Nagoya Sights

  1. Nagoya castle

    Tokugawa Ieyasu ordered Nagoya castle to be built for his ninth son on the site of an older castle, from 1610 to 1614. Although it was destroyed in WWII and replaced in 1959 with a ferroconcrete replica, it's worth a visit for the fine museum inside featuring armour, treasures and histories of the Oda, Toyotomi and Tokugawa families. A lift will save you climbing stairs. Note the 3m-long replicas of the famous shachi-hoko, gilded dolphin-like sea creatures, at either end of the roof (and in every souvenir shop).

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  2. Nagoya Port Area

    Redeveloped to attract tourists, the cargo port now boasts several attractions. The hi-tech Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium is one of Japan's largest and it's generally a hit with kids. The Port Building offers good views of the harbour and Ise Bay from 53m up and also contains a Maritime Museum on the 3rd floor and the Fuji Antarctic Exploration Ship outside. Attractions are signposted in English.

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