{"id":27001,"date":"2022-04-06T15:00:48","date_gmt":"2022-04-06T15:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/?p=27001"},"modified":"2025-11-11T17:04:19","modified_gmt":"2025-11-11T08:04:19","slug":"learn-japanese-in-nagoya","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/blog\/learn-japanese-in-nagoya\/","title":{"rendered":"Learn Japanese in Nagoya, birthplace of Japan\u2019s most important samurai"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Nagoya \u540d\u53e4\u5c4b is the capital city of Aichi Prefecture (Aichi-ken <\/i><\/span>\u611b\u77e5\u770c)<\/span> and is Japan\u2019s fourth most-populated city with more than two million people who call it home. Today, it\u2019s known as Japan\u2019s transport and industrial hub.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A major station on one of the country\u2019s most heavily used Shinkansen (bullet train) routes, Nagoya is often bypassed by people eager to explore nearby <\/span>Kyoto<\/span><\/a> or <\/span>Osaka<\/span><\/a>. But with all the conveniences of a major city – extensive public transport, lots of things to do, easy access to food and entertainment – without the big city price tag, Nagoya is easily one of the best cities in Japan to learn Japanese in.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read our article to learn more about why you should learn Japanese in Nagoya.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Nagoya<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Brief history of Nagoya<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Nagoya as we know it today has a history dating back to the 1600s with the three samurai warlord unifiers of Japan – Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu – all being born in or around the Nagoya area.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The city became a major industrial hub during the 20th Century and was a target of air raids from the United States during World War II. Following the war, the city continued to cement itself as the industrial heart of the country, primarily in automotives and aviation, but also in industrial ceramics.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Things to do <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t let the city\u2019s reputation as the industrial centre of Japan fool you – there is plenty to see and do! Here are some of the things you can experience if you learn Japanese in Nagoya.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Nagoya<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Nagoya Castle (Nagoyaj\u014d \u540d\u53e4\u5c4b\u57ce)<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This castle was originally built in the 1600s by Tokugawa Ieyasu. it was restored after it was burned down during World War II. It\u2019s the centrepiece of a large palace area, where you can go for nice walks or simply relax amongst the trees. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Atsuta Shrine (<\/b>Atsuta Jingu<\/i><\/b> \u71b1\u7530\u795e\u5bae)<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This is the oldest landmark in the city and is said to be more than 1900 years old. This <\/span>Shinto shrine<\/span><\/a> is located on about 49 acres of peaceful forest. It is said to house one of three imperial regalia, the Kusanagi sword (<\/span>Kusanagi no Tsurugi<\/span><\/i> \u8349\u8599\u306e\u5263). The shrine also enshrines the sun goddess Amaterasu, the highest deity in Japanese mythology.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

K\u014drankei <\/b>\u9999\u5d50\u6e13<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This valley is located near Nagoya and is one of the best places in the region to view <\/span>autumn colours<\/span><\/a>. It\u2019s recommended that visitors make their trip early in the day due to how popular a location it is for <\/span>k\u014dy\u014d <\/span><\/i>\u7d05\u8449 (autumn leaves) lovers.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is an old village with preserved houses where you can learn how to make things like bamboo baskets, straw sandals and washi paper postcards in workshops.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SCMAGLEV and Railway Park<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you want to learn more about trains in Japan, then this museum by Central Japan Railways is a must-do. Wander <\/span>the collection of retired trains, try out the train simulator and learn about Japan\u2019s early railway days. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Nagoya<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Science museum (Nagoya-shi Kagakukan <\/b>\u540d\u53e4\u5c4b\u5e02\u79d1\u5b66\u9928)<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This museum houses one of the world\u2019s largest planetariums and features seven floors of exhibits in total. Five of those floors are permanent exhibitions and offer visitors the chance to learn more about the world around them. Replicate a tornado or experience an aurora in a -30 degree celsius room. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note that the shows are in Japanese only (all the more reason to learn Japanese in Nagoya!). <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Side trips<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Being a major transport hub, Nagoya is well-placed as a base for you to do some exploring farther afield. You can reach Osaka and Kyoto in under an hour on the Shinkansen, or travel to Tokyo in under two hours (if taking the Nozomi or Hikari trains).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some other places you can visit from Nagoya:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Okazaki<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Okazaki \u5ca1\u5d0e\u5e02<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This old castle town is the birthplace of Tokugawa Ieyasu. It is a pleasant way to spend some time outside of Nagoya city for a day. You can take a stroll around the castle grounds, learn more about Ieyasu\u2019s history at the Ieyasu and Mikawa Bushi Museum (Mikawa bushi no yakata ieyasu kan<\/i> \u4e09\u6cb3\u6b66\u58eb\u306e\u3084\u304b\u305f\u5bb6\u5eb7\u9928), and try fresh miso at Maruya Hatcho Miso \u307e\u308b\u3084\u516b\u4e01\u5473\u564c<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Magome-juku \u99ac\u7c60\u5bbf<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This town was one of several stations along the <\/span>Nakasend\u014d<\/span><\/i> \u4e2d\u5c71\u9053, a major route that connected Edo (present-day Tokyo) with Kyoto during the Edo Period (1603-1867). These stations were towns where travellers could stop and rest on their journey. Nowadays Magome-juku is a very well-preserved town that transports you back to the 17th Century and is a popular place to stay for those walking the Nakasend\u014d trail. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Magome-juku and some other similar post towns are located in the <\/span>Kiso Valley (<\/b>kisoji<\/i><\/b> \u6728\u66fd\u8def)<\/b>. This 70 kilometre ancient trade route ran through Japan\u2019s Central Alps and formed part of the Nakasend\u014d during the Edo period. Other post towns of note include Tsumago-juku <\/span>\u59bb\u7c60\u5bbf and Narai-juku <\/span>\u5948\u826f\u4e95\u5bbf. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shirakawag\u014d \u767d\u5ddd\u90f7<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Shirakawag\u014d is a UNESCO World Heritage site famous for its traditional thatched farmhouses that date back to more than 250 years. These are called <\/span>gassh\u014d zukuri<\/span><\/i> \u5408\u638c\u9020<\/span><\/a>, which means \u201cconstructed like hands in prayer\u201d, since the roofs of the houses resemble the hands of Buddhist monks pressed together in prayer.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shima Hant\u014d <\/b>\u5fd7\u6469\u534a\u5cf6<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Shima Peninsula is located in Mie Prefecture (<\/span>Mie-ken<\/span><\/i> \u4e09\u91cd\u770c) and includes, amongst others, the cities of Ise \u4f0a\u52e2\u5e02 and Shima \u5fd7\u6469\u5e02. Most of the peninsula is covered by the Ise-Shima National park and the area is abundant in fish, shellfish and wildlife. It\u2019s also home to some of the country\u2019s most ancient and revered shrines. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Local cuisine<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Nagoya\u2019s local cuisine is unique to the area and features both its own twists on traditional Japanese food, as well as influences from outside of Japan.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tebasaki \u624b\u7fbd\u5148<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll probably see this dish sold outside of Nagoya too because it\u2019s simply that good. They\u2019re basically chicken wings marinated in a sweet soy sauce-based sauce. They\u2019re served with different spices and deep fried. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Deep<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Miso Katsu \u5473\u564c\u30ab\u30c4<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Katsu<\/span><\/a>, or deep-fried pork cutlet, is usually served with a tangy tonkatsu sauce. It\u2019s not normally made from miso, but in Nagoya you\u2019ll find Miso Katsu, a dish where the pork is served with a rich red miso sauce. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is a unique red miso, or aka miso<\/i> \u8d64\u5473\u564c, that you can only find in the Nagoya region. Remember the miso factory we mentioned earlier in Okazaki? It produces Hatcho Miso and it\u2019s famous because it only contains soybeans. The soybeans are fermented for much longer – up to three years.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kishimen \u68ca\u5b50\u9eba<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A traditional udon dish featuring flat noodles served in a soy sauce broth. Other variations include dry <\/span>noodles<\/span><\/a> served with curry sauce, or cold noodles that you dip into a sauce. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hitsumabushi \u3072\u3064\u307e\u3076\u3057<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Japanese eel dish, typically served in cut pieces over rice. Everything in the dish is divided into four portions and each portion is eaten with different garnishes and condiments. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tenmusu \u5929\u3080\u3059<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You might be familiar with Japanese rice balls, or <\/span>onigiri<\/span><\/i> \u304a\u63e1\u308a. They\u2019re easily found all over Japan in <\/span>convenience stores<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>supermarkets<\/span><\/a>, often filled with different ingredients and wrapped in seaweed. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Nagoya onigiri is called<\/span> tenmusu<\/span><\/i> and features the usual rice ball, but it\u2019s filled with tempura shrimp. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ogura Toast <\/b>\u5c0f\u5009\u30c8\u30fc\u30b9\u30c8<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Yes, you read correctly: toast. But not just any old toast – this dish features golden toast topped with butter and sweet red bean paste (called <\/span>azuki<\/span><\/i> \u5c0f\u8c46). You\u2019ll find it everywhere in cafes all over Nagoya.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Students<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Why you will love learning Japanese in Nagoya<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Nagoya offers students all the benefits of big city living, without the big price tag. According to the cost of living database <\/span>Numbeo<\/span><\/a>, restaurant, consumer and grocery prices are all cheaper in Nagoya compared with Tokyo – Japan\u2019s most expensive city. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Nagoya\u2019s city center is about 45% cheaper per month than the same type of apartment in Tokyo (146,000 yen in Tokyo vs 80,000 yen in Nagoya). Staying in a share house is even more economical – plus you\u2019ll get to make friends from all over the world as well as from Japan. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read <\/span>here<\/span><\/a> about one student\u2019s experience and costs of living while living and studying in Tokyo.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please note that accommodation prices will depend heavily on where the accommodation is located, whether it\u2019s private or shared, plus many other factors. If you have questions about the <\/span>cost of accommodation<\/span><\/a> in Japan, don\u2019t hesitate to <\/span>contact us<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Nagoya \u540d\u53e4\u5c4b is the capital city of Aichi Prefecture (Aichi-ken \u611b\u77e5\u770c) and is Japan\u2019s fourth most-populated city with more than two million people who call it home. Today, it\u2019s known as Japan\u2019s transport and industrial hub. A major station on one of the country\u2019s most heavily used Shinkansen (bullet train) routes, Nagoya is often bypassed by […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":107,"featured_media":26235,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[401],"tags":[680],"class_list":["post-27001","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-life-in-japan","tag-study-in-japan"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27001","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/107"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27001"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27001\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":199697,"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27001\/revisions\/199697"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26235"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27001"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27001"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27001"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}