Nagoya

Japanese food is as refined as any of the great cuisines of the world, but alongside the elegant fare is the humble bowl of rice and the heritage of simple country cooking. The traditional Japanese diet is no doubt one of the healthiest in the world and thankfully tofu, miso, sushi, green tea, and soba are now familiar to many people outside of Japan.

Nagoya Castle was constructed on the orders of Ieyasu TOKUGAWA in order to secure an important position on the Tokaido highway and to ward off attacks from the direction of Osaka. Construction was completed in 1612, and the castle is typical of those built on flatlands.

The fourth-largest city of Japan, Nagoya is a lively city with great possibilities for shopping and nightlife, beautiful temples and parks, and a range of cultural and historical sights. Nagoya receives less foreign visitors than the more popular Japanese cities like Tokyo or Kyoto, but has as much to see with its number of attractions and interesting Japanese culture. It is also a good base for day trips to many parts of central Japan.