Established in 2010, the Yamazaki Mazak Museum is a fine art museum showcasing outstanding works from the Rose, Romanticism, Impressionism, Realism, Neoclassicism and Rococo periods of art. The interiors replicate the old-world charm of a typical 18th-century French art gallery with high ceilings, elegant draperies, antique wood furnishings, fancy chandeliers and polished hardwood floors. Photography is allowed in most sectors of the museum, except for the Mazak Art Plaza where it is strictly prohibited.
The purpose behind this museum, which converted nearly 60 buildings into an attractive park, is to preserve the architectural legacy of the Meiji and Taisho periods. Most of the structures are Western style and include government buildings, schools, a post office and churches. Not to be missed are the remnants from the Imperial Hotel, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, and foreigners' houses from the ‘treaty port' cities of Nagasaki and Kobe. The price of admission varies according to age and the academic year in which one is studying. Call to know the open hours.
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.
Whether you are going to be in town for a couple of days or a couple of years, make this your first outing in Nagoya. The Nagoya International Center provides information in a host of languages and gives advice on everything from shopping and dining to visas, employment, and even hiking. The NIC subscribes to newspapers and magazines from around the world, so take advantage of its library, which is open to the public.
A sprawling sanctuary with one of the largest zoos in Asia, botanical gardens, and an amusement park, established before World War II, the zoo has an impressive pedigree. Traditional favorites include lions, tigers and bears as well as elephants and giraffes. Also popular are a koala exhibit and tiny medaka tropical fish that flew on the space shuttle with one of Japan's astronauts. The recently built Higashiyama Sky Tower, with observation decks and a restaurant 100 meters off the ground, offers a panoramic view of the area.
Seating just 40, this tiny movie theater is the place for the cinema connoisseur. You never know what film you might find here: independent, amateur, documentary, art, international, animated, classic, old, new, underground, shorts, features, and all critically recognized. International movies are shown in their original language with Japanese subtitles. There are many showings throughout the day and titles change often. Check their web page (Japanese only) for schedules. The lobby boasts a collection of 2,500 books and 3,000 magazines (Japanese) on the cinema.