English Conversation Meetup in Nagoya – International Exchange Event Report

Introduction

On June 15, we held a small English conversation meetup in Nagoya, bringing together people from different backgrounds to share stories, experiences, and perspectives in English. The session was relaxed, friendly, and focused on genuine conversation rather than structured language practice.

Event Overview: English Conversation Meetup in Nagoya

Date and Participants

The meetup took place on June 15 and was conducted in a small-group format. On this occasion, we were joined by two international participants, which allowed for deeper and more natural conversations.

Rather than following a fixed agenda, the discussion flowed organically—from travel and daily life in Japan to impressions of Nagoya and cultural differences.

Venue: A Quiet Café Near Hisaya Odori Park

The meetup was held at Tenroin Café, located at the northern end of Hisaya Odori Park in central Nagoya.

Why Tenroin Café Is Ideal for Conversation

Tenroin Café is known for its calm and quiet atmosphere, making it particularly suitable for conversation-based events. To be respectful of the space and other customers, we met shortly after opening time, when the café was still uncrowded, and kept the session to about 80 minutes.

The peaceful environment helped everyone concentrate on the conversation and created a comfortable setting for exchanging ideas in English.

Meeting Our International Participants

Traveling Japan from Nagoya

One participant was a Russian woman currently living in the Philippines, who is traveling around Japan with Nagoya as her base.

Just before the meetup, she had visited the Nakasendo Trail, including Magome-juku and Tsumago-juku. Although it was raining that day, she shared how much she enjoyed the beautifully preserved streets and historic atmosphere.

It was her first time staying in Nagoya, and she mentioned that compared to Tokyo, the city feels quieter, more compact, and easy to navigate. She had already visited Nagoya Castle on her first day. As she is returning to the Philippines the following week, she plans to visit the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology. I also suggested taking a walk to Noritake Garden, and, if time allows, continuing on to Endoji Shopping Street and Shikemichi, which are all within walking distance.

Living in Nagoya and Long-Term Views of Japan

The second participant was an Australian woman currently living in Nagoya. She moved to Japan in March due to her husband’s work; her husband is Japanese.

She shared that she has been visiting Japan every ten years since the 1980s and finds it fascinating to see how the country has changed over time. Although she had heard that Nagoya is sometimes described as a “boring city,” she said that actually living here feels very different. Compared to Tokyo, she finds Nagoya less crowded and surprisingly enjoyable.

She is also an enthusiastic traveler and has visited many regions across Japan, which naturally led to a lively exchange of travel stories during the meetup.

Travel Destinations Mentioned During the Meetup

During the conversation, a wide range of destinations across Japan came up. Below is a list of places mentioned by the participants:

Hokkaido

Sapporo
Otaru
Hakodate (Goryokaku)

Honshu

Takayama
Matsumoto
Magome
Tsumago
Gifu Castle
Monet’s Pond
Gujo Hachiman
Omi Hachiman
Azuchi Castle
Hikone Castle
Kyorinbo Temple
Shirakawa-go
Kanazawa Castle
Himeji Castle

Kyoto

Sumiya
Wachigaiya
Nanzen-ji Temple

Nagoya & Aichi

Noritake Garden
Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology
Shikemichi
Tokoname
Endoji Shopping Street
Fushimi Underground Shopping Mall
Atsuta Shrine
Shiratori Garden

Hearing international perspectives on these destinations was one of the most interesting aspects of the meetup and added depth to the conversation.

Reflections on the Conversation

Overall, the atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming, and the conversation flowed naturally throughout the session. What stood out most was how differently each participant viewed Japan based on their own background and experiences.

Discussions moved easily between travel, daily life, and personal impressions, making the meetup feel less like a language exercise and more like a genuine exchange of ideas.