Walking local Nagoya: a guide to Nakamura Ward — Nakamura Park, the Great Torii, and temples linked to Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Kato Kiyomasa

Around Nakamura Koen Station in Nakamura Ward, west of Nagoya Station, temples, shrines and a museum linked to the place traditionally named as Toyotomi Hideyoshi's birthplace are all within walking distance. From Central Nagoya Residence, the Nakamura Great Torii is 1 minute's walk, Nakamura Park 7 minutes, Toyokuni Shrine 6 minutes and Josenji 9 minutes (Google Maps walking routes). This article gives a walking route and, for each place, what to see, opening hours and things to note, based on official information from the City of Nagoya and the Nagoya Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Where is Nakamura Ward?

Nakamura Ward lies on the west side of Nagoya Station. From Nakamura Koen Station on the Higashiyama subway line, Nagoya Station is 4 stops (about 7 minutes, 240 yen) with no change, and Sakae 6 stops (about 12 minutes). Taiko-dori Station, the nearest station to Central Nagoya Stays, is also in Nakamura Ward, 1 stop from Nagoya Station on the Sakura-dori Line. The Nakamura Great Torii was built to mark Nakamura's merger into the City of Nagoya in 1921, a reminder of when the town became part of the city.

How far is each place from the stays?

Walking times and distances from Google Maps walking routes:

• Nakamura Great Torii: 1 minute, 95 m from Residence / 8 minutes, 550 m from House
• Toyokuni Shrine: 6 minutes, 450 m from Residence / 13 minutes, 900 m from House
• Nakamura Park: 7 minutes, 450 m from Residence / 15 minutes, 1000 m from House
• Hideyoshi and Kiyomasa Memorial Museum: 7 minutes, 500 m from Residence / 16 minutes, 1100 m from House
• Myogyoji Temple: 8 minutes, 550 m from Residence / 12 minutes, 850 m from House
• Josenji Temple: 9 minutes, 650 m from Residence / 14 minutes, 900 m from House
• Hachiman-sha Shrine: inside Nakamura Park

What is the Nakamura Great Torii?

A giant torii gate at the entrance to the avenue leading to Nakamura Park, right next to Residence. It was built in 1929 of reinforced concrete and stands over 24 metres tall. It is on the road, so you can see it at any time — a good first photo as you step out of the stay.

How to spend time in Nakamura Park

Nakamura Park was laid out in 1901 after local people asked for the grounds of Toyokuni Shrine to become a public park that would also protect the historic sites. It has a Japanese strolling garden, a tea house and a fragrance garden, and seasonal events are held here. Admission is free. On days of the month ending in 9 (the 9th, 19th and 29th), the Ku-no-ichi market is held on the approach. It suits a morning walk or a day for seasonal flowers and a Japanese garden.

Toyokuni Shrine and Hachiman-sha (photography rules apply)

Toyokuni Shrine, at the heart of Nakamura Park, is dedicated to Toyotomi Hideyoshi and was founded in 1885; a subsidiary shrine honours Kato Kiyomasa. Gourd motifs, taken from Hideyoshi's battle standard, appear throughout, and even the votive plaques are gourd-shaped. The gates are open 9:30–16:30 (usual hours), and a limited goshuin (shrine stamp) is offered on the 18th of each month. Hachiman-sha, inside the park, is said to be one of the shrines established by Kato Kiyomasa. According to the City of Nagoya's guide to Nakamura Park, photography is not allowed in the grounds of Toyokuni Shrine or Hachiman-sha, so please put cameras and phones away there.

Josenji and Myogyoji

• Josenji: a Nichiren Buddhist temple said to have been built by Kato Kiyomasa in 1598, after Hideyoshi's death, on the spot traditionally named as Hideyoshi's birthplace. In the grounds are a well said to have supplied his first bath and a holly tree said to have been planted by him. Free to visit and open every day
• Myogyoji: a Nichiren Buddhist temple founded in 1610 on the site said to be Kato Kiyomasa's birthplace. Its main hall is said to be the work hut Kiyomasa used while building the keep of Nagoya Castle, moved here afterwards. The hall enshrining his statue is opened only once a year (we could not confirm visiting hours or fees officially, so they are not given)

On a rainy day: the Hideyoshi and Kiyomasa Memorial Museum

The museum is a branch of the Nagoya City Museum on the 2nd floor of the Nakamura Park Culture Plaza. Paintings, crafts, documents and films introduce the age of Hideyoshi and Kiyomasa and the warlords of the Owari region. It is open 9:30–17:00 and admission is free. It closes on Mondays (or the next weekday after a holiday), the 4th Tuesday (open if a holiday), 29 December to 3 January and maintenance days.

A suggested walking route

From Residence: pass under the Nakamura Great Torii (1 minute) and follow the approach to Toyokuni Shrine (6 minutes) and Nakamura Park (7 minutes) with Hachiman-sha inside it, and the Memorial Museum on the 2nd floor of the park's Culture Plaza (7 minutes); then continue to Myogyoji (8 minutes) and Josenji (9 minutes). Everything is within 10 minutes of the stay, so you can split the walk between mornings or breaks in the rain. Time it for a day ending in 9 to see Ku-no-ichi, or the 18th for Toyokuni Shrine's limited goshuin.

Choose by date: a monthly calendar

• 9th, 19th and 29th: Ku-no-ichi market on the approach to Nakamura Park
• 18th: Toyokuni Shrine's limited goshuin and the Osu Kannon antique market
• 21st: the Nittaiji temple fair in Kakuozan (about 21 minutes and 270 yen from Nakamura Koen Station on the Higashiyama Line with no change, then about 10 minutes' walk from Exit 1 of Kakuozan Station)

Going a little further from Nakamura Ward

• On the 18th, head to Osu: the Osu Kannon antique market is held on the 18th of every month, the same day as Toyokuni Shrine's limited goshuin. From Nakamura Koen Station it is about 21 minutes and 240 yen, changing to the Tsurumai Line at Fushimi, then 3 minutes' walk from Exit 2 of Osu Kannon Station
• For old streets, Endoji and Shikemichi: Endoji, said to be Nagoya's oldest shopping street, sits next to Shikemichi with its earthen storehouses on stone walls. From Nakamura Koen Station change to the Sakura-dori Line at Nagoya and ride to Kokusai Center (about 13 minutes, 240 yen), then walk about 5 minutes

What else is on the west side of Nagoya Station?

• Nagoya Umaimon-dori (inside JR Nagoya Station, Taiko-dori side): 17 Nagoya-food restaurants. Get off at Nagoya Station, 4 stops from Nakamura Koen on the Higashiyama Line or 1 stop from Taiko-dori on the Sakura-dori Line
• Bic Camera Nagoya Ekinishi: 1 minute's walk from the west exit of JR Nagoya Station. Open 10:00–21:00 every day; tax-free procedures at every register

Staying in Nakamura Ward

Central Nagoya Residence is 2 minutes' walk from Nakamura Koen Station: the whole top (8th) floor of an apartment building, 120㎡, up to 9 guests. Central Nagoya House is 7 minutes' walk from Nakamura Koen Station: an entire traditional house of 144㎡ with 5 bedrooms (one opens onto the room next to it), up to 16 guests. Central Nagoya Stays is 4 minutes' walk from Taiko-dori Station on the Sakura-dori Line: 27㎡ apartments for 2 guests, up to 4. All three have a kitchen, a washing machine and fast Wi-Fi, plus a 10% long-stay discount.

Frequently asked questions