Nagoya Theme & Hands-on Attractions Guide

Introduction

Recently, many travelers visit Nagoya mainly to go to Ghibli Park.

Nagoya also has LEGOLAND Japan, Nagashima Spa Land, Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology, SCMAGLEV and Railway Park, and Higashiyama Zoo, so you can choose different experiences depending on your travel style.

Ghibli Park

Ghibli Park

Ghibli Park is a theme park where you can walk through and experience the world of Studio Ghibli films. It is not about rides. The key point is that it is “a place where you step into the world of Ghibli animation”.

While Tokyo’s Ghibli Museum focuses mainly on original drawings and storyboards, Ghibli Park in Nagoya is a place where you walk through real-life sets and spaces from the films.

1) Getting There

① By train

• Take the subway Higashiyama Line and get off at Fujigaoka Station
• Transfer to Linimo (maglev) and get off at Ai-Chikyuhaku-Kinen-Koen Station

② By bus

• A bus runs only on Ghibli Park opening days from Meitetsu Nagoya Bus Center
• Fare: 1,200 yen one way, travel time: about 50 minutes
• Bus timetable

2) Ghibli Park Pass Guide

Before you visit Ghibli Park, you must understand the areas and special facilities. This is essential to choose the right pass.

3) Five Areas & Special Facilities

• Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse
• Hill of Youth
  • 地球屋 → Earth Shop (the antique shop from Whisper of the Heart)
• Dondoko Forest
  • サツキとメイの家 (Satsuki and Mei’s House, from My Neighbor Totoro)
• Mononoke Village
• Valley of Witches
  • オキノ邸 (Okkino Residence, Kiki’s parents’ home) - same-day ticket 400 yen
  • ハウルの城 (Howl’s Castle, from Howl’s Moving Castle) - same-day ticket 1,000 yen
  • 魔女の家 (Witch’s House, where Kiki stayed) - same-day ticket 400 yen

4) Pass Types

• O-Sanpo Day Pass Premium (大さんぽ券 プレミアム)
  • Access to all 5 areas + all special facilities
  • You can re-enter areas and special facilities (except Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse)
• O-Sanpo Day Pass Standard (大さんぽ券 スタンダード)
  • Access to Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse, Mononoke Village, and Valley of Witches
  • No access to special facilities → must buy separate same-day tickets at the ticket counter
  • Same-day ticket sales start: 10:00 (09:00 on holidays)
• Valley of Witches / Mononoke Village pass
  • No access to special facilities; buy same-day tickets if needed
• Hill of Youth pass
  • Special facility: Earth Shop entry included
• Dondoko Forest pass
  • Special facility: Satsuki and Mei’s House entry included

5) Important Notes for Buying Passes

• Advance booking required, no same-day purchase
• Date-specific tickets: go on sale 2 months before, starting at 14:00 on the 10th of each month
• Passes that include Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse use time-slot reservations, and everyone must enter together at the reserved time

Nagashima Resort

Nagashima Spa Land Resort

This is a large-scale leisure resort (one of the biggest in Japan) in Kuwana City, Mie Prefecture, near Nagoya. It is a multi-facility resort where an amusement park, onsen, shopping, and a flower theme park are all in one place.

It is loved as an attractive all-in-one destination that both families and couples can enjoy, from children to adults.

Because each facility is operated separately, you should understand the differences so you can choose the right tickets or passes without confusion.

1) Resort Areas

① Nagashima Spa Land

• Often listed as one of Japan’s top 3 amusement parks
• Famous thrill rides such as Steel Dragon 2000, Hakugei, and Acrobat
• Also has a large Ferris wheel and kids’ areas, so families can enjoy it too

② Yuami no Shima (湯あみの島)

• A large onsen theme park (one of the biggest in Japan)
• More than 17 types of indoor and outdoor baths, plus large baths and saunas
• A good place to rest after the amusement park or shopping

③ Nagashima Anpanman Children’s Museum & Park

• Designed as a theme park for toddlers and young children
• Anpanman character displays, interactive play areas, mini rides, and character shows
• Goods shops and restaurants sell Anpanman-themed products and food
• Especially popular for families with small children

④ Jumbo Seawater Pool (summer only)

• A large water park open only in summer
• Facilities include a wave pool, water slides, and a lazy river
• A popular summer spot for families

⑤ Nabana no Sato (なばなの里)

• A theme park for seasonal flowers and nature
• Seasonal flower festivals like cherry blossoms and tulips in spring, and cosmos in autumn
• The winter illumination is one of the best in Japan

⑥ Jazz Dream Nagashima

• One of the largest outlet malls in Central Japan
• About 300 brands (fashion, sports, lifestyle goods, and local Japanese brands)
• A popular shopping spot during the trip

2) Ticket Selection Guide

For example, if you plan to enjoy attractions all day at Nagashima Spa Land, the best value is the Spa Land Passport (admission + unlimited rides). If needed, you can add tickets for Yuami no Shima onsen, Anpanman Children’s Museum, or the Jumbo Seawater Pool.

If four friends visit together and one person does not ride attractions, that person does not need a passport. They can buy only Spa Land admission + an onsen ticket. With admission only, you can still ride attractions with individual tickets, but popular rides cost around 1,500–2,000 yen. It can be cheaper to decide how many rides you want and then choose the right pass.

• For Nabana no Sato, you can only buy a separate admission ticket

👉 If you understand the points above, you can choose the most efficient ticket from the link below.

3) Priority Ride Ticket (乗車優先券)

This is an extra paid ticket that lets you enter a priority line for popular attractions instead of the regular queue.

• Regular days / per ride: 1,000 yen
• Peak periods and weekends: may increase to 1,500–2,000 yen
• Sales may stop depending on crowd levels

👉 It can be useful when wait times are long.

4) Getting There

There is no nearby train station for Nagashima Spa Land, so the easiest way from Nagoya is by bus.

• Meitetsu Bus Terminal at Nagoya Station: 16 services on weekdays (about 50 minutes)
  • Via Nabana no Sato
• Sakae (Oasis 21): 4 services on weekdays (about 55 minutes)
• If you buy a round-trip ticket, you get a 100 yen discount

👉 Check the timetable below.

LEGOLAND Japan

LEGOLAND Japan

LEGOLAND Japan is the first LEGOLAND in Japan and the second in Asia.
It is designed mainly for families with children aged 2 to 12, and it features about 17 million LEGO bricks and 10,000 LEGO models.

• The park has 8 themed areas
• Offers 40+ rides, shows, and hands-on programs
• Includes the popular NINJAGO World area, known worldwide

Nearby, you will also find the SEA LIFE Nagoya aquarium and the LEGOLAND Japan Hotel, making it a resort-style theme park.

How it differs from LEGOLAND Discovery Centers

The LEGOLAND Discovery Centers in Odaiba (Tokyo) and Tempozan Marketplace (Osaka) are smaller indoor LEGO attraction facilities.

In contrast, LEGOLAND Japan is a large theme park for a full-day visit, similar to major theme parks like Disney or Universal.

Getting There

From Nagoya Station, take the Aonami Line and get off at Kinjo-futo Station
⏱ Travel time: about 25 minutes

SCMAGLEV and Railway Park

SCMAGLEV and Railway Park

A must-visit spot for train fans! 🚆

This is a railway museum operated by JR Central, located near Kinjo-futo Station close to Nagoya Port.

You can experience the history and technology of Japanese railways through real Shinkansen trains, and you can also see exhibitions about next-generation superconducting maglev technology (Chuo Shinkansen).

It also has a large miniature railway diorama, driving simulators, and a kids’ play zone, making it popular for families. Since it is an indoor museum, it is also recommended as a good backup plan on rainy days.

Getting There

• From Nagoya Station, take the Aonami Line and get off at Kinjo-futo Station (about 25 minutes)

Visitor Information

• Admission: Adults 1,200 yen / Elementary, junior high, and high school students 500 yen / Preschool children 200 yen
• Opening hours: 10:00–17:30 (last entry 17:00)
• Closed: Tuesdays, and New Year holidays (12/28 ~ 1/1)

Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens

Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens

Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens is a large combined zoo and botanical garden with about 500 animal species and 7,000 plant species. It is one of the biggest in Japan and is especially recommended for families.
Nearby, you can also visit the observation deck at Higashiyama Sky Tower (134m).

Highlights & Facilities

• Koalas – a rare place to see them in Japan
• Shabani the gorilla – a popular animal that became famous on social media
• Seasonal events – especially beautiful during cherry blossom season in spring and autumn foliage season

Visitor Information

• Admission: High school age and older 500 yen / Free for elementary and junior high school age and younger
• Opening hours: 09:00–16:50 (last entry 16:30)
  ※ Some animals cannot be viewed after 16:00
• Closed: Mondays (or the next day if Monday is a public holiday), New Year holidays (12/29–1/1)

Toyota-related Attractions

Toyota and Nagoya

Toyota originally started as a loom manufacturing company. Inventor Toyoda Sakichi developed automatic looms, and his son Toyoda Kiichiro expanded into the automobile industry. In 1937, he founded Toyota Motor Co., Ltd., which later became a global car manufacturer.

The Nagoya metropolitan economy relies heavily on the automotive industry, and Toyota’s influence is so strong that in 1959, Koromo City (挙母市) in Aichi Prefecture was renamed “Toyota City (豊田市)”.

In and around Nagoya, there are many Toyota-related museums and exhibition facilities, such as the Toyota Automobile Museum and the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology. These places help you understand the automotive industry and the development of modern Japanese technology.

1) Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology

This museum shows Toyota’s industrial history, from looms to automobiles. The biggest highlights are live demonstrations of working looms and car production machines, where you can see Toyota’s technology and its evolution in a clear way.

The museum is divided into the Textile Machinery Pavilion, Automobile Pavilion, and Special Exhibitions. It is designed to make it easy to understand Toyota Group history, company philosophy, and craftsmanship (monozukuri).

It is enjoyable for all ages, and is a hands-on industry and history attraction recommended for families, students, and car fans.

Getting There

The Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology is near Sako (栄生) Station, which is one stop from Nagoya Station, and you can also walk there easily.

On the way, “Noritake Garden” is located nearby, so visiting both spots lets you experience industry and art in a short time.

Visitor Information

• Admission: Adults 1,000 yen / University students 500 yen / Junior & senior high school students 300 yen / Elementary school students 200 yen
• Opening hours: 09:30 ~ 17:00 (last entry 30 minutes before closing)
• Closed: Mondays (or the next day if Monday is a public holiday), and New Year holidays

2) Toyota Automobile Museum

This large museum is located in Nagakute City, Aichi Prefecture, near Nagoya, and it is not only about Toyota cars.

It features vehicles from the US, Europe, Japan, and other countries, and explains the history of automotive technology together with industrial, social, and cultural trends of each era.

With facilities like a kids’ experience area, an automotive library, a cafe, and a museum shop, it is a multi-purpose cultural space that both families and car enthusiasts can enjoy.

Getting There

• By train: From Nagoya Station, take the subway Higashiyama Line → get off at Fujigaoka Station → transfer to Linimo → get off at Geidaidori (芸大通) Station
• By bus: Direct bus from Nagoya Meitetsu Bus Center to Toyota Hakubutsukan-mae (トヨタ博物館前) (about 1 hour 15 minutes)

Visitor Information

• Admission: Adults 1,200 yen / Junior & senior high school students 600 yen / Elementary school students 400 yen
• Opening hours: 09:30 ~ 17:00 (last entry 30 minutes before closing)
• Closed: Mondays (or the next day if Monday is a public holiday), and New Year holidays

3) Toyota Kaikan

This exhibition hall is located in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, right next to Toyota Headquarters.
Here, you can see Toyota’s latest technology, vehicles, eco-friendly mobility, and company philosophy in one place.

Inside, there are hands-on areas such as sitting in vehicles and using simulators. You can also learn about Toyota’s vision for a sustainable future of mobility.

Linked with Factory Tours

• You can apply for factory tours at Toyota Kaikan
• Join a Toyota factory tour by dedicated bus
• Factory tours require advance booking and are free

Getting There

• Take the JR Line or Aichi Loop Line → get off at Mikawa-Toyota Station
• About 20 minutes on foot or about 5 minutes by bus from the station

Visitor Information

• Admission: Free
• Opening hours: 09:30 ~ 17:00
• Closed: Sundays, and during New Year holidays, Golden Week, and summer holidays