DAY 4 ~ INUYAMA

Have you heard of Inuyama?  

This city is very near Nagoya (a little under 35kms) is easily accessible via the Nagoya Meitetsu Train and thus a perfect for a quick day trip away from the busyness of the city.  

A DIY is not difficult to arrange ~ Meitetsu offers Special Ticket Discounts to Inuyama.  Meitetsu Nagayo Railroad webpage, even includes recommended itineraries and model courses.   

Check the link here: Meitetsu Special Ticket Discount.

We bought our special discount ticket from Meitetsu Nagoya Station Central Gate Ticket Window, one day before our scheduled trip.

We opted for the Inuyama Castle Town and Meiji Mura combo, which included:

>Hop-on hop-off Meitetsu train One-day ticket 

> Hop-on hop-off bus ticket between Inuyama station and Museum Meiji-mura 

> Museum Meiji-mura admission 

> Inuyama castle admission 

> Meitetsu discount coupons (usable in Inuyama Castle Town/Meiji Mura museum for discounts on food and souvenirs)

We left Nagoya City at 730am and arrived at Inuyama Station around 830am.  We stopped for breakfast at the Lotteria at the Inuyama Station.  It is like Japan's McDonald's.

Inuyama Castle (one of the last original castles in Japan, unscathed by the war or any natural disasters) and an open-air architectural theme park/museum called Meiji Mura.  

Inuyama Castle is about 1 km leisurely walk from the station.   And it was a good thing that we packed energy before beginning our ascend to the castle.

We passed by the Sankoinari Shrine on our way to the castle.  It is a mini version of Kyoto's Fushimi Inari Shrine (more on that in my Kyoto blog).  It is less touristy here, which very good for thanking photos. 

The Inuyama Castle is said to be the oldest existing castle tower in Japan.  

It was a steep climb up to the top, but the view was all worth it. The tower overlooks the Kiso River. 

Watch this video link of the Inuyama Castle view from the balcony

Strolled a bit around the Inuyama Castle Town.  

And stopped by for sweets before heading to our next stop Meiji-mura. 

Meiji-mura is an open-air architectural museum. It is one of the largest theme parks in Japan at 100 hectares (Yes, we did a lot of walking!)

The museum showcases historic buildings from Japan's Meiji, Taishō, and early Shōwa periods.  The museum allows guests to experience life during the Meiji period (1868-1912). They have shops where you can rent Meiji period kimonos.  

It is amazing what they have done here at Meiji Mura.  There are so many historic buildings. We were really in awe, they managed to save so many. 

They currently have 67 buildings at Meiji Mura, 10 of which are designated "important cultural assets".  

Our mode of transport inside the Meiji Mura - bus (that circles the park).

We had a worthwhile time at Inuyama. If you have the luxury of time, I recommend at a day each at the Inuyama Town Castle, then another day at Meiji Mura for better appreciation.

We left Inuyama at around 4pm and arrived at Nagoya Station at around 530pm.  

Tonight's dinner is at Maruya Honten Meiekiten for some authentic charcoal grilled eel rice (another of Nagoya's pride cuisine).

Good night, Nagoya!   We are temporarily leaving Nagoya City, for the 2nd leg of our Japan holiday.  We are off to Kyoto tomorrow.

If you missed our Day 1, 2 and please clink the links below:

Day 1 & 2 - Nagoya, Takayama and Shirakawa-go

Day 3 - Nagoya City

Day 3 ~ NAGOYA CITY

DAY 3 is about Nagoya City. 

For this leg our tour, we took advantage of the Nagoya railway system.

We started the day early to our first destination the SCMaglev Railway Park via Aonami Line (which is the line going to Legoland). 

But first we needed a hearty breakfast to kick start our day!  Breakfast is at Pronto Cafe at the Nagoya Station.

SCMaglev Railway Park is a must for train enthusiasts.  It is located about 20-30 minutes from Nagoya Station and is convenient walk from the Kinjo-futo Station (via the Aonami Line) and is located right across Legoland.  

Entrance cost Y1000/adult. You pay extra for the train simulators.  We skipped the train simulators as the next available time is early afternoon and it was just 10am.

We spent about 1 1/2 hours here, but train lovers should alot at least half a day.  The dioramas were especially nice to look at.  

We left the train museum at 1130am to head to our next order of business ~ Lunch   

Lunch was at Vegetable Cafe and Seafood Bar Cafe Saien, the restaurant is just outside of the Nagoya Castle, which is next in our itinerary.

Everything we ordered was spot on.  

The Nagoya Castle, Japan's first castle to be designated as a National Historic Site.

Don't miss the Honmaru Palace, a 17th-century palace with hinoki cypress wood and decorative metal fittings and fine arts adoring its walls are truly impressive.

From Nagoya Castle, we went to explore Ossu Kanon Shopping Arcade a bit, however, we were too tired from all our morning walking.  I wasn't in the mood to buy anything.

Day 3 Nagoya, ends here.  

If you missed our Day 1 and 2, you may click the link below:

Day 1 and 2 - NAGOYA, TAKAYAMA & SHIRAKAWA-GO

Day 4 - Inuyama

  

Day 1 and 2 ~ NAGOYA, TAKAYAMA & SHIRAKAWA-GO

We were back in the land of the rising sun, Japan.  Our 3rd time, and 1st after the 2020 pandemic that shut the border for 3 years.

We have toured Tokyo and Osaka before (feel free to click on the link below to check our Tokyo and Osaka holidays)

Tokyo 2016

Osaka 2017

For 2023 we headed to Nagoya and Kyoto.

With my boys all grown up and all, it was okay to skip the tourist trap theme parks: Universal Studio Japan, Tokyo Disney Sea and Tokyo Diney Land. 

We have decided to take the less travelled Nagoya and Kyoto areas (or so we thought...).

DAY 1

Welcome to Nagoya, the Center of Japan (halfway across Osaka-Tokyo)

Mainly know as an industrial hub and home to Toyota and Mitsubishi, Nagoya unknown to many is also a city rich in history and culture. 

We arrived at Chubu Centrair International Airport early afternoon and made our way to Nagoya City via μ-SKY ~ Chubu Airport to Nagoya Station. Travel time was a little under an hour.  It took a bit of navigating skills using the trusted "google map" we were arrived at Ibis Styles Nagoya (our home base in Nagoya City).

Ibis Style Nagoya

The hotel's location is about 5-10mins walk from the Nagoya Station (but can be quite a stretch if you are travelling with small kids or seniors).  

The rooms were small (as is expected of majority of hotels in Japan) but clean and very functional.  

The hotel staff were friendly and cordial.  I made a booboo booking, but they were able to do a workaround (and saved me some shopping money).

We rested a bit, before heading to the first list in our agenda... dinner with friends...  

Our friend met up with us at the Nagoya Station to dine at YabaTon Matzusakaya

At Yaba Ton, we ordered the recommeded Teppan Tonkatsu (with their signature red miso sauce)

Coffee was at Komeda's Coffee, a well-known "full-service" coffee chain in Japan that originated in Nagoya. I was quite full, from our dinner at Yaba Ton, but I can't pass an order of the English toast with red beans (ummm... delicious)!

We made our way back to the hotel our own via subway, posed a bit with another of Nagoya's famous meet up areas, the Nana Chan Mannequin.

DAY 2

Today is excursion day: Takayama and Shirakawa-go, which we got from Klook.  

This tour is a full day tour (via the Meitetsu Bus line) that starts at 8am.  We left the hotel at 7am and made our way to the Meitetsu Bus Center.  

We were joined by an English speak tour guide assistant to help non-Japaneses speaking tourist (that's us, hehehe).

We had quick stop at the Hirugano Kougen Service Area, which turned out to be a taste of one of the creamiest icecream we have ever had.  Hubby got second servings.  

Takaya is about 160km from Nagoya, which is about 2hours bus ride.  This city is famous for its beautifully preserved buildings and traditional houses.

Ah, so much to do with so little time.  An entire afternoon touring Takayama would have been wonderful.  

Lunch was at the Takayama Green Hotel.  We were served a tasty (and beautifully prepared) lunch course which includes the town's famous Hida beef.

Off to our next stop, the Shirakawa Village (a UNESCO world heritage site, and see the traditional houses).

This is place is picturesque and breathtaking.  Pictures do not do justice to its beauty.  

Overall, I would say, this tour is convenient and hassle-free. 

We would not have been able to visit these areas at such short time on our own.  Having said that, it would have been better if we were able to stay longer and experience Takayama and Shirakawa-go more.   Unfortunately, we only have 9 days (including travel time) in Japan and there is not much time really.

  

Follow our Day 3 tour of Nagoya City (up next)

Day 3 ~ Nagoya City Tour

Day 4 - Inuyama