Home
Special Features
Enjoying the Kansai and Chubu Regions with Nagoya as Your Home Base Special Feature

Special Features

Enjoying the Kansai and Chubu Regions with Nagoya as Your Home Base Special Feature

If you're going to the Expo 2025, then Nagoya is a primo home base from which to travel. Getting to the Expo 2025 is a cinch from Nagoya, which is a bustling metropolis full of sensational sightseeing spots.
Let us show you what to see at both the Expo 2025 and in Nagoya. Enjoy the best of both worlds at the Expo and in Nagoya City.

Index

Why to set up base in Nagoya

Why to set up base in Nagoya

Reason 1: Easy access

Getting to the Expo is a breeze with Osaka just around 50 minutes to one hour away from Nagoya by bullet train. If you choose to stay in Nagoya, you have access by bullet train not only to Osaka but Hida Takayama in Gifu Prefecture and Ise Jingu Shrine in Mie Prefecture among other spots around Nagoya. But why limit yourself to just the Expo area when Tokyo, Kyoto, and other areas around Japan are within reach thanks to Nagoya's extensive transportation infrastructure?

Access to Nagoya from outside Aichi and outlying tourism spots

Reason 2: So much to see

Nagoya is home to numerous cultural hotspots as well as must-see modern-day tourism points. It's just the spot to get in some sightseeing before or after the Expo. If you're in the mood for a little history, some places to add to your list are Nagoya Castle and Atsuta Jingu Shrine while those with more of a metropolitan mindset are sure to have an incredible shopping spree around Sakae and the Nagoya Station area.
Another realm of the Nagoya's tourism would have to be warrior sightseeing since the greater area has deep ties to Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu—known as Japan's Three Great Heros. In fact, Nagoya Castle is currently home to the Nagoya Omotenashi Bushotai© Warrior Brigade as well as Tokugawa Ieyasu and Hattori Hanzo with the Ninjas doubling your fun as you dive into Japan's battling past.

Nagoya's sightseeing spots you can't afford to miss

Nagoya Castle: This castle stands out in the analects of history with its Kinshachi golden tiger-fish roof ornaments.

Nagoya City Science Museum: Encounter education the fun way with the latest scientific technologies as well as an alluring planetarium and exhibits.

Osu Shopping District: This shopping arcade is brimming with the spirit of Nagoya, offering local cuisine as well as international dishes at more restaurants than you can count. Snack as you take a stroll and shop till you drop.

Sightseeing spots

Reason 3: Enriching accommodations

Nagoya hosts numerous lodging facilities, which—while the Osaka area is all filled up during the Expo—welcome you to enjoy a low-key time. From luxury lodgings and business hotels to uniquely designed hotels, a wide variety await your visit. Stay in Nagoya for a relaxing time while you enjoy its local sights as well as the Expo.

Luxury Hotel Special Feature

Let us show you our choice of hotels by area you can't help but want to stay at with top tier hospitality, atmospheres offering a departure from orthodoxy, and wondrous views you'll not soon forget.

Accommodations

Reason 4: Lip-smacking Nagoya Meshi (Nagoya cuisine)

If you're coming to Nagoya, you can't skip its local cuisine, known as "Nagoya Meshi", because the city boasts a unique and distinctive culinary culture. Add a savory splash to your dining experience at the Expo 2025 with the local flavors of Nagoya Meshi.

*Miso-katsu*: This deep-fried pork cutlet smothered in savory miso sauce is a Nagoya favorite.

*Tebasaki*: These crispy chicken wings wear a special sauce over them, enjoying a special place in the appetites of pub diners.

*Hitsumabushi*: This eel delicacy on a bed of rice offers three different tastes, first eaten as is, next with condiments, and finally with tea poured over.

Nagoya Meshi dishes

The appeal of the Expo 2025

The Expo 2025 is an international exposition held in Osaka in 2025 on the theme of Designing Future Society for Our Lives. Pavilions gather from around the world in this grand event letting you experience cutting-edge technologies and innovative ideas. The Expo venue is filled with hands-on exhibits to see and touch as you experience for yourself technologies at the forefront of forming our future society.

What to see

One of the world's largest wooden-construction venues

The Yumeshima venue is the first to expo venue to be located on the ocean. Of particular interest is the Grand Ring, recognized as the largest wooden architectural structure and symbolizing the circle of life.

Distinctive pavilions

Thirteen private pavilions from around the world, the Japan Hall, Municipality Hall, Women's Pavillion, and more exhibit a variety of creative displays.

Entertainment

Each day, different events take place at the venue offering fun for any age with contents like art, music, aquatic shows, manga and anime, and more.

Taking in the surrounding sights with Nagoya as your base

Nagoya is blessed with an incredible transportation infrastructure for easy access to surrounding sightseeing spots. By staying in Nagoya, your travel choices become even more limitless, so take advantage of this perk and take a trip out to the neighboring areas. Here are three locations you can make a daytrip out of.

Three top spots for a daytrip from Nagoya

Nagashima Spa Land

Nagashima Spa Land enjoys a reputation as one of Japan's largest amusement parks with some 60 varieties of attractions. Enjoying some of the most screams would have to be the Hakugei (White Whale) and Steel Dragon 2000 rollercoasters. All sorts of attractions respectively suited to every age make for a memorable time.

• Address: 333 Urayasu, Nagashima-cho, Kuwana-shi, Mie
• Hours: 9:30 am–5:00 pm (changes may occur by season and day)
• Directions:
　By car:
　Nagoya
　↓ Nagoya Expressway / Isewangan Expressway (approx. 30 min.)
　Wangan-Nagashima Interchange

　By shuttle bus:
　Oasis21 or Meitetsu Bus Center
　↓ Approx. 60 min.
　Nagashima Onsen Bus Stop

Details available from the official site: Nagashima Spa Land site's Access page (Japanese)

Ise Jingu Shrine

Ise Jingu Shrine boasts a history of over 2,000 years and is a spiritual meeting point of Japanese history and culture. Nearby Okage Yokocho offers a walk through a traditional townscape with local eats to enjoy and souvenirs to shop for.

• Address: 1 Ujitachi-cho, Ise-shi, Mie
• Directions:
　By train:
　Kintetsu Nagoya Station
　↓ Approx. 1 hr. and 20 min. (rapid service)
　Kintetsu Iseshi Station
　↓ 5 min. by bus or on foot
　Outer Shrine
　↓ 10 min. by bus
　Inner Shrine

　By car:
　Nagoya
　↓ Approx. 1 hr. and 40 min. (Ise Expressway)
　↓ Ise-nishi Interchange
　Geku (Outer Shrine)
　↓ Approx. 10 min.
　Naiku (Inner Shrine)

Details available from the official site: Official Ise Jingu Shrine website's Access page

Hida Takayama

Enjoy a stroll through an old townscape retaining much of its appearance during the Edo period as you enjoy the cuisine and sights. Don't miss the architectural artistry of the former Takayama Province Headquarters and other amazing structures.

• Address: Kami-Sanno-machi, Takayama-shi, Gifu, etc.
• Directions:
　By car:
　Nagoya
　↓ Approx. 2 hr. and 15 min. (Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway)
　Takayama

　By train:
　JR Nagoya Station
　↓ Approx. 2 hr. and 30 min. (Rapid Hida service)
　JR Takayama Station

Details available from the official site: Official Hida Takayama site's Access page (machine translation)

Other spots

Magome Post Town	Required time: Approx. 1 hr. and 30 min. from Nagoya by car
Tsumago Post Town	Required time: Approx. 1 hr. and 30 min. from Nagoya by car
Hamamatsu City	Required time: Approx. 30 min. by shinkansen bullet train and approx. 2 hr. by car from Nagoya
Nabana no Sato Theme Park	Required time: Approx. 30 min. from Nagoya by car