Nagoya, Metropolitan center in Chubu region, Japan
Nagoya occupies the central part of Aichi Prefecture, divided into 16 administrative wards between the Kiso and Shonai rivers. The urban area stretches from the shores of Ise Bay inland to residential neighborhoods and industrial zones in the north.
The settlement began in 1610 as a fortified castle town under the rule of the Owari-Tokugawa family, who governed until the Meiji Restoration. After severe wartime destruction, the city was rebuilt with wide streets and a grid plan during the postwar reconstruction.
Locals gather in covered shopping arcades like Osu, where Buddhist temples sit next to electronics shops and secondhand clothing stores. In traditional craft districts, visitors can watch artisans forge swords using methods passed down through generations of metalworkers.
Visitors can navigate the city using the subway system, which connects all major districts and provides access to temples, museums and shopping areas. The central railway station serves as a useful reference point and connects to multiple towers and underground walkways.
The port area contains a public aquarium with belugas and dolphins, accessible through an underground passage from the main station. The waterfront also houses a maritime museum inside a replica 16th-century sailing ship.
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