NAGOYA BUZZ: Nagoya in English, events, food, culture and community

Nagoya in English: what's on, where to go, who's doing what.

Giant illuminated Christmas tree at the Nagoya Christmas Market in Hisaya Odori Park, surrounded by red stalls and winter lights in Sakae, Japan. Events

Nagoya Christmas Market

A German-style Christmas market in Hisaya Odori Park: Glühwein, sausages, a real fir tree and imported ornaments, free to walk in for three weeks every December. Plus how to dodge the crowds.

Hikers photograph autumn maples framed by the brick arch of the old Aigi Tunnel, fallen leaves covering the path. Events

Red Brick, Red Leaves: Aigi Tunnels 2026

Four abandoned railway tunnels, a forest full of autumn maples, and a ¥100 admission fee. Kasugai's Aigi Tunnels reopen November 28–December 6, just 30 minutes from Nagoya by train.

Fireworks over Nagoya Port at night Events Nagoya Port Christmas Fireworks Christmas isn't over at Nagoya Port. On Dec 26, ISOGAI sets The Snow Queen to fireworks, music and narration over the harbor. Seats, prices and how to get there. Stone lantern on a stepped stone base beside the Kiso River in Yaotsu, with a red steel truss bridge and a white arch bridge behind it. Events The Road That Was a River Two free walking tours from Inuyama follow the Kiso River's old timber and trade routes into Yaotsu. Limited places, lunch included. TTB band logo with a lightning bolt on a black and green background, announcing TTB live at Imago jazz club, Imaike, Sunday 22 November 2026, 17:00 to 19:00. Events Five Teenagers, One Rock Band Five teenagers, one rock band, and a set list full of surprises. Nagoya International School's TTB takes the stage at Imago Live in Imaike on November 22, from 17:00–19:00. Tickets are ¥500 plus food and drink, with only 60 available. Illuminated autumn maples and a teahouse reflected in the pond at night, Tokugawaen garden, Nagoya Events Tokugawaen Autumn Leaves Festival About 100 maples around a pond in central Nagoya, lit up on seven evenings. Dates, night openings, the Tale of Genji tie-in next door, and how to get there. Visitors walking through the 200-meter Tunnel of Light at Nabana no Sato Day Trips Nabana no Sato Illumination 2026–27: What’s On and When to Go This season’s show swaps Mount Fuji for dinosaurs, the savanna and a giant waterfall. Dates, prices, the Christmas ticket rule and the easiest way there from Nagoya. Text graphic reading "THE HIVE. What are we missing?" with "A Nagoya Buzz initiative" in small type. Features THE HIVE: What Are We Missing? The Hive is an informal invite to something unfinished where people share stories, unexpected ideas, and different perspectives. Smiling man in black glasses beside the words "What Comes Next?" on a yellow background. Features A Shift in the BUZZ After over 30 years of publishing for Japan’s international community, Carter Witt looks back at what has changed — and asks what Nagoya Buzz should become next. Logo for LiveTribe.jp, a website for finding live music and venue listings in Nagoya Events LiveTribe.jp A punk-era flashback, a modern problem, and the Nagoya-built tool fixing it. LiveTribe.jp finally makes it easy to find real shows, real bands, and real venues across the city. The Secrets Of Janken REVEALED! Features The Secrets Of Janken REVEALED! Unlock the secrets of Janken (Japanese Rock-Paper-Scissors)! Learn authentic strategies, winning tactics, and essential Japanese phrases. More than just a game! The Door Is Open Features The Door Is Open A filmmaker in Nagoya unlocks his door twice a month and waits to see what happens. Three years in, it keeps working. Pigeons flying over the red main hall of Osu Kannon Temple, with white banners lining the steps. Neighborhoods Osu Area Guide A local's guide to Ōsu: temple precincts, covered arcades, secondhand shops, street food, and the pleasure of wandering without a plan. Painted tiger on a gold-leaf sliding door in Honmaru Palace at Nagoya Castle. Landmarks & Museums Honmaru Palace Nagoya Castle’s keep is closed, but Honmaru Palace offers something deeper: a careful reconstruction of where Tokugawa power was actually staged. Climb Every Mountain! Hikes Around Central Japan Day Trips Climb Every Mountain! Hikes Around Central Japan Five easy mountain escapes from Nagoya — historic Nakasendo trails, waterfalls in Kiso Valley, and summits with views across central Japan. Past Lifers! Features Past Lifers! Explore the stories of the original "gaijin" in Japan—foreign pioneers who overcame challenges, built legacies and shaped the modern expat experience. Do You Know How to Use Chopsticks? Features Do You Know How to Use Chopsticks? Our very own Doug Breath dives into the ongoing conundrum - can you really use chopsticks? Battle armor and swords galore! Landmarks & Museums Nagoya's Samurai Museums Discover Nagoya's twin samurai museums: the intimate Touken World Room and the interactive Nagoya Touken World. Experience authentic swords, armor, and hands-on history!
Nagoya Buzz Quarterly No. 1 cover

The print city guide · No. 2 coming soon

NAGOYA BUZZ Quarterly

The city guide you can carry: short introductions in print, the full story online by QR code. Made with the people who live here.

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