I have been receiving many inquiries from tourists about recommended sightseeing spots and restaurants in Japan, so I would like to introduce my recommended travel places.
A map of the places I’ve been and marked.
Places and foods that are especially recommended are marked with ★ and marked in yellow.
- Things to do before coming to Japan
- How to get to Nagoya from the time of arrival at Central Japan International Airport Centrair.
- [common in Japan] Recommended Japanese inexpensive and tasty franchise restaurant (near Nagoya)
- 【Nagoya】Recommended Restaurants
- [Nagoya’s own] Recommended Tourist Attractions
- 【Nagoya】Reasonable and good hotel recommendation
- 【Nagoya】South Course (Himaka Island)
- 【Nagoya】North Course (Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture)
- [Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture] Recommended restaurants
- [Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture] Recommended Tourist Attractions
- Return from Nagoya to Central Japan International Airport Centrair
- 【Nagoya】Souvenirs recommended
Things to do before coming to Japan
Create a WISE card (no annual or maintenance fees) to exchange foreign currency between your home country and Japan at low fees.
Use the app to open a Japanese yen account and exchange currencies at lower rates than exchange stores.
You can convert currencies back and withdraw cash from ATMs in the country you’re in.
What is the WISE card?
・A card that allows you to easily exchange currencies from different countries with the lowest fees
・A reliable card created by the president of the Skype calling app
・Easy screening because it is a debit card
・Can be used in any major country in the world (MasterCard)
・Can also withdraw money from ATMs in foreign countries in local currency
・Can be used as a simple foreign account
・No annual fee. No account maintenance fee. (Only a card issuance fee)
How to get to Nagoya from the time of arrival at Central Japan International Airport Centrair.
Meitetsu Nagoya Station is the central station of Nagoya City.
Chubu International Airport → Meitetsu Nagoya Station 中部国際空港→名鉄名古屋駅
To Nagoya, Gifu, Unuma, or Shinkani: 980 yen (about 1 hour) 名古屋行、岐阜行き、鵜沼行き、新可児行き
Meitetsu Nagoya Station is the central station of Nagoya City.
*Transportation by train and bus is recommended. Cabs in Japan are quite expensive.
You should base yourself mainly around three stations: “Nagoya Station”, “Sakae Station”, and “Kamimaezu Station”. 名古屋駅、栄駅、上前津駅
[common in Japan] Recommended Japanese inexpensive and tasty franchise restaurant (near Nagoya)
★★Kura Sushi (popular 100 yen conveyor-belt sushi) くら寿司
★★★Marugame Seimen 丸亀製麺(Udon Restaurant. The best tempura in Japan. I recommend the kakiage tempura, about 600 yen)
名古屋スパイラルタワーズ店
・Sukiya (Gyudon restaurant. Delicious beef bowls are available at low prices (about 600 yen) すき家
すき家 セントラルパーク店
・Shabu-you (Japanese all-you-can-eat sukiyaki & shabu-shabu. You can enjoy them at the same time for about 3,000 yen) しゃぶ葉（日本のすき焼き&しゃぶしゃぶ食べ放題。同時に楽しめます 3000円程度）
＊SUKIYAKI=Japanese-style beef with sugar and soy sauce, SYABU SYABU=Japanese-style boiled pork with sauce
しゃぶ葉 キュープラザ久屋大通店
・Yakiniku Kingu (all-you-can-eat Japanese beef yakiniku, about 4,000 yen) 焼肉きんぐ（和牛焼肉食べ放題 4000円程度）
焼肉きんぐ 京都桂店
・Yakiniku Raiku (cheap and tasty one-person yakiniku, also has wagyu beef) 焼き肉らいく（安くて美味しい一人焼肉、和牛もある）
焼肉ライク上前津店
・Gyuukaku 牛角
牛角 今池店（和牛焼肉3000円食べ放題）
・Supajiro Ginza (various pastas are inexpensive and delicious, Japanese style pasta is also available)
すぱじろう銀座（様々なパスタが安くて美味しい）
【Nagoya】Recommended Restaurants
・Miso Katsu 味噌カツ
Yabaton（矢場とん） I recommend the Waraji Tonkatsu(half half) set meal.
Kurobutsuya Ramuchii (cheap and tasty miso pork cutlet) 黒豚屋らむちぃ
・Izakaya, sashimi, octopus shabu-shabu 居酒屋・刺し身・たこしゃぶ
Kaisen Kushi-Age Makamaka (delicious octopus shabu-shabu, seafood and local sake from Himaka Island, Aichi Prefecture) 海鮮串揚げまかまか
・Sushi 寿司
★★★Sushi Zammai Nagoya Nishiki (A branch of the main sushi restaurant in Tokyo. Recommended dishes are the “Maguro Zammai” and “Tokusen Sushi Zammai”) すしざんまい名古屋錦店 4,000-5,000 yen
・Nagoya specialty: Hitsumabushi (eel on rice with ochazuke) 名古屋名物ひつまぶし（うなぎ丼とお茶漬け）
Eel Restaurant Shirakawa Sakae Gas Building (Nagoya’s famous Hitsumabushi for around 3,000 yen) うなぎ店しら河 栄ガスビル店
・Fried prawn sandwich エビフライサンド
Compal Sakae Nishi (best fried shrimp sandwiches) コンパル栄西店（エビフライサンドが最高に美味い）
・Authentic Italian Pizza 本格イタリアンピザ
Solo Pizza (A pizza place that tastes better than the Italian one that won in Italy. Pulcinella and mixed flavors are recommended) ソロピザ
名古屋店
大須新天地店
・Ramen ラーメン
Menya Hayabusa Nagoya Station Branch (lobster ramen recommended) 麺屋はやぶさ名古屋駅店（オマール海老ラーメンがおすすめ）
Nagoya Osu Branch (lobster ramen recommended) 名古屋 大須店（オマール海老ラーメンがおすすめ）
・Szechuan dish of noodles covered with a sauce of sesame paste and chili oil 担担麺
Lai An Dan Dan Noodle Shop, Symphony Toyota Building (white sesame soup-less dan dan dan noodles are recommended) 來杏担担麺房 シンフォニー豊田ビル店（白ごま汁なし担々麺がおすすめ）
・crab 蟹
Kanizammai Nagoya Sakae (all-you-can-eat crab for about 3,000 yen) かにざんまい名古屋栄店（3000円程度でカニ食べ放題）
・Wagyu beef bowl 和牛丼
Butanutsu Chunichi Building Branch (delicious high-end Ise beef bowls) 豚捨 中日ビル店
[Nagoya’s own] Recommended Tourist Attractions
shopping
Kami-maezu Station (easy to navigate by exiting from Exit No. 9) 上前津駅
↓
Osu shopping street, Shintenchi-dori (Nagoya’s version of Akihabara. (Anime, game, computer and otaku stores) 大須商店街新天地通り
110 yen shop
anime/games/otaku
Electronics stores, PCs, mobile
building
Oasis21 (Interesting as architecture)
Onsen (hot spring) 温泉
Central Japan International Airport SOLA SPA Kaze no Yu (You can take a hot spring bath while watching an airplane. There are many kinds of baths.) 中部国際空港 SOLA SPA 風の湯
Other その他
Nagoya Mirai Tower (overlooking Nagoya)
Atsuta Jingu (a large Shinto shrine protecting one of Japan’s three hidden treasures, the Sword of Kusanagi)
Nagoya Castle (under renovation. Photo spot)
【Nagoya】Reasonable and good hotel recommendation
[Normal hotel]
１、Vessel Hotel Campana Nagoya: Large Public Bath with Sauna (Nagoya Station Sakura-dori Exit)
This price is near Nagoya station. The service is overwhelmingly excellent.
2、Hotel Mystays Nagoya Sakae
Close to Sakae station. Unbeatable among hotels near Nagoya Station.
３、Vessel Inn Sakae Ekimae ベッセルイン栄駅前
４、Hotel Actel Nagoya Nishiki
【Capsule Hotel】
★★★Anshin Oyado Nagoya Sakae Branch (Capsule hotel available for men and women. (Capsule hotel with women-only floor) 安心お宿
The Nagoya Sakae branch of Anshin Oyado, which expanded from Tokyo around 2020, is now complete.
It is a budget hotel where you can stay for 3,000 yen to 5,000 yen per night.
The hotel is very well-equipped and safe, so I recommend it. There is also a women-only floor, so you can use it safely.
The rooms are spacious, well air-conditioned and quiet. There are many toilets and they are clean.
Free loungewear, free towels, free vending machines, free massage machines, free food and drink, and free unlimited manga reading. Free bedclothes, free towels, free vending machines, free massage machines, free food and drinks, and free reading of manga.
There is no breakfast or dinner, but there are many restaurants in the area and they are open from early morning until late at night, so it is cheaper to eat out.
・Nine Hours Nagoya Station (Capsule hotel for men and women. (Capsule hotel with women-only floor) ナインアワーズ名古屋駅（カプセルホテル男女利用可能。女性専用フロアありカプセルホテル）
The lowest price capsule hotel in Nagoya. Nine Hours Nagoya Ekimae.
The price is cheaper than Anshin Oyado. The surrounding area is quiet and safe. Many shower rooms and toilets are available.
However, there is no breakfast and dinner, and you need to bring your own towels and nightclothes.
I use this place when I miss the last train in Nagoya.
【Nagoya】South Course (Himaka Island)
The most delicious seafood in Nagoya and a fun island trip
Meitetsu Nagoya → Kawa (1 hour) *Transfers may be made at Kanayama Station. 名鉄名古屋→河和（1時間）※金山駅で乗り換えの場合もあり
To Kawa: 1,050 yen 河和行き 1050円
10 min. walk 徒歩10分
Kawa Port→Nichegashima West Port (20 min.) 河和港→日間賀島西港（20分）
1420 yen
★★★OTOHIME 日間賀島 乙姫（Boiled octopus and blowfish course in winter are recommended. Recommended guesthouse restaurant.）Reservations are required for course meals and accommodations.
【Nagoya】North Course (Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture)
★★Trip to Hida Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture, north of Nagoya
・By Train
JR Nagoya Station → JR Takayama Station (2.5h) 5600 yen
JR名古屋駅→JR高山駅（2.5h）5600 yen
I recommend going to Takayama by train.
*Meitetsu Nagoya Station and JR Nagoya Station are different stations. Please note that although the stations are close to each other, they are in different locations.
・By bus
Nagoya Station (Highway Bus) (2 hours and 50 minutes) 3,400 yen
名古屋駅（高速連絡バス）（2時間50分）3400円
Nagoya Station (Highway Bus Hida Takayama-go) → Takayama Nobi BC (Takayama Station)
名古屋駅（高速バスひだ高山号）→高山濃尾BC（高山駅）
JR Nagoya Station→JR Takayama City (8 hours) 3000 yen
[Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture] Recommended restaurants
Wagyu Beef, Hida Beef Eat Restaurant
Maruaki (Top quality Hida beef. Very tasty)
Ajikura (grilled Hida beef)
Tavern izakaya 居酒屋
Heianraku (inexpensive and delicious Takayama izakaya)
coffee shop
★★Coffee shop (matcha green tea shop, delicious warabimochi)
Bagpipes (classic, atmospheric coffee shop)
Kote Gyu (where you can eat Hida beef sushi)
[Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture] Recommended Tourist Attractions
shopping
Hida Takayama Miyagawa Morning Market (morning market, local products) 飛騨高山宮川朝市（朝のマーケット、地元品）
Jinya-mae morning market (morning market, local products) 陣屋前朝市（朝のマーケット、地元品）
Shinto shrine 神社
Sakurayama Hachimangu (very beautiful shrine) 櫻山八幡宮
Hida Sannomiya Hie Shrine ( the setting of your name movie) 飛騨山王宮 日枝神社
Other Shrines
水無神社（君の名はの舞台）Mizunashi Shrine (the setting of your name movie)
気多若宮神社（君の名はの舞台）Kitta Wakamiya Shrine (the setting of your name movie)
Onsen (hot spring)
Takayama Green Hotel (even if you don’t stay the night, you can use the hot spring only for 1,500 yen) 高山グリーンホテル
Return from Nagoya to Central Japan International Airport Centrair
・By Train
JR Nagoya Station→ JR Takayama Station (2.5h) 5600 yen
JR高山駅→JR名古屋駅（2.5h）5600 yen
*Meitetsu Nagoya Station and JR Nagoya Station are different stations. Please note that although the stations are close to each other, they are in different locations.
There is a train bound for Central Japan International Airport at Nagoya Station.
Meitetsu Nagoya Station → Central Japan International Airport 名鉄名古屋駅→中部国際空港
To Central Japan International Airport: 980 yen (about 1 hour) 中部国際空港行き 980円（1時間程度）
【Nagoya】Souvenirs recommended
★★★Chita’s Senbei shrimp crackers (iroiro mixed)
Central Japan International Airport
Shrimp Senbei no Sato Terminal 1, 4th floor, Sky Town
★★Bankakuya no Yukari Senbei rice cracker
Central Japan International Airport
Terminal 1, 3rd floor, Meihin Kan, Japanese Sweets Corner
Terminal 2, 2nd floor Souvenir Hall
★★Akafuku (best before date is 3 days, but tasty)
Central Japan International Airport
Terminal 1, 3rd floor, Meihin Kan, Japanese Sweets Corner
Terminal 1, 3rd floor Souvenir Hall
Terminal 2, 2nd floor Souvenir Hall
Onsen (hot spring) 温泉
Central Japan International Airport SOLA SPA Kaze no Yu (You can take a hot spring bath while watching an airplane. There are many kinds of baths.)
