nagoya: where industrial meets... industrial
just got back from nagoya and honestly, my feet are still complaining about the walking. it's this big city in japan, the capital of aichi prefecture, sitting on some plains near the pacific coast. i didn't really know what to expect before going, but it's... there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. it's currently 8.88 degrees celsius, feels like 7.98, with 58% humidity - not exactly beach weather, but hey, that's what you get in central japan, i guess.
nagoya's got this weird, almost square shape to it, which is apparently rare for japanese cities since most are surrounded by mountains. it's been around since the 1600s when some castle got built by the tokugawa shogunate - yeah, that same family from all those samurai movies. the castle got rebuilt after wwii bombings because apparently, everyone decided to bomb industrial cities during the war. smart.
the food here is... interesting. not gonna lie, i was expecting more sushi or ramen, but nope, it's all about this hatcho miso stuff. thick soybean paste that they put in everything. someone told me that the local cuisine reflects the industrial history of the place - which makes sense when you see all the factories around. speaking of which, nagoya's like the detroit of japan but with cars instead of cars. wait, that doesn't make sense. basically, it's a big industrial hub for cars, planes, ships, and chemicals. not exactly where you go for a relaxing beach holiday.
there are some cool places to see, though. nagoya castle is obviously the main attraction, all reconstructed and cherry blossom-friendly. then there's atsuta shrine, which some people say is super important but honestly, most shrines in japan seem to be super important. the zoo and botanical gardens were nice, but honestly, after walking around all day, my brain was too tired to fully appreciate the plants. if you get bored, gifu to the north and osaka-kyoto-kobe are just a short drive away. or train ride. whatever.
nagoya's got this population of like 2.3 million people, making it the fourth biggest city in japan. that's a lot of people. most of them seem to be rushing around in business suits or working in the factories. the city's got this mix of old castle stuff and modern industrial zones. someone told me that the local culture is really practical and innovative because of all the manufacturing traditions - like they make timepieces, bicycles, and sewing machines here. no wonder everything feels well-made but also a bit boring.
the transportation is actually pretty good though. the shinkansen (bullet train) connects it to all the major cities, there's the massive seaport, and even an airport. it's super convenient for getting around, but also means the city's pretty developed and dense. not exactly the place you go for a quiet getaway unless you know where to look.
all in all, nagoya's... fine. i guess. it's a city that exists, it has things to do, the food is unique, and the weather is what it is. would i go back? maybe for the 2026 asian games, but otherwise, probably not. it's just not my vibe, you know?
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