1-Day Tour: Eat Like a Local in Nagoya

This tour will start at Nagoya Station at 8:00 A.M., where your guide will meet you in front of the Silver Clock tower near the Shinkansen Gates. You will have the opportunity to put your belongings in a coin locker at the station if you feel the need. Your guide will provide you with a brief history of Nagoya and set the scene as we depart Nagoya JR Station towards our first destination, Yanagibashi Central Fish Market, on foot. Yanagibashi is an active market where you will see giant tuna cut to size by long swords and glimpse professional chefs and restaurateurs negotiating prices with fishmongers as we navigate the stalls of this historic market. With around 130 shops selling fresh ingredients from Ise Bay and nearby farms, the market has become known as the “Pantry of Central Japan.” You are welcome to sample some of the products for yourself, or just soak up the vibrant atmosphere of this market. We will then continue our journey on foot to Endonji—a covered shopping district known for its nostalgic atmosphere, and home to some of the oldest cafes in the city. You will have the opportunity to enjoy a “morning set” for yourself on this tour with your choice of beverage and toast. We highly recommend the “ogura toast”—a local specialty of red bean paste on a freshly toasted slice of buttered bread. After we are sufficiently caffeinated, we will continue on foot to the iconic Nagoya Castle. As we walk around Nagoya Castle’s vast grounds, your guide will point out great spots for photos to commemorate your trip. You will have the opportunity to enter Honmaru Palace and view the golden rooms which become more and more ornate as we make our way through the palace. Your guide will point out unique details and bring the palace to life as each room has its own story to tell. We will then stop for our next dish, “Tebasaki”—otherwise known as Nagoya chicken wings. Deep fried, coated in a salty-sweet sauce, and sprinkled with sesame seeds and lots of pepper, these mouth-watering wings are another specialty of Nagoya and come with an interesting backstory which your guide will share with you as you snack while gazing upon Nagoya castle. Continuing on foot, we will stroll through Hiyasaodori Park. Here, you will have some free time to shop, play a round of table tennis, or ride the elevator to the top of Mirai Tower. This might also be a great time for an optional gelato if you feel you have room for it. Your guide will then lead you through Nagoya’s subway to a second covered shopping district for our final two dishes of the tour. The Osu shopping district houses over 1200 businesses including electronic stores, thrift shops, restaurants, bars, shrines, a “sento” (indoor hot spring bath), and plenty of food stalls. Our final stop for food is perhaps the most well-known specialty of Nagoya, “Miso-Katsu” (pork cutlet with miso sauce). The skewered pork loin is breaded, deep-fried, and soaked in a delectable red soybean miso sauce.