Guided Garden Walk: Nagoya Castle, Gardens & Historic Estate

Centrally located and surrounded by fertile plains, mountains, rivers, and the sea, it is easy to understand why Nagoya is known as “the Heart of Japan.” This castle city attracted samurai and craftsmen alike and, later, wealthy merchants and innovative leaders of industry. Today, Nagoya has cemented itself as Japan’s center of industry and is home to manufacturing giants such as Toyota, Brother, Noritake, Ibanez, Buffalo, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. This tour will take you into several historical estates and private gardens of these titans of industry. Marvel at the gilded artwork and golden screens in Honmaru Palace and sip tea while gazing at a garden designed for a daimyo as you are led by an experienced, English-speaking guide through Nagoya on this full-day tour.

Itinerary

1. The tour begins with a meetup at Nagoya Station at 09:00. Guests should wait inside the station, in front of the SILVER clock tower across from the Shinkansen exit gates. Your guide will greet you there. Your guide will provide you with a brief history of the city and set the scene as we depart from Nagoya Station toward Nagoya Castle via the City’s tourist bus. (45 min)
2. We will tour Nagoya Castle grounds and the exterior of the castle’s keep before entering Honmaru Palace. (30 min) Admission included
3. We will stop for a quick lunch and free time to purchase souvenirs in Kinsachi Yokocho. Feel free to ask your guide for recommendations or let your nose lead the way! (45 min)
4. After lunch, we will head to Nagoya’s Culture Path on foot. It is about a 20-minute walk from Kinshachi Yokocho. Once we arrive at the Culture Path, your guide will lead you through several historical villas and gardens once owned by some of Nagoya’s wealthiest families. (2h 30min) Admission included
5. We will set off on foot once again to our final destination, Tokugawa Garden. The walk from the Culture Path to Tokugawa Garden is about 20 minutes. Upon arrival, you will be able to take a well-deserved rest as we enjoy Sencha tea and traditional Japanese sweets in a historical tea house. After refreshments, you will have the opportunity to take a relaxing stroll through the garden. At around 16:25 we will head back to Nagoya station via Nagoya’s tourist bus. Guests wishing to end the tour at Sakae will be able to do so. (2h 30min) Admission included

Meeting & end point