4 Best Sights in Nagoya, Nagoya, Ise-Shima, and the Kii Peninsula

Opened in late 2022, this Disney-esque theme park is dedicated to the creations of legendary animators Studio Ghibli, the people behind films such as Spirited Away. Spread over five sprawling zones, it includes the fairytale-like landscape of the Valley of the Witches Zone and the Dondoko Forest Zone, which recreates the world depicted in My Neighbor Totoro. Just be aware that tickets are only available online and sell out extremely quickly. Ghibli is in Aichi Earth Expo Memorial Park, about 15 km (9 miles) east of Nagoya. Shuttle buses run to and from the park from Nagoya Station.

When LEGOLAND Japan opened in the Nagoya port area in 2017, it gave the region something to rival the Universal Studios Japan amusement park in Osaka and Disney Resorts just outside Tokyo. Aimed at kids aged 2 to 12 (and their families), the park brings together more than 40 rides spread across eight zones, including the medieval-themed Knights Kingdom and its Dragon roller coaster and water fights in the Pirate Shores zone. As you might expect from LEGO, there are also plenty of models to check out—10,000 in all using a total of 17 million LEGO bricks.

The seven-story Nagoya City Science Museum is packed with fun, hands-on attractions designed to teach kids of all ages about science. The highlights are a planetarium—Japan's biggest—and several visually impressive "labs" where you can experience a tornado, learn about electricity, or feel the Arctic cold.

Housed in the distinctive brick buildings of the company's original factory, this museum is dedicated to the rise of Nagoya's most famous company. Toyota's textile-industry origins are explored in the first of two immense halls, with an amazing selection of looms illustrating the evolution of spinning and weaving technologies over the last 200 years. The second, even larger hall focuses on the company's move into auto manufacturing, with exhibits including the Model AA, Toyota's first mass-production automobile. In the Technoland zone, kids can try out a wind tunnel, play with water and air jets, operate a virtual weaving machine, and test out mini electric cars. The museum is a 20-minute walk north of JR Nagoya Station or three minutes from JR Sako Station.