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- Nagoya Nighttime Journey —A special night only this autumn, in Nagoya.—
Special Features
Nagoya Nighttime Journey
—A special night only this autumn, in Nagoya.—
This autumn in Nagoya, there are plenty of events to enjoy even at night.
Why not treat yourself to a special evening?
Index
Nagoya Castle Night Illumination “Be GOLD” <9/19 (Sat)–10/4 (Sun), 10/18 (Sun)–24 (Sat)>
This nighttime event is themed around the culture of “gold” passed down at Nagoya Castle, featuring light displays throughout the castle grounds, including the castle tower, stone walls, and Ninomaru Garden. By combining projection mapping, lasers, lighting, and mist effects, visitors can experience a new side of Nagoya Castle where history and modern technology come together.
Event Name: Nagoya Castle Night Illumination Be GOLD
Event Period: Saturday, September 19 to Sunday, October 4, and Sunday, October 18 to Saturday, October 24
Illumination Hours: 17:00–20:00 (Park hours: 9:00–19:30; gates close at 20:00)
Admission Fee: Adults: 500 yen (1,000 yen from October 1, 2026); Junior high school students and younger: free; Senior citizens living in Nagoya City (those bringing a Respect-for-the-Aged Passbook): 100 yen (300 yen from October 1, 2026)
Free for those presenting a disability certificate (up to 2 accompanying persons)
Access:
- 5 minutes on foot from Exit 7 of “Nagoyajo” Station on the Meijo Subway Line
- 12 minutes on foot from Exit 1 of “Sengencho” Station on the Tsurumai Subway Line
(If using other means of transportation, please check the official website for access information.)
* Admission to the Southwest Corner Turret and the Nishinomaru Storehouse Castle Treasure Museum is until 16:00.
* Last admission to Honmaru Palace is 19:00; it closes at 19:30.
* The castle keep is currently closed to visitors.
Official website: Nagoya Castle Night Illumination - Be GOLD -
Nagoya Castle Autumn Festival
- This is one of Nagoya’s traditional sights of autumn.
This year, during the Asian Games and Asian Para Games period (Saturday, September 19–Sunday, October 4, and Sunday, October 18–Saturday, October 24), a variety of events will be held, including “Nagoya Castle Night Illumination” with extended opening hours, a “Special Opening of the Honmaru Palace” allowing entry into rooms that are not usually accessible, and a “Grand Bon Odori Festival”!
Aichi-Nagoya Art & Rights
Images inspired by the history and culture unique to “Aichi-Nagoya” will be projected onto the walls of the main buildings of the Aichi Prefectural Government Office and Nagoya City Hall, both Imperial Crown Style buildings designated as Important Cultural Properties of Japan.
Making use of design elements distinctive to Imperial Crown Style architecture, dynamic visuals will unfold alongside line animations that accentuate the outlines of the buildings.
Please enjoy this grand-scale digital art projection, a collaboration between historic architecture and cutting-edge digital technology, as these two nationally designated Important Cultural Properties are enveloped in light.
(Part of the digital art) *Image for reference*
(Part of the digital art) *Image for reference*
Viewing Area
Event Name: Aichi-Nagoya Art & Lights
Event Period: Thursday, September 17 – Saturday, October 24 Illumination Hours: 18:30–21:00
A roughly 10-minute program, looping a digital art projection (approx. 5 minutes) and illumination display (approx. 5 minutes)
Venue: Aichi Prefectural Government Main Building / Nagoya City Hall Main Building
Admission: Free Access: Get off at “Nagoyajo” Station on the Meijo Subway Line
Official Website: Aichi-Nagoya Art & Lights
- Please use public transportation, as there is no parking available.
- Stopping on the sidewalk to watch or take photos will obstruct pedestrian traffic. Please use the designated viewing area within the prefectural office and city hall grounds.
- Crowds are expected between around 18:30 and 19:30, so we recommend visiting at a less busy time.
- The event is scheduled to take place even in the rain, but may be canceled in severe weather. Please check the official website for the latest information.
For more details, please see the banner below.
Aichi-Nagoya Art & Lights
- The Aichi-Nagoya Urban Art & Light Executive Committee, composed of the City of Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, and others, will hold “Aichi-Nagoya Art & Lights” to enliven nighttime tourism in conjunction with the 20th Asian Games and the 5th Asian Para Games, illuminating the Aichi Prefectural Government Main Building and Nagoya City Hall with video mapping and light display programs.
A roughly 10-minute program, consisting of a video mapping segment (about 5 minutes) and a light display segment (about 5 minutes)
[Related Event] Open, Brew, Sannomaru
During the “Aichi-Nagoya Art & Rights” event period, from Wednesday, September 23 (national holiday) to Monday, September 28, “Hiraku, Kamosu, Sannomaru” will be held in the northwest parking lot of the Nagoya City Hall Main Building, creating a space where visitors can experience the fermentation culture of Aichi and Nagoya.
Please come and enjoy a different side of Sannomaru than usual, and experience its nighttime charm.
[Event Overview]
Event Name: Hiraku, Kamosu, Sannomaru
Dates: September 23 (Wed, holiday) – September 28 (Mon)
Venue: Parking lot in front of the Nagoya City Hall Main Building (northwest)
Hours: 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Admission: Admission is free. Tastings require tickets (up to 6 different tastings available), at 500 yen per ticket. (Please refrain from purchasing multiple tickets per person.)
*Food and sake for souvenirs require separate payment.
Details:
[Creation of a Relaxing Space] Tables and chairs will be provided.
[Experience Fermentation Culture] Tastings and sales of sake and mirin by breweries from Aichi and Nagoya
- Breweries from within Aichi Prefecture will participate on a rotating daily basis, offering tastings of their specially selected sake and mirin (Notes 1, 2)
Sale of fermented foods made using fermented ingredients
- Sake lees curry, koji amazake, deli items made with fermented foods, and snacks (Note 3)
(Note 1) Up to 6 types of tastings are available per person (equivalent to 1 go in total)
(Note 2) Last order for tastings is 8:30 PM
(Note 3) Last order is 8:30 PM
For details such as participating vendors, please check the Sannomaru District Community Development Instagram.
• Aichi-Nagoya Open-Top Bus <9/18 (Fri)–10/24 (Fri)>
The “Aichi-Nagoya Open-Top Bus,” which tours Nagoya from the best seats in the house—without a roof—will be in service! Enjoy dynamic panoramic views from a height of 3 meters above the ground aboard a roofless double-decker bus! The familiar cityscape you see every day is sure to look completely different.
You can also enjoy “Aichi-Nagoya Art & Lights” and the “Nagoya Castle Night Illumination -Be GOLD-” (on event days only) from atop the roofless bus.
[Night Course] (approx. 85 minutes) Route for the “Sparkling Night View! Nagoya Nightscape Enjoyment Course”
Event Name: Aichi-Nagoya Open-Top Bus [Night Course] (approx. 85 minutes) Sparkling Night View! Enjoy Nagoya’s Nightscape Course
Event Period: Friday, September 18 – Saturday, October 24
Departure Location: Meieki Parklet
Departure Times: Night Service 1 departs at 18:00 → returns at 19:25 / Night Service 2 departs at 20:00 → returns at 21:25
Fare: ¥2,500 (ages 4–12: ¥1,500)
・Those who require a multilingual audio guide device rental will be charged an additional service fee of ¥1,000.
・Child fare applies to elementary school children and younger (ages 4–12). ・Children aged 3 and under ride free. (However, if a seat is used, the child fare is required.)
Official website: Aichi-Nagoya Open-Top Bus (Dragons Pack sales site)
[Tour Reservations]
① Official website: Aichi-Nagoya Open-Top Bus
② Phone reservations: 052-365-1489 (Meitetsu Kanko Bus Reservation Center; reception hours: weekdays 10:00–16:00, Saturdays 10:00–15:00; closed Sundays and public holidays)
③ Meieki Parklet: (Available for purchase on the day if seats remain)
[Day Course] (approx. 60 minutes) Fully enjoy Nagoya! Classic Panoramic Course is also available! For details, please see the event information below.
Aichi-Nagoya Open Top Bus
- Nagoya City, in collaboration with Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya Railroad Co., Ltd. through a public-private partnership, will operate the Aichi-Nagoya Open Top Bus during the period of the 20th Asian Games and the 5th Asian Para Games, with the aim of promoting nighttime tourism.
As this is a limited-time service available only during the Asian Games period, we invite you to take this special opportunity to ride the bus and discover a new side of Nagoya’s charm.
※For the latest seat availability, please check the official Meitetsu Kanko Bus booking website at the bottom of this page.
・Horikawa Night Cruise
A puzzle-solving event that begins with searching for illustrations glowing in the darkness, blacklight in hand. Be sure to enjoy this one-of-a-kind nighttime cruise × puzzle-solving experience, unlike anything usual!
Event Name: Horikawa Night Cruise
Event Period: Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays from Saturday, September 19 to Sunday, October 11, 2026, and Friday, 9/25
Departure/Arrival Location: Nayabashi Boarding Pier
Departure Times: 18:00, 19:00, 20:00 (Note: This is a sightseeing loop service.)
Fare: Adults: 2,500 yen, Students: 1,500 yen
*Children up to 12 years old ride free, one child per adult; the student fare applies from the second child onward.
[How to Purchase Boarding Tickets]
1. Purchase or reserve on the dedicated website
*You can purchase or reserve via Jalan.net
2. Purchase at the boarding pier on the day of operation (same-day tickets are available if seats are open)
3. Reserve by phone: 052-659-6777 (Reception hours: 9:30–17:30)
Horikawa Night Cruise
- Horikawa, connecting people and the city unchanged for 400 years—now and then. Have a special experience on Horikawa, wrapped in darkness and silence!!
The nighttime Horikawa cruise operates for a limited time only. Why not rediscover the charm of Horikawa while experiencing its history on this special night cruise?
For the night cruise, we offer a special mystery-solving experience different from the daytime version. Enjoy a puzzle adventure that can only be experienced at night!
Please check this out as well.
Horikawa Cruise
Enjoy the Nagoya Castle and Shikemichi area in autumn while solving mysteries on the “Nagoya Horikawa Cruise”! On the Horikawa River, which was created in 1610 along with the construction of Nagoya Castle, guided boats operate on two routes connecting the boarding piers from “Nagoyajo-mae (Asahibashi),” just near Nagoya Castle, to “Nayabashi,” and to “Gojobashi,” which is close to the Shikemichi and Endoji Shopping Street areas. There are also special cruises featuring members of the Nagoya Omotenashi Busho-tai and casts from Nagoya-za, as well as night cruises where you can enjoy the city lights. While solving mysteries, you can take in the extraordinary scenery from the boat!!
・Be sure to check out this related feature as well!
Take the excitement of the game straight into the night. Sakae Night Journey 2026
Introducing ways to enjoy the nightlife in the Sakae area.
From the buzzworthy new spot “HAERA” to bars with night views, comforting late-night gourmet fare, and even “Nagoya Kentos,” where live performances keep the energy high—right now, the Sakae area is giving rise to one “reason to enjoy the night” after another.
Enjoy Beer Gardens in Nagoya This Summer! Beer Garden Special 2026
This is a feature on beer gardens you can enjoy from this summer through autumn.
*Some beer gardens may have already ended for the season.*
No worries even after a game or event. Here are some Nagoya-meshi restaurants around Sakae and IG Arena where you can enjoy yourself late into the night.
From tebasaki chicken wings and miso katsu to hitsumabushi, savor the hot, freshly made dishes and enjoy Nagoya nights to the very end! It’s also highly recommended to keep the post-game excitement going with a beer toast.
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