Things to Do in Nagoya

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.