3. The Pacific Port City of Nagoya
An easy 1.5-hour commute by train east of Kyoto, the busy port of Nagoya is well worth taking the time to explore. Thanks to its large natural harbor, Nagoya has long been an important manufacturing city. It’s particularly famous for its ceramic industry, which can trace its roots back as far as the 12th century. Many tourists, in fact, are drawn here specifically for the city’s fascinating workshops and factory tours.
This industrial wealth also led to the construction of many imposing structures, such as its 16th-century castle, completely rebuilt after WWII. Castle tours usually take in the 48-meter-high main tower, with its fine gilded dolphins, along with its art treasures and excellent views over the city. Great views can also be enjoyed from the 180-meter-tall Nagoya TV Tower.
Other Nagoya highlights include its many fine old temples, the oldest of which, Atsuta Shrine, dates as far back as the 1st century. Be sure to check out the site’s Treasury with its works of art, ceramics, and jewelry.
The port itself is also worth exploring and is home to the Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium, a small marine museum aboard the historic vessel the Fuji, and some pleasant coastal walks. It’s also a popular spot for cruises to stop, and you’ll often see tourists disembarking and heading ashore to explore the port and the city’s superb shopping.
4. Peace City: Hiroshima
Although a lengthier trip – it’s three hours due west of Kyoto by high-speed train – a day trip to Hiroshima is well worth the time. It’s hard to believe, given its beautiful setting, that this fine city, forever remembered for the dropping of the first atomic bomb on August 6th, 1945, was ever a military target.
Hiroshima today is appropriately referred to as the world’s «peace capital» due to the many notable attractions focusing on this devastating historic event, and the need to ensure it never happens again.
Perhaps the most visited of these sites is Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, dedicated to the many victims of that fateful day. Encompassing a number of important memorials and museums relating to the event and its aftermath, this beautiful park – popular for its colorful cherry blossoms each spring – is at the very epicenter of the blast and each year attracts more than a million visitors.
Other must-sees in Hiroshima include the Peace Memorial Museum; the Memorial Cenotaph; the Flame of Peace; and the famous Atom Bomb Dome, with its ruins of the old Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
