Nagoya Adventures: Local Travel Guide to Nagoya, Japan

Tourists treat Nagoya as a train stop between Tokyo and Osaka. That's their loss, and your opportunity Welcome to the Chicago of Japan: a city where food is deep-fried, cars are exorcised at Shinto shrines, and the cafe scene is so competitive that they serve free breakfast. I'm Cindy Liu, a (part-time) travel writer who prefers grit to glitz. I wrote this guide because Nagoya is the most criminally underrated city in Asia, and you need me to show you the back alleys, not the tourist traps. Inside, we are going to skip the fluff and get to the good stuff: The "Morning" Culture: Nagoya is famous for kissaten (retro cafes). I'll show you where to get the best Ogura (red bean) toast and how to score a free breakfast set just by buying a drink. The Castle Truth: Nagoya Castle is famous, but it's a concrete reproduction. I'll show you why you should take a 30-minute train ride north to see Japan's oldest original castle tower (and the "Love Shrine" next door). Otaku & Vintage: Forget Harujuku. We'll dive into Osu, the local neighborhood that invented cosplay, maid cafes, and the best vintage shopping in Japan. Industrial Cool: From the sprawling Toyota museums (yes, plural) to the Shinto shrine that exorcises car demons. The Ghibli Hack: Everyone wants to go to Ghibli Park, but tickets sell out months in advance, and can't be resold. I'll show you the sneaky (though expensive) way to legally get Ghibli tickets no matter what the official website says. Navigation made easy: Japanese addresses are confusing and non-sequential. Nagoya Adventures solves this by providing scannable QR codes and direct Google Maps links for every recommendation. Just scan and go. Whether you're here for the hitsumabushi (four-way grilled eel), the history, or just to escape Kyoto's madness, this is your guide to Japan's best hidden gem.