One week living like a local in Nagoya: monthly markets and temple fairs, old shopping streets, Nagoya food and rainy days

To spend a week in Nagoya like a local, plan around the markets and temple fairs held on fixed days each month, cook some meals in your own kitchen, and keep indoor places for rainy days. In Nagoya, the Ku-no-ichi market is held on the approach to Nakamura Park on days of the month ending in 9, an antique market at Osu Kannon on the 18th, and a temple fair at Nittaiji in Kakuozan on the 21st. This article covers a week spent entirely inside the city, with no day trips, based on verified facts (for day trips, see our article on making Nagoya your base for a second trip to Japan).

What does a room need for living like a local?

If you stay a week in one room, a kitchen and a washing machine matter. All three Central Nagoya stays have a kitchen (gas stove, fridge, microwave, electric kettle, cookware and tableware) and fast Wi-Fi. For laundry, Stays has a washing machine and detergent, House a washer-dryer, and Residence a washing machine and a dryer. All have self check-in and a 10% long-stay discount.

Which markets and fairs are held on fixed days each month?

Plan your days around a market or fair and you will see everyday Nagoya.

• Ku-no-ichi (9th, 19th and 29th of every month): held on the approach to Nakamura Park. The park was laid out in 1901 and has a Japanese strolling garden and a tea house; admission is free
• Osu Kannon antique market (18th of every month): Osu Kannon is a Shingon Buddhist temple; the main hall is open 6:00–19:00 and free to enter. 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
• Nittaiji temple fair, Kakuozan (21st of every month): a non-sectarian temple built in 1904 to house relics of the Buddha presented by the King of Siam (now Thailand). Cafés and small shops line the approach. From Nakamura Koen Station it is about 21 minutes and 270 yen on the Higashiyama Line with no change, then about 10 minutes' walk from Exit 1 of Kakuozan Station. The grounds are open 5:00–16:30 and free

What does a week inside the city look like?

An example if you stay near Nakamura Koen Station.

• Day 1: Arrive. Dinner at Nagoya Umaimon-dori (inside JR Nagoya Station, Taiko-dori side, 17 shops). Nagoya Station is about 7 minutes from Nakamura Koen on the Higashiyama Line
• Day 2: A walk in Nakamura Park, breakfast and laundry at home. In the afternoon, Hisaya-odori Park and Oasis 21 in Sakae (about 12 minutes)
• Day 3: Nagoya Castle (about 21 minutes, changing to the Meijo Line at Sakae). The keep is closed; the Honmaru Palace is open (as of 3 November 2026)
• Day 4: Endoji Shopping Street and Shikemichi (change to the Sakura-dori Line at Nagoya, 1 stop to Kokusai Center, then about 5 minutes' walk; about 13 minutes, 240 yen)
• Day 5: Osu (Osu Kannon and the Osu shopping streets). On the 18th, the antique market
• Day 6: Nittaiji in Kakuozan and the cafés on its approach. On the 21st, the temple fair
• Day 7: Atsuta Jingu (about 33 minutes and 270 yen, changing to the Meijo Line at Sakae) and hitsumabushi nearby

Where can you eat Nagoya food?

• Nagoya Umaimon-dori (inside JR Nagoya Station, Taiko-dori side): 17 shops, including Misen for Taiwan ramen, Yabaton for miso katsu, Maruya Honten for hitsumabushi and Ekikama Kishimen for kishimen noodles. Takeout available
• ESCA (underground mall on the Shinkansen side of Nagoya Station): hitsumabushi, miso-nikomi udon and kishimen, miso katsu, chicken wings and Nagoya Cochin, plus souvenir shops. Restaurants 10:00–22:30 (some differ)
• Yabaton Yaba-cho Main Store (miso katsu): founded in 1947, 135 seats, open 11:00–21:00 every day. 5 minutes' walk from Exit 4 of Yabacho Station; about 19 minutes and 240 yen from Nakamura Koen, changing to the Meijo Line at Sakae
• Atsuta Horaiken, Jingu branch (hitsumabushi): an eel restaurant founded in 1873. Last orders 11:30–14:30 and 16:30–20:30; closed Tuesdays and the 2nd and 4th Mondays (open on public holidays). 3 minutes' walk from Atsuta Jingu Temmacho Station
• HARBS Sakae Main Store (café): the flagship, opened in 1981, open 11:00–20:00. Cakes, plus omurice and pasta

Where can you walk old streets?

Endoji is said to be Nagoya's oldest shopping street, and next to it Shikemichi keeps an old townscape of earthen storehouses on stone walls. Long-established shops mix with cafés and restaurants in renovated old houses. 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. You can stroll freely; shop hours vary.

Where to go on a rainy day?

• Nagoya City Science Museum (nickname: FUJI Nagoya Science Museum): known for its planetarium with a 35-metre dome. About 10 minutes and 240 yen from Nakamura Koen on the Higashiyama Line with no change; 5 minutes' walk south from Exits 4 and 5 of Fushimi Station. Open 9:30–17:00 (last entry 16:30); closed Mondays (or the next weekday after a holiday), the 3rd Friday (or 4th if the 3rd is a holiday) and 29 December to 3 January
• Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium: one of Japan's largest, said to house about 50,000 creatures of some 500 species. About 37 minutes and 310 yen from Nakamura Koen; 5 minutes' walk from Exit 3 of Nagoyako Station
• ESCA: an underground mall at Nagoya Station, so you can eat and shop whatever the weather

Days for parks and views

• Hisaya-odori Park: a long park through the heart of Sakae; the part around the TV tower and to the north reopened as Hisaya-odori Park in September 2020. Right outside Sakae Station
• Chubu Electric Power MIRAI TOWER: built in 1954. The observation deck is open 10:00–21:00 on weekdays and Sundays and 10:00–21:40 on Saturdays; adults 1,300 yen, elementary and junior high school students 800 yen (may change during events)
• Oasis 21: the underground Ginga Plaza is open 6:00–23:00 and free. The glass roof, the Water Spaceship, is closed for renovation from 4 November 2026 to 30 April 2027 (planned)
• Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens: about 25 minutes and 310 yen from Nakamura Koen on the Higashiyama Line with no change. Adults 800 yen, free for junior high school students and younger. Closed Mondays (or the next weekday after a holiday)

Frequently asked questions