Outside Nagoya for a Day
10 Day Trips Most Travelers Never Hear About

Honestly — if you can only pick one day trip from Nagoya, the answer is "Inuyama." Inuyama Castle was built in 1537, perched on a cliff above the Kiso River — one of only four genuine ancient castles to survive the wars without being rebuilt. The view from the top of the keep looks down over the winding green river, and it's beautiful. Below sits the old Honmachi quarter, where you can stroll and snack along the whole street. In summer there's even an evening cormorant fishing show.

Gifu is only 20 minutes away but feels completely different. Gifu Castle sits atop Mt. Kinka (329 m) — you reach it by ropeway or a hiking trail, and the view from the summit takes in the whole city and the Nagara River. The highlight you shouldn't miss is the Ukai (cormorant fishing) — torch-lit boats drift down the river at night while trained diving birds catch fish for you to watch. It's an experience that has been done the exact same way for 1,300 years, unchanged.

Takayama is an Edo-era town that's "still alive" — Sannomachi street is free to walk, with sake shops, miso shops, and old merchant houses still in business. It's not a replica; it's the real thing. Eat Hida beef, raised in the mountains and a rival to Kobe Wagyu. Honestly — Takayama is the furthest trip on this list (2.5 hours), but if you have the time, staying one night makes it one of the best trips in all of Japan.

Ever walked the Nakasendo trail between Magome and Tsumago? — it's like stepping back 300 years. These two Edo-era post towns have preserved their natural character perfectly: no power lines, no advertising on the buildings. The trail connecting the two villages runs 8 km through pine forest and tea fields, and there's a luggage-forwarding service so you don't have to carry your pack while you walk.

A city literally named "Toyota" — and it wasn't named after the cars; the cars were named after the city. The Toyota Kaikan Museum displays prototype and the latest concept cars for free, while the part that requires advance booking is the Factory Tour, which takes you onto the real production line — no photos allowed inside the factory, but you'll see one of the best production lines in the world. Perfect for anyone interested in engineering and industry.

Tokoname is one of the oldest "ceramic towns" in Japan, producing pottery since the Edo period. The highlight is the "Maneki Neko Walk" — hundreds of giant beckoning cats lining both sides of the street, with old kilns to walk past and ceramic galleries of local artisans open for browsing and buying. A special bonus — this town is right next to Centrair Airport, so if you fly into Nagoya you can stop here before heading into the city.

Two attractions right next to each other in Nagashima — pick based on the season. Nagashima Spa Land is the largest amusement park in the region, with a big water park that opens in summer, while Nabana no Sato is the largest illumination in Japan with 7 million lights (by the numbers) — the lights form tunnels stretching through the flower gardens. Honestly, the illumination here is on a completely different level from anything I'd seen before; it photographs beautifully.

If you want to go somewhere that feels like "the real Japan" — Ise is the answer. The Ise Grand Shrine, or Jingu, is the most sacred site in Shinto, founded more than 2,000 years ago and rebuilt every 20 years according to ancient ritual — most recently in 2013. It has both an Inner Shrine (Naiku) and an Outer Shrine (Geku), linked by the old Okage Yokocho street lined with traditional food shops.

Iga is the hometown of the legendary Iga-ryu ninja clan. The Iga-ryu Ninja Museum lets you see a real ninja house with hidden mechanisms, secret doors, and squeaky floors to guard against intruders, plus a Shuriken (ninja star) demonstration by performers in genuine ninja costumes. Ueno Castle is nearby. It's an unusual trip that kids love — and adults won't find boring either.

Hikone is one of just five castles designated a "National Treasure" of Japan, standing firm since 1622 beside Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan. The morning view is gorgeous, especially during cherry blossom season when pink blooms surround the castle's white walls. The mascot "Hikonyan" (a calico cat dressed as a samurai) is hugely popular and often comes out to greet visitors.