Aside from its cultural and religious spots, Nagoya has a number of fascinating museums, which are inexpensive ways to explore the city. For one full day, I checked out the most popular ones, and of course, I learned a lot. Read more…
TOKUGAWA ART MUSEUM
The Tokugawa was the ruling family in Japan during the country’s Edo Period, and the Owari, one of its three major branches, had Nagoya as its seat of power. The Owari and the Tokugawa family as a whole amassed a wealth of treasures, a lot of which are on display at the Tokugawa Art Museum. The museum stands on land where the former residence of the Owari stood, and it houses, among others, costumes, scrolls, tea utensils, and samurai armors and swords.
Meanwhile, beside the museum, Tokugawa Garden (Tokugawa-en), a gorgeously-landscaped space with scenic walking trails and a large pond at the center.
NORITAKE GARDEN
Noritake Garden (Noritake no Mori) used to be the porcelain company’s former factory grounds transformed into an expansive recreational space. Through its craft center and museum, it provides its visitors a look at its products and how they are made.
TOYOTA COMMEMORATIVE MUSEUM
Those who cannot secure a spot in one of Toyota’s factory tours or those who are pressed for time may instead check out the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology (TCMIT), which is located right in Central Nagoya. The museum details the history of the carmaker from its beginnings as a manufacturer of textile machinery. Also on display are exhibits on automotive technology and car production.
SCMAGLEV AND RAILWAY PARK
The fascinating SC hosts 39 retired train cars from historical steam locomotives to the shinkansen (bullet trains) that broke records during their respective heydays. It also gives visitors an in-depth look behind the technology of trains, the progress and impact of rail travel in Japan, and how MAGLEV will soon be a reality.
After my visit, I understood why SCMAGLEV and Railway Park is listed by websites as the top attraction in Nagoya. I found it to be one of the best museums I’ve ever visited.
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