Kakuozan area, traditional shopping street to Nittaiji temple

25/12/2025

When visiting temples or shrines in Japan, please remember that these are sacred places. Any behavior that shows disrespect — such as touching sacred objects, entering restricted areas, or making noise — can be seen as both culturally offensive and legally punishable under Japanese law (Article 188 of the Penal Code).

This shrine is part of our Nagoya Shrines and Temples Guide, which introduces the most important religious sites in Nagoya.

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Kakuozan is good place to walk around

Kakuozan is an ideal area for a stroll, centered around Nittai-ji Temple, with old streets and gardens adding to its charm. Nittai-ji is a Buddhist temple established in 1904 that keeps the ashes of the Buddha, which were sent from Thailand. Unlike most Japanese Buddhist temples, which belong to specific sects like Jodo or Soto, Nittai-ji does not belong to any sect.

The path leading to Nittai-ji Temple is lined with various restaurants, making it perfect for trying different foods as you walk. The photo above shows a dango shop. You can buy dango and enjoy it while sitting on the bench in front of the store. Please remember not to litter.

There are also shops with unique clothing designs and various goods.

This area has many old buildings that survived American air raids during World War II.

There is also a building called Kakuozan Apartment, which showcases works by contemporary artists. Unfortunately it’s scheduled to close at the end of March 2025.

I had lunch at a restaurant called Eikokuya, which serves Indian curry. The lunch set was 950 yen.

Best indian curry in Nagoya, Eikokuya

“I took a slight detour from the path to Nittai-ji and visited a residence called Yokiso.

Yokiso is a residence and garden built 100 years ago by a Japanese businessman. It’s divided into the North and South Gardens, with the North Garden, which I’ll introduce here, open to the public for free.

It’s a beautiful garden where you can relax and take your time. I recommend visiting at the end of November when the leaves change color.

I returned from Yokiso to the path and arrived at the final destination, Nittai-ji Temple.

It is a magnificent temple, but most of the buildings were constructed after 1980. There are some older buildings designated as cultural properties on the grounds, but they are generally not open to the public.

Toganji Temple – known for the green Buddha statue

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I’ve compiled a list of Nagoya’s places that I’ve personally visited. Is Nagoya boring? Not at all! While it has developed as an industrial city, it also hides interesting places full of history and culture. Use this guide to explore Nagoya and discover its hidden gems.