15 Nagoya Tours We Would Put a Day Against

1.Ghibli Park 1-Day Bus Tour from Nagoya

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 277 reviews · from $179Our pick

Meet at the Nagoya Marriott Associa Hotel at 8:40 am for a guided bus trip to Ghibli Park. Your pass covers Grand Warehouse, Valley of Witches, and Mononoke Village, with a 10:00 to 10:59 am entry window for the warehouse. A bento lunch, drink, transport, and a later museum visit are included.

“The Ghibli Warehouse was very interesting and fun to see, but travelers beware this is not a full day event. The park itself is pretty small and this excursion doesn’t include things like going into Howl’s Castle. It was a fun experience, but frustrating from the standpoint of being able to go into the park while being limited on what you can do there.”

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2.Hiking the Historic Nakasendo Trail [1 Day Tour from Nagoya]

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 104 reviews · from $210Top rated

Trade Nagoya’s city streets for an 8 km walk through rural Japan on the old Nakasendo road. With an English-speaking guide such as Kim, Emily, Paula, or Polly, you’ll explore Tsumago-juku, pass waterfalls and mountain scenery, and finish in Magome-juku. Round-trip private transport and a non-hiking option are available.

“It's a really good hike! There's elevation, make sure you bring good shoes and are rested and hydrated. Beautiful scenery! In addition, our guide Kimberly told us quite a bit about the area and the post towns we visited. Well worth the excursion. I'd do it again.”

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3.Nagoya Highlight Tour guided by a friendly local

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 86 reviews · from $112

Spend about six hours exploring Nagoya with a private local guide. Visit Nagoya Castle and Hommaru Palace, see Oasis 21, eat lunch in Sakae, and walk Osu Kannon and its shopping arcade. Guides such as Kana, Yuko, Kumi, Tomoko, Moka, and Sallie tailor the pace and route to your group.

“We had a great tour of Nagoya with Sallie! We enjoyed seeing Nagoya Castle and were absolutely amazed at the stunning Palace. Sallie explained so many things to us about Japanese culture and history. We had a delicious lunch of Nagoya style grilled eels and even a sake tasting. Sallie is an amazing guide, and we were so happy to spend time with her in the beautiful Nagoya.”

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4.Japanese Traditional Sweets making and Tea Ceremony

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 76 reviews · 1h 35m · from $18Best value

Make two seasonal Japanese sweets, including flower-shaped nerikiri and kinton nerikiri, using premium bean paste from Kyoto. Then prepare Uji matcha and learn tea ceremony basics with a Japanese instructor. English support is available on request, and guides such as Mariko and Saki have led clear, friendly sessions.

“I was very interested in taking the class to learn how to make wagashi. The experience was very rewarding and the tea drinking ceremony provide information I didn't know before on proper way to drink matcha tea. I would highly recommend and the sweets were delicious as a snack after class. Thank You.”

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5.Magome-juku, Tsumago-juku & Ena-kyo 1d Bus Tour from Nagoya

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 75 reviews · 9 hours · from $61

Travel from Nagoya to Kokeizan Eihoji Temple, Ena Gorge, Magome-juku, and Tsumago-juku in one well-planned day. You’ll have an English or Chinese-speaking conductor, air-conditioned transport, and free time for food, photos, and old post-town streets. The $61 price is good value if you want rural Japan without arranging several train and bus connections.

“I was the only primarily English speaking person on the tour, and the guide was exceptional in switching between both languages so that everyone on the tour got the most out of it - very knowledgeable and kind :) Plenty of history was shared, and many beautiful sites were visited. Very well organised times to return to the bus to ensure we could see everything. The guide continued to give us recommendations of food and photo opportunities at each site. The transportation was excellent also - thank you bus driver :) Would highly recommend this tour!”

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6.Seki: Samurai Knife Making Experience at the Knife Museum

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 61 reviews · 1 day · from $322

Spend a full day in Seki with Hiro, Sumi, and Yoshi, making a personalized Damascus kitchen knife at the G. Sakai Knife Museum. You will polish, engrave, assemble, and sharpen the blade, then test it on fresh vegetables. Lunch, museum visits, transport, and a mini knife gift are included.

“What an amazing experience! Truly one of the highlights of my trip to Japan, this unique experience is so interesting and lots of fun to do. The instructors are really friendly, super helpful and at the end of the session you’ve got a one of a kind keepsake that’s also useful on a daily basis! They translated my name into kanji which I then painted onto the blade of my knife making it uniquely mine. The transfers were super comfortable and they dropped us off at Gifu station afterwards, making the journey back to Kyoto a breeze. Can not recommend this activity any more highly, so worth it”

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7.Nagoya Full-day Private Custom Tour with National Licensed Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 61 reviews · from $155

Choose three or four Nagoya sights with a national licensed English-speaking guide such as Hisato, Toshie, Lily, or Ryo. Meet on foot within the designated city area, then use public transportation between stops. You might focus on Nagoya Castle and Atsuta Shrine, Toyota and science museums, Japanese gardens, Osu shopping street, or local food. Admission, transit, lunch, and a private vehicle cost extra.

“Our tourguide Kiyoshi is a perfect guide, from the time he picked us up on time in the hotel, we have felt so comfortable with him. Kiyoshi, I thank you on behalf of my entire family for accompanying us on all our trips. You are absolutely indispensable because of your knowledge of the nearby places to visit. Your presence makes the already beautiful places many times more interesting. I would no doubt to highly recommend Kiyoshi to anybody that are looking for tourguide not only in Nagoya but in Japan, as he is a tourguide that has hold National License…”

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8.Ise’s Sacred Shrines and Captivating Coastlines – From Nagoya

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 45 reviews · from $210

Spend about nine hours with a guide from Nagoya visiting Ise-Jingu Geku, the traditional shops and restaurants of Okage Yokocho, and the married rocks of Meotoiwa. Groups are capped at 14, transportation and entry fees are included, and you can choose an English, Spanish, French, or Chinese-speaking guide. Shoko-san has been praised for her humor and clear explanations.

“Nice and private limited number of people tour. Both guide and driver were prompt and kind. Was able to see what Japan is like outside of the big city life yet still see national treasures. The historical information shared about the sites waRead more”

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9.Grand Sumo Tournament Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 44 reviews · from $225

Meet your English-speaking guide at Nagoyajo Station, explore Nagoya Castle if you choose, then watch three hours of top-division sumo from Chair S or A seats. You’ll receive wrestler profiles, a sumo booklet, and a cheering towel, while live commentary through an earphone system explains the rules, rituals, and personalities in the ring.

“Watching sumo for the first time was such a great experience and having Keiko as our guide made all the difference. She was full of energy and clearly loved sumo, which made it even more exciting for us. Having a guide really helped us understand the many rules, small rituals, and traditions that would have been easy to miss on our own. It truly felt like the best way to experience sumo for the first time! The castle visit prior to the sumo was beautiful and full of interesting history. A fun, insightful, and memorable day – we highly recommend this tour!”

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10.Nagoya Half-day Private Custom Tour with National Licensed Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 40 reviews · from $108

Spend four hours with a national licensed English-speaking guide and choose two or three Nagoya sights that match your interests. You might visit Nagoya Castle, Atsuta Jingu Shrine, Tokugawa Garden, Osu Shopping Street, or the Toyota Commemorative Museum. The tour is private and on foot, with transport and entrance fees extra. Guides such as Todd, Elvis, Toshie, and Tomoko are praised for thoughtful planning and clear local insight.

“Castle ,wish we had more time. Buying train tickets taking most of the time. Only saw 2 places. Tour guide was very helpful. I guess lunch took up some time too!”

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11.Magome & Tsumago Nakasendo Trail Day Hike with Government-Licensed Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 38 reviews · from $155

Spend about six hours walking the 8-kilometer Nakasendo Trail between Magome and Tsumago with a government-licensed English-speaking guide. Guides such as Hiroshi, Matt, Yumi, and Elvis bring the route’s history to life, arrange optional soba or bento stops, and help with navigation. Public transport, meals, and entry fees cost extra.

“This was such a beautiful way to see the countryside of Japan. Although we saw many travelers guiding themselves, I’m very happy that I booked this experience with a guide as Elvis was a great person to navigate us through the hike and prRead more”

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12.1-Day Tour from Nagoya: Hiking the Historic Nakasendo Trail

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 34 reviews · 8 hours · from $189

Leave Nagoya by small-group bus for Tsumago, one of Japan’s best-preserved post towns. With an English, Spanish, or French-speaking guide, walk 8 km through forests, past waterfalls and streams, to Magome. Guides such as Kim and Mir are praised for clear historical context. Bring lunch, sturdy shoes, and patience for a long day.

“The tour guide is friendly, knowledgeable to explain along the trail. She makes it so fun and enjoyable. The drive is very good too.”

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13.Explore Kiso Valley : Magome – Tsumago Mountain Trail Walk

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 33 reviews · from $171

Follow a private guide from Nakatsugawa through Magome, forest paths, waterfalls, Otsumago, and Tsumago on a 5.5-mile section of the Nakasendo Trail. Guides such as Ryo, Harumoto, and Kazuo bring local stories to life. Bus fares and museum entry are included, but food is not.

“This tour was perfectly timed and a great way to see the Nakasendo trail without having to worry about buses, maps, etc. All we had to do was get off the train and follow our guide Kazuo! We had time to see stores in both Magome and TRead more”

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14.Knife Making Experience in Samurai Sword Town

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 29 reviews · from $316

Spend about five hours in Seki, Gifu, making a Damascus kitchen knife with experienced bladesmiths Sumio, Yoshi, and Hiro. You will polish, sharpen, engrave, and assemble your blade, then test it on fresh vegetables. The day also includes a Japanese lunch, a mini knife souvenir while supplies last, sword and cutlery museums, and Zenko-ji Temple.

“The Samurai Knife Making Experience was exceptional. I honestly count this experience as very special. The hosts Sumio, Yoshi, and Hiro were very kind and good company, the instruction was clear and the finishing of my new knife waRead more”

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15.Gifu Samurai Sword Town;Japanese Damascus Knife Making Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 27 reviews · from $250

Meet Hiro, Sumi, and Yoshi for a hands-on knife-making session in Seki, Japan’s famed cutlery town. You’ll visit a knife museum and factory, assemble, polish, sharpen, and sign a Damascus blade, then test it on fresh vegetables. Choose a Japanese or Chinese kitchen knife, or a folding hunting knife.

“Hiro picked us up at the hotel and transported us to the workshop. He was very generous with his time and later took us to the sward museum and local sward shop. Hiro speaks english well and is a very pleasant fellow. The knife makling was Read more”

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