JAL Guide to Japan - General Information

Familiarize yourself with the local history, culture, and other basic details. Hot news.

Check out this introduction to a few reccommended spots while your in town.

Get local and try some of the flavors offered
that you can't fined anywhere else.

Unique souvenirs, ideas that this city is famous for.

A schedule of annual festivals, shows and events for you to experience and see.

Now take a short trip just beyond. Relatively close, one and two day trips out of town.

Compare routes or just get on track.

City map. Find your way.

How's the weather over there? Find out here.

All kinds of information on other cities in Japan.

Nagoya - Japan's fourth-largest city and is a industrial center

Map of Chubu area

Nagoya is located roughly in the heart of Japan. Nagoya is a major urbanity of the country as well as the capital of Aichi Prefecture. Aichi Prefecture is one who's manufacturing industry rages. To this day it cradles and supports Japan's image as a country that makes things. In the outskirts of Nagoya City is Toyota, famous all over the world as a maker of motor vehicles. This is where Toyota Motor Corporation is located; the vicinity is studded with a number of similar businesses.
From the later half of the Muromachi Era (16th century), historical figures as Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu (shogunate) have left their names for posterity. Nagoya is also the birthplace of many great captains and generals throughout history. Imperative to the story of Nagoya is, of course, the Nagoya Castle. Built in the Edo Era in the year 1612 by the Owari Tokugawa family, this castle served as their living quarters in a time when they prospered. The brilliant gold killer whale on the roof of the castle tower is a symbol of Nagoya.

2005 July Grand Sumo Tournament

Sumo

- Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, Naka-ku, Nagoya City
- Sunday July 10th - Sunday 24th

The focal point of this July tournament is to see whether or not Yokozuna Grand Champion Asashoryu of Mongolia can continue his winning streak and claim his fifth consecutive tournament, thirteenth overall career title, and with it the Emperor's Cup while the younger Japanese and foreign wrestlers - from Europe and Mongolia - will bring a lot of excitement to the tournament as they try to dethrone the Yokozuna. For fans in the US, a Grand Sumo Tournament will be held in Las Vegas, from October 7th to 9th meaning that for a short time sumo becomes truly international with the potential to attract many more fans than usual.

http://www.sumo.or.jp/

Nippon Domannaka Matsuri (The Central Japan Festival)

Nippon Domannaka Matsuri

- Held at 25 locations around Hisaya Odori Park, Nagoya City
- Some students in Nagoya participated in the Yosakoi Soran Matsuri in

Hokkaido in the summer of 1996. Moved by the festival they experienced there, they wished to recreate a similarly exciting Nagoya based festival of dance. So, in the summer of 1999, they started the Nippon Domannnaka Matsuri (abbrev: Domatsuri) making 2005 the 6th such event to date.

http://www.domatsuri.com/ (Japanese only)

Treasure Display of Toyota Automobile Museum - 20th Century When Man Fell for Cars

Bugatti Type 57C

- Toyota Automobile Museum, Nagakutecho, Aichi Prefecture
- Tuesday March 15th - Sunday September 25th

The 20th century is said to have been the century of the automobile and this exhibition displays the relation built up between man and their cars. Following the history of automobiles from the 19th century, the event is a truly enthralling spectacle for all motor lovers. Valuable car mascot ornaments, posters and miniature cars are also displayed throughout the six months of exhibition and visitors are able to view the development of the automobile from various angles.

http://www.toyota.co.jp/Museum/

De La Fantasia

De La Fantasia

- Sasashima Live Station, Nakamura-ku, Naogoya City
- Thursday March 18th - Sunday September 25th

The 2005 World Exposition in Aichi, Japan, opened in March of this year and the De La Fantasia is the 120,000-square-meter satellite venue of the Expo in the Sasashima area of Nagoya. Various forms of entertainment including music, the arts and of course eateries in an urban setting appeal to the senses - day and night.

http://www.delafantasia.jp/ (Japanese only)