Nagoya

Nagoya is a great alternative to Tokyo and Osaka. Why? It is the third largest metro area, meaning it has many of the same offerings of its two larger siblings, however, it has long been considered an industrial or business town and not as well suited for sightseeing. Fine by me, because that simply not true. In fact the city has an official marketing line that says “Nagoya is not boring!”. And its true.

For those of us looking to go off the beaten path in Japan and find the hidden gems of Japan, Nagoya presents a great opportunity without the throngs of tourists. It has world class art and science museums; amazing architecture; high end shopping; historic shrines and its own castle; a railway museum second to none; the Legoland Theme Park; and the largest seasonal light display in all of Japan.

Furthermore, it is a very short excursion away to the stunningly beautiful post town of Magome on the Nakasendo Trail, something many western tourists never see, yet should. Therefore, let the common sentiment continue keeping away the crowds of foreign tourists while we take advantage of this undiscovered gem of a city. Trust us, you’ll be glad you did.