Nagoya Things to Do Tips by taigaa001 Top 5 Page for this destination

Shirotori Teien Parks Review

Shirotori Teien close to Atsuta Shrine was designed in 1989 for World Design Expo held in Nagoya. This stroll landscape garden has a imcoming tide pond just like that of Hamarikyu Garden in Tokyo. I was most impressed by the reconstruction of ravine and waterfall home to various kinds of dragonflies. This garden also has wide variety of flowers that are designed to please visitors regardless of the seasons.

Honmaru Nagoya Castle Review

Honmaru is the innermost enclosure of Japanese castle. It usually has a palace and a castle keep(donjon) called Tenshu(kaku). Some castles do not have any donjons but with a palace. Honmaru of Nagoya castle has both a donjon and a palace. While the donjon was reconstructed in 1959, palace building remained unconstructed. While many lost donjons has been reconstructed, the those of palaces has been newer phenomena. Notable cases of Palaces include Ninomaru Palace of Sasayama Castle(Hyogo prefecture) in 2000 and Homaru Palace of Saga Castle(as a Historical Museum) in 2004. Currently with huge support from Nagoya residents and castle fans, Honmaru Palace building has been under reconstruction. A part of palace will be opened on May 29th, 2013 and some towers nearby are also undergoing renovation.

Honmaru Palace(Under reconstruction) Nagoya Castle Review

The year 2013 will see another get-together of world tourists to Nagoya probably since 2005 when the Expo was held. It is not only the opening of Honmaru Palace of Nagoya Castle but another tourist attraction Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Garden will be much refreshed. Nagoya castle had two grand palaces, Honmaru Palace adjacent to castle keep and Ninomaru Palace with excellent landscape garden. Honmaru Palace is similarly styled as Nijo Castle with large-scale shoin-style buildings. Ninomaru Palace was demolished after Meiji Government took over the castle to build the garrison and will never be reconstructed. The opening of the Honmaru Palace on May 29 shows the Shoin Styled building as well as replica of sliding door paintings many of which are Important Cultural Assets designated by Japanese government. Full opening will have to wait until 2018. Currently you can see how it is done by queuing up patiently in line around Honmaru area.

Tenshu-kaku(Castle Keep, Donjon) Nagoya Castle Review

Tenshu(kaku) is the Japanese castle fixture which draws huge number of tourists from all over the world. It is a main castle keep originally developed from watchtower of Central Enclosure(Honmaru). The first Tenshu for the castle was built by Nobunaga Oda in 1576, a seven-storied Azuchi Castle main keep. As time goes by Tenshu became more of the demonstration of power and wealth than for defensive function. Nagoya castle tenshu was built by the order of Iyeyasu Tokugawa in 1612. The original castle used to be the grandeur wooden castle even designated as National Treasure but it was burned down during the second world war. Current tenshu 48.27m in total height(35.85m from the castle base top) was rebuilt with reinforced-concrete in 1959. The newer tenshu is seven-storied and tries to keep the exterior of the original castle as much as they can. Tenshu of Nagoya castle is categorized as Renketsu style, joining with minor tenshu to enhance the defence. So you enter the castle from minor castle then you cross the joint corridor with a lot of defensive tricks to enter the larger tenshu.

Higashiyama Park: Overview Zoo & Botanic Gardens Review

Higashiyama Koen(Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Garden, Higashiyama Park, Nagoya Zoo and Botanic Garden) is the second popular zoo in Japan in 2010 with 2.18 million annual visitors twice as large figure as that of Nagoya castle and used to be the largest of its kind in Asia before the second world war. The park which has about 60 ha in area is divided with three areas, Amusement Park area, Zoo area and Botanical Garden area. Adjacent to the park stands Higashiyama Sky Tower, 134 meters in height. Popular animals in zoo area include Koalas, Penguins, Bears, Giraffes. Particularly this zoo was best known for introducing koalas to Japan for the first time. Botanical Garden area is popular as well. Popular places in Botanical Garden include Gassho House moved from World Heritage site, Shikarawa-go and 70-year-old green houses which also have historical value. Once visited, you will be sure to visit again. This was my fourth visit to the park but I still want to visit again.

Address: 3-70 Higashiyama-Motomachi, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya

Website: http://www.higashiyama.city.nagoya.jp/14_english/index.html

Zoo Area Zoo & Botanic Gardens Review

When I was visiting the Higashiyama Park I did not have so much time for the zoo area, so I could take a few photos. Higashiyama Zoo became popular when the zoo introduced Koala bear for the first time in Japan. Koala still is popular here, but children often get bored because koalas are often asleep and immobile. Flash photos are prohibited there. During summer watching penguins beating summer heat by the cool sprinkles of misty water is a must-see. Higashiyama Park visitors often complain that there is few playgrounds for children. The only kiddie park is located near the bear building. Also there are some old dinosaur statues in the zoo area. They are oldest of its kind. The concept led to the Non-hoi park in Toyohashi which has Natural History Museum with dinosaur park.

Botanical Garden Area Zoo & Botanic Gardens Review

Botanical Garden area of Higashiyama Park is the most favorite place of the park. But whenever I visit the park there is not so much time left for this area but it is huge and lots of area of the botanical garden is still unexplored. The two popular places of this area is Gassho-style house moved from Shirakawa-go area, now a World Heritage site and its old green house. The pond near the Gassho-style house is popular among photographers and painters. And some even try painting the Gassho House and the pond. Japanese garden near Gassho house was unfortunately closed for renovation.

Inside the Castle Keep Nagoya Castle Review

The castle keep of Nagoya castle is seven-storied but since this is the third visit to the donjon there weren't so much particular things to see for me. What I found interesting is film-set like old Nagoya town on the third floor and the section to experience the pulling of large stone on the fifth floor. Also there is a mock shachihoko for memorial photo. On the first floor you can have a short 3D promotional film about Honmaru Palace a part of which will be opened on May 29, 2013.

Higashiyama Sky Tower Zoo & Botanic Gardens Review

Higashiyama Sky Tower built in 1989 adjacent to Higashiyama Park is 134 meters in total height atop the hill 80 meters above sea level. Observation room is at the fifth floor of the tower 100 meters from the ground and 180 meters in elevation.

This tower is best known for the nighttime view of Nagoya City but even in daytime you can enjoy the panoramic view of the city area, and mountains around Nagoya. You can easily see the entire layout of the park. So I recommend that you visit the tower earlier in your Higashiyama Park(Zoo and Botanical Garden) visit.

Compound ticket, 640 yen for adult both the tower and the park, is also available. The ticket saves 160 yen. So if you have a compound ticket you are given a reentry ticket because the tower is out of the park area. Could I find Nagoya castle from the tower? Yes, but it was quite a challenge. To find a castle start from the group of skyscrapers around Nagoya station. Then look rightward. Nagoya castle can barely be seen between the buildings.

Open Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Closes at 9:30 p.m.)
Admission: Tower Alone: 300 yen for adult, free of charge for children junior high school students(15-year-old) or under.
Tower, Zoo and Botanical Garden: 640 yen for adult, free of charge for children 15 or under.

Address: 1-8 Kameiri, Tashirocho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya

The Views From Nagoya Castle Donjon Nagoya Castle Review

From the top floor of the Nagoya castle donjon you can see not only the water moat, skyscrapers near Nagoya station and Nagoya TV tower, but mountains nearby and far away. When I visited the castle on August 25, 2012, I could find the Yoro Mountain range, Mount Ibuki, one of the most popular hiking destinations from Nagoya, and Mount Sanage, religious mountain somewhat like Mount Takao in Hachioji, Tokyo. On a clear winter day it is said you can even see Mt. Ontake, and Mount Ena from there. But unfortunately not Mount Fuji.