Kasadera Park in Nagoya: A Place of Light and Shadow in History

12/12/2024

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Hidden Park in Nagoya

Kasadera Park carries a history filled with both light and shadow. While today it serves as a peaceful, beloved spot for locals to relax, its past is marked by moments of both cultural significance and darker, wartime memories.

Kasadera Park is located about a 5-minute walk from Kasadera Kannon. The entire park is set on a small hill, offering a serene and scenic spot for visitors.

At the top of the hill, there is a city-run museum where you can view various exhibits for free. So, I decided to take a look inside. Since there were no restrictions on photography, I was able to take pictures of the exhibits.

Around this park, there are archaeological sites from the Yayoi period (about 2,000 years ago), where excavations have been carried out over the years. Stone tools and remains of ancient dwellings have been discovered. Some of the excavated stone tools are on display in the museum.

Half of the exhibition area is dedicated to World War II. In fact, during the war, this park was used as a site for anti-aircraft platforms.

Among the exhibits, there is a fragment of a crashed U.S. B-29 bomber on display. You can faintly see the Boeing logo on it. The exhibits simply present what happened around this hill during World War II in a factual and straightforward manner. There are no political messages; it’s purely an exhibition space. I believe even visitors from overseas can view it without feeling uncomfortable.

Two anti-aircraft platforms remain on the top of the hill. Although it is a quiet park, it preserves important historical relics. Since it’s close to Kasadera Kannon, I highly recommend taking a short walk to visit them as part of your stroll.

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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.