Nagoya Travel Guide: Best Things To Do, See, and Eat
Glitch Coffee & Roasters
To start off Nagoya we wanted to check out the specialty coffee scene. We went to Glitch Coffee & Roasters, located inside of a capsule hotel. Glitch Coffee only offers espresso, lattes, and pour-overs which is the perfect for avid coffee lovers. All their beans are light roast and they have a huge variety to choose from. Surprisingly, the barista spoke English and was able to help us choose the best beans according to the brew and our taste.
I’m not a coffee drinker, so I got a latte to sip on and Michael finished it off. Michael got his usual pour over which was easily S-tier. He prefers light roast beans with fruity and acidic notes, and the Colombian beans really stood out here. The interior was minimalist, but it has a warm environment and is a great place to do some remote work.
Nagoya Castle
Nagoya Castle is one of the most popular things to see in the city. Compared to castles like Tokyo and Osaka, the area is small, making it easy to walk through. On the day we visited, it was 90°F, so we tried to limit our time outside before we melted. Sadly, due to damage to the foundation, the interior isn’t open to the public, so you have to enjoy it from the outside.
The castle has been damaged and destroyed various times, so it’s a mix of ancient and modern history. While you can’t go in the main keep, the restored Hommaru Palace next door is open, so we popped inside. It is decorated lavishly, with gold gilding and intricate detailing. Usually Japanese architecture is more conservative and precise in its detailing, so seeing a palace in this state is interesting. It felt like walking through an ancient storybook.
Unagi Hitsumabushi Togawa
Hitsumabushi is a local dish consisting of charcoal grilled eel served over rice that is a must-eat in Nagoya. We visited Unagi Hitsumabushi Togawa to try it for the first time. It’s a traditional restaurant with a bit of a modern flair. We love a lot of spices and flavor, and Japanese food doesn’t usually do it for us, so I was a bit skeptical. I ordered the grilled eel set, and Michael got the grilled eel omelette.
They say there are 4 different ways to eat hitsumabushi. The first is to eat the eel and rice as is, the second is to add toppings like green onions, wasabi, and nori, the third is to pour dashi over it for a lighter and more savory flavor. Lastly, the fourth way is to eat it however you enjoyed it the most. Honestly, this meal hit the jackpot. The eel is incredibly savory and melts in your mouth, with a satisfyingly crunchy skin. Especially with the toppings, it really packs a punch. It’s definitely on the pricier side, but it was worth it for the experience and taste.
Blue Seal
Blue Seal is an ice cream chain from Okinawa, but has a few branches around the bigger cities of Japan. When we visited Okinawa we had a Blue Seal every day and gave us so many happy memories. Whenever there is a Blue Seal available we always try to visit to relive some of our amazing trip to Okinawa. At this location there isn’t much inside, but they have a long bench to sit and enjoy your ice cream.
We both got a sundae where you can pick a soft serve and a scoop of ice cream. Michael got the best combo which is their number one flavor salt cookies, and the mixed salt and beni imo soft serve on top. It is the perfect ice-cream that is perfectly cooling on a hot summer day.
Nagoya TV Tower
Nagoya TV Tower is a landmark of Nagoya. Located in Hisaya-odori Park, it is the oldest TV tower in Japan. The park stretches for several blocks on either side, with lots of great views of the tower. Inside, there are 5 floors with a cafe, hotel, sky deck, and more. It’s really beautiful to see at night as the tower lights up. The park around the tower is also a nice place to walk around and enjoy the view with lots of shopping, restaurants, and coffee nearby.
Bucyo Coffee
Bucyo Coffee is a vintage diner serving ogura toast. This style of toast has a thick slice of Japanese milk bread, topped with red bean paste and butter. One of Japan’s most popular breakfast places, Komeda Coffee, is from Nagoya, bringing the famous toast all across Japan. We’ve been to Komeda before, but we didn’t have the ogura toast so we were excited to try from a local diner. We ordered their signature toast which was half red bean and half homemade peanut butter.
It is kind of hard to eat in a bite as the piece of bread is huge. The red bean was savory and had a slight sweetness to it. The homemade peanut butter stood out with a unique texture and a very nutty taste. We were nervous to visit Bucyo because they have so many rules to keep guests in check. Each person has to order one beverage, there is a 60 minute time limit, no perfumes and strong orders, don’t be noisy, etc. Thankfully, the staff were very nice to us and we ended up having a great experience at this old fashioned shop.
Tebasaka
Tebasaki is another Nagoya specialty. It is double-fried chicken wings, usually coated in a sauce or a dry rub. Tebasaki is found in izakaya (Japanese bars) and is had together with beer. We chose to visit Tebasaka, and izakaya in the heart of the city. We tried their trio platter, which has 6 wings with 3 flavors: original, spicy, and sweet glaze. In Japan we haven’t had the best luck with chicken, so we hoped this would redeem it. The original and spicy are a dry rub, and the skin was nice and crispy and came off very nicely. The original had a lemony garlic pepper taste to it. It was fine for the first bite, but after a while, it became really salty and definitely required beer to wash down. Our favorite was the sweet glaze, as it had a nice tangy flavor and was really well balanced. While it is the best fried chicken we’ve had in Japan so far, I wouldn’t say it has been redeemed. The rubs are far too salty, and if we came back we’d probably just stick to the glaze.
Shirotori Garden
Shirotori Garden is a Japanese garden on the south side. The area is quite large, with several areas surrounding the central pond. There is even a traditional Japanese tea ceremony room in the middle of the park. Each corner of the park is like a different zone, from bamboo forests to mountain streams and a grassy field. There are also many beautiful spots to stop and take pictures, you’d forget you’re in the third largest city in Japan. If you enjoy nature and Japanese gardens, this is a nice place to visit, especially since it’s so close to Atsuta Shrine.
Atsuta Jingu
Atsuta Jingu is one of the most sacred places in Japan. The shrine was founded in 113, making it nearly two millennia old at this point. Millions of visitors come to this shrine to pray. Outside of the Great Ise Shrine, it is often considered the second most important Imperial shine to Shintoism. Atsuta Jingu is also known as the home to the sacred Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi sword, one of the Three Sacred Treasures of Japan. Like most major shrines, it was nearly destroyed during World War 2, and was reconstructed afterwards.
Atsuta Shrine is quite large, with many walking paths and various halls of worship. The main shrine courtyard is closed off for visitors and can be viewed from the outside of the gates. Although it was incredibly hot outside, the shrine is covered by old trees, giving a perfect shade to relax in. We enjoyed walking around the shrine and taking in the peaceful atmosphere; we could barely tell there was a major road only a hundred meters away. It was a nice place to slow down and experience a different side of Nagoya.
Misokatsu Yabaton Yabacho Honten
Misokatsu Yabaton Yabacho Honten is a famous fried pork cutlet chain that originated in Nagoya. They’re best known for their signature miso sauce, which gives the classic pork cutlet a unique twist and has made it one of the city’s must-try dishes. Since we were flying out of Nagoya, we decided to visit their branch at Chubu Centrair International Airport. The airport location can get quite busy during peak hours, so it’s a good idea to plan your visit accordingly. I ended up getting the half fried pork cutlet and half miso cutlet, while Michael ordered the signature miso pork cutlet.
The portions were generous, and both cutlets were fried to crispy perfection, leaving us more than satisfied. One of the highlights was watching the staff pour the miso sauce over the cutlets right at the table. We started eating immediately so the breading would stay crispy. The miso sauce was rich, savory, and slightly sweet. It coated the cutlet perfectly and added plenty of flavor to every bite. I’m not usually a huge fan of pork cutlets, but Yabaton easily became my second favorite in Japan after Saboten in Okayama. If you’re visiting Nagoya or even just passing through Chubu Centrair International Airport, it’s definitely worth stopping by before your flight.
Final Thoughts
We really enjoyed our time in Nagoya and were surprised by how much we were able to see and eat during our trip. The food alone gave us so many new dishes to try, while the gardens, shrines, and city areas gave us a chance to slow down and explore. We hope this Nagoya travel guide has inspired you to explore the most boring city in Japan.
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