It's the fouth largest city in Japan, but I know almost nothing about it? What's it like?
― A Nairn (moretap), Monday, 25 October 2004 15:03 (twenty-one years ago)
I live 40 minutes away from it. It is a large Japanese city, and much like most large Japanese cities. I don't think it's particularly noteworthy from a tourism perspective, although the port does a lot of commerce.
― Laura E (laurae55), Monday, 25 October 2004 15:06 (twenty-one years ago)
Dan, do you have the Y. Seiiiiiiichi / Lamones Young thing
― sometimes i like to pretend i am very small and warm (ex machina), Monday, 25 October 2004 15:12 (twenty-one years ago)
I've lived in Nagoya for four years and I love it. It's probably the best kept secret in Japan. A comment from upthread that is often repeated, even here, is that although it's the fourth largest city, nobody knows anything about it. For a long time it was regarded as the poor brother among the larger cities. It was seen as nothing more than an industrial centre. The people were thought to be a little backward and it was often dismissed by people in Tokyo and Osaka as being just a large country town.
Recently, for several reasons, Nagoya's image and standing have improved dramatically in Japan. There is a lot of interest in the local cuisine, fashion and culture. A few restaurants specializing in traditional Nagoya style food have opened and are doing brisk business in Tokyo and other cities. The young women are considered to be among the most fashionable in all of Japan and there's even a specific style of dress called "Nagoya-Jo" which has spread to other areas around the country.
The local dialect, "Nagoya-ben", is no longer a source of embarassment and can be spoken openly even among people from Tokyo and Osaka.
On the surface it's still a hard sell in many ways. There's nothing to really differentiate it from any other Japanese city of a similar size in terms of architecture or attractions - although there is more to see and do than it often gets credit for. It's the kind of place that you need to spend time in to really appreciate. The short term visitor might not be able to fully grasp its charm.
Nagoya's central location, between Tokyo and Osaka, means that you're never too far away from the centre of things, and Gifu and Nagano prefectures lie not too far to the North if you ever need to escape to the mountains. The Chita penninsula just to the South is also a great place to visit for fresh seafood and trips to the beach in the summer.
As far as entertainment, there are a lot of great restaurants, bars, clubs and live music venues. I've had nights out here that compare very favourably to anything I've seen in Tokyo.
That's probably enough. It's a clean, comfortable and convenient city with pretty girls, reasonable rents and plenty of entertainment options. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone looking to settle in Japan for a while and even to visitors just passing through.
― J-rock (Julien Sandiford), Tuesday, 26 October 2004 04:06 (twenty-one years ago)
Thanks Julien. That really convinced me to consider Nagoya as a place to live. I may be visiting someone there next summer in some small town east of Seto City. After then I plan on living in Japan for a while, and because I have some friends near Tokyo and Kobe-Osaka I thought living in the middle near Nagoya would be good. I dont think I want to live in the city, but somewhere up to an hour away would be good. Any recommendations of some pretty town with mountains and rivers near by. From looking at the map, I was thinking of Mizunami in Gifu.
― A Nairn (moretap), Tuesday, 26 October 2004 22:14 (twenty-one years ago)
I don't really know Gifu that well as I only get out there a couple times a year to go camping. Most of the places I've been to are a bit outside of the one hour radius but I know a guy who lives in Tajimi and really seems to enjoy it. I can always ask around.
― J-rock (Julien Sandiford), Wednesday, 27 October 2004 01:54 (twenty-one years ago)