Japan Travel Guide—Nagoya

Step into Nagoya, a city located in the western part of Aichi Prefecture in central Japan, and the capital of Aichi Prefecture. It is classified as a government-designated city. Nagoya used to be the castle town of the Owari Tokugawa family. As it is the commercial, industrial, and transportation hub of the central region, and situated midway between Tokyo and Kyoto, it is also known as Chukyo and hosts the Chukyo Industrial Area. Nagoya ranks fourth in population following Tokyo, Yokohama, and Osaka. It is situated in the central-western part of Honshu, facing Ise Bay. Due to its location between the capital Tokyo and the ancient capital Kyoto, it is also referred to as 'Chukyo'. It is the center of one of Japan's three major metropolitan areas (the other two being Tokyo and Osaka) known as the Chukyo Metropolitan Area. A major industrial center and port city in Japan, Nagoya is hailed as the center of Japanese manufacturing, with its port handling the largest volume in Japan. It is also the location of the Aichi Prefectural government. An important area for east-west transportation in Japan. The city has a total area of about 326 square kilometers and is 366 kilometers from Tokyo. By taking the Shinkansen bullet train, the journey only takes two hours. It is not only a major industrial city in Japan but also an ancient capital with a long history. Best Season: Suitable for all seasons. Nagoya is near the Pacific Ocean, with humid air and an average humidity of 72%. There are more than 130 rainy days a year, and over 100 cloudy days, with about 43% sunshine. The transition between summer and autumn may bring typhoons, earthquakes, and other disastrous weather. The average temperature in Nagoya from January to April is 4 degrees Celsius, from May to September is 20 degrees Celsius, and from September to December is 10 degrees Celsius.