Itinerary · Japan
Nagoya in One Day: Atsuta Shrine, Osu Kannon and Food
Start with a cafe morning set, walk wooded Atsuta Shrine, then browse the Osu shopping street and red Osu Kannon, with hitsumabushi and tebasaki.
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Who this day is for
This themed day ties together Nagoya's old shrine, its old shopping district and its food. You spend a quiet morning walking wooded Atsuta Shrine, then an afternoon in Osu, with its old shopping street, a red temple and street food.
For the standard route with Nagoya Castle, Sakae at night and a day trip to Inuyama Castle, see our separate two-day post. This day is for adding one more day to that plan, or for giving a whole day to shrines and shopping streets.
For this route, Kanayama or Osu and Kamimaezu make easy bases. Kanayama is near Atsuta Shrine with an airport-train stop, and is quieter with reasonable hotel prices. Osu and Kamimaezu are good for backstreets, food and value, and you can walk to Sakae.
- Kanayama: Atsuta Shrine, airport trains
- Osu and Kamimaezu: backstreets, food, value
- Fushimi: between Nagoya Station and Sakae, with many business hotels
Morning: a cafe morning set, then Atsuta Shrine
Start the day with Nagoya's cafe tradition, the "morning": order a drink in the morning and toast or an egg comes with it. Go early in the morning to catch it.
After breakfast, head to Atsuta Shrine. It is one of Japan's most important shrines, set in a wooded compound, and its large, peaceful grounds are great for a morning walk. Take your time and stroll slowly through the wooded grounds.
Atsuta Shrine is on the subway and close to Kanayama. One IC transit card covers the subway and buses. Check which line to take and which station to get off at in official information before you go.
Lunch: Nagoya noodles or hitsumabushi
Make lunch a Nagoya meal. Miso nikomi udon, thick udon simmered in miso broth, and kishimen, flat and thin noodles, are Nagoya's noodles.
For something more special, try hitsumabushi: chopped grilled eel on rice, eaten three ways (plain, with condiments, then with broth). It is Nagoya's signature dish, about 3,000-6,000 yen. Decide ahead so it doesn't clash with your dinner plan.
- Light: miso nikomi udon or kishimen
- Special: hitsumabushi (about 3,000-6,000 yen)
- Some small restaurants and shops are cash only, so carry some yen
Afternoon: Osu shopping street and Osu Kannon
In the afternoon, move to Osu. It is an old shopping district with temples and street food, centered on the Osu shopping street, with about 1,200 shops and facilities, and the red Osu Kannon temple.
The shopping street is fun for vintage clothes, electronics and street food. Visit red Osu Kannon, then wander the lanes slowly and snack on street food.
Check which line and station to use from Atsuta Shrine to Osu in official information before you go. On days with many rides, a subway/bus day pass can pay off, and there are cheaper passes for weekends and holidays; ask at the station.
- There are few public bins. Bring a small bag and take your rubbish with you
Evening: walk to Sakae for tebasaki or miso katsu
From Osu you can walk to Sakae. Sakae is the main downtown with department stores, shops and restaurants, lively at night, with views around the TV tower. It is an easy way to carry the afternoon's browsing on into Sakae's shops.
For dinner, tebasaki, sweet-savory fried chicken wings, is a good pick. A favorite with drinks, it rounds off the day nicely, and miso katsu, a pork cutlet topped with rich miso sauce, is another classic Nagoya dinner.
- Breakfast: a cafe morning set
- Lunch: miso nikomi udon, kishimen or hitsumabushi
- Snacks: street food on the Osu shopping street
- Dinner: tebasaki or miso katsu
Fitting it into your trip, budget and checks
On a longer stay, put this day alongside a Nagoya Castle and Sakae-at-night day or an Inuyama Castle day trip. On departure day, you could do just the morning walk at Atsuta Shrine and then take the airport train from Kanayama or Nagoya Station. The airport is on an island in the sea and is 30+ minutes by train even from Nagoya Station, so leave with time to spare.
Per person per day, budget about 8,000 yen with a business hotel, chain restaurants and the subway; about 15,000-20,000 yen with a city hotel, restaurants and museum entries; and about 35,000 yen or more with an upscale hotel, set-course dinners and taxis. According to a Japan Tourism Agency survey (2025), foreign leisure travellers visiting Aichi Prefecture spent an average of about ¥87,000 per person per visit (excluding travel between prefectures). Actual costs vary widely with itinerary and accommodation.
- Best for walking: late March to April, and October to November
- Summers are hot and humid. Carry water and a hat
- Check Japanese government or embassy information on entry procedures and online arrival forms before you travel
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FAQ
How do I get to Atsuta Shrine?
It is on the subway and close to Kanayama, which has an airport-train stop. An IC transit card makes riding easy.
What is there to do on the Osu shopping street?
It is an old shopping street with about 1,200 shops and facilities, fun for vintage clothes, electronics and street food. Visit the red Osu Kannon temple too.
What should I eat during the day?
A cafe morning set for breakfast, miso nikomi udon, kishimen or hitsumabushi (about 3,000-6,000 yen) for lunch, street food in Osu in the afternoon, and tebasaki or miso katsu for dinner.
Can I do this on my departure day?
Do just the morning walk at Atsuta Shrine, then take the airport train from Kanayama or Nagoya Station. Even from Nagoya Station it is 30+ minutes by train to the airport, so leave with time to spare.
Related reading
ⓘ Photo credits
- Nagoya Castle and the Nagoya Station skyline · なごやか / CC0
- JR East Yamanote Line E235 series train · Rsa / CC BY-SA 3.0