Walking Tour Discover Nagoya and Osu Street

Atsuta Jingu (Atsuta Shrine) has been one of the greatest centers of worship in Japan from ancient times. Atsuta Jingu was originally founded about 1900 years ago, when the sacred sword Kusanagi-no-tsurugi, one of the Imperial symbols, was enshrined. Ever since Atsuta Jingu has been specially revered by people, ranking second only to the Great Shrine of Ise. Moreover, the geographical character of the fertile Owari Plain has fostered a faith in Atsuta Jingu as protector of agriculture. This can be testified by the fact that many of the festivals and divine services show close connection with popular life centering around agricultural industry. Here lies the characteristic feature of this shrine.

With over two million inhabitants, Nagoya is Japan fourth most populated city. It is the capital of Aichi Prefecture and the principal city of the Nobi plain, one of Honshu's three large plains and metropolitan and industrial centers. Nagoya developed as the castle town of the Owari, one of the three branches of the ruling Tokugawa family during the Edo Period. Much of the city, including most of its historic buildings, were destroyed in the air raids of 1945. The Toyota Motor Corporation maintains its headquarters just outside of Nagoya.

Nagoya Castle was built by order of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of what became known as the Edo era which lasted for 265 years. It was constructed when he succeeded in unifying the previously scattered and warring states of Japan. One characteristic Nagoya Castle is known for is its two golden shachihoko on top of the castle tower. Shachihoko, or shachi, are imaginary creatures with the body of a carp and the head of a lion or tiger. In Japanese mythology, it was believed that if there were a fire, the shachihoko would put it out by bursting out of the water. As a result, statues and illustrations of these creatures are still placed around castles, temples, and houses as protection.

Nagoya City Hall was built in 1933 and miraculously survived the wartime bombing of the city, which destroyed nearby Nagoya Castle, which is only a few hundred yards away. The building is a mix of Japanese and western styles and includes the imperial symbol at the top of its roof. The tower has 12 floors. The complex contains many of the administrative offices of Nagoya city including the Mayor’s office, the Health and Welfare Bureau, the Fire Department, the Board of Education Office as well as the Office of Tourist Development.

The Nagoya City Science Museum features a characteristic giant silver globe, which houses one of the world's largest planetariums. Programs at the planetarium vary monthly and cover current astronomical phenomena. Although shows are conducted only in Japanese, they can nevertheless be interesting just by looking at the stars and other elements of nature being projected on the huge spherical screen. Five floors of the seven-storied museum are dedicated to a comprehensive array of permanent exhibits, while temporary exhibitions are periodically held in the basement. The permanent exhibits present ample opportunities for visitors of all ages to try their hand at learning science through interactive experiments. They include several large displays such as the "Tornado Lab", the "Electric Discharge Lab" and the "Deep Freezing Lab," which simulates conditions at the earth's polar regions.

The Osu Shopping District has existed for 400 years as the commercial streets serving a locale with a concentration of Buddhist temples, and from the start it has flourished as a center for traditional entertainment and culture. The area now boasts more than 1,200 businesses, ranging from establishments of very long standing to shops that are brand-new, and is a popular sightseeing destination.