Nagoya

Nagoya (名古屋市, Nagoya-shi) is the capital and biggest city of Aichi Prefecture in Japan. It is the largest city in the Chūbu region and the fourth-most populous city in Japan, with 2.3 million people as of 2025. Nagoya sits on the Pacific coast in central Honshu and has Japan's largest seaport.

In 1610, the leader Tokugawa Ieyasu moved the capital of Owari Province to Nagoya, which led to the building of Nagoya Castle. The early 1900s saw fast growth during the Meiji Restoration, as Nagoya became a key place for making cars, airplanes, and ships.

After the Second World War, Nagoya's economy grew in many ways, but it is still a big center for industry and transport. The city connects to Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto by the Tokaido Shinkansen. Nagoya has famous spots like Atsuta Shrine, Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Nagoya Castle, and the Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium. In 2026, Nagoya will host the 2026 Asian Games, joining Tokyo in 1958 and Hiroshima in 1994 as Japanese cities to do so.

Toponymy

The city of Nagoya has had different names in the past, such as 那古野 or 名護屋, both pronounced Nagoya. One idea about where the name comes from is the word nagoyaka, which means 'calm'.

The name Chūkyō (中京), made from chū (middle) and kyō (capital), is also used for Nagoya. Examples include the Chūkyō Industrial Area, Chūkyō Metropolitan Area, Chūkyō Television Broadcasting, Chukyo University, and the Chukyo Racecourse.

History

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of Nagoya.

Origins

Jōmon period & Kofun period

In the Jomon and Yayoi period, the Ōguruwa Shell Midden was found before Nagoya was settled. In the Kofun period, Nagoya was settled and important tombs like the Danpusan Kofun and Shiratori Kofun were built. The Atsuta Shrine is very old and holds special treasures, including the legendary sword Kusanagi no Tsurugi. His belongings were kept, and his memory was honored at a shrine.

Feudal period

Azuchi–Momoyama period

Oda Nobunaga and his followers Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu were strong leaders from the Nagoya area who helped unite Japan. In 1610, Tokugawa Ieyasu moved the capital of Owari Province to what is now Nagoya for better defense.

In 1560, the Battle of Okehazama happened just outside what would become Nagoya. In this battle, Oda Nobunaga defeated Imagawa Yoshimoto and became a leader during a time of war in Japan.

Early modern period

During this time, Nagoya Castle was built using materials from an older castle at Kiyosu. Many people moved from Kiyosu to live around the new castle. The ancient Atsuta Shrine became a stop on a major road between Kyoto and Edo (now Tokyo), and a town grew to support travelers. The castle and shrine helped form the city.

Modern period

Meiji period

During a time of big changes in Japan, Nagoya became an official city in 1889. It grew into an important center for industry, making pottery, cotton, and special mechanical toys called karakuri ningyō.

Taisho period

In 1920, a big airplane company, Mitsubishi Aircraft Company, started in Nagoya. The city's open space, central location, and good connections helped it become a key place for airplane manufacturing.

Contemporary period

After difficult times during a big war, Nagoya rebuilt itself and became a leading city for industry and manufacturing again. It also became important for big meetings and events, hosting the Expo 2005 and the Nagoya Protocol conference in 2010.

Geography and administrative divisions

Nagoya is north of Ise Bay on the Nōbi Plain. The city sits on low plateaus to stay safe from floods. The plain is one of Japan’s richest farming areas. Rivers like the Kiso River and the Shōnai River flow around the city and help with trade.

Nagoya has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot, humid summers and cool winters, with rain all year. The city has 16 wards, or districts, and about 2.3 million people. The nearby area includes parts of Mie and Gifu and has around 10 million people.

Geography

Climate

Area

Wards

Demographics

Surrounding municipalities

• Aichi Prefecture
  • Ama
  • Kanie
  • Kasugai
  • Kitanagoya
  • Kiyosu
  • Nagakute
  • Nisshin
  • Ōbu
  • Ōharu
  • Owariasahi
  • Seto
  • Tobishima
  • Tōgō
  • Tōkai
  • Toyoake
  • Toyoyama

Public services

Police

Aichi Prefectural Police helps keep the city safe with many police stations in Nagoya.

Firefighting

The Nagoya City Fire Bureau has fire departments in every part of the city to help with emergencies.

Health care

There are many hospitals in Nagoya, including the Nagoya City West Medical Center, to help people stay healthy.

Post office

Several post offices serve different areas of Nagoya, like Nagoya Central Post Office and Nagoya Higashi Post Office.

Library

Nagoya has many libraries, such as the Nagoya City Library and Nagoya City Atsuta Library, where people can borrow books and read.

Playhouses and cultural facilities

Nagoya has many places for performances and culture, including the Aichi Arts Center, Chunichi Theatre, and Nagoya Noh Theater. There are also smaller playhouses in neighborhoods all around the city.

National Hospital Organization Nagoya Medical Center

JP Tower Nagoya (Nagoya central Post office)

Aichi Prefectural Library

Misono-za

Sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Japan

The Nagoya International Center helps people from different countries meet in the local community. It is home to the U.S. Consulate and the United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD).

Nagoya is twinned with several cities around the world.

International

Sister cities

The friendly relationship with Nanjing, China was paused in February 2012 after some comments were made by Nagoya's mayor, Takashi Kawamura.

Partner cities

National

Partner city

Sister airport

Nagoya Airfield’s sister airport is:

• Grant County International Airport, WA, United States (2016)

Economy

Main articles: Chūkyō Metropolitan Area, Chūkyō Industrial Area, and Greater Nagoya Initiative

Nagoya is an important place for trade and business. It helps a lot with Japan's economy, especially in making cars. Many big car companies and parts makers have offices and factories in and around Nagoya.

The city has a long history with airplanes. Today, new airplane designs are made nearby.

Nagoya is famous for its beautiful ceramics and pottery. People there have made special pottery for many years, and they still do today. The city is also a place where many new technologies are created, like robots and advanced materials.

People in Nagoya enjoy shopping at many big stores, and the city has many places for meetings and big events.

Education

Nagoya has many government schools for children and teenagers. There are also special schools for students from other countries, like the Nagoya International School and Colégio Brasil Japão Prof. Shinoda Brazilian school.

The city has many colleges and universities, mostly in the eastern part. Some of these schools began a long time ago, during the Meiji era, with more starting later in the Taishō and Shōwa eras. Nagoya University began in 1871 to study medicine and has helped seven winners of the Nobel Prize in science. Nanzan University was started by a group of Christian people and has grown over time. Some schools focus on machines and technology, like Nagoya Institute of Technology and Toyota Technological Institute. These schools often work with big companies.

There are many other colleges and universities in Nagoya, including Aichi Prefectural College of Nursing & Health, Chukyo University, Meijo University, and Nagoya City University, among others. Some universities from outside Nagoya have smaller campuses in the city.

The Hōsa Library is an old library with many books, including special copies of old stories. The Nagoya City Archives keep important papers and books, and Tsuruma Central Library is a public library with many books to read.

Transport

Further information: Transport in Greater Nagoya

Airways

Airport

Nagoya has an important airport called Chubu Centrair International Airport (NGO). It was built on an artificial island in Tokoname and has both international and many domestic flights.

There is also Nagoya Airfield (Komaki Airport, NKM) near the city’s edge close to Komaki and Kasugai. Most big international flights now go to Centrair Airport. Nagoya Airfield is used for smaller airplanes, as an airbase, and for Fuji Dream Airlines flights.

Railways

Nagoya Station is very big—it’s the largest train station in the world by floor space! It is on several important rail lines, including the Tōkaidō Shinkansen, Tōkaidō Main Line, and Chūō Main Line. Companies like JR Central and Meitetsu help run trains here, connecting Nagoya to places in the Tōkai and Kansai regions.

High-speed rail

JR Central

• Tōkaidō Shinkansen line

Conventional lines

JR Central

• Tōkaidō Main Line
• Chūō Main Line
• Kansai Main Line

Subways

The Nagoya Subway helps people travel around the city.

Buses

Many bus companies, both public and private, run routes all over the area. These buses work well with trains to help people get around easily.

• Nagoya Municipal Bus
• Meitetsu Bus
• Mie Kotsu

Roads

Expressways

• Nagoya Expressway
• Mei-Nikan Expressway
• Tōmei Expressway
• Isewangan Expressway
• Higashi-Meihan Expressway
• Chitahantō Road

Japan National Route

• National Route 1
• National Route 19
• National Route 22
• National Route 23
• National Route 41
• National Route 153
• National Route 154
• National Route 155
• National Route 247
• National Route 302
• National Route 363
• National Route 366

Seaways

Seaport

Nagoya Port is the biggest port in Japan for international trade. Many things, including cars from Toyota, leave from this port.

Nagoya is famous for its neat grid-style streets, which started when the leader Tokugawa Ieyasu helped plan the city.

[Nagoya Station](/wiki/Nagoya_Station)

[Oasis 21](/wiki/Oasis_21) bus terminal

Entrance to [Shiyakusho Subway Station](/wiki/Nagoyajo_Station)

[Nagoya Municipal Subway](/wiki/Nagoya_Municipal_Subway)

[Chubu Airport](/wiki/Chubu_Airport)

[Port of Nagoya](/wiki/Port_of_Nagoya)

[Isewangan Expressway](/wiki/Isewangan_Expressway)

[Nagoya Expressway](/wiki/Nagoya_Expressway)

Sightseeing

Nagoya has two very famous places to visit: Atsuta Shrine and Nagoya Castle.

Atsuta Shrine is very important in Japan. It has many old treasures and festivals.

Nagoya Castle was built long ago in 1612. Much of it was damaged during a big war, but it was rebuilt. The castle is famous for the golden fish-shaped decorations on its roof.

Other fun places to see in Nagoya include:

• Gokiso Hachimangū, a special shrine
• Nagoya TV Tower and Hisaya-Ōdori Park in the Sakae area
• JR Central Towers at Nagoya Station
• Midland Square, which has a very high observation deck
• The Port of Nagoya, with an aquarium and a shopping area
• Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens and a tall tower
• The Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology near the station
• The big mound called Danpusan Kofun
• The Noritake factory where you can see how they make dishes
• The SCMaglev and Railway Park
• The Ōsu shopping area and nearby temples, Ōsu Kannon and Banshō-ji
• The Tokugawa Art Museum and garden
• The Nagoya City Science and Art Museums
• The MUFG Money Museum
• Legoland Japan Resort, the first Legoland in Japan

Gallery

[Sakae Town](/wiki/Sakae,_Nagoya)

Meieki Town

• .jpg)

  Kanayama Town

Imaike Town

Hoshigaoka Town

Yabacho Town

[Atsuta Shrine](/wiki/Atsuta_Shrine)

[Nagoya Castle](/wiki/Nagoya_Castle)

Honmaru Palace (Nagoya Castle)

[Ōsu Kannon](/wiki/Ōsu_Kannon)

[Banshō-ji](/wiki/Banshō-ji)

[Arako Kannon](/wiki/Arako_Kannon)

[Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology](/wiki/Toyota_Commemorative_Museum_of_Industry_and_Technology)

[SCMaglev and Railway Park](/wiki/SCMaglev_and_Railway_Park)

• _23_Aug,2015-_panoramio.jpg)

  The Nagoya TV Tower and Oasis 21

[Hisaya Ōdori Park](/wiki/Hisaya_Ōdori_Park)  

(Nagoya Central Park)

-

Ōsu shopping district

• .jpg)

  Port of Nagoya
  Garden Wharf

[Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium](/wiki/Port_of_Nagoya_Public_Aquarium)

[Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens](/wiki/Higashiyama_Zoo_and_Botanical_Gardens)

Togokusan Fruits Park

[Shōnai Greens](/wiki/Shōnai_Greens)

[Tsuruma Park](/wiki/Tsuruma_Park)

[Tokugawa Art Museum](/wiki/Tokugawa_Art_Museum)

Shirotori Park

Nagoya Port Wildflower Garden BlueBonnet

[Arimatsu](/wiki/Arimatsu)

Nakamura Park

[Cultural Path](/wiki/Cultural_Path) Futaba Museum (The residences of [Sada Yacco](/wiki/Sada_Yacco))

Cultural Path Sasuke Toyoda House

[Nittai-ji](/wiki/Nittai-ji)

[Noritake Garden](/wiki/Noritake_Garden)

[Nagoya City Science Museum](/wiki/Nagoya_City_Science_Museum)

[Danpusan Kofun](/wiki/Danpusan_Kofun)

Maker's Pier

Legoland Japan

@NAGOYA(Sannomaru)

Surrounding area

Nagoya is a great place to start trips to nearby areas in Aichi, such as

• Ghibli Park
• Inuyama – Meiji Mura, Little World Museum of Man
• Toyota – Kōrankei, known for beautiful autumn leaves
• Himakajima, Mikawa-wan Quasi-National Park
• Tahara – beaches, Cape Irago
• Toyokawa – Toyokawa Inari
• Obara-mura, famous for cherry blossoms that bloom all year
• Toyohashi
• Tokoname

You can also visit these places within two hours:

• Gifu Prefecture

  • Takayama – Shirakawa-go
  • Gero Onsen hot spring
  • Gujo Hachiman
  • Magome and Tsumago, hill stations in the Kiso Valley

• Mie Prefecture

  • Ise Shrine

• Shizuoka Prefecture

  • Hamamatsu

• !flagJapan portal

Culture

Nagoya has a long history as an important trading city and political center. Leaders there helped grow the arts, bringing actors and artists to the city. Culture kept growing even after hard times during the Pacific War. Today, Nagoya is called a "Design City" by UNESCO.

Nagoya has many museums with art, history, and science. The city also has famous theatres for traditional Japanese shows. Local festivals make the year colorful. The city has its own special way of speaking Japanese and a tradition of making beautiful handmade items.

Museums

Nagoya has many museums showing art and history. The Nagoya Castle museum tells about the city's past. The Tokugawa Art Museum has very old and important pieces of art. Other museums show modern art, science, and even cars.

Theatres

Nagoya has special theatres for traditional Japanese performances like Noh and Kabuki. The Aichi Arts Center shows modern performing arts.

Festivals

Nagoya has many festivals, including big events in June, July, August, and October. Each area of the city also has its own special festivals.

Dialect

People in Nagoya speak a special way of talking called the Nagoya dialect. It is a bit different from standard Japanese.

Handicrafts

Nagoya has a long history of making beautiful handmade items. These include special fabrics, wooden shoe straps, shiny enamel designs, candles, silk dyeing, festival dolls, and different types of pottery.

Cuisine

Nagoya has its own special foods. These include chicken wings in sweet sauce, rice balls with shrimp, flat noodles in soup, and rice with eel.

In popular culture

Nagoya has been featured in many movies and anime. It was the first place to show the Godzilla movie in 1954. The city has also appeared in other films and an anime about a famous airplane engineer.

Sports

Nagoya has teams for baseball, soccer, and rugby. The city will host the 2026 Asian Games, which will be a big event for Asia. Many sports venues are used for different games and tournaments.

Notable people

Historical figures

Minamoto no Yoritomo was the first leader of the Kamakura shogunate. He was born in a family villa that is Seigan-ji today.

The three leaders who unified Japan in the 16th century all have strong links to Nagoya:

• Oda Nobunaga (1534–1582), from Nagoya Castle in Owari Province
• Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536–1598), one of Oda Nobunaga's top generals
• Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543–1616), born in Mikawa Province

Other leaders include:

• Shibata Katsuie (leader of the Sengoku period)
• Niwa Nagahide (leader of the Sengoku period)
• Maeda Toshiie (leader of the Sengoku period)
• Katō Kiyomasa (leader of the Sengoku period)
• Sassa Narimasa (leader of the Sengoku period)
• Sakuma Nobumori (leader of the Sengoku period)
• Sakuma Morimasa (leader of the Sengoku period)
• Maeda Toshimasu (Maeda Keijirō, leader of the Sengoku period)

Inventors and industrialists

• Sakichi Toyoda (1867–1930), inventor from Shizuoka Prefecture
• Kiichiro Toyoda (1894–1952), son of Sakichi Toyoda, established Toyota Motor Corporation
• Akio Morita (1921–1999), co-founder of Sony
• Jiro Horikoshi (1903–1982), worked in Nagoya as chief engineer of the Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighter
• Akio Toyoda (born 1956), current Chairman and Former president & CEO of Toyota Motor Corporation

Executive officers

• Yoichi Wada

Writers

• Yokoi Yayū (1702–1783), poet and leader in Owari Domain
• Kansuke Yamamoto (artist) (1914–1987), photographer and poet
• Ryukichi Terao (born 1971), expert in Latin American literature and translator

Scientists

• Leonor Michaelis (1875–1949) scientist known for development of enzyme kinetics worked in Nagoya from 1922 to 1926
• Susumu Tonegawa (born 1939) Nobel prizewinner who discovered the genetic mechanism that produces antibody diversity
• Tsuneko Okazaki (born 1933) pioneer of molecular biology known for her work on DNA replication

Performing artists

Musicians and composers

• Etsuko Hirose (born 1979), classical pianist
• Moa Kikuchi (born 1999), dancer and singer, best known as a member of kawaii metal trio Babymetal under the name "Moametal"
• Home Made Kazoku, hip hop trio
• Yōsei Teikoku, band
• Spyair, rock band
• Kiyoharu (born 1968), musician and singer-songwriter, known for his work with Kuroyume and Sads
• Koji Kondo (born 1961), music composer, pianist, and music director for Nintendo
• Seamo (born 1975), rapper
• Takanori Iwata (born 1989), dancer and actor (member of J-pop boygroups Sandaime J Soul Brothers and Exile)
• Naomi Tamura (born 1963), pop singer and songwriter
• Kazuki Kato (born 1984), actor, voice actor and singer
• Lullatone, musical duo
• Aya Hirano (born 1987), actor, voice actor and singer
• Jasmine You (1979–2009), musician, best known as original bassist of the symphonic metal band Versailles
• Outrage, thrash metal band
• Enako (born 1994), cosplayer
• Sho Hirano (born 1997), member of King & Prince
• Kanon Suzuki (born 1998), former idol and singer (former member of Japanese girl idol group Morning Musume)
• Shinichi Suzuki (1898–1998), musician, thinker, and educator and the founder of the international Suzuki method of music education
• nobodyknows+, hip hop band
• SKE48, idol group
• Okada Yukiko (1967–1986), idol and winner of the talent show Star Tanjō! in Tokyo, Japan
• Coldrain, rock band
• May'n (Real Name: Mei Nakabayashi, Nihongo: 中林 芽依, Nakabayashi Mei, born 1989), Japanese singer
• Team Shachi, female idol group
• Sarah Midori Perry
• Uno Santa
• Syoya Kimata (born 2000), member of JO1
• Keigo Sato (born 1998), member of JO1
• Cocoro Kato, member of Me:I
• Miu Sakurai, member of Me:I
• Masaya Kimura, member of INI (Japanese boy group)
• Masato Hayakawa (born 1986), lead singer of Coldrain, songwriter and model

Musicians and composers

• Moa Kikuchi

• Takanori Iwata

• May'n

• (cropped).png)

  Aya Hirano

Actors

• Kaede Hondo
• Akari Kitō
• Matt McCooey, British actor of Japanese ancestry
• Naoko Mori
• Kaito Nakamura
• The Nose sisters: Anna, Erena, and Karina
• Naomi Kawashima
• Hirotaka Suzuoki
• Hiroshi Tachi
• Emi Takei
• Hiroshi Tamaki
• Kokoro Terada
• Toshihiko Nakajima
• Yūki Yamada

Actors

• Hiroshi Tachi

• Emi Takei

• .jpg)

  Hiroshi Tamaki

• Yūki Yamada

Athletes

• Miki Ando
• Mao Asada
• Mai Asada
• Hugh Barter
• Kazuki Himeno
• Keisei Tominaga
• Kimiyasu Kudō
• Midori Ito
• Jong Tae-se
• Takamoto Katsuta
• Takuma Koga (footballer)
• Takuma Koga (racing driver)
• Takahiko Kozuka
• Yuto Nomura
• Yōhei Ōshima
• Yoshiaki Oiwa
• Takashi Sugiura
• Último Dragón
• Shoma Uno
• Tomiko Yoshikawa

Athletes

• Mao Asada

• Shoma Uno

• Kimiyasu Kudō

• .jpg)

  Kazuki Himeno

• .jpg)

  Keisei Tominaga

Manga artists

• Mohiro Kitoh
• Akane Ogura
• Sanpei Satō
• Akira Toriyama