Nagoya Castle is the proud symbol of the city, originally completed in 1612 on the orders of the Tokugawa shogunate. It is famous for the pair of golden shachihoko (mythical tiger-headed carp) that crown its main keep. The grounds also feature the magnificently reconstructed Hommaru Palace, decorated with dazzling gold-leaf sliding doors and beautiful seasonal cherry blossoms.

Atsuta Jingu is one of the most sacred and important Shinto shrines in Japan, traditionally said to enshrine the Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi, one of the country's Three Imperial Regalia. Set within a tranquil forest in the heart of Nagoya, this ancient shrine welcomes over nine million worshippers each year.

The Tokugawa Art Museum houses the priceless heirlooms of the Owari Tokugawa family, including samurai armor, swords, lacquerware, tea utensils and a celebrated 12th-century illustrated scroll of The Tale of Genji. The adjacent Tokugawa-en is an elegant Japanese landscape garden that is beautiful in every season.

The lively Osu district blends the sacred and the everyday. At its heart stands Osu Kannon, a vibrant Buddhist temple originally founded in the 14th century, surrounded by a bustling covered shopping arcade of around 1,200 shops selling antiques, kimono, electronics and street food from around the world.

Oasis 21 is a striking landmark in Nagoya's downtown Sakae district, crowned by the "Spaceship Aqua" - a glass roof topped with a shallow pool of water that glows beautifully after dark. Around it you'll find the iconic Nagoya TV Tower, Japan's oldest TV tower, along with shops, cafes and a green rooftop park.

Housed in Toyota's original red-brick textile factory, this fascinating museum traces the company's journey from automatic looms to automobiles, with live demonstrations of working machinery. It is a must-see for anyone interested in Japanese craftsmanship, engineering and the spirit of monozukuri (making things).

Noritake Garden (Noritake no Mori) is a green industrial-heritage park on the historic grounds of the world-famous ceramics maker Noritake. Stroll among the restored red-brick buildings, watch artisans hand-paint fine bone china in the craft center, and browse beautiful tableware in the shops and gallery.

Arimatsu is a beautifully preserved Edo-period townscape famous for Arimatsu-Narumi shibori, a tie-dyeing craft over 400 years old. Wander streets lined with traditional merchant houses with their distinctive plastered walls and lattice windows, and admire exquisite hand-dyed textiles at the local workshops.