Introducing Nagoya
Japan’s fourth-largest city, Nagoya is an industrial powerhouse; it’s also the birthplace of pachinko (Japanese pinball). None of this marks Nagoya as a top-rank tourist destination, but it offers a worthy castle, museum and gardens, fine foods, and plenty of urban amusement, on a far more relaxed scale than Tokyo.
Despite its size, locals and expats alike take pride in the hometown character of this friendly city that’s often overlooked on tourist itineraries. Nagoya is also a convenient base for day trips nearby and to Ise-jingū.
Last updated: Nov 3, 2008
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Young kids enjoy the rides at the Nagoya Zoo.
- Eric Wheater
- Lonely Planet photographer




















