Nagoya

For the city in Batam, Indonesia, see Nagoya (Indonesia) .

Nagoya (名古屋) is the capital and largest city of Aichi prefecture, in the Chubu region of Honshu.

Understand Edit

The hub of the Aichi region, Nagoya is Japan's fourth-largest city after Tokyo. Yokohama and Osaka and one of the nation's major economic centers. In terms of manufacturing, as home to automaking giants Toyota, Honda, Mitsubishi Motors. In this region, the historical samurai and ninja culture has evolved. And now it is the center of automobile manufacturing and aircraft manufacturing industry in Japan. Toyota Group to have especially in developing the car industry and heavy industry. which is representative. once even superior fighter produced Mitsubishi aircraft represented by Zero fighter, is now producing a Japanese-made jetliner MRJ in this area there. Everyone Boeing airliner that has been riding for coming to Japan is also so. Boeing 787 and 777 aircraft wing. various components are manufactured in Aichi Prefecture. These components are transported to the United States from Centrair International Airport in dedicated cargo planes, such as the B787 aircraft in Seattle assembly plant is completed. These industrial products have contributed to that people around the world to a fun trip. if you do decide to stick around, there are plenty of car-related attractions, a restored castle, an ancient shrine and surprisingly happening nightlife.

History Edit

Now a modern metropolis, Nagoya gets its name from an old manor called Nagono which was built in the area in the 12th century. The manor prospered for two hundred years, and people began to refer to the area by the manor's name. Over time, the pronunciation of the Chinese characters in the name "Nagono" shifted to "Nagoya", by which the city is now known.

Three famous local figures later helped to put Nagoya firmly on the map of Japan. Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu all hailed from around Nagoya, and all shared the ambitious goal of unifying Japan under one government. Tokugawa finally succeeded in 1603 after winning in the Battle of Sekigahara, and established the Tokugawa Shogunate, which would rule Japan for another 250 years.

Soon after uniting the country, Tokugawa Ieyasu ordered the construction of Nagoya Castle for his son. He then ordered the people of nearby Kiyosu (on the outskirts of Nagoya) to move to the area around the castle, and a town soon came into being. Cotton, ceramics and timber were the main industries as the town as it grew into a small city.

Following Japan's opening to the world during the Meiji era, Nagoya rapidly industrialized and established transportation links with the rest of Japan that would allow it to easily export its goods. During World War I, Nagoya became known for its foundries as well as its machinery and heavy industry exports, which would continue to grow throughout the 1930's.

The 1920's marked the beginnings of the automotive industry in Nagoya, which continues in importance to the current day. At the heart of the industry is the Toyota Motor Corporation. Starting from humble beginnings as a loom-making company, Toyota entered into the automobile business in the 1930s. It is now the world's largest automaker, and continues to dominate the local economy along with the car-making giants Honda and Mitsubishi.

During World War II, much of Nagoya's manufacturing infrastructure turned to the production of military goods, making it a prime target for bombing raids. Almost 25% of the city was destroyed during the war, with almost half the population fleeing to the countryside to avoid the attacks.

The end of the war marked a new start for Nagoya. Car-friendly wide streets and boulevards were bulldozed through the rubble of war, making for the city of today.

Nagoya now ranks as one of the nation's economic powerhouses, and is home to the head offices of Toyota Motor Corporation, Brother Industries, Daido Steel, Makita, Denso Corporation, INAX, Suzuki Motor, Honda Motor, Noritake, NGK Insulators, Olympus Optical, Yamaha and many others. Unlike other parts of Japan, which borrowed heavily for elaborate and expensive public works projects in the bubble years of the 1980's, ketchi (cheap) Nagoya held to a pay-as-you-go philosophy, and has not been as adversely affected by the post-bubble recession as other major centres.

The booming economy has also brought many foreigners to the area, and the region now hosts a thriving community of Japanese-descent Brazilian immigrants, who help to keep the wheels of the local economy spinning. With its strong economy and growing population, Nagoya is a city to watch in the coming years.

Climate Edit

Nagoya's climate varies greatly throughout the year, with average temperatures ranging from a low of 4°C (39.2°F) in January to a high of 35°C (95°F) in August. The city is known for its incredibly hot and humid summers like many cities in Japan, with high temperatures routinely above 30°C (86°F)in August, so those with an aversion to heat would be better off visiting in the milder temperatures of the spring or autumn.

Orientation Edit

While divided into 16 different wards or ku (区), the focal points of this sprawling agglomeration are Nagoya Station (名古屋駅) to the north, Sakae (栄) to the east and Kanayama (金山) to the south.

Tourist Information Edit

Nagoya Convention and Visitors Bureau. Nagoya Chamber of Commerce Industry Bldg. 11F, 2-10-19 Sakae, Naka-ku. ☎ Tourism Dept: +81 52-202-1143. [1]. Operates three tourist information centers across the city:  edit

• Nagoya Station Tourist Information. 1-1-4 Meieki, Nakamura-ku ( JR Nagoya Station Central Concourse (towards Sakura-dori side) ), ☎ +81 52-541-4301 ( fax. +81 52-571-1669 ), [2]. Daily 9AM-7PM. Closed Dec 29-Jan 1.  edit

• Kanayama Tourist Information. LOOP Kanayama 1F, 1-17-18 Kanayama, Naka-ku ( Located at the N exit of Kanayama Station. ), ☎ +81 52-323-0161 ( fax. +81 52-323-0162 ), [3]. Daily 9AM-8PM. Closed Dec 29-Jan 1.  edit

• Sakae Tourist Information. Oasis 21 B1F, 1-11-1, Higashisakura, Higashi-ku ( By subway, get off at Sakae Station and take exit 4A. Located in Oasis 21 underground shopping concourse. ), ☎ +81 52-963-5252 ( fax. +81-52-963-5262 ), [4]. Daily 10AM-8PM.  edit

Get in Edit

By plane Edit

Not arriving via Centrair Airport?

• If you happen to arrive in Japan at Osaka's Kansai International Airport. Nagoya can be reached in no less than two hours by taking the Haruka limited express train to Shin-Osaka station, then changing to the Tokaido Shinkansen.
• A small number of air flights operate daily from Tokyo's Narita Airport to Centrair Airport, for the benefit of international passengers. Otherwise, Nagoya is no less than three hours away by taking the Narita Express limited express train to Tokyo's Shinagawa station, then changing to the Tokaido Shinkansen.

Chubu Centrair International Airport (中部国際空港 Chūbu Kokusai Kūkō ), Japan 's third major international gateway, is on an artificial island 30 minutes south from the center of town. Facilities include two hotels, restaurants, a shopping concourse, and an onsen spa with views of the runways. Centrair opened in 2005, and this airport replaces the existing Nagoya airport, also taking over its IATA code NGO.

The best way of connecting between Centrair Airport and central Nagoya is the Meitetsu Airport Line. The fastest trains are called "μSKY" (myuu-sukai ) and depart for Nagoya every 30 minutes. The journey takes 28 minutes at a cost of ¥1200: the ¥850 regular fare plus the mandatory ¥350 first class charge, also called the μticket (ミューチケット　myuu-chiketto ). Only first class cars are available on "μSKY" trains. Slower Limited Express trains, also operating every 30 minutes, offer both first class (reserved) and ordinary class (non-reserved) seating and take 37 minutes for the run to Nagoya.