If you have already seen the Imperial Palace in Tokyo and the Ise Shrines in Mie, a visit to Atsuta Jinja will complete your tour of the three most sacred sites in Japan. An ancient, Japanese prince's sword (kusanagi) is housed here. The shrine itself is modest, but the approach lined with cypress trees merits a visit in itself. Other national treasures are on display at an on-site museum.
With its famed gilded roof ornamentation portraying kinshachi, Nagoya Castle is the de-facto symbol of the city. Dating back to 1612, the main edifice was reconstructed in 1959 on its original foundation after being destroyed in World War II and now houses a modern museum with a significant escape into its bygone splendor. What was once one of the largest and the most powerful castles of the country, today stands as a monumental vestige carrying the legacy of the Tokugawa family. Flanked by beautifully-designed turrets, a dry inner moat sheltering deer, and a water-filled outer moat, the castle is a marvelous canvas laden with vibrant peonies and cherry blossoms come spring, where melodious songbirds croon into its regal expanse. The castle grounds are home to a multitude of waterfowl, along with the glorious Honmaru Palace, while an arsenal of antiquated gates attests to its magnificent, historic glory.
Osu is one of Nagoya's oldest shopping districts with a long history spanning over 4 centuries. If you're looking for a place to shop in Nagoya, there aren't many places that can match Osu in terms of sheer size and volume. Osu accommodates more than 1200 business establishments including restaurants, cafes, gadget stores and thrift stores. This area is packed with people at any time of the day and any month of the year. Osu attracts, even more, people in August and October when it hosts the Osu Summer Festival and the Osu Ship Parade in the respective months.
Ōsu Kannon Temple is a famous Buddhist temple in central Nagoya initially built in Gifu Prefecture during the rule of the Kamakura shogunate. The temple was relocated to its current location in 1612 by Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founding father of the Tokugawa shogunate after the temple had been ravaged by constant flooding in the region. 'The Goddess of Mercy' is a hand-carved wooden statue located in the main hall and the primary deity of the temple, which is frequented large numbers of Buddhists who come to pay their respects to her.
The Toganji Temple is an ancient 16th-century Buddhist temple in the Motoyama ward of Nagoya which features a 50 foot (15 meters) sea green Buddha statue. The temple is inspired by Hindu culture as it includes a Shiva Linga and a shrine dedicated to the Hindu Goddess of knowledge: Goddess Saraswati, who is worshiped during the Benzaiten Festival held every year on the 7th of May.
Constructed in 1991, the Shirotori Garden is a 9.1 acre (3.7 hectares) Japanese Garden which is a tribute to the scenic beauty of Nagoya's vast countryside. The garden contains a hillock in its south-western end, which is a replicate of Mount Ontake, located on the borders of Gifu and Nagano Prefectures. The Shirotori Garden also features a traditional Japanese tea house, for guests who wish to savor some traditional Japanese tea, overlooking lush green lawns and man-made ponds.
If you have already seen the Imperial Palace in Tokyo and the Ise Shrines in Mie, a visit to Atsuta Jinja will complete your tour of the three most sacred sites in Japan. An ancient, Japanese prince's sword (kusanagi) is housed here. The shrine itself is modest, but the approach lined with cypress trees merits a visit in itself. Other national treasures are on display at an on-site museum.
Constructed in 1991, the Shirotori Garden is a 9.1 acre (3.7 hectares) Japanese Garden which is a tribute to the scenic beauty of Nagoya's vast countryside. The garden contains a hillock in its south-western end, which is a replicate of Mount Ontake, located on the borders of Gifu and Nagano Prefectures. The Shirotori Garden also features a traditional Japanese tea house, for guests who wish to savor some traditional Japanese tea, overlooking lush green lawns and man-made ponds.
Mt. Sanage is a peak located on the outskirts of Nagoya which offer panoramic views of the neighboring Chuo Alps, Minami Alps, Mt.Hakusan, and Mt.Ena. This is a great place for hiking throughout the year, but the last days of spring and autumn are the best times to visit. There is a tiny mountain shrine situated at the southern foot of Mt. Sanage with the pathway leading to its entrance marked with stone. The shrine is also one of the peak's major attractions. Mt.Sanage's treacherous terrain and steep trails prove to be a stern test for even the most experienced of hikers.
With its famed gilded roof ornamentation portraying kinshachi, Nagoya Castle is the de-facto symbol of the city. Dating back to 1612, the main edifice was reconstructed in 1959 on its original foundation after being destroyed in World War II and now houses a modern museum with a significant escape into its bygone splendor. What was once one of the largest and the most powerful castles of the country, today stands as a monumental vestige carrying the legacy of the Tokugawa family. Flanked by beautifully-designed turrets, a dry inner moat sheltering deer, and a water-filled outer moat, the castle is a marvelous canvas laden with vibrant peonies and cherry blossoms come spring, where melodious songbirds croon into its regal expanse. The castle grounds are home to a multitude of waterfowl, along with the glorious Honmaru Palace, while an arsenal of antiquated gates attests to its magnificent, historic glory.
Tagata Jinja is the 1500 year old Tagata Shrine in the city of Komaki which attracts worldwide attention every year on the 15th of March due to the ancient fertility festival Hounen Matsuri which is held here. A phallus-shaped wooden imitation is paraded through the streets and taken to the shrine which is normally quieter during other days of the year.
Osu is one of Nagoya's oldest shopping districts with a long history spanning over 4 centuries. If you're looking for a place to shop in Nagoya, there aren't many places that can match Osu in terms of sheer size and volume. Osu accommodates more than 1200 business establishments including restaurants, cafes, gadget stores and thrift stores. This area is packed with people at any time of the day and any month of the year. Osu attracts, even more, people in August and October when it hosts the Osu Summer Festival and the Osu Ship Parade in the respective months.