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Tsutaya Bookstore Noritake Shinmachi: Nagoya’s Viral Book Wall

If you’ve been doom-scrolling travel reels lately, you’ve definitely seen that staircase. You know the one. A towering wall of books that looks like something out of a movie. I was recently in Nagoya checking out the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology, and since it was just a quick 5-minute walk over to AEON Mall […]

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Toyota Commemorative Museum: From Looms to Supercars

Say the word Toyota, and your mind probably jumps straight to sleek hybrids, rugged Hilux trucks, or that bulletproof Land Cruiser your uncle swears by. But here’s a fun fact that genuinely surprised me: this multi-billion dollar automotive giant actually began its life with a single wooden handloom. Yes, a loom. I only discovered this […]

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Takayama, Shirakawa-go & Gujo Hachiman Day Trip from Nagoya via Klook

If you’re staying in Nagoya like we were and want a proper taste of old-world Japan, sorting out transport to Gujo Hachiman, Hida Takayama, and Shirakawa-go on your own is honestly a logistical nightmare. These three gems are all tucked away in Gifu Prefecture — think historic water channels, bustling merchant streets, and snow-capped fairytale […]

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Ebidote Shokudo: I Ate a 35cm Jumbo Prawn in Nagoya (Worth It?)

After our full-day tour to Shirakawa-go, Gujo Hachiman and Hida Takayama, the coach dropped us back at Nagoya Station just before 8pm. We were absolutely famished—we’d survived the day on snacky bits and sake. So we made a beeline for Ebidote Shokudo (海老どて食堂), a spot I’d bookmarked on my Nagoya to-eat list after seeing those […]

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Hong Kong-Style Milk Tea at Home: The Loose-Leaf Earl Grey Method That Beats the Kopitiam

Hong Kong-Style Milk Tea at Home: The Loose-Leaf Earl Grey Method That Beats the Kopitiam

The first time I had proper Hong Kong milk tea – the silky, bronze-coloured, tea-first kind – was at a tiny cha chaan teng in Jordan, about six years ago. I went back two more times that trip just for the drink. When I got home I spent the next eight months trying to make […]

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Comfort Hotel Nagoya Shinkansenguchi Review: Free Breakfast, Near Station

After enjoying a delicious mont blanc soft serve at 栗りん Kurin and exploring Osu Shopping Street, the sky turned dark fast. Sunset hits around 5pm during Nagoya winters, so we called it a day, grabbed some food from Lawson, and headed back to Comfort Hotel Nagoya Shinkansenguchi for check-in. Spoiler alert: this little hotel near […]

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Why 栗りん Kurin in Osu Is Nagoya’s Best-Kept Chestnut Secret

After a lovely coffee break at Kato Coffee, we wandered through Hisaya-Odori Park, snapped a few shots of the Chubu Electric Power MIRAI TOWER (the famous Nagoya TV Tower), and slowly made our way to Osu. The mission? To find 栗りん Kurin, a dessert shop obsessed with chestnuts. And honestly, so am I. What to […]

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Kato Coffee Review: Why This Nagoya Cafe Is Worth the Queue

After exploring Nagoya Castle, we were feeling a bit peckish — time for a coffee break! We hopped back onto the train from Nagoyajo Station to Hisaya-odori Station, came out from Exit 3A and took a short walk to Kato Coffee (加藤珈琲店). There was already a short queue outside when we arrived. The Wait at […]

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Is Nagoya Castle Actually Worth Visiting? My Honest Take

After a satisfying lunch of tonkatsu at Misokatsu Yabaton, we were buzzing with energy and ready to explore. Rather than wasting time waiting for hotel check-in, we decided to visit Nagoya Castle, one of the city’s most famous landmarks. Spoiler: it was pretty, the Honmaru Palace was gorgeous, but the experience left me with mixed […]

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