Nagoya is synonymous with Japan’s old automotive industry – but with its peaceful atmosphere, welcoming locals, tranquil gardens, and ancient shrines, the city is so much more than the birthplace of Toyota. With your local host leading you to the spots that truly define Nagoya, you could explore Nagoya Castle, where real-life ninjas put on demonstrations (if you can find them), or you could see 1900-year-old Atsuta Shrine, one of the most significant in Japan. Whether you grab on-the-go tenmusu (rice balls with shrimp tempura) or relax at an izakaya in a secret Fushimi underpass, it won’t be difficult to see why this dynamic city – where tradition effortlessly meets modernity – is referred to as geidokoro: a cultural center of Japan.