Combine two cultural highlights of Japan on this half-day tour with a local guide. Visit Nagoya Castle and see its seven-story exhibit, including art and artifacts from the Tokugawa era of the 17th century. Then, head to the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology for an in-depth look at textile machinery and automotive production. Your guide will take you by public bus and on foot, and offer expert commentary along the way.
Meet your guide and group at the Nagoya Marriott Associa Hotel at 1pm. Then head out by public bus and on foot (a subway or taxi may be used, depending on traffic conditions). Your first stop is Nagoya Castle, a 17th-century Tokugawa castle rebuilt after most of it burned down during World War II.
During your 1.5-hour guided tour, admire the Honmaru Palace murals and screen paintings, which survived the destruction. Explore the seven-story exhibition space that presents Japanese history through displays of art, armor, dioramas and more. You’ll find a collection of swords, a reproduction of Nagoya Castle and the town—complete with lighting and sound effects—and models of Hommaru Palace. Your guide will point out a full-scale replica of the golden dolphins or kinshachi, which once adorned the castle roof.
From the observation deck, enjoy unobstructed views of the castle grounds and downtown Nagoya before departing for the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology. Spend approximately one hour at the museum, which highlights Japan’s textile and automotive industries with dynamic exhibitions and displays—including original equipment, demonstrations and instructive videos.
At the textile machinery pavilion, originally a cotton-spinning factory from 1912-1926, you’ll find more than 90 different spinning and weaving machines. Compare simple tools like the spindle, spinning wheel, koshibata (primitive loom) and back-strap loom to inventions from the industrial revolution. Witness history unfolding as you learn about modern-day machinery and the technical progress that has taken place. Then experience the evolution of automotive and manufacturing technology in the automobile pavilion, where you’ll observe actual machinery operations. Watch easy-to-understand automotive demonstrations with realistic visual and audio effects, including vehicle models with viewer control buttons.
(Please note: If the Toyota Commemorative Museum is closed, you’ll visit Noritake Garden, Tokugawaen Garden or Tokugawa Art Museum instead.)
Your tour concludes upon your return to the Nagoya Marriott Associa Hotel around 5:30pm.
