Things to Do in Aichi Prefecture

Explore the creative and colorful world of LEGO® at LEGOLAND® Japan Resort, located in Nagoya. With seven different themed areas, over 10,000 LEGO models, and more than 40 attractions, including rides, shows, and interactive experiences, this 23-acre (9-hectare) theme park offers a fun and educational day out for the whole family.

The Museum Meiji-Mura is a large-scale outdoor museum located on a hillside facing Lake Iruka near Nagoya in the Aichi Prefecture of Japan. More of a village than a traditional museum, Meiji Mura is home to 60 buildings from the Meiji era (1868-1912), a period that saw Japan open up to other influences after a period of isolation. This is reflected in the architecture of the buildings, which has a clear Western influence after builders adopted styles, techniques, and materials from the Western world.

Throughout the village, visitors can wander around various buildings, such as houses, hospitals, theaters, and schools, taking a look inside and learning about the history and culture of Japan during this period. Particular buildings of interest include the entrance hall of Tokyo's old Imperial Hotel, Kyoto's St. Francis Xavier's Cathedral, Mie's prefectural office, and the former Kanazawa Prison. The Meiji-Mura Museum also has a bus that runs the length of the village, as well as a tram and a steam train.

Located in Nagoya and opened in 2011, the SCMAGLEV and Railway Park is owned by Central Japan Railways (JR Central). For train enthusiasts, families, or simply those with a passing interest in the history of railways in Japan, this is an interesting museum with a large collection of real trains and other attractions.

The museum charts the history and technological advances that accelerated high-speed rail services in Japan and features actual trains, from old steam locomotives, to the country’s bullet trains and the latest magnetic levitating trains. Many of the exhibits can be explored from the inside, or viewed from beneath, with detailed explanations regarding their operation and maintenance also displayed.

Some of the museum’s most popular attractions are the train simulators, which include driving simulations for both traditional and shinkansen trains, plus a train crew simulation, where visitors can experience life as a train conductor. The SCMAGLEV and Railway Park is also home to Japan's largest train dioramas.

Nagoya Port, located south of Nagoya city center, is one of Japan's largest ports. The Garden Pier here has been redeveloped as a leisure district, with a shopping mall, amusement park, museums, and an aquarium.The Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium is arranged across two buildings – the North Building and the South Building.

The North Building features the large sea mammals such as dolphins, orca whales, and beluga whales. In addition to feeding and training shows, there are a number of scheduled dolphin shows. The South Building takes visitors on a journey from Japan to the Antarctic, with a vast array of marine life from the seas around Japan, the deep sea, the equatorial ocean, the Australian waterfront, and the Antarctic ocean.

Located in the industrial city of Nagoya, the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology introduces visitors to the history of Japanese manufacturing technology. Through its displays, the museum traces the history of the Toyota company, which started as a textile firm and evolved into an international automobile maker.

Nagoya Za Kabuki Café offers visitors the chance to enjoy a modern kabuki show, even if they don’t speak Japanese. Kabuki is a traditional form of Japanese theater that originated in the Edo days, but this performance gives it a modern edge, as well as interactive features that keep the audience entertained.