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Donden-kan
A ‘Yama’ procession held as part of the Inuyama Festival, which takes place on the first Saturday and Sunday of April each year. It is the festival of Haritsuna Shrine, situated at the foot of Inuyama Castle, and is said to have been held continuously since 1635. Thirteen ‘Yama ’ floats, each weighing over 3 tonnes and kept in the neighbourhood by the parishioners of Haritsuna Shrine, are paraded through the town; during the procession, the floats are lifted and turned around. This manoeuvre is known as ‘donden’, and the Donden-kan—which takes its name from this tradition—houses four 8-metre-high floats…
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Inuyama Castle
Inuyama Castle is said to have been built by Nobuyasu, the uncle of Oda Nobunaga, the first "Great Unifier" of Japan. Whilst it is estimated that there were once 40,000 to 50,000 castles in Japan, only 12 castle keep structures remain today. Of these, five are designated as National Treasures, and Inuyama Castle is the oldest among them. Although this beautiful main keep stands on a cliff overlooking the Kiso River, it was partially destroyed in the Nobi Earthquake of 1891 and suffered further damage during the Ise Bay Typhoon of 1959; as a result, restoration and conservation work has…
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Oasis 21
Although Nagoya is often said to be unsuitable for tourism, there are actually quite a few places where foreign visitors can enjoy themselves. One such place is Oasis 21, located in Sakae, the heart of Nagoya. It is a mixed-use complex combining above-ground public facilities with underground shopping centres; in particular, the rooftop—featuring a large glass canopy known as the ‘Water Spaceship’, situated 14 metres above ground—is a popular spot for Instagram-worthy photos. It consists of an elevated walkway filled with water, offering a beautiful view of Nagoya’s symbol, the TV Tower, reflected on the water’s surface. Unfortunately, due to…
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Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology
The Toyota Automatic Loom Works, founded in 1911 by Sakichi Toyoda, the founder of the Toyota Group. The Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology was established by converting this red-brick factory—the birthplace of the Toyota Group—into a museum. Located just a 20-minute walk from Nagoya Station, it is a popular attraction among foreign tourists, boasting nearly 500,000 visitors annually. The exhibitions are broadly divided into the Textile Machinery Hall and the Automobile Hall, making this the ideal venue to learn about Toyota’s history, from spinning machines that turn cotton into yarn right through to the development of motor vehicles.…
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Viet Cong Ramen
As it had been a while since I’d last visited Nagoya, I popped into Shin-Kyō for some Viet Cong Ramen. Viet Cong Ramen is a style of ramen originating in Ichinomiya and Gifu, characterised by its strong garlic and chilli flavour. Although ‘Viet Cong’ was a derogatory term for the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam, it is said to have been named after the heroic image of the Viet Cong—a term that was commonly used in Japan at the time. These days, it is explained as an abbreviation for ‘best condition’. At Shin-Kyō, the dish features whole…
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