2025 Tokai Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in July)

The Great Buddha of Shurakuen is the first reinforced concrete Buddha in Japan, which was consecrated on May 21, 1927, to commemorate the marriage of Emperor Showa. The Great Buddha is 18.79m tall and was the largest in Japan when it was first completed. Even now, it is larger than the Great Buddha of Kamakura and was built by Nagoya businessman Yamada Saikichi. To get to the Great Buddha of Shurakuen, follow the destination signs and walk through the greenery towards the top of the hill. The temple grounds are on a hill facing Ise Bay, so the surrounding scenery is very beautiful and it has been designated as a cultural property of the city. In addition, there are two Nio statues standing on both sides of the stairs in front of the Great Buddha with a brave appearance, and these Nio statues will also be designated as cultural properties in 2021. Along the way, when you see the Great Buddha from the greenery, you can see its size even from a distance, and it has a powerful presence and is impressive! Location: 2-1 Nishimawari, Arao-cho, Tokai-shi, Aichi Free admission Access: [Train] Get off at Meitetsu Jurakuen Station and walk east for about 5 minutes Parking: Available #Aichi Trip #Shrines and Temples #Buddha Statue Tour #Exploring History

#Japanese and Korean urban attractions The Jurakuen Great Buddha is a large Buddha statue made of iron tendon located in Tokai City. It is 18.79 meters high and was once the largest Buddha in Japan. The Jurakuen Great Buddha was built in 1927 to commemorate the marriage of Emperor Showa. It has a unique beard and headdress and is a symbol and historical heritage of Tokai City. The Jurakuen Park where the Jurakuen Great Buddha is located also has other entertainment facilities, such as heated swimming pools, restaurants, gyms, hot springs, etc. You can enjoy a whole day of fun here, and you can also taste matcha and Japanese snacks in the teahouse in the park and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Japanese garden. Jurakuen Buddha is a worthwhile spot to visit where you can experience Japanese history and culture. 📍Nishihazama-2-1 Araomachi, Tokai, Aichi 476-0003 Japan

There is a saying that Owari Nagoya is held by its castle, but in the Yokosuka area of Tokai City, there is a Yokosuka area that still retains the old streetscape, with old streets that feel historical, storehouses for floats used in festivals, retro cafes, and more. Just walking around the town will make you forget that it is Reiwa for a moment and you will slip back in time to this wonderful town. If you come to Nagoya, please visit the Yokosuka area of Tokai City. You can also learn about the history related to the Tokugawa family and have fun! 📍Location: Yokosuka-cho, Tokai City, Aichi Prefecture Access: 3 minutes walk from Owari Yokosuka Station on the Meitetsu Tokoname Line #EnjoyJapan #GoldenWeek #Aichi #CastleTown #WalkingAroundTheCity #ExploringHistory

The Yokosuka area of ​​Tokai City is where Tokugawa Mitsutomo, the second lord of the Owari Domain, built the Yokosuka Palace in 1666. There are still many historical buildings and storehouses when walking around the city. Atago Shrine is known as a place where floats gather for the annual festival of Atago Shrine, which started as an umbrella-poko festival in the old days and changed to floats at the end of the Edo period. I also learned that when the Nagoya Tournament begins, the sumo ring where sumo wrestlers practice is located in the precincts, so it is a shrine where many people gather. 📍Location: 23-1 Yonowari, Yokosuka-cho, Tokai City, Aichi Prefecture Access: 5 minutes walk from Owari Yokosuka Station on the Meitetsu Tokoname Line Parking: None #EnjoyJapan #GoldenWeek #Aichi #ExploringHistory #VisitingShrines andTemples

On May 1, 2025, the Tokai City Creative Forest Exchange Center was built as a new exchange hub facility in the Owari Yokosuka area. The warm-looking building, with its large rounded roof and modern brown and black wood, was designed by architect Kengo Kuma. The facility includes two movie theaters (film halls), a multipurpose gallery, a video recording and filming studio, an editing room, a cultural dissemination corner, and a cafe, making it a place that can be used as a place for citizens to interact and gather. When I visited, a film by a director from this area was being screened. In the cafe space on the first floor, you can enjoy hearty hamburgers and desserts such as millefeuille, so it's a good place to talk about your impressions of the movie over tea after watching it. Events are sometimes held in the square outside. They also hold workshops on video production. If you're interested, please contact us! 📍Location: 11 Kozuka, Yokosuka-cho, Tokai-shi, Aichi 🕰️Opening hours: 9:00-22:00 Closed: Second Monday of every month (next day if Monday is a public holiday) Free admission, please inquire about facility usage fees Phone: 0562-32-5700 New Year's holiday and other temporary closing days Parking: Available (free) Access: 3 minutes walk from Owari Yokosuka Station on the Meitetsu Tokoname Line 11 minutes from Obu Tokai IC on the Chita Peninsula Road #Enjoy Japan #Golden Week #Aichi #Owari Yokosuka #Tokai City #Building tour

Autumn brings to mind images of chestnuts and potatoes.

Oike Park is a large park in the center of Tokai City. It is a famous park with many seasonal events and plenty of things to see, such as illuminated cherry blossoms at night, irises, fireworks displays, and plum groves. The park has playground equipment for children and adults and a mini zoo where you can see peacocks, golden pheasants, bantams, parakeets, Japanese macaques, rabbits, goats, and ponies. The flowers and trees are well-maintained, making it a pleasant park. At the rest area "Furatto," drinks and soft serve ice cream are sold, so you can take a short break. On hot days, it's really nice to have a place like this where you can take a short break indoors with the air conditioner on. #ParkTour

I visited Kumano Shrine, where the highlight is the temizuya (purification fountain) that changes with the seasons. Once you leave the approach and enter the shrine grounds, the view opens up and a refreshing view spreads before you. Kumano Shrine is a historic shrine with a history of about 400 years. I paid my respects to the sacred tree, which is hundreds of years old and stands to the left of the shrine entrance, before entering the shrine. Kumano Shrine has a solemn atmosphere. The decorations in the grounds change with the seasons, so I think it's a shrine that is satisfying to see and worship at. It's a very quiet and relaxing shrine. There are also many different types of goshuin (red seals), so goshuin lovers will have a hard time deciding which one to get. #ShrineVisit #TravelingToExperienceHistoryAndCulture

#Travelingwithme I visited Kannonji Temple in Arao-cho, Tokai City. It is the 86th of the 88 New Shikoku Temples of Chita, and is a temple associated with Hosoi Heisu. In one corner of the temple grounds, there is a "Kusakokake no Matsu" (Pine Tree with Grass Hanging), which Heisu climbed when he was in the Terakoya. In the temple grounds, there is the Kannon Hall, Kobo Hall, Dainichi Hall, Kuri, Bell Hall, and a large camphor tree designated as a cultural property by Tokai City. Kannonji Temple was founded in 1266, but the original building was burned down in a fire, and it was later rebuilt and became the imperial temple of Emperor Go-Kashiwabara. It flourished under the protection of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Hideyori, but was burned down again in 1945 during the Pacific War, and the current hall was rebuilt in 1953. The houses around the temple are made of black wooden walls, which makes you think that it was a settlement that had been there for a long time.

There are several large parks in Tokai City, but since it is the season when roses bloom beautifully, I went to see the roses at Motohama Park's rose garden. There is a pond in the center of the rose garden, and various types of roses are planted around it, and they were blooming beautifully under the blue sky. There are also gazebos and benches where you can take a rest when you get tired of walking, so you can take your time and enjoy the roses. The vast park grounds are divided into various themes such as the rose garden, the grass square with an outdoor stage, the playground with play equipment that children can enjoy, and the north garden path with a fountain, and it is open all year round, so it is a park that anyone can enjoy freely. Location: 64-2 Motohama-cho, Tokai City Parking: Yes Access: [Train] Get off at Meitetsu Railway "Owari Yokosuka Station" and walk west for about 10 minutes. #Aichi trip #Chita #Solo trip #Flower spot #Sakura 2024

I visited Yahashira Shrine, located in Arao-cho, Tokai-shi, Aichi Prefecture. Yahashira Shrine was founded in 1265 by Takagami Noritaka, a mountain ascetic born in Aki-gun, Ise Province, who was traveling around the country. He was attracted to the scenery of this place and could not bear to leave. He settled here and preached to the local residents to worship the gods. Two years later, in 1267, he built the Yahashira Daimyojin shrine. There is also a stone lantern donated by Hosoi Heishu. The stone lantern is located to the right of the main hall. It is said to have been donated by Hosoi Heishu in 1781. The stone lantern is made of granite and is 1.5m tall, but part of the top is missing. The name "Hosoi Jinzaburo Tokumin" and the year "Tenmei 1st Year, Shinushi September" are engraved on the stone lantern. It is worth a look! #solotravel #triptohistoricalculture #shrinevisit

I visited the Chita Shikoku Pilgrimage "Kanpuku-ji Temple". "Kanpuku-ji Temple" is also called Ameo-san Kanpuku-ji Temple and is a Tendai sect temple. It is the 82nd temple of the Chita Shikoku Pilgrimage of 88 Temples. It is one of the 88 temples associated with Kobo Daishi Kukai, the founder of Shingon Buddhism, but it is a unique temple in that it is a Tendai sect temple. It was founded in 702, so it is 1300 years ago. After passing through the mountain gate and walking along the approach, you can see the main hall. The structure of the main hall has changed, and about the front half is an open space with only pillars, and votive plaques are displayed everywhere. Everything is old, and the letters and pictures are not very visible, but you can feel the history. Behind the glass window partition, there is a palace (kuden), which is a national important cultural property, and the principal image, the eleven-faced Kannon, is enshrined, but since it is a secret Buddha, I was not able to worship it. It was a very impressive temple. #solotravel #touristsightseeingplacethatfeelshistory #temple

#Sakura2024 People, people, people, dogs, lol The cherry blossoms were lit up at night and it was amazing. It took a while to get into the parking lot.

Mirokuji Temple is the 83rd temple on the Chita New Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage, located on a small hill west of Tokai City Hall in Aichi Prefecture. According to temple legend, it was founded by Gyoki, and was rebuilt by Tokugawa Mitsutomo, the lord of Owari Domain, after it was burned down during the Battle of Sekigahara. The temple grounds include the main hall, Kobo-do, Hokyointo-do, and kuri. The Hokyointo-do in front of the main hall is an octagonal hall made of glass, and inside is a Hokyointo-do surrounded by colorful curtains and numerous lanterns, creating an atmosphere that is unlike that of a temple, as if you are appreciating art. It is said that if you pray around the Hokyointo-do three times clockwise, any wish will come true. Why not visit the temple yourself? #ChitaShikoku88 #Travelingtoexperiencehistoryandculture #Templetour

I visited Genyu-ji Temple in Aichi Prefecture. Genyu-ji Temple is the 84th temple on the Chita Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage. Although much of the temple was destroyed in a fire in September 1867, one of the temple treasures is the statue of Prince Shotoku, which is said to have been rescued and taken home by Hideyoshi Hashiba's foot soldiers when Oda Nobunaga burned down Mount Hiei. It is also a very impressive temple, with a large reclining statue. The mountain gate and the colorful statues of the Four Heavenly Kings are also worth seeing. It is definitely worth a visit! The parking lot is paved and spacious, and everything from the gate to the main hall is new and very clean. #AichiTourism #TempleTour #SoloTrip #TripToExperienceHistoryAndCulture

I went to "Hiromi Honten" in #Tokai City, #Aichi Prefecture ((((((っ･ω･)っ An old-fashioned coffee shop in Tokai City, the entrance to Chita Peninsula ✿ﾟ❀.(*´▽`*)❀.ﾟ✿ Perfect for breakfast when touring Chita Peninsula ∑d(≧▽≦*) #Yakiniku Breakfast Set Ordered a large serving of rice (人 •͈ᴗ•͈) Rice, miso soup, main dish (yakiniku this time), fried egg, macaroni salad, shredded cabbage, boiled spinach, simmered radish, natto, and pickles, all for just 600 yen Σ( °-° )Wow And you can get a large serving of rice for 100 yen♡Kyaa (∀〃(〃∀)Kyaa♡ This is the perfect place for people who want to eat a hearty meal in the morning(*•̀ᴗ•́*)و ̑̑ The sweet sauce on the yakiniku makes it easy to eat rice( '༥' )ŧ‹"ŧ‹"ŧ‹"ŧ‹"ŧ‹" All the side dishes are delicious and make you want to have more rice (^∪^/🍚) 🍚Menu🍚 Breakfast set: 600 yen Large serving of rice: 100 yen 🏍Hiromi Main Store🏍 Address: 3-1-26 Fushimi, Tomikijima-cho, Tokai-shi, Aichi Opening hours: 6:00-16:00 Closed: Friday #NagoyaTourism

I visited Shinmei Shrine in Tokai City, Aichi Prefecture. The main deity is said to be Amaterasu Omikami. At Shinmei Shrine, there is a monument to the former home of Hosoi Heisu. After Hosoi Heisu died in 1812, Hata Tei, Ogawa Tei, Kamino Yoyu and others pooled their efforts among Heisu's disciples in Owari to erect the monument in 1811, the seventh anniversary of Heisu's death, to commemorate his virtues. The monument is made of sandstone, and the inscription is by Somon Ise no Kami of Daikanyama Village, Kiso Fukushima, and the text is by Ito Bokukai. The inscription on the back is by Kamino Yoyu. The inscription on the monument, which begins with "To the south of Chita, overlooking the blue sea, the mountains of Heishu...", tells the story of Heishu's hometown, from his training days until he made his name, his efforts in serving the Owari domain and in academic administration, his origins, poems praising his achievements, and the circumstances leading up to the erection of the monument. Currently, the Heishu Festival is held in front of the monument every year at the end of May, where Heishu's virtues are revered and his disciples remember their teacher's aspirations. It's definitely worth a visit! #Tourist spots with a sense of history #Visiting shrines #Trips to experience history and culture

I stopped by the Heisu Memorial Museum and Local History Museum in Aichi Prefecture. Hosoi Heisu was born in Heijima Village, Chita County, Owari Province (now Tokai City, Aichi Prefecture), and after studying in various places, he was invited to several feudal domains. Heisu's belief in practical learning, "putting what you have learned to use," influenced Yoshida Shoin and Saigo Takamori. He is particularly famous as the teacher of Uesugi Yozan, who carried out economic reforms in the Yonezawa domain. This memorial museum commemorates Heisu's achievements, and also displays archaeological and folklore materials. It is also located next to the local history museum in Tokai City, which displays archaeological materials and folk tools. #tourist spots where you can feel history #trips to experience history and culture #museums

Route Inn Grantia Tokai Spa & Relaxation is a multi-functional hotel located in Tokai City, Aichi Prefecture, suitable for family travel and business trips. It has facilities such as natural hot springs, sauna, massage, restaurant, and provides free WiFi and parking. It is 9.3 km from Nagoya City Sports Hall, 16 km from Aeon Atsuta Shopping Center, 19 km from Nagoya Station, and 28 km from Chubu Centrair International Airport. advantage: 🔅The hotel's rooms are comfortable, clean and well-equipped with air conditioning, flat-screen TV with satellite channels, refrigerator, electric kettle, flushing seat, free toiletries, etc. Some rooms also have a sofa and a desk, suitable for rest and work. 🔅The hotel's natural hot spring "Hana no Yu" is its biggest feature. There are open-air baths and public baths. The water is clear and can relieve physical and mental fatigue. The hotel also has a SPA facility area that provides services such as full body massage, SPA rest and relaxation area, allowing guests to enjoy a wellness journey. 🔅The hotel's restaurant "和み" offers delicious breakfast and dinner, with Japanese and Western options, fresh ingredients and generous portions. Breakfast has different flavors such as vegetarian, Asian, American, etc. Dinner has different dishes such as curry rice, barbecue, sushi, etc. to meet different tastes. 🔅The hotel is in a good location, with a large supermarket nearby, making it convenient for shopping. The hotel is very close to Legoland, only a 15-minute drive away, making it a good choice for family travel. The hotel is also not far from the center of Nagoya and Central Japan International Airport, with convenient transportation. shortcoming: ▪️The hotel's guest rooms are slightly small and may not be suitable for guests who need more space. ▪️There are not many attractions and entertainment facilities around the hotel, which may not be suitable for guests with diverse needs. ▪️Hotel prices will increase during the autumn leaves period (early November to early December) and may not be suitable for guests who need to save money. Route Inn Grantia Tokai Spa & Relaxation is a multi-functional hotel with hot spring and spa facilities, suitable for guests who want to relax, as well as for family travel and business travelers. It has comfortable and clean rooms, a delicious and rich restaurant, a good location and reasonable prices. Its disadvantages are that the guest rooms are slightly small, there are not many attractions and entertainment facilities around, and the price will be higher during the autumn leaves season. If you don't mind these shortcomings, this hotel is a good choice. 📍〒476-0003 Aichi Prefecture Tokai City Arao-cho Marugen 1-21 #Japan and Korea City Hotel #Japan Attractions #Overseas Travel #Weekend Travel #Good Places #Japan Travel #Good Places for Christmas

Otagawa Station, located in Tokai City, Aichi Prefecture, is served by the Nagoya Railroad Tokoname Line and the Kowa Line, and is easily accessible from Nagoya Station, taking just 17 minutes by express train. The defining feature of Otagawa Station is that it is an elevated station with a three-story structure. The first floor is the concourse, and the second and third floors are the platforms. All platforms are equipped with wheelchair-accessible elevators and escalators, so anyone can board the train with peace of mind. There are many commercial facilities such as supermarkets and restaurants around the station, making it very convenient.

Founded by Gyoki in the first year of Tenpyo Shoho (749 AD), this temple is said to have been founded in the fifth year of Kōnin (814 AD). The principal image of the temple is Maitreya Bodhisattva, and at its peak it was one of the largest temples in Chita County, with six temples and seven halls on one mountain. However, just before the Battle of Sekigahara, the temple was burned down by the forces of Kuki Yoshitaka, the lord of Toba Castle who supported Ishida Mitsunari, leaving only the principal image of Maitreya Bodhisattva and the Nio statues. It is said that it was later rebuilt and restored during the Genroku period (1668-1704) with a donation from Tokugawa Mitsutomo, the second feudal lord of Owari. Currently, it belongs to the Chizan school of Shingon Buddhism, and is also the 83rd temple of the Chita Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage. If you make a reservation, you can receive prayers for traffic safety, exorcism, and moxibustion for health. Although it is small, there is a lot to see inside, and you can draw a fortune slip with a charm for 200 yen. Address: 4 Terashita, Ota-cho, Tokai-shi, Aichi Prefecture Phone: 0562-33-1145 Shingon Buddhism Chizan School Access: Train: 10 minutes on foot from Otagawa Station on the Meitetsu Tokoname Line Car: 10 minutes from Tokai Interchange on the Isewan Expressway #Chita Peninsula #Aichi Prefecture #Chita Shikoku 88 #Exploring History #Temple Tour

Outdoor dog run! You can see the beautiful sunset and it's open 24 hours a day, so it's great ^^

This izakaya is Isuzu, a long-established izakaya located near Otagawa Station in Tokai City, Aichi Prefecture. The food here is delicious and the atmosphere is amazing. The recommended dishes are the rolled omelet❗️ and the grilled meat❗️ Please be sure to visit at least once❗️ 1. Address: Otagawa, Tokai City, Aichi Prefecture Recommended points: Food and atmosphere Rating: Full marks

Wada Coffee Kira A cafe with a wide variety of morning meals and delicious coffee The interior is spacious and lunch is also available Parking available #gourmet

Roses bloom in the park next to Tokai City Hall, creating a pleasant scenery perfect for walking or marathon running. #Amazing view

Rainy day