Nagoya Nights: Drumsticks, Ramen, and a City That Never Sleeps
the moment i stepped off the shinkansen in nagoya, i could feel the rhythm in the air-like the city was waiting for a beat to drop. i'm a touring session drummer, so i notice these things. the humidity was just right, the kind that makes your skin feel alive but not sticky. i just checked and it's 6°c with a feels-like of 5°c there right now, hope you like that kind of thing.
my first stop was a tiny ramen joint i heard about from a roadie in osaka. someone told me that the chef here used to play in a punk band, and you can taste the rebellion in every bowl. the noodles were *thicker than my drumsticks, and the broth had this smoky depth that made me want to write a drum solo on the spot.
if you get bored, tokyo and kyoto are just a short shinkansen ride away, but honestly, nagoya's got enough hidden gems to keep you busy for days. i spent an afternoon wandering through osu, where the vintage shops are stacked like a drum kit-each one a little different, but all part of the same groove.
i heard that the best coffee in town is at a place called cafe muuan. they roast their own beans, and the barista's got tattoos that look like sheet music.
i ended up there after a late-night gig, nursing a pour-over that was smoother than a well-tuned snare. the vibe was chill, the kind of spot where you could write a song or just people-watch for hours.
for dinner, i hit up yamachan for some spicy fried chicken. i heard that locals swear by it, and now i get why. the crunch was louder than my crash cymbal, and the spice had just the right amount of bite.
if you're into live music, check out ell.FITS ALL. i played there last week, and the crowd was electric. someone told me that the sound engineer used to tour with a famous j-rock band, so you know the mix is gonna be tight.
nagoya's not the loudest city on the map, but it's got a rhythm all its own. it's the kind of place that sneaks up on you, like a groove you didn't know you needed. and if you're lucky, you'll find your own beat here, too.
check out more on tripadvisor or yelp*
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