Aichi Travel Guide for Japanese Learners
Nagoya's castle and industry, plus samurai-era history.
Aichi centers on Nagoya, Japan's fourth-largest city and an industrial powerhouse (home of Toyota). It has a reconstructed castle, a major shrine, and a hearty local food culture.
History & background
Aichi (愛知) produced three of Japan's great unifiers — Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu. Nagoya (名古屋) later became an industrial giant and the birthplace of Toyota.
What to see
- Nagoya Castle
- Atsuta Shrine
- Toyota Commemorative Museum
- Inuyama Castle
What to eat
Nagoya 'meshi': miso-katsu, hitsumabushi eel, and tebasaki wings.
Getting there & when to go
Getting there: Nagoya is ~1h40m from Tokyo and ~50 min from Kyoto by Tōkaidō Shinkansen.
Best time: Year-round; a handy hub between Tokyo and Kyoto.
When to go — season by season
Comfortable year-round as a travel hub. Spring blossoms ring Nagoya Castle (名古屋城); the city's festivals and food scene run all year.
A suggested visit
See Nagoya Castle and Atsuta Shrine (熱田神宮), eat your way through 'Nagoya meshi', then use the city as a base for day trips to Gifu's Takayama or Mie's Ise.
Nagoya makes a good base for day trips to Gifu's Takayama or Mie's Ise.
Some links above are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only list services we'd use ourselves.