Looking for some winter trip ideas? Discover Nagoya, Japan!
Last April, I went to Nagoya with my AirAsia family. I was expecting that it will be spring already but I was wrong. Though winter is only from December to February its effects can last until mid of April, especially in this area.
Nagoya isn’t as popular as Tokyo or Osaka but don’t underestimate this part of Japan. It has so much to offer especially for travelers who want to see a different side of this beautiful country!
We took the big tourist bus to reach the destinations below but I did ask the Nagoya Tourism representatives and they said that you can find public transportations that will take you to these areas without the need to join the big tour groups!
- Hitsumabushi Dinner: Try the Grilled Eel on rice, which is a very popular local dish in Nagoya. It’s good, tastes a bit like chicken.
- Nabana No Sato (Lights display): This winter illumination park is located in the Mie Prefectures. Nabana No Sato is a family friendly theme park where you can enjoy a relaxing time with nature and see different kinds of flowers. At night the whole park lights up so don’t forget to go under the famous tunnel and get your photo taken!
- Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route: This tourist spot is known as the “Roof of Japan”. You will find yourself trekking the stairs and riding cable cars and buses to see the scenery of Mt. Tateyama. Personally, you should see the view from the Kurobe Dam, the Dankaibo Station, and pass through the famous snow wall. Tateyama area has some of the heaviest snowfalls in the world so the Japanese used this to build a snow wall aka “Yuki-no-Otani” that became one of the must see sites of the route.
- Shirakawa-go Village: This small traditional village located in the Ono District, Gifu Prefecture is one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites and is popular for the house style called gassho-zukuri. When we went there in April, it was the last days of winter. Given that it’s a mountain village, the weather was a bit erratic; one moment it was sunny, the next thing you know it’s raining for just a few minutes. Our guide said that even if it’s summer they only get around 2 hours of sun before it gets cloudy or rainy, what a challenge! It’s still a must see spot because of the village houses’ architecture and the culture!
Unlike in Tokyo or Osaka where spots are just a train away, in Nagoya you do need some travel time to see the good spots but I assure you it’s worth it!
Till the next trip!
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Ciao!
