donabe pot and it usually arrives still bubbling and steaming hot at the table.
In popular culture
The world premiere of the first ''Godzilla'' movie was in Nagoya on October 27, 1954. The city, especially Nagoya Castle, has been featured in two other Godzilla movies: ''Mothra vs. Godzilla'' and ''Godzilla vs. Mothra''. The city is also featured in ''Gamera vs. Gyaos'' and is the main setting of 2003 film ''Gozu.'' The 1995 film ''The Hunted (1995 film), The Hunted'' starring Christopher Lambert and the 1992 film ''Mr. Baseball'' starring Tom Selleck were also filmed in the city.
The city was the setting for the 2007 movie ''Best Wishes for Tomorrow, Ashita e no yuigon'' (translated as ''Best Wishes for Tomorrow''), in which a Japanese people, Japanese war criminal sets out to take responsibility for the execution of U.S. airmen. The anime ''The Wind Rises'' by Hayao Miyazaki, released in 2013, is a highly fictionalized biography of the
Mitsubishi A6M Zero
The Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" is a long-range carrier-capable fighter aircraft formerly manufactured by Mitsubishi Aircraft Company, a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. It was operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) from 1940 to 1945. The ...
's chief engineer Jiro Horikoshi and takes mostly place in Nagoya of the 1920s and 1930s. Nagoya is also the setting for the manga and anime series Yatogame-chan Kansatsu Nikki, which highlights many of the sites and traditions of the city.
Haruki Murakami called Nagoya "another world" (異界, ikai) in the book "Tokyo Surume Club: Chikyuu no Hagurekata".
Sports
Nagoya is home to several professional sports teams:
In 2007, the Chunichi Dragons won the Japan Series baseball championship. In 2010, Nagoya Grampus won the J. League championship, their first in team history. Nagoya is also the home of the Nagoya Barbarians semi-pro rugby football club.
A ''honbasho'' sumo tournament is held every July at the Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium. The city has hosted The Crowns golf tournament since 1960 and the women's Nagoya Marathon since 1984.
In September 2016 the city was awarded the right to host the 2026 Asian Games after it was the only city to lodge a bid. It will be the third time Japan hosts the event after Tokyo in 1958 and
Hiroshima
is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture in Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 1,199,391. The gross domestic product (GDP) in Greater Hiroshima, Hiroshima Urban Employment Area, was US$61.3 billion as of 2010. Kazumi Matsui has b ...
in 1994.
The city had a bid to host the 1988 Summer Olympics but lost to Seoul.
The city hosted the official 1979 Asian Basketball Championship. Later, it became one of the host cities of the official Women's Volleyball World Championship for its 1998 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship, 1998, 2006 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship, 2006 and 2010 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship, 2010 editions.
The 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Games will be the next big event in the sports world following the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. It will be a very meaningful event for all of
Japan
Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
, as it would bring a chance to further deepen ties within Asia. In order to bid for the Asian Games,
Aichi Prefecture
is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshū. Aichi Prefecture has a population of 7,461,111 () and a geographic area of with a population density of . Aichi Prefecture borders Mie Prefecture to the ...
and Nagoya City made a 20th Asian Games Proposal.
File:Nagoya Dome - 3.jpg, Nagoya Dome
File:Binnenkant van Nagoya Dome, -21 maart 2019 a.jpg, Chunichi Dragons
File:Dolphins Arena 20180923-01.jpg, The Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium is used for Sumo wrestling and other events
File:Dolphins Arena02.jpg, Nagoya Diamond Dolphins
File:Mizuho Koen Stadium 20160815-02.jpg, Mizuho Athletic Stadium
File:瑞穂陸上競技場1 - panoramio.jpg, Nagoya Grampus
File:Mizuho Rugby Stadium.jpg, Paloma Mizuho Rugby Stadium
File:Toyota-Sports-Center-2.jpg, Toyota Verblitz
Notable people
Historical figures
Minamoto no Yoritomo
was the founder and the first shogun of the Kamakura shogunate, ruling from 1192 until 1199, also the first ruling shogun in the history of Japan.Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Minamoto no Yoriie" in . He was the husband of Hōjō Masako ...
was the first ''shōgun'' of the
Kamakura shogunate
The was the feudal military government of Japan during the Kamakura period from 1185 to 1333. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005)"''Kamakura-jidai''"in ''Japan Encyclopedia'', p. 459.
The Kamakura shogunate was established by Minamoto no Yori ...
. His family had roots as the high priests of Atsuta Shrine and he was born in the family villa what is Seigan-ji today.
The three samurais who unified Japan in the 16th century all have strong links to Nagoya:
*
Oda Nobunaga
was a Japanese ''daimyō'' and one of the leading figures of the Sengoku period, Sengoku and Azuchi-Momoyama periods. He was the and regarded as the first "Great Unifier" of Japan. He is sometimes referred as the "Demon Daimyō" and "Demo ...
(1534–1582), from
Nagoya Castle
is a Japanese castle located in Nagoya, Japan.
Nagoya Castle was constructed by the Owari Domain in 1612 during the Edo period on the site of an earlier castle of the Oda clan in the Sengoku period. Nagoya Castle was the heart of one of the ...
in
Owari Province
was a province of Japan in the area that today forms the western half of Aichi Prefecture, including the modern city of Nagoya. The province was created in 646. Owari bordered on Mikawa, Mino, and Ise Provinces. Owari and Mino provinces w ...
*
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
, otherwise known as and , was a Japanese samurai and ''daimyō'' (feudal lord) of the late Sengoku period, Sengoku and Azuchi-Momoyama periods and regarded as the second "Great Unifier" of Japan.Richard Holmes, The World Atlas of Warfare: ...
(1536–1598), one of
Oda Nobunaga
was a Japanese ''daimyō'' and one of the leading figures of the Sengoku period, Sengoku and Azuchi-Momoyama periods. He was the and regarded as the first "Great Unifier" of Japan. He is sometimes referred as the "Demon Daimyō" and "Demo ...
's top generals
*
Tokugawa Ieyasu
Tokugawa Ieyasu (born Matsudaira Takechiyo; 31 January 1543 – 1 June 1616) was the founder and first ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan, which ruled from 1603 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. He was the third of the three "Gr ...
(1543–1616), born in Mikawa Province, (the eastern half of modern Aichi prefecture)
Other samurai include:
* Shibata Katsuie (samurai of the
Sengoku period
The was the period in History of Japan, Japanese history in which civil wars and social upheavals took place almost continuously in the 15th and 16th centuries. The Kyōtoku incident (1454), Ōnin War (1467), or (1493) are generally chosen as th ...
)
* Niwa Nagahide (samurai of the Sengoku period)
* Maeda Toshiie (samurai of the Sengoku period)
* Katō Kiyomasa (samurai of the Sengoku period)
* Sassa Narimasa (samurai of the Sengoku period)
* Sakuma Nobumori (samurai of the Sengoku period)
* Sakuma Morimasa (samurai of the Sengoku period)
* Maeda Toshimasu (Maeda Keijirō, samurai of the Sengoku period)
Inventors and industrialists
* Sakichi Toyoda (1867–1930), prolific inventor from Shizuoka Prefecture
* Kiichiro Toyoda (1894–1952), son of Sakichi Toyoda, established
Toyota Motor Corporation
is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive manufacturer headquartered in Toyota City, Aichi, Japan. It was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda and incorporated on August 28, 1937. Toyota is the List of manuf ...
* Akio Morita (1921–1999), co-founder of Sony
* Jiro Horikoshi (1903–1982), worked in Nagoya as chief engineer of the
Mitsubishi A6M Zero
The Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" is a long-range carrier-capable fighter aircraft formerly manufactured by Mitsubishi Aircraft Company, a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. It was operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) from 1940 to 1945. The ...
fighter
* Akio Toyoda (born 1956), current Chairperson, Chairman and Former President (corporate title), president & Chief Executive Officer, CEO of
Toyota Motor Corporation
is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive manufacturer headquartered in Toyota City, Aichi, Japan. It was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda and incorporated on August 28, 1937. Toyota is the List of manuf ...
Executive officers
* Yoichi Wada
Writers
*Yokoi Yayū (1702–1783), haiku poet and samurai in Owari Domain
*Ryukichi Terao (born 1971), Hispanist and translator of Latin American literature
Scientists
*Leonor Michaelis (1875–1949) German and American biochemist known for development of enzyme kinetics worked in Nagoya from 1922 to 1926
*Susumu Tonegawa (born 1939) Nobel prizewinner who discovered the genetic mechanism that produces antibody diversity
*Tsuneko Okazaki (born 1933) pioneer of molecular biology known for her work on DNA replication
Performing artists of Japan
Musicians and composers
* Etsuko Hirose (born 1979), classical pianist
* Moa Kikuchi (born 1999), Japanese musician, singer, dancer, model, and actress (member of the kawaii metal group Babymetal and a former member of the Japanese idol, idol group Sakura Gakuin)
* Home Made Kazoku, Japanese hip hop music, hip hop Trio (music), trio
* Yōsei Teikoku, five-member Japanese musical unit
* Spyair, Japanese rock band
* Kiyoharu (born 1968), Japanese musician and singer-songwriter, known for his work with Kuroyume and Sads (band), Sads
* Koji Kondo (born 1961), Japanese music composer, pianist, and music director who works for the video game company Nintendo.
* Seamo (Real Name: Naoki Takada, Nihongo: 高田 尚輝, ''Takada Naoki'', born 1975), Japanese hip hop music, hip hop recording artist
* Takanori Iwata (born 1989), Japanese dancer and actor (member of J-pop boygroups Sandaime J Soul Brothers and Exile (Japanese band), Exile)
* Naomi Tamura (born 1963), Japanese pop singer and songwriter
* Kazuki Kato (born 1984), Japanese actor, Voice acting in Japan, voice actor and singer
* Lullatone, Japanese musical duo
* Aya Hirano (born 1987), Japanese actor, voice actor and singer
* Jasmine You (1979–2009), Japanese musician, best known as original bassist of the symphonic metal band Versailles (band), Versailles
* Outrage (band), Outrage, Japanese thrash metal band
* Enako (born 1994), cosplayer
* Sho Hirano (born 1997), member of King & Prince
* Kanon Suzuki (born 1998), former idol and singer (former member of Japanese girl idol group Morning Musume)
* Shinichi Suzuki (violinist), Shinichi Suzuki (1898–1998), Japanese musician, philosopher, and educator and the founder of the international Suzuki method of music education and developed a philosophy for educating people of all ages and abilities
* nobodyknows+, Japanese hip hop music, hip hop band
* SKE48, Japanese Japanese idol, idol group
* Okada Yukiko (1967–1986), Japanese idol and winner of the talent show Star Tanjō! in Tokyo, Japan
* Coldrain, Japanese rock band
* May'n (Real Name: Mei Nakabayashi, Nihongo: 中林 芽依, ''Nakabayashi Mei'', born 1989), Japanese singer
* Team Shachi, Japanese female Japanese idol, idol group
* Kero Kero Bonito, Sarah Midori Perry
* INTO1, Uno Santa
* JO1, Syoya Kimata (born 2000), member of JO1
* JO1, Keigo Sato (born 1998), member of JO1
* Me:I, Cocoro Kato, member of Me:I
* Me:I, Miu Sakurai, member of Me:I
* Masaya Kimura (singer), Masaya Kimura, member of INI (Japanese boy group)
* Masato Hayakawa (born 1986), lead singer of Coldrain, songwriter and model
Actors
* Kaede Hondo
* Akari Kitō
* Matt McCooey, British actor of Japanese ancestry
* Naoko Mori
* Kaito Nakamura (actor), Kaito Nakamura
* The Nose sisters: Anna, Erena, and Karina Nose, Karina
* Naomi Kawashima
* Hirotaka Suzuoki
* Hiroshi Tachi
* Emi Takei
* Hiroshi Tamaki
* Kokoro Terada
* Toshihiko Nakajima
* Yuki Yamada (actor), Yūki Yamada
Athletes
* Miki Ando
* Mao Asada
* Mai Asada
* Hugh Barter
* Kazuki Himeno
* Keisei Tominaga
* Kimiyasu Kudō
* Midori Ito
* Jong Tae-se
* Takamoto Katsuta
* Takuma Koga (footballer)
* Takuma Koga (racing driver)
* Takahiko Kozuka
* Yuto Nomura
* Yōhei Ōshima
* Yoshiaki Oiwa
* Takashi Sugiura
* Último Dragón
* Shoma Uno
* Tomiko Yoshikawa
Manga artists
* Akane Ogura
* Akira Toriyama
* Mohiro Kitoh
References
Bibliography
*
*
External links
Nagoya City official website
WikiSatellite view of Nagoya at WikiMapiaNagoya International CenterOfficial Tourism Guide – Nagoya Travel Guide
{{Authority control
Nagoya,
Cities in Aichi Prefecture
Populated coastal places in Japan
1889 establishments in Japan
Populated places established in 1889
Cities designated by government ordinance of Japan
Cities built on a grid