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Nagahama

Nagahama (長浜市) is a city in Shiga Prefecture, Japan.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a multilingual guide site, jointly with adjacent Maibara City.

By plane
Nagahama (or Shiga Prefecture more generally) is not well served by airports. While the nearest airport is Nagoya-Centrair, Osaka's two airports (Itami and Kansai) are at least as convenient, if not more.

Travelling from Centrair or Kansai Airports to Nagahama is basically a case of taking a train towards Nagoya or Osaka respectively and then continuing on as described below. Two morning Haruka trains run direct to Kansai Airport from Maibara, returning in the evening.

From Itami, the best option is to take a bus to either Shin-Osaka or Kyoto station, and continue from there on the train.

By train
Nagahama is served by two trains per hour to Maibara (10 minutes, ¥200), the nearest Shinkansen station. These are in fact Special Rapid services, which offer a fast direct service to many places in Kansai.

 * Ōmihachiman: 36 minutes, ¥670
 * Ōtsu: 1 hour, ¥1140
 * Kyoto: 1 hour 10 minutes, ¥1320
 * Osaka: 1 hour 40 minutes, ¥1940
 * Kobe: 2 hours 10 minutes, ¥2590
 * Himeji: 2 hours 40 minutes, ¥3670

Note that these trains usually run as 12-car trains to Maibara, but only the front 4 (or sometimes 8) cars continue to Nagahama, so make sure you travel in the front part of the train.

Taking the Shinkansen to Maibara, times and prices are as follows:

 * Tokyo (using Hikari): 2 hours 40 minutes and ¥12,400
 * Nagoya: 1 hour, ¥3740
 * Kyoto: 40 minutes, ¥3570
 * Shin-Osaka: 1 hour, ¥4940

Note that Shinkansen trains which stop at Maibara usually do not go west of Shin-Osaka.

Nagahama is also served by six Shirasagi Limited Expresses a day between Maibara and Kanazawa, of which three continue beyond Maibara to Nagoya. Taking these, times and prices are as follows:

 * Kanazawa: 1 hour 40 minutes, ¥5700
 * Fukui: 1 hour, ¥3360
 * Tsuruga: 27 minutes, ¥1940
 * Gifu: 50 minutes, ¥2670
 * Nagoya: 1 hour 15 minutes, ¥3190

Additional trains pass through without stopping, which require you to change at Maibara or Tsuruga.

If avoiding Limited Expresses, allow 1 hour 5 minutes and ¥670 to reach Tsuruga. During the day, trains run only once an hour, and you may have to change at Ōmi-Shiotsu. Nagoya is 1 hour 40 minutes away and ¥1490 by Local and Rapid trains; you will need to change at Maibara, and sometimes Ōgaki.

As an alternative to the Japan Rail Pass, Nagahama is covered by JR West's Kansai Area Pass, the Kansai WIDE Area Pass, the Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass, the Sanyō-San'in Area Pass, and the Kansai-Hokuriku Area Pass, which are available to Temporary Visitors with foreign passports. None of these passes cover the Tōkaidō Shinkansen (east of Shin-Osaka). Nagahama is also covered by the Hokuriku Arch Pass: this allows travel from Tokyo but only the long way round via Kanazawa, a journey that will take no fewer than 5 hours.

Get around
Most of Nagahama's tourist destinations and hotels are within easy walking distance of the station.

By bus
There are buses available, but they are mostly used by locals to commute to places on the outskirts of the city proper.

By taxi
There are veritable hordes of taxis just waiting for your patronage outside the station, should you need to get somewhere a bit farther away.

By bike
Bikes can also be rented, but you would need to speak Japanese to do this. The bike rental place is located near the west exit of the station.

By ferry
Ferries connect Nagahama to the island of Chikubu in Lake Biwa.

Buy
Nagahama is famous for its glass art. There are many places in Kurokabe Square to see, buy, and even learn to make glass art! The following are two of the more well-known ones.

Go next

 * Takashima
 * Maibara
 * Hikone
 * Omihachiman
 * Tsuruga
 * Sekigahara
 * Ogaki
 * Otsu
 * Kyoto

title: Nagahama


text:
Nagakute

Nagakute (長久手) is an area in the eastern part of Nagoya city (Meito ward) in Aichi prefecture, Japan. Nagakute is the town where the later part of Komaki-Nagakute Campaign took place in 1584 (Tensho 12) between Hideyoshi Hashiba and Ieyasu Tokugawa. There remain many historical sites and both tangible and intangible cultural assets relating to the battle. This town of about 50,000 population on the east side of Nagoya is a very nice place to live, with its comfortable residential environment. In 2005 (Heisei 17), the World Expo Aichi 2005 was held, with Nagakute as the main venue; the name “Nagakute” became well known.

Get in
First travel to Fujigaoka which is about 65 minutes from the airport and costs ¥1400 per person.

Using the Higashiyama (yellow) subway line, Fujigaoka is 26 minutes from Nagoya Station and 21 minutes from Sakae, Nagoya's main shopping area. Nagakute town, a 15-minute linear motor car (Linimo) train ride from Fujigaoka station.

Get around
Nagakute has the first publicly used mag-lev train, the Linimo, which can be boarded at the Fujigaoka station and runs past the old Expo site. The Banpaku Kinen Kouen (万博記念公園) is a stop on the Linimo, and the ride offers a slightly elevated view of Nagakute.

Outside of the Hanamizuki-Dori station (花水木通駅) across route 6 is Benkei, a relatively famous a la carte style bakery with everything from pastries, to loaves of bread with chocolate in the middle. Further up the Linimo line between Hanamizuki-dori and the Expo site, you can see the Toyota car museum to the north out of the window.

See
Nagakute is known for being the site of the 2005 World Expo. The Expo site is a large park area; it was returned almost entirely to the natural state that existed before the Expo in agreement to the "nature" theme of the Expo, and large portions of it are now in turn being converted into the Ghibli Park (below).

Do
In Nagakute town you can tour the Toyota Car Museum, see a historical recreation of a Meiji era battle or go to a "supersento" multi-story public bath complex. The Fujiura temple about half a mile from Hanamizuki-dori station off the linimo is a beautiful temple with a long and steep stairway going up the facade. It is protected by the Japanese government and one of Japan's former emperors is enshrined there.

Go next
The Linimo line bisects Nagakute horizontally. Fujigaoka station is just west of the Nagakute town border, and the east end of the Linimo is just east of the east border of Nagakute.
 * Owariasahi
 * Seto
 * Nisshin
 * Nagoyoa
 * Togo
 * Kasugai
 * Tajimi
 * Toyota
 * Miyoshi

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Nagakute


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Nagaland

Nagaland is one of the northeastern states of India. Sandwiched between Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, and Myanmar, it is one of the smallest and least populated states in India, and one of the small handful of Christian-majority states in India.

Cities

 * — the capital city, and historic site of a key WWII battle between British India and the Japanese Empire
 * — a large trade city on the plain adjacent to Assam, and a major transit hub

 * — a small town deep inside Nagaland to the north of Kohima
 * — a small town deep inside Nagaland to the north of Kohima
 * — a small town deep inside Nagaland to the north of Kohima

 * — a Naga village outside of Kohima

 * — the northern tip of Nagaland, famous for its headhunters from the Konyak Naga tribe, who still were taking enemy heads until the 1960s. The villages are still ruled by traditional "kings". You can hang out with one of the "royal families" at the homestay in Sheanghah Chingnyu village, or take a tour of headhunter culture and a divided India/Myanmar border village in Longwa.

Other destinations

 * (Ntangki National Park) — a wildlife park located in the Peren District. Home to several endangered species as well as other mammals and birds. Among them are the golden langur, white-breasted kingfisher, python and sloth bear

Understand
Very little is known about the origins of the Nagas. The Nagas had no writing systems and thus, no written records until the British era. Some scholars believe that the Nagas have their roots in either China or Mongolia and that they migrated to South Asia sometime between 1000 and 901 BC.

Among the very few records, one of the most important is the Kohima Stone Inscription, also known as the Gambhir Singh's Stone, that was erected by King Raja Gambhir Singh (alias Chinglen Nongdrenkhomba) of Manipur kingdom, in Kohima (Meitei: Thibommei), the capital of Nagaland in 1833 AD. The inscription mark the Meitei conquest and supremacy over the Naga Hills in 1832 AD. Manipuri King Raja Gambhir Singh conquered the whole Naga Hills with his military power of the Manipur Levy.

Nagaland is one of the few states in India where Christianity is the dominant religion. Missionaries and ministers came to India in the 19th century, found their way into Nagaland, and converted almost all Nagas to Christianity. Baptism is the predominant denomination, and the state is known as the only predominantly Baptist state in the world. Other major religions include Hinduism and Islam.

Nagaland has faced a violent, often brutal insurgency movement, and this has severely limited the state's economic development. Of all the insurgent movements in the North East, the Naga insurgency is perhaps the most complex of them all. Naga insurgents not only demand complete independence from India, but they also aim to incorporate all Naga-inhabited areas into one state, which would mean taking parts of Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. Given the state's proximity to Southeast Asia, the conflict often spills into neighbouring Myanmar.

Although the worst of the violence has gone away, some rebel groups continue to employ violent, brutal tactics to further their goals. The Indian government continues to negotiate with the rebels, and it is believed that the conflict will end soon.

Get in
Fly into Dimapur or take the fast train from Guwahati which leaves daily at 6:30AM; connect to a share taxi in front of the Dimapur railway station (₹400-500) and reach Kohima by lunchtime. Direct buses also run daily between Guwahati and Kohima.

The back door into the state is from Sonari in Assam to Mon in the far north east in Nagaland. The advantage here is that Sonari is connected by rail (Bhojo Station) and can be reached overnight and those going far north avoid backtracking. The bus to Mon leaves at midnight from Sonari, and there are minibus or sumo services in the morning and perhaps early afternoon. There are more departures from Namsa/Tizin at the state border, which can be easily reached from Sonari by auto (tuktuk) for about ₹300. Do not enter in this direction if you're only going to Kohima or Dimapur, as the roads in the interior of the state are so bad (all dirt, mud, and rocks) that public transport actually goes back into Assam and circles around the outside of Nagaland to travel between the two ends of the state. On the other hand, if you have time and your own 4WD vehicle it could be a great adventure. Without your own car it should be possible to go through the middle of the state in three days by taking a shared sumo from Mon to Tobu, hiring a private taxi from Tobu to Tuensang, then taking another shared sumo from Tuensang to Kohima.

Entry formalities
Citizens of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and China, as well as other people "having their origins in these countries", must apply for a permit with the Indian government before entering Nagaland.

All other foreign nationals no longer need a permit, but are required to register with the police within 24 hours of entering. In some districts (e.g. Mon) you may be asked to register separately for each district and come back to sign out again when you leave, though there seems to be no enforcement. The preferred way to do this is to visit a police station (or the police booth at the Dimapur airport) and leave a photocopy of your passport and visa stamp, but it may be possible to do by phone or email. You may be pressured to hire a guide if visiting remote rural areas, but this is not required. Enforcement is reportedly more strict in Kohima.

Indians from other states need an Inner Line Permit, which can be applied for online.

Get around

There are no rail connections in Nagaland so bus/jeep travel is generally your only option unless you are flying.

Road conditions can be terrible in some parts of the state (commonly 4WD only, and quite bumpy), and landslides are relatively common; enquire locally about the current conditions of specific routes.

Talk
The official language of the state is English.

Nagamese, a creole language based on Assamese, is understood and spoken by most of the locals. If you speak Assamese, you'll likely be able to get by with it here.

Nagaland is made up of many different tribes speaking various languages as their mother tongues. Some of the most commonly spoken tribal languages in the state are Konyak, Ao, Lotha, and Angami. You're not expected to know a word of any of these languages, but learning a few words will most certainly endear you to the locals.

Hindi is not universally understood, and very few people speak the language proficiently.

See

 * Kohima, the state capital, houses the largest crucifix in Asia.

Eat
A typical Naga table consists of a meat dish, a boiled vegetable dish or two, rice and a chutney (tathu). Nagas tend to prefer boiled edible organic leaves. Some common dishes are:

 * "fermented bamboo shoot" (made from the tender shoot of the bamboo tree) with fish and pork.
 * axone (soya bean boiled, fermented and either smoked or sun dried) with smoked pork and beef. Smoked meat is produced by keeping the meat above the fire or hanging on the wall of the kitchen for 2 weeks or longer; it can last for a year.
 * Anishiis fermented yam leaves made into patties and smoked over the fire or sun dried.

Naga food tends to be spicy (chillies). There are different varieties of chillies in Nagaland, the strongest being bhut jolokia, thought to be the world's hottest chilli until 2011. The ginger used in the Naga cuisine is spicy, aromatic and is different from the common ginger. The garlic and ginger leaves are also used in cooking with meat.

Another popular dish is a soupy dish which is had with cold rice, made mostly when one feels under the weather or has a migraine, called by different names by the different Naga tribes.

Drink
Consumption of alcohol is prohibited in the state.

Stay safe
Opium abuse is still an issue in some remote villages near the Myanmar border and can result in unprovoked violence against tourists. Seek local advice and a local guide, and don't visit remote villages alone.

Respect
The various respect tips in the Northeast India article apply here. As in any other place, if you're not sure about something, just ask.

Do not divulge strong, negative opinions of the Church, tribal councils, and village elders. They are influential and venerated, and passing strong statements of them will seriously offend the Nagas. Remember that you're in a predominantly tribal state - What may be considered acceptable in other parts of India won't be considered acceptable here. Behave accordingly.

Given the ongoing insurgency, some Nagas may be offended if you state that the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (the main insurgent group in the state) is a terrorist organisation. As a general rule, avoid having a discussion on local, tribal politics - Nagaland is a politically troubled state.

title: Nagaland


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Nagano

Nagano (長野) is the capital of Nagano prefecture, in the Chubu district of Japan. It flourished as a temple city of Zenkō-ji, a famous temple.

Understand
Nagano hosted the 1998 Winter Olympic Games. Many of the Olympic facilities remain open - like the M-Wave speedskating arena and the Aqua-Wing arena - making Nagano a popular destination for indoor and outdoor sports enthusiasts. It's also a key launching point for trips to onsen and ski resorts in the nearby mountains, which are often referred to as "the Japanese Alps".

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site with integrated machine translation.

By train
Nagano is accessible from Tokyo station via the Hokuriku Shinkansen, formerly known as the Nagano Shinkansen. The trip takes anywhere from 80 to 110 minutes depending on the train that is used, but generally the Kagayaki (かがやき) and the Hakutaka (はくたか) services make fewer stops than the Asama (あさま). The fare is ¥8,200 for a reserved seat. Standard and Green Car seats are fully covered by the respective versions of the Japan Rail Pass, but if you want to use the premium GranClass seats - which feature airline-like business class seats and personal attendant service - you will have to pay the limited express and GranClass surcharges (an additional ¥11,910 from Tokyo to Nagano), as any version of the Japan Rail Pass only covers the base fare.

The regional JR East Rail Pass will cover the full trip from Tokyo to Nagano, but the more local JR Kanto Area Pass will only cover the trip to Saku-daira, a few stations short of Nagano; you will have to purchase a regular ticket (¥3,330 for a reserved seat) for the remainder of the journey.

The Wide View Shinano (ワイドビュー しなの) limited express train runs hourly from Nagoya to Nagano (3 hours, ¥7,330). From Kyoto or Osaka there are two ways to get to Nagano: either take the Tokaido Shinkansen to Nagoya and change to the Shinano (¥12,000 from Osaka), or take the Thunderbird (サンダーバード) service to Kanazawa and then take the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Kanazawa to Nagano (¥14,290 from Osaka). Each of the options take approximately 4 -4½ hours from Osaka depending on stopping patterns, and both are fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass (except for Nozomi trains on the Tokaido Shinkansen).

By bus
Highway buses from Tokyo depart from the terminal in Shinjuku, and from the Sunshine City Prince Hotel in Ikebukuro. The trip takes around three and a half hours, and the fare is ¥4000 one-way. The ¥7200 round trip fare is about half the cost of the Shinkansen.

Hankyu and Nankai buses also make a few daytime and nighttime runs from Osaka and Kyoto to Nagano. The day runs take about seven hours, and the night runs take nine hours. Expect to pay ¥6200 one-way, ¥10000 round trip from Osaka, and ¥5300 one-way, ¥9500 round-trip from Kyoto.

Get around
There are buses that loop around the city center called the Gururingo (ぐるりん号). If you stay within the main area a ride is only ¥100.

See

Buy

Nagano is famous for Togakushi soba. Also be sure to get some Oyaki, a delicious and cheap Japanese dumpling. It comes in many different flavoured fillings, both sweet and savoury.

Eat

 * Sakura, in the Nishi-no-Mon brewery (above). Most of the items on the menu feature miso (fermented bean-paste) which is made with sake by-products. (For an exotic dessert, try miso ice cream.)

Go next

 * Jigokudani Monkey Park — snowbathing monkeys just half an hour away
 * Joshinetsu Kogen National Park — home to Shiga Kogen, Japan's largest ski resort
 * Chikuma - take the Shinano railway south to Chikuma or Togura stations and explore the onsens, mountains and temples of this small city straddling the picturesque Chikuma River
 * Obuse
 * Suzaka
 * Iiyama
 * Myoko
 * Hakuba
 * Ueda

title: Nagano


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Nagano (prefecture)

Nagano Prefecture (長野県 Nagano-ken) is at the center of Japan. It is surrounded by 8 prefectures. (Niigata, Toyama, Aichi, Gifu, Shizuoka, Yamanashi, Gunma, Saitama)

Understand
The population of Nagano is about 2,060,000 as of 2022.

This area is a highland called Central Highland of Japan (中央高地 Chūō-kōchi) surrounded by mountains. Nagano, especially Karuizawa, is a summer resort and many people come from large cities because it's cool in the summer.

Tourist Information Site
Go Nagano is the prefecture's official multilingual guide site.

Cities

 * — the prefectural capital and site of the 1998 Winter Olympics
 * — north of Matsumoto and famous for Daio Wasabi Farm, views of the surrounding alpine landscape and the incredible number of museums and galleries
 * — just south of Nagano City, on the middle reaches of the Chikuma River, surrounded by mountains
 * - A city next to Suwa, which has a large moss-green forest
 * — featuring one of Japan's most beloved castles and lots of wasabi
 * - Resort town with a large lake and access to the Yatsugatake Mountain Range
 * — featuring one of Japan's most beloved castles and lots of wasabi
 * - Resort town with a large lake and access to the Yatsugatake Mountain Range
 * - Resort town with a large lake and access to the Yatsugatake Mountain Range
 * - Resort town with a large lake and access to the Yatsugatake Mountain Range
 * - Resort town with a large lake and access to the Yatsugatake Mountain Range

Other destinations

 * — The scenic villages from Kiso-Hirasawa to Narai and Tsumago in the prefecture
 * - A popular resort and villa area
 * — a small depopulated mountain village near the Tochibaraiwakage ruins
 * — Popular winter area with 7 major ski resorts
 * — Museums, temples, chestnut confections, hot springs and lots of cultural events and festivals
 * — Ryokans, Japanese atmosphere, and snowbathing monkeys.
 * — Home to Shiga Kogen, Japan's largest ski resort
 * — Home to Shiga Kogen, Japan's largest ski resort

By train
The Hokuriku Shinkansen line, a branch of the Joetsu Shikansen to Niigata, connects to Tokyo in around 2 hours.

By bus
Buses from the Shinjuku long-distance bus station run about once an hour. The trip takes about 3 1/2 hours; fare is ¥4000 one-way or ¥7200 round-trip. There is also a similar bus to Matsumoto here, it just goes via Kofu. From Nagoya, the highway bus goes via Matsumoto.

See

 * Join the pilgrims praying at Zenkoji Temple (Nagano)
 * Marvel at the beautiful Matsumoto Castle (Matsumoto)
 * Walk the Nakasendo Trail or visit any of the individual post stations (Shiojiri, Kiso, Nakatsugawa)
 * See art and learn more about the famous artist, Katsushika Hokusai (Obuse)
 * Trek from the lower to the middle and the upper shrines of Togakushi Shrine (Nagano)
 * Watch monkeys play and snack in their own hot spring (Yamanouchi)
 * Gaze at the stars and watch the night sky (Achi)

Do

 * There are many mountains in Nagano, so in winter there are many places to ski and do snowboarding. There are also many campsites and onsen, in easy to access locations.
 * Go see the Japanese Macaques in Jigokudani yaenkoen, you'll be able to get really near to them. Watch out as they can be a bit aggressive! Take the limited express metro to Yudanaka from Nagano, there'll be buses that take you there.

In 1998, Winter Olympics took place in Nagano.

Eat
In culinary terms, Nagano is best known for its soba (buckwheat noodles), known as Shinano soba (信濃そば) or Shinshū soba (信州そば), with those from Togakushi (戸隠, a region of Nagano City) considered by some the best in Japan. Miso (fermented bean paste), a staple of the Japanese diet is also a famous Nagano product. Among foods characteristic to the region are oyaki, small grilled doughballs filled with vegetables or meat, and on the unusual side, basashi (raw horse meat) and inago (locusts).

Apples are one of the special products of Nagano. The taste of Nagano apples is sweet and juicy. The yield of apples in Nagano is the second largest in Japan.

Go next

 * Aichi Prefecture
 * Gifu Prefecture
 * Gunma Prefecture
 * Niigata Prefecture
 * Shizuoka Prefecture
 * Toyama Prefecture
 * Yamanashi Prefecture

title: Nagano (prefecture)


text:
Nagaoka

Nagaoka (長岡) is a city in Niigata prefecture.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a multilingual guide site.

By plane
The nearest airport is at Niigata, which is a little over an hour away by car. By public transport, take a bus to Niigata station (25 min, ¥410), then take the train or bus (details below).

Tokyo's two airports, Narita and Haneda, are both at least three hours away by train.

By train
The main way into Nagaoka is on the Jōetsu Shinkansen. There is at least one Toki train per hour to Tokyo (about 1hr 40min, ¥8950) and Niigata (25 minutes, ¥3500).

From Niigata, one can instead take a local train, which takes about 1hr 15mins and costs ¥1140, or one of the five Shirayuki Limited Express trains a day, which is more expensive (¥2640) but brings the travel time down to about 55 minutes.

JR East offer some deals for travel within Niigata prefecture: From Kanazawa and Toyama there used to be a one-seat service to Nagaoka, but this has changed with the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen. The fastest way to travel between these areas is to take the Hokuriku Shinkansen's Hakutaka service to Jōetsu-myōkō, and change to the Shirayuki Limited Express which operates five times per day. The journey from Kanazawa using this route takes around 2 hr 20 min and costs ¥8840 each way; from Toyama, 2 hr and ¥7760. If you use a Japan Rail Pass, a small surcharge of ¥450 will have to be paid for the 10-km journey between Jōetsu-myōkō and Naoetsu which operates over non-JR tracks.
 * If you buy an Echigo One-Day Pass at ¥1540, you can save ¥740 on the price of a day trip to Niigata. The ticket is even better value if you use it to go as far as Shibata or Murakami. However, it does not cover the supplementary fare for Shinkansen or Limited Express trains; for this, consider buying the Echigo Ryōkin Kaisūken, which gives you four tickets for travel to or from Niigata on the Shinkansen or Limited Expresses, valid for a month, for ¥3920. (There is no child version of this ticket, but two children aged 6-11 can use one of these tickets).
 * The Shinkansen Double Kippu gives you two tickets for the Shinkansen to and from Niigata, again valid for a month, for ¥4200 (¥2100 for children).

Both the Japan Rail Pass and the JR East Pass (Nagano/Niigata area) fully cover the Shinkansen journey from Tokyo, travel to Narita and Haneda Airports via the Narita Express and Tokyo Monorail, and travel on most trains in Niigata prefecture, amongst other things.

By bus
(Where fares are quoted as being 'up to' a price, they are cheaper outside peak periods.)

The following highway buses serve Nagaoka station each day: Willer Express also run buses between Nagaoka and various places in Kantō and Kansai.
 * Eight buses to Kawagoe station, Nerima station, Ikebukuro station, and Shinjuku, taking 5 hr 30 min and costing up to ¥6900. Jointly operated by Seibu Bus, Echigo Kōtsu and Niigata Kōtsu.
 * An overnight bus running to Kyoto station, Kōsoku-Kyōtanabe, Osaka (Osaka station and Namba) and Sakai (Sakai station, Sakai-higashi station and JR Sakaishi station), taking between 7 hr 40 min (to Kyoto) and 10 hr 10 min (to Sakai) and costing up to ¥9520. Jointly operated by Nankai Bus and Echigo Kōtsu. If taking the bus from Kansai, look for the bus to Kashiwazaki, Nagaoka, and Sanjō.
 * More than 20 buses to Niigata, taking about 1 hr 20 min and costing ¥980. Jointly operated by Echigo Kōtsu and Niigata Kōtsu.

The following serve Nagaoka-Kita Bus Stop on the Hokuriku Expressway, on the way to and from Niigata: To get to Nagaoka Station from Nagaoka-Kita Bus Stop, take either one of the highway buses between Niigata and Nagaoka via Chōseibashi (about 20 min, ¥280) or a local bus from Fukumichi-Iriguchi Bus Stop heading into Nagaoka from Fukuto and Wakino-machi (about 25 min, ¥310).
 * 16 buses (14 day, 1 night, 1 ladies-only night) to Kawagoe-Matoba Bus Stop, Nerima, Shimo-Ochiai station, and Ikebukuro, taking 4 hr 20 min and costing up to ¥5700. The night buses also serve Shinjuku. Operated by Seibu Bus, Echigo Kōtsu, and Niigata Kōtsu.
 * 2 buses (1 day, 1 night) to Meitetsu Bus Center in Nagoya, taking a little over 6 hours and costing up to ¥8200. Operated by Meitetsu Bus and Niigata Kōtsu.
 * 4 buses to Nagano station and Gondō, also serving several stops on the Jōshin-etsu Expressway, taking about 2 hr 30 min and costing ¥2470. Operated by Nagaden Bus and Niigata Kōtsu.
 * 2 buses to Toyama station, also serving several stops in Toyama and on the Hokuriku Expressway, taking about 2 hr 40 min and costing ¥3290. Operated by Toyama Chitetsu and Niigata Kōtsu.
 * 2 buses to Kanazawa station, taking about 3 hr 40 min and costing ¥3810. Operated by Hokuriku Railroad and Niigata Kōtsu.
 * There are also highway buses to destinations within Niigata Prefecture (Tōkamachi, Kashiwazaki, and Jōetsu).

Do

 * Nagaoka is famous for fireworks. Nagaoka festival is held from 1–3 August yearly.  On 1 August, an evening event is held, on 2 and 3, fireworks are launched.  About 20,000 fireworks are launched around Shinano river side for two days.

Go next

 * Niigata
 * Tokamachi
 * Uonuma
 * Kashiwazaki
 * Izumozaki
 * Sanjo
 * Ojiya
 * Kawaguchi
 * Joetsu

title: Nagaoka


text:
Nagaon

Nagaon is a city in Assam, India.

Understand
Nagaon (previously Nowgong, Assamese: নগাঁও) is a city in Nagaon district in the Indian state of Assam. It is 120 kilometres (75 mi) east of Guwahati. It is the fifth largest city of Assam with a population of close to 150,000.

See
Mahamrityunjay Mandir, 18 km from Nagaon town, is famous for being world's tallest Shivlinga (phallus sculpture dedicated to the Hindu god, Shiva), at 126 feet tall. It is situated in Narkasur path, Puranigodan, Nagaon district.

Buy

 * Natun Bazar, Nagaon
 * Stadium Market, Nagaon

Eat

 * Kolong, In front of Circuit House, Nagaon.
 * Mint Leaf, Christianpatty, Nagaon.
 * Nampong, Near Nowgong Polytechnic, Nagaon
 * 7t9 Restaurant, Near NRL Petrol Pump

Drink

 * 7t9 Bar, Near NRL Petrol Pump, Nagaon

Go next

 * Bordua Than is 18 km away and is known for the Hindu saint, Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev.
 * Jorhat
 * Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is about 72 km away from Nagaon. The one-horned rhinoceros is the main attraction of the national park, and you can see other animals like tigers, birds, elephants, sambar, barking deer and a variety of avian species in the park.
 * Sibsagar
 * Tezpur

title: Nagaon


text:
Nagara

Nagara is a small town in Hulu Sungai Selatan regency, with Kandangan as the main city.

Get in
The highway is paved all the way from Banjarmasin but from Kandangan the road will be getting narrow. In wet season, the road around Nagara can be flooded. If your starting point is Banjarmasin, your best bet to reach Nagara is by renting car with driver. Unfortunately it's not easy to find English speaking driver. The other choice is using tour companies.

See

 * Locals catch fish in traditional way; some of the catches are dried under the sun to make dry fishes.

Do

 * Exploring wetland area with Jukung/sampan. Please note that the jukung/sampan usually doesn't provide life vest.

Buy

 * Dry fishes.

title: Nagara


text:
Nagarhole National Park

Nagarahole Tiger Reserve, previously known as Rajiv Gandhi Nagarahole National Park (Kannada ನಾಗರಹೊಳೆ ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ಉದ್ಯಾನವನ), is in Kodagu district in the Cauvery Basin in India's Karnataka State.

History
The reserve is 93 km from Mysore. It is spread between Kodagu and Mysore districts. The national park has rich forest cover, little streams, valleys and waterfalls.

The place derives its name from Kannada - naga meaning snake and hole referring to streams.

The area was an exclusive hunting reserve of the former rulers of Mysore.

It was set up in 1955 and is one of the best-managed parks in the country. This park is northwest of Bandipur National Park. In 1975 its area stretched to 575 km2. Kabini reservoir separates this park from Bandipur National Park. The climate is tropical; summer is hot and winter is pleasant. The park boasts a healthy tiger-predator ratio. Tiger, gaur and elephant are much denser here than in Bandipur.

The office of the Deputy Conservator of Forests is in Hunsur, about 47 km away from Nagarhole.

Terrain
Mostly moist mixed deciduous forest (Tectona grandis, Dalbergia latifolia) in the southern parts, dry tropical forest (Wrightia tinctoria, Acacia) towards east, i.e. Bandipur and Sub mountain hill valley swamp forest (Eugenia).

Flora and fauna

 * Mammals: elephant, jackal, tiger, panther, gaur, muntjac, sambar, Spotted deer, mongoose, Civet cat, hyena, and Sloth bear.
 * Reptiles: King Cobra, krait, python, viper, tortoise, Monitor lizard, toads etc.
 * The main trees found are rosewood, teak, sandalwood and silver oak.

Climate
Temperature during summer would be around 32°C. Winter is brief from November to January and has the temperature dipping to 12 °C and rains from June to October.

During the summer heat, March and April, the waterholes are dry and the animals congregate near the lake, so it is the best time to see wildlife. From November to February, the weather is more pleasant though, for hiking or touring.

From July to October, the monsoons may make the roads impassable, and safaris may not operate. It is difficult to spot wildlife during this season.

Get in

 * Mysore is the closest city to the reserve (94 km away). From there, you can book a train to the reserve, make the journey by car or taxi, or take a bus in Mysore. The bus drops you at the HD Kote Bus Station (about 30 km or 18 miles from the reserve) where you can hire a taxi to take you the rest of the way.
 * There are many buses from Mysore to H.D. Kote which is 30 km before the park. The entry point from Heggadevanakote is through Antharasanthe village on Karnataka state highway 33 connecting Mysuru (Karnataka) to Kattikullam (Kerala) via Hampapura, Balle, D.B. Kuppe (Bavali).
 * You can enter from Hunsur town which is on Mysuru- Madikeri-Mangaluru highway. A lot of KSRTC (Karnataka) buses ply on this road.
 * If you are entering from Kerala, reach Mananthavadi Town, which is some 100 km from Calicut or Kozhikkod. It takes some 30 km to reach the reserve. Round the clock KSRTC buses are available to Mananthavadi from Calicut.
 * Anechowkooru is the entry point if you are coming from Periyapatna through Karnataka state highway 21 (SH-21) going to or from Hunsuru through SH-90 going to Gonikoppalu via Thitimathi. Anechoukur lies in northern part of the reserve.
 * Veerahosanahalli village is another entry point from Hunsuru after deviation from Hunsuru - HD kote state highway 86. You can enter the reserve from Kutta village which is in Kodagu district of Karnataka state. Motorbikes or motorcycles (two-wheelers) are not allowed in this route.
 * You can enter the northern part of the reserve from Siddapura (Kodagu) through a road going to Piriyapatna via Kallala.

Fees and permits
Entry to the national park is free & does not require any permits. You have to enter few details such as name, vehicle registration number, and number of visitors at the gate.

On roads within the reserve, travel is allowed from 6AM to 6PM only. Confirm the timing at forest checkpost while entry.

Get around

 * The forestry department operates mini-bus safari tour in 26-seat buses twice a day (early morning and late afternoon)
 * jeep safari
 * hire a boat or coracle to take you down the river
 * drive the park's roads by yourself (you must remain inside your vehicle, and stopping is not allowed)
 * hire a guide to hike through the reserve

See

 * Dubare Elephant camp on the banks of river Kaveri (Cauvery) on Karnatak state highway 91 connecting Guddehosuru and Virajpete via Abyathmangala, Siddapura and Ammathi. Balle Elephant camp on SH 33.
 * Bylakuppe near Kushalnagara, Tibetian resettlement colony in Kodagu district of Karnataka state.
 * Taraka dam and reservoir near Heggadevankote (H.D.Kote). Kabini dam at Beechanahalli. Nugu dam near Hediyala on SH -86 connecting Begur (on NH 766) to HD Kote via Sarguru.

Do
Take jungle safari ride conducted by Karnataka forest department to see wild animals.

Hikes

 * Central Nagarhole Walking Trail is a short trail that doesn't require a guide. You can see elephants, gaur, and deer.

Hikes to do with a trained guide:
 * North Nagarhole Walking Trail along the banks of the Kabini River to see the birds and animals congregate at this water source.
 * South-East Nagarhole Walking Trail is a trail for experienced hikers as it tends to be wet and slippery, and is sometimes becomes overgrown.
 * The West Nagarhole Walking Trail goes through forested valleys to waterfalls and streams to see tree-dwelling wildlife. Stay away from the banks of the river which is home to crocodiles and snakes.

Buy
Local fruits and vegetables grown.

Eat
Local food and snacks.

Drink
Buttermilk.

Lodging

 * Nagarhole Forest Guest house requires prior booking from Wildlife department in Mysore:.
 * Private resorts & guest houses are available at Kutta just outside the reserve on the way to Irrupu Falls. There are hotels and restaurants at Hunsur also.
 * You can also stay at Murkal which is within the reserve.

Camping
Camping is not allowed inside the reserve since it has fairly good number of tigers and other such wild animals.

Stay safe
Do not get down from your vehicle while traveling through the reserve. There are elephants, tigers, Indian bison and other wild animals which may pose danger. Do not litter the forest with plastic and other non bio degradable items. Forest fire is another hazard. Do not lit fire or throw inflammable things on the road or forests. Always carry torch, water, eatables, towels, clothes, whistle while entering the jungle.

Go next

 * Bhadra Tiger Reserve
 * Kodagu
 * H.D.Kote
 * Begur Wildlife Sanctuary

title: Nagarhole National Park


text:
Sungai Pinang

Sungai Pinang is a village on the Indian Ocean coast in West Sumatra Province, Indonesia.

Understand
Nagari Sungai Pinang (nagari is the local word for village) is in Koto XI Tarusan district, 45 km south of the city centre of Padang. It is a small fishing village with a population of about 2,000. Most of the inhabitants work as fishermen and women as farmer in the rice fields. The village is between the Indian Ocean coast on the western side, and the Sungai Pinang Conservation Forest on the eastern side, with white sandy beaches along the coast.

Do
The attraction of this village is its proximity to nature. Trekking in the wild jungle in Sungai Pinang forest, you may to see wild animals such as Gibbon family, macaque, deer, many kind of birds and if you are lucky, you may see the Sumatran tiger. For marine activities, there are five islands to enjoy diving and snorkeling or canoeing along the coast. One of them is Marak Island use for centre of Gibbon rehabilitation project of Kalaweit Program Sumatra. Joining the fishermen in their boats is also a great experience.

Sleep
Owing to the generous locals, it is possible to sleep in a villager's house. Ask around.

title: Sungai Pinang


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Nagarkot

Nagarkot is a village in the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal. It is north-east of Kathmandu on the northern fringe of the Kathmandu Valley. Nagarkot is famous for its Himalayan views, the Himalayan peaks at sunrise being particularly magnificent.

Besides scenic views and outdoor hiking, the town itself doesn't offer much, but this laid-back vibe (and not a tout in sight) makes Nagarkot a good place for long-term backpackers to spend two or three nights and plan the next leg of their trip.

Vehicle
You have several options if you decide to travel to Nagarkot by road.
 * Hiring a taxi for a one-way trip to the village will cost Rs2,000-3,000 and nearly double that for a return trip with a short time to admire the views. Leaving Nagarkot on foot is a recommended option as it's downhill (see trekking options below).
 * Tourist minibuses will cost Rs300-400, leaving from the Hotel Malla in Lainchhaur and taking about two hours to reach Nagarkot.
 * Public buses travel to Nagarkot via Bhaktapur and will cost less than Rs100 for the two-hour trip.

Trekking
If you have more time, trekking is a good way to get to Nagarkot. The village is on the Kathmandu Valley Cultural Trekking Trail. The trail starts in Sundarijal, a short bus or taxi ride from Kathmandu, and continues on to Chisapani (2,150 m), 5.5h and then to Nagarkot (2,163 m), 5-7.5 h.

From Nagarkot, you can continue on the Kathmandu Valley Cultural Trekking Trail to Dhulikhel in about 6 h. As you leave Nagarkot, the trail climbs up to the tower of Nagarkot. From the tower there are excellent views of mountains including views of Mt Everest and Kathmandu Valley. The trail descends through rhododendron forests and small villages before arriving in Dhulikhel.

From Dhulikhel, there are several options, one being through Namobuddha and back to Kathmandu. Namobuddha has some interesting Tibetan monasteries.

Mountain Biking
Another way to approach Nagarkot is by mountain bike from Bhaktapur. The route is steep and somewhat tortuous and you may decide instead to leave Nagarkot (i.e. downhill) using this method.

Get around
Everything is within walking distance in Nagarkot.

See
Nagarkot is a somewhat rustic resort village high on the northern fringe of the Kathmandu valley. Situated on a ridge at the edge of the Valley, it offers great views of Himalayas, attractive mountain scenery and impressive views of those mountains at sunrise and sunset. From Nagarkot, one should have views of the major Himalayan peaks such as Manaslu, Ganesh, Langtang, Dorje Lakpa (6,975 m), Shisha Pangma (8,012 m), Choyu, and Gauri Shankar (7,146 m). On a clear day, one can even see the tip of Mt Everest (8,848 m) from here. Arriving here in the afternoon and staying at one of the local hotels will give you the opportunity to see both sunset and the early morning sunrise over the mountains. Be aware that the view may be obscured by cloud, even in autumn, when the air is usually clear.

Do

 * Some commercial guidebooks still list a Paneer Cheese Factory. However this was destroyed in the 2015 earthquake.
 * Some commercial guidebooks still list a Paneer Cheese Factory. However this was destroyed in the 2015 earthquake.

Buy
From a visitor's perspective, the main raison d'être for Nagarkot is the views of the Himalayas. Other than numerous places to stay and a few places to eat, there is little else for sale.

There is one ATM, but it's only open during the day, and it only reads Visa and Visa Election cards.

Eat & Drink
Many of the hotels and lodges have restaurants; many travellers will choose to eat there. A few other establishments are available.

Sleep
Hotels and guesthouses abound, both in Nagarkot and in the surrounding hills and valleys. Since Nagarkot's charm is in the natural environment, central location to town need not play a role in your choice of hotel.

title: Nagarkot


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Nagasaki

Nagasaki (長崎) is the capital of Nagasaki prefecture on the island of Kyushu, Japan.

Understand
Under the national isolation policy of the Tokugawa Shogunate, Nagasaki harbor was the only harbor to which entry of foreign ships was permitted. Even today, Nagasaki shows the influence of many cultures such as Dutch, Portuguese, and Chinese.

On 9 August 1945, three days after the bombing of Hiroshima, a nuclear bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, killing a total of over 100,000 people. Six days later Japan surrendered, ending World War II.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site. Clicking on "Language" leads to the prefecture's multilingual guide site.

By plane

There are several limousine bus routes from Nagasaki Airport to the center of the city. All routes cost ¥1000 to JR Nagasaki Station. The fastest buses, via Dejima Road, take around 45 minutes.

If you are landing at Fukuoka Airport, highway buses run to Nagasaki 1-2 times per hour (2 hr 20 min, ¥2620).

By train
JR Kyushu operates the Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen Kamome (かもめ) train service, Japan's newest bullet train line which opened in September 2022. For the time being, only a 66 km section between Nagasaki and Takeo-Onsen is operational. From Fukuoka you will need to take two trains: The Relay Kamome limited express train to Takeo-Onsen, followed by a cross-platform transfer to the Kamome shinkansen train to Nagasaki. This two-train trip will be the norm for some time, as there is no timetable on when construction will begin in order to connect the new bullet train line to the rest of the shinkansen network.

The entire trip from Fukuoka takes about 90 min and costs ¥6050 for a reserved seat. The trip is free with a Japan Rail Pass or one of the regional JR Kyushu passes. Discounted tickets can also be purchased online at a cost of ¥4200 each way between Hakata and Nagasaki, or ¥3600 with three-day advance purchase. Note that reserved seat trips with connections at Takeo-Onsen may have the seat assignments for both trains printed on a single ticket.

If arriving from further east on the shinkansen, you can transfer to the Relay Kamome at either Hakata or the following station, Shin-Tosu, depending on the timetables. Nagasaki is around 2 hr 30 min from Hiroshima, 3 hr 30 min from Okayama, 4 hr from Osaka and 6 hr 30 min from Tokyo.

From Kagoshima-Chuo station in Kagoshima, Nagasaki can be reached via the Kyushu Shinkansen and Kamome services in about 3 hours (change at Shin-Tosu and Takeo-Onsen) but at the steep cost of ¥15080 for a reserved seat (free with any of the above passes).

Sleeper trains
You can travel overnight from Tokyo to Nagasaki by taking multiple services: the 21:50 Sunrise Seto/Sunrise Izumo overnight service to Okayama, the Shinkansen from Okayama to Hakata, and the Relay Kamome/Kamome trains from Hakata to Nagasaki. This will take around a half day, and if you're willing to constantly change trains, you will be rewarded as your journey will double as lodging.

The cost of the overnight sleeping accommodation on the Sunrise trains is included for the Japan Rail Pass holders only if booking into the nobinobi common area, where you'll be assigned a space on the carpeted floor and your head would be separated by wooden dividers from your neighbors (reservation is free, but still compulsory; the spaces are limited and tend to go fast). For a private berth everyone must pay the lodging supplement on the Tokyo-Okayama segment; the rest of the trip is covered under the pass. An alternative if you want to make an overnight trip is to split up the trip into an evening leg and a morning leg, spending the night at a city along the way.

By bus
Highway buses arrive from many major areas around Kyushu, including Fukuoka (2 hr 30 min, ¥2620).

The Holland overnight bus runs to Nagasaki from Kyoto (12 hr), Osaka O-CAT and Umeda (10 hr 40 min from Umeda) and Kobe (9 hr 45 min), with fares starting from ¥6900.

Get around

Trams (路面電車 romen densha or チンチン電車 "chin-chin densha") connect most of Nagasaki; they run about every ten to fifteen minutes during the day. The most frequently used lines will be the red (3) and blue (1); the blue and red lines run on the same track from the northern end of Nagasaki as far as the Nagasaki train station, where they split. The blue line continues to the You-me Plaza shopping mall, Dejima, and later the downtown shopping arcade. A one-way trip is ¥140 and you can get a transfer ticket (乗り継ぎ券 ”noritsugi ken") to continue your trip, if it requires two streetcars. These tickets can only be acquired if you get off at the Tsuki Machi stop.  You can save money if you're doing a lot of travel by purchasing a daily pass for the streetcars (¥500) which you can purchase at the Tourist Information Center at Nagasaki Station, or most major hotels.

Buses also run through much of Nagasaki, including places that aren't served by the streetcars.

The trams stop running around 23:00, and most bus service also has downtime at night. This can come as a rude awakening if you go out in Shianbashi, only to find that you have to stay until 06:00 for the first running densha. For the adventurous, it takes about an hour to walk from Shianbashi to Sumiyoshi. This timeframe is heavily dependent on how fast you walk, and what kind of night out you experienced.

See
A multi-lingual call center can answer tourism-related questions in English and 16 other languages: +81-95-825-5175, 08:00-20:00 365 days a year. Save some paper by using their collection of electronic pamphlets (PDF) for several attractions.

Do

 * Lantern Festival Lunar New Year (mid Jan-mid Feb). Held by Nagasaki's Chinese community, large lanterns are displayed on street corners and in the shopping arcades. Venture through Chinatown or along the river in the evening to see some of the more than 20,000 lanterns displayed in the city. Many of the lanterns are shaped like animals or figures from Chinese mythology, and the major lantern every year represents the corresponding zodiac animal (e.g., 2008 featured rats, 2007 featured pigs, etc.)
 * O-Kunchi, the city's biggest and one of Japan's more popular festivals, takes place October 7-9th annually. This festival, based around the descent of the city's patron kami (神) from their home high up in the Suwa Shrine, features choreographed routines with giant, cumbersome floats, sake, and a general feeling of celebration. Finding food will not be a problem during O-Kunchi, as the streets are lined with thousands of vendors hawking takoyaki, yakitori, and grilled corn on the cob.
 * Although all of Japan celebrates O-Bon in August, Nagasaki puts a unique and deafening spin on the day of ancestor worship. Head down to the harbor for the main festivities, which involve far more alcohol and fireworks than is generally considered safe.
 * A quick boat ride to Iojima is the easiest way to get to a beach. From Nagasaki harbor to Iojima is about ¥1500 and about 10-15 minute another ¥500 gets you in. The boat ticket allows a visit to the hot springs in the hotel on Iojima so that visitors can wash up.
 * A quick jaunt into Shianbashi, or Shianbash for short, is a must when you visit Nagasaki. This area of Nagasaki exudes debauchery, full of numerous Snacks (not to be confused with a snack bar) and drinking establishments.
 * A quick jaunt into Shianbashi, or Shianbash for short, is a must when you visit Nagasaki. This area of Nagasaki exudes debauchery, full of numerous Snacks (not to be confused with a snack bar) and drinking establishments.

Eat
Nagasaki's most famous dish is champon (ちゃんぽん), which is a hearty dish of noodles in a pork-based broth, filled with vegetables, bacon, shrimp, squid, and scallops.

Saraudon (皿うどん) is another popular dish that combines the meat, seafood, vegetables, and sauce of champon, but serves it on a plate, or 'sara', over crispy dry fried noodles.

For Nagasaki's most well-known champon and saraudon restaurants, it is best to head into Chinatown (blue streetcar to the Tsuki-machi stop). While you're there, try out some of the fantastic street food, such as kakuni-manju (marinated braised pork cutlet served in a steamed bun), ebichiriman (shrimp fried in chili sauce, again served in a steamed bun), and marakao (steamed pound cake, usually available in chocolate and chestnut flavors).

Castella (カステラ) is a sponge cake that was originally brought by the Portuguese; it has assumed a distinctly light Japanese flavor and texture over the centuries, and now one can find it in flavors such as honey, chestnut, and green tea. Head to the (オランダ坂) on any day of the week to sample castella for free from one of the many vendors.

Chawan mushi, a steamed egg custard, savory instead of sweet and filled with meat, fish, and mushrooms, is also famous.

Another Nagasaki dish is Turkish Rice (トルコライス toruko raisu), named after the country. It consists of a pork cutlet, dry curry mixed into rice, and a small serving of spaghetti, all on the same plate. (ツル茶ん), Aburayamachi 2-47, tel. +81 95-824-2679. Established in 1925, this is the original and perhaps still the best Turkish Rice joint (¥850 a serve) and one of Japan's first cafes. Open 09:00 to 22:00 every day.

Another of Nagasaki's claim to fame is as the city of origin of tempura (天ぷら), as this cooking method was introduced to Japan by Portuguese traders in Nagasaki in the 16th century.

Drink
The worthwhile trip to the top of Glover Garden also yields another point of interest: the oldest Western-style restaurant in Japan, the. The stop in is worth it to see their impressive Dutch coffee-making equipment, when combined with the historicity could be why they charge about ¥550 for a cup.

Budget
Nagasaki has many youth hostels:

Mid-range
The typical array of business hotels can be found situated a short walk south of Nagasaki train station, along the main road between the station and the ferry terminal. The Toyoko Inn Nagasaki does not offer the usual post-midnight check-in discount.

Splurge
The luxury rooms of Victoria Inn, above, would be suitable for special occasions.

Go next

 * Saikai Nagasaki Bio Park: Just north of the city, but it is definitely worth an afternoon.  This is perhaps the world's largest and best petting zoo, where one can feed and pet animals like capybara, flamingos, mara, and wallabies.  From Nagasaki Station (長崎駅), hop on the Ogushi (大串) bus line, and ride north until you reach Kamedake (亀岳).  Follow the signs with the cute animals, and Biopark will be on the right approximately 500 meters down the road.  To return, look for the Nagasaki Terminal (長崎ターミナル) buses, which usually run hourly until 21:00.
 * Togitsu
 * Nagayo
 * Isahaya
 * Omura
 * Sasebo - Huis Ten Bosch: This is a Dutch-themed park in nearby Sasebo, which one can access with the Kamome train line. For those who have already toured the Netherlands, there is probably not much of a draw, but if you are interested in the uncanny Japanese ability to faithfully reproduce the works of other countries (they even imported the bricks from the Netherlands), it is worth a visit. There is a free shuttle service available from Huis Ten Bosch to Nagasaki Bio Park.
 * Tara
 * Unzen
 * Shimabara
 * Ikeshima — near-abandoned coal mining island, similar to but far well less known than Gunkanjima

title: Nagasaki


text:
Nagasaki (prefecture)

Nagasaki Prefecture (長崎県 Nagasaki-ken) is on the island of Kyushu, Japan.

Tourist information site
Discover Nagasaki is the prefecture's official multilingual guide site.

Cities

 * - an international port city of rich history and brief tragedy.
 * Ikeshima - coal mine ruins island.
 * is the second largest city in Nagasaki. Sasebo has American culture because there is an American military base in Sasebo.

Other destinations

 * is a famous island between the Japanese island of Kyushu and the Korean Peninsula.
 * is another island between Tsushima and the Nagasaki prefecture.
 * Goto Islands
 * Fukue Island
 * Goto Islands
 * Fukue Island
 * Goto Islands
 * Fukue Island
 * Fukue Island
 * Fukue Island

Get in
China Eastern Airlines and Korean Air are operating from Shanghai and Seoul, but these flights are not served daily. You should check the flight schedule beforehand if you are to use these international flights.

On the other hand, there are many domestic flighets to Nagasaki every day. You can fly directly from Tokyo Haneda Airport (by JAL, ANA and SNA), Osaka Itami Airport (by JAL and ANA), Nagoya Centrair Airport (by ANA), Nagoya Komaki Airport (by JAL) and Okinawa Naha Airport (by ANA). Oriental Air Bridge, a local airline of Nagasaki, is operating the flight from Miyazaki, Kagoshima and neighboring islands (Tsushima, Gotou and Iki) with prop jet.

JR railway company provides express service from adjacent prefectures. From Hakata Station in Fukuoka or Tosu Station in Saga, you can use the Limited Express "KAMOME"(to Nagasaki), "MIDORI"(to Sasebo) or "Huis Ten Bosch"(to Huistenbosch Resort in Sasebo).

See

 * Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region — a World Heritage Site composed of 12 individual sites in the Gotō Islands and along the coast near Sasebo.
 * Koshibyo, the only Confucian Temple to be built by Chinese outside of China (Nagasaki)
 * Explore Shimabara Castle and its nearby samurai district (Shimabara)

Go next

 * Saga Prefecture
 * Fukuoka Prefecture
 * Kumamoto Prefecture

title: Nagasaki (prefecture)


text:
Nagaur

Nagaur is a city of 111,000 people (2012) in Rajasthan, India. It is the capital of Nagaur District. Another name for it is the village "Khatwan". Nagaur is famous for spices and sweets (mithai). Nagaur has a temple of Maheshwari community Kuldevi in the name of Deresiya Mata Mandir.

Climate
Nagaur has a dry climate with a hot summer. Sand storms are common in summer. The district's climate is marked by extreme dryness, large variations of temperature & highly irregular rainfall patterns. The winter season extends from mid-November until the beginning of March. The rainy season is relatively short, extending from July through mid-September.

Get in
Nagaur lies approximately midway between Jodhpur and Bikaner.

title: Nagaur


text:
Nagercoil

Nagercoil (நாகர்கோவில் Nākarkōvil) is a city in Tamil Nadu, India. It's the southernmost city on the Indian mainland.

Understand
Historically, Nagercoil was part of the Travancore state and the second most prominent city in that state, after Trivandrum (later Thiruvananthapuram). Until 10 years after Indian independence, Nagercoil remained part of the Travancore state until it was merged into Tamil Nadu in 1956.

Get in
Buses are available from Thiruvananthapuram and Madurai.

Get around
Autorickshaws, taxis and local buses are easily available.

See

 * Krishnancoil is 1,5 km away from Nagercoil, on the road to Thiruvananthapuram.
 * The Nagaraja Temple (from which Nagercoil derives its name) has Nagaraja as its principal deity. The devout traditionally offer milk to this "King of Snakes".
 *  Suchindrum and the Thanumalayan Temple are located about 6 km from the city centre. Pilgrims from far beyond the region borders come here for its Hindu shrines. Quite uniquely, this Hindu temple combines the worship of the Trinity of Hinduism (Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma) in Thanumalayan, the presiding deity. Indra, the King of the Devas, traditionally worships at this temple each night.

Go next

 * Kanyakumari
 * Thiruvananthapuram

title: Nagercoil


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Nago-Torbole

Nago-Torbole is a municipality in the province of Trentino in Northeast Italy, at the northern shore of Lake Garda by the towns Riva del Garda and Arco.

Understand
Nago and Torbole are really two villages. Torbole is at the northern shore of Lake Garda. Nago lies two kilometers north, and uphill, with a great view over Lake Garda.

Torbole is popular with families, windsurfers and cyclists. It is popular with windsurfers due to high-wind conditions at the northern end of the lake. There is a wide choice of hotels and camping sites. Sports on the lake are very popular with windsurfing being the most popular. The town itself has many attractive buildings in the traditional Italian style and beautiful floral displays. The culture is relaxed and friendly and the resort seems most popular with German and Austrian tourists due to its closeness to the Austrian border. The choice of restaurants and cafes is very good and most are very family friendly. There are many ice cream shops selling high quality Italian ice-cream, as in most of Italy. The local milkshakes are excellent along with the great variety of ice-cream flavours. The shops are mixed with high price sportswear shops and cheaper giftware shops. The town also has basic supermarkets and pharmacies.

Get in
You can enter Nago-Torbole by car, but also by bus from Verona pdf, or by ferry from one of the other towns on the lake.

Get around
You don't need your own car. Local buses will take you to other destinations in the area. Taxi is not to expensive, as the distances are short.

Do

 * Wind surfing
 * Mountain biking
 * Canyoning: There are a few companies offering half-day and day trips with various difficulty. and . Great fun, and you don't have to be particularly fit or strong to do it! Obs: You need shoes which you can remove the inner sole from (for your foot to fit with a wetsuit-sock on).
 * Day trip to Lake Tenno

title: Nago-Torbole


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Nagoya

 * For the city in Batam, Indonesia, see Nagoya (Indonesia).

Nagoya (名古屋) is the capital and largest city of Aichi prefecture, in the Chubu region of Honshu. It's not one of Japan's top tourist draws as most tourists just zip through on the bullet train on their way between Tokyo and Kyoto. But if you do decide to stick around, there are plenty of car-related attractions, a restored castle, an ancient shrine, and a surprisingly happening nightlife.

Understand
The hub of the Aichi region, Nagoya is Japan's fourth-largest city after Tokyo, Yokohama, and Osaka and one of the nation's major economic centers. In terms of manufacturing, as home to auto-making giants Toyota, Honda, and Mitsubishi Motors, Nagoya is to Japan what Detroit is to the United States — and it was completely flattened during World War II.

History
Now a modern metropolis, Nagoya gets its name from an old manor called Nagono which was built in the area in the 12th century. The manor prospered for two hundred years, and people began to refer to the area by the manor's name. Over time, the pronunciation of the Chinese characters in the name "Nagono" shifted to "Nagoya", by which the city is now known.

Three famous local figures later helped to put Nagoya firmly on the map of Japan. Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu all hailed from around Nagoya, and all shared the ambitious goal of unifying Japan under one government. Tokugawa finally succeeded in 1603 after winning in the Battle of Sekigahara, and established the Tokugawa Shogunate, which would rule Japan for the next 250 years.

Soon after uniting the country, Tokugawa Ieyasu ordered the construction of Nagoya Castle for his son. He then ordered the people of nearby Kiyosu (on the outskirts of Nagoya) to move to the area around the castle, and a town soon came into being. Cotton, ceramics and lumber were the main industries sustaining the town as it grew into a small city.

Following Japan's opening to the world during the Meiji era, Nagoya rapidly industrialized and established transportation links with the rest of Japan that would allow it to easily export its goods. During World War I, Nagoya became known for its foundries as well as its machinery and heavy industry exports, which would continue to grow throughout the 1930s.

The 1920s marked the beginnings of the automotive industry in Nagoya, which continues in importance to the current day. At the heart of the industry is the Toyota Motor Corporation. Starting from humble beginnings as a loom-making company, Toyota entered into the automobile business in the 1930s. It now stands as the world's largest automaker, and continues to dominate the local economy along with the car-making giants Honda and Mitsubishi.

During World War II, much of Nagoya's manufacturing infrastructure turned to the production of military goods, making it a prime target for bombing raids. Almost 25% of the city was destroyed during the war, with almost half the population fleeing to the countryside to avoid the attacks.

The end of the war marked a new start for Nagoya. Car-friendly wide streets and boulevards were bulldozed through the rubble of war, making for the city of today.

Nagoya now ranks as one of the nation's economic powerhouses, and is home to the head offices of Toyota Motor Corporation, Brother Industries, Daido Steel, Makita, Denso Corporation, INAX, Noritake, NGK Insulators and many others. Unlike other parts of Japan, which borrowed heavily for elaborate and expensive public works projects in the bubble years of the 1980s, kechi ("miserly") Nagoya held to a pay-as-you-go philosophy, and has not been as adversely affected by the post-bubble recession as other major centers.

The booming economy has also brought many foreigners to the area, and the region now hosts a thriving community of Japanese-descent Brazilian immigrants, who help to keep the wheels of the local economy spinning. With its strong economy and growing population, Nagoya is a city to watch in the coming years.

Climate
Nagoya's climate varies greatly throughout the year, with average temperatures ranging from a low of 4 °C (39.2 °F) in January to a high of 27 °C (80.6 °F) in August. The city is known for its incredibly hot and humid summers like many cities in Japan, with high temperatures routinely surpassing 30 °C (86 °F) in August, so those with an aversion to heat would be better off visiting in the milder temperatures of the spring or autumn.

Orientation
While divided into 16 wards or ku (区), the focal points of this sprawling agglomeration are Nagoya Station (名古屋駅) to the north, Sakae (栄) to the east and Kanayama (金山) to the south.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a multilingual guide site.

By plane

The best way of connecting between Centrair Airport and central Nagoya is the Meitetsu Airport Line. The fastest trains are the all-reserved "μSKY" trains, which depart for Nagoya every 30 minutes. The journey takes 28 minutes at a cost of ¥1230. Slower Limited Express trains offer first class (reserved) and ordinary class (non-reserved) seating and take 37 minutes for the run to Nagoya - the standard fare is ¥870. Japan Rail Passes are not valid for the Meitetsu, though you can exchange your rail pass voucher at either the airport or at Nagoya station.

Buses run hourly from Centrair Airport to the Meitetsu Bus Terminal, taking about 1 hr 20 min at a cost of ¥1200. The bus also stops at a few major hotels, including the Nagoya Tokyu, Nagoya Kanko and Hilton Nagoya.

For large groups, Tsubame Airport Limousine offers private van service between Nagoya and Centrair Airport. Vans seat between six and nine passengers, and the cost for the service depends on the destination. As an example, trips to Nakamura-ku, where Nagoya Station is located, cost ¥12000.

Slightly more expensive than the van is a taxi. A trip to Nagoya station will run ¥15000-16000.

Shinkansen
Nagoya is along the Tokaido Shinkansen route between Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. To the west are Gifu and Kyoto, and to the east are Hamamatsu and Shizuoka.

The fastest service on the Tokaido Shinkansen is the Nozomi. With the Nozomi you can travel from Tokyo in 1 hr 40 min (¥11090), Kyoto in 35 min (¥5800) and Shin-Osaka in 50 min (¥6560).

Users of the Japan Rail Pass cannot use the Nozomi, but can use the slightly slower Hikari services that run through Nagoya twice every hour. The all-stations Kodama services operate to/from Tokyo twice per hour.

Thru Nozomi trains from western Japan reach Nagoya from Okayama (1 hr 40 min, ¥11290), Hiroshima (2 hr 20 min, ¥14230) and Hakata station in Fukuoka (3 hr 20 min, ¥18540). If using the slower Hikari or Sakura you will need to change trains at least once, either at Okayama, Shin-Kobe, or Shin-Osaka. Note that while there are three direct Hikari trains that leave Nagoya in the morning towards Hiroshima and Fukuoka, there are no such direct Hikari trips from these cities to Nagoya.

If you wish to sacrifice travel speed for savings, you can take advantage of the Puratto (Platt) Kodama Ticket, which offers a discount for Kodama services if you purchase at least one day in advance. You get a reserved seat and a coupon for a free drink (including beer) which can be redeemed at a "Kiosk" convenience counter inside the station. With this ticket a trip to Nagoya costs ¥8300 from Tokyo (3 hr; 2 trains per hour), ¥4300 from Kyoto (1 hr; 1 train per hour) and ¥4400 from Shin-Osaka (1 hr 15 min; 1 train per hour). A few early-morning Kodama trains cannot be used with this ticket.

Discounted tickets can also be purchased in advance through Japan Railways' official SmartEX App, available in English and other languages - look for Hayatoku fares.

Limited Express Services
Nagoya serves as the terminal point for the hourly Wide View Shinano, a JR Chuo Line limited express train to the mountain resort town of Nagano (3 hr) via Matsumoto (2 hr). The Wide View Hida JR Takayama Line limited express connects Nagoya with Takayama (2 hr 30 min), with some runs continuing to Toyama (4 hr).

Local trains (which can be used with the Seishun 18 Ticket) take about 6 hours from Tokyo (¥6260), 2 hr 15 min from Kyoto (¥2590) and 2 hr 45 min from Osaka (¥3350). Multiple train transfers are required (three at minimum when traveling from Tokyo, at Numazu, Hamamatsu, and Toyohashi, and one in Maibara at minimum when coming from Kyoto or Osaka, although more are often required if travel is not optimally timed), and travel times do not include rest stops.

Nagoya is also served by the Meitetsu (名鉄) and Kintetsu (近鉄) private railways. If coming to Nagoya from Osaka, a travel option that comes cheaper than the Shinkansen is a Kintetsu limited express service called the Urban Liner (アーバンライナー), which runs from Osaka-Namba station. The Urban Liner departs at 0 and 30 minutes past the hour, covering the journey in about 2 hr 15 min at a cost of ¥4260. (The shinkansen, by comparison, makes the run from Shin-Osaka to Nagoya in under an hour for ¥6560.) Japan Rail Passes are not valid for the Urban Liner.

By bus
Many day and overnight buses run to Nagoya from other locations throughout Japan. They can be cheaper than the shinkansen or local trains. Some of the main bus operators include Nagoya-based Meitetsu Bus and JR Tokai Bus, along with Willer Express. In addition to major cities such as Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe, highway buses run from places including Sendai, Fukushima, Koriyama, Utsunomiya, Tokyo Disneyland, Takasaki, Maebashi, Kofu, Fujiyoshida, Niigata, Toyama, Takaoka, Kanazawa, Fukui, Nagano, Matsumoto, Iida, Ina, Shirakawa-go, Takayama, Shingu, Okayama, Kurashiki, Yonago, Matsue, Izumo, Hiroshima, Miyoshi, Takamatsu, Tokushima, Matsuyama, and Fukuoka.

Most buses will pick up and discharge passengers around Nagoya station, either near the station's shinkansen exit or at the nearby Meitetsu Bus Center. An exception is Willer Express, which will use either Sasashima Live south of Nagoya station or Noritake 1-chome west of Nagoya station.

Buses between Tokyo and Nagoya are very frequent. Direct trips take 5–6 hours, but some trips could take up to nine hours depending on the route and stops. Buses charge in the range of ¥3500-5000 for daytime trips and ¥4000-6500 for overnight trips. Discounted fares are sometimes available based on the date of purchase.

Many buses also operate from the Kansai region: Meishin Expressway buses leave several times per hour, operating from Kyoto (2 hr 30 min, ¥2550), Osaka (3 hr, ¥3000) and Kobe (4 hr 15 min, ¥3400). A few buses also travel from Nara (2 hr 30 min, ¥2550). Discounts are given on round-trip purchases.

Willer Express bus journeys can be booked online in English, and Willer's Japan Bus Pass is valid on all of their routes with some exceptions. Willer also sells tickets for Meitetsu Bus and other bus operators on their website, but these trips are not valid with Willer's Japan Bus Pass. Both the Willer and Meitetsu buses leave from the Shinjuku Highway Bus Terminal (Busta Shinjuku), above the JR tracks at Shinjuku Station, which is served by many of Japan's highway bus operators.

JR Bus reservations can be made in English through their Kousoku Bus Net web site. You can also make reservations in train stations at the same "Midori-no-Madoguchi" ticket windows used to reserve seats on trains. Buses depart from Tokyo Station - Yaesu Exit (八重洲口) and from Busta Shinjuku.

Ferry Port Access
A Meitetsu shuttle bus to the ferry is available from the downtown Meitetsu Bus Center (名鉄バスセンター) next to Nagoya Station. The bus departs from platform 22 on the 4th floor at 17:20 and arrives at the ferry terminal at around 17:55 (Adults: ¥550 Children: ¥280).

The ferry terminal is also accessible by train and city bus. Take the Aonami line (あおなみ線 Aonami-sen) south to Noseki stn (野跡駅). From there, you can board a city bus bound for the Feri futo (フェリーふ頭) bus stop (takes 7 to 10 min).

More details are available on the Taiheiyo Ferry access page.

Get around
Nagoya is a big automotive industry center, and it shows. The street network is extensive and even downtown locations can be easily reached by car. On the downside, trains and subways are less convenient than in Tokyo or Kansai, and more expensive. If you're travelling with a JR Rail Pass, the train network doesn't have many stations in the city and you'll probably find yourself using the bus or subway a lot, something your pass won't cover.

By subway
There are 5 main subway lines:
 * The red Sakuradōri Line (桜通線, S) curves southwest from Nagoya Station.
 * The purple Meijō Line (名城線, M) runs in a loop around the eastern side of the city, connecting Sakae and Kanayama.
 * The Meikō Line (名港線, E) spur branches from Kanayama to Nagoya Port.
 * The yellow Higashiyama Line (東山線, H) connects Nagoya, Fushimi, Sakae, and Fujigaoka.
 * The blue Tsurumai Line (鶴舞線, T) connects Fushimi and Osu Kannon, then goes south.

Subways run every several minutes between about 05:30 until about 00:30. Fares range from ¥200 to ¥320. One day passes can be bought for ¥620 (bus), ¥760 (subway), and ¥870 (bus & subway).

On Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays you can also take advantage of the cheaper Donichi-Eco-Kippu (ドニチエコきっぷ) one-day subway ticket which offers unlimited subway travel for ¥620. This pass is available from ticket machines, or can be purchased in person from a station employee at the ticket gate.

City transportation one day passes also offer discounted entry at various attractions in Nagoya, including Nagoya Castle and the Toyota Museum.

More information about public transportation in Nagoya can be found on the official website of the Nagoya Transportation Bureau.

By taxi
Taxis are a viable option in this car city, especially as the basic fee is only ¥500. The catch is that the basic fee only takes you 1.01 km compared to 2 km in most other parts of Japan. But for shorter distances within the city, a taxi is not only much more convenient than descending to those dark, unappealing subway stations, but also as cheap as the subway if there are at least two of you.

By bicycle
Most parts of central Nagoya were built on landfill just above sea level, making it a relatively flat city and seemingly easy to traverse by bicycle. However, downtown Nagoya is also known throughout Japan for its wide streets, fast moving traffic and crazy drivers. So it's no surprise that you will find most of the city's cyclists (especially mothers riding with young children and the elderly) riding on the sidewalk. Riding on the sidewalk is legal on most city streets in Japan (unless marked). However, the sidewalks can be bumpy, crowded and far from ideal for two-wheeled transport - leading an increasing number of riders to brave the city's roads.

Secondary roads can be more enjoyable to ride and there are some major roads with protected cycling lanes - although these are rare and sometimes seem to have been designed without rhyme or reason. Cyclists have also been known to park their bicycles on some of the lesser sidewalk-adjacent "paths" downtown, making them largely impassible.

Parking
Bicycle parking near train and subway stations is strictly limited to designated and (usually paid) areas. Paid locking bike racks with fare collection machines are common and most charge around ¥100 for a day's worth of parking. There is also usually a window of free parking time (15–30 minutes) for cyclists making brief stops. Near the main train stations there are also attended and unattended indoor areas to park with short term and long term facilities. Be sure not to park in one of the long term facilities by mistake, as you will probably be fined more than it costs to park in a short-term area.

Cycle sharing
Nagoya has a cycle sharing serivice called Cariteco Bike (run by the Meitetsu train company). It requires returning bicycles to the nearest docking station. As of May 2024, there are 410 docking stations around the city. The service offers registration and information only in Japanese, so they are probably not a practical option for most visitors with limited Japanese ability.

Do

 * Ride the gold and white Nagoya Sightseeing Bus Me-Guru (メーグル) past many of the city's main attractions. Operates T-Su. Offers hop-on-hop-off hourly service Tu-F from 09:30-17:30, and Sa Su every half hour. Closed M, year-end holidays. Daypass: adults ¥500, children ¥250. (includes discount on featured attractions). Single ride: adults ¥200, children ¥100. Daypasses may be purchased getting on the bus. 1-day transport passes also accepted.
 * Catch a traditional Japanese Noh play at the Nagoya Noh Theatre. (Subway: Shiyakusho stn.)
 * Go for a jog (or a walk) around beautiful Meijo Park (名城公園 Meijo Koen), one of Nagoya's largest green spaces, and take in the great view of Nagoya Castle (Subway: Meijo-Koen station, Meijo line). Showers and lockers available.
 * Higashiyama Park (東山公園 Higashiyama-koen). (Higashiyama-koen station). Features a zoo, conservatory, monorail, roller coasters, "sky tower" and a great deal of open space.

Sports
The Chūnichi Dragons (中日ドラゴンズ　Chūnichi-doragonzu), winners of the 2007 Japan Series, play in the Central League of Japanese Professional Baseball. Check out one of their games at the Nagoya Dome (Japanese) in Ōzone, northeast of downtown. (15 min walk E of JR Ōzone stn. (Chūō line) via S exit, Subway: Nagoya-dome-mae-yada (Meijō line))

Shopping areas

 * Akamon-dōri (赤門通り) is known for the bright red banners hung along the street, and hosts a variety of stereo and electronics stores as well as used record shops. On the 28th of every month, Daikō-in temple (大光院) hosts a small temple festival (縁日 ennichi) on Akamon-dori with traditional street food stalls and lots of burning incense.
 * Ōtsu-dōri (大津通り) 　marks the eastern boundary of the Ōsu shopping area. On the lively stretch of Otsu-dori north of Kamimaezu subway station you will find the Ōsu 301 Building (大須301). The building is known for its small dragon sculpture and Chinese theme, and contains a number of small shops. Continuing north on Ōtsu-dōri, you will also find the small but funky Gatten-shōchi (合点承知)  building, a mini-mall featuring fashion accessories, food stands, and various fortune tellers.
 * Ōtsu-dōri (大津通り) 　marks the eastern boundary of the Ōsu shopping area. On the lively stretch of Otsu-dori north of Kamimaezu subway station you will find the Ōsu 301 Building (大須301). The building is known for its small dragon sculpture and Chinese theme, and contains a number of small shops. Continuing north on Ōtsu-dōri, you will also find the small but funky Gatten-shōchi (合点承知)  building, a mini-mall featuring fashion accessories, food stands, and various fortune tellers.
 * Sakae offers good department store shopping, restaurants and night-life. Take a walk atop the rooftop promenade of the Oasis 21 shopping arcade and get a nice view of the TV Tower.

Electronics
Best bets for cameras and electronics include Bic Camera, a massive 5 story camera and electronics megastore across the street from Nagoya station (on the Taikō-dōri side). Ōsu Market also has a number of large and small electronics shops, including Goodwill (computers and peripherals - otaku culture fans will also want to check out the maid cafe in the basement), DOS Para and others. Unfortunately, some of the electronics shops in Osu (such as Goodwill) are not located on the main shopping streets, and you may have to ask around to find them. There are also two Eiden electronics superstores located in Fushimi and near JR Ōzone stn on the JR Chūō Line.

Eat
Nagoya is big on miso, a sauce made from fermented soybeans and grain. The preferred style is red miso (赤味噌 akamiso), fermented up to two years for a stronger taste than the usual "white" miso, with Hatchō miso (八丁味噌) particularly famous.

Classic Nagoya dishes include:
 * misokatsu (味噌カツ), fried pork cutlet with a rich miso sauce
 * miso nikomi udon (味噌煮込みうどん), a thick miso and chicken stew perfect for winter
 * tenmusu (天むす), shrimp tempura wrapped up in rice and dried seaweed and turned into a handy portable package
 * tebasaki (手羽先), fried chicken wings marinated in a sweet sauce
 * kishimen (きしめん), a flat, broad type of udon wheat noodle often served in a miso or soy sauce broth. Available in most restaurant-gai in shopping centres or close to major railway stations.
 * ankake supa(=spaghetti) (あんかけスパ), spaghetti with a starchy gravy-like tomato-based sauce with a kick of black pepper. Often with onions, green peppers, and ham, bacon, or sausage.
 * hitsumabushi (ひつまぶし), an eel dish served with rice in a small box. It can be eaten three ways: first, just the eel and rice; second, with green onions and nori, and third, with tea or soup stock poured over it.
 * uirō (外郎), a confectionery made out of rice flour and sugar; a little firmer than gelatin but not as sticky as mochi. Many different flavors are available, including red bean (小豆 azuki)  and green tea (抹茶 matcha).
 * doteni (どて煮), Beef tendons and pork intestine are simmered for a long time in soybean miso such as Haccho miso and mirin.

Splurge
Nagoya's nouveaux riche are catered for by several luxury department stores and many first-class restaurants, which are sometimes difficult find for auto-less tourists.

Drink
Around Nagoya station, there are a lot of places for cheap drinking. Sakae is the big nightlife district, in a loose triangle formed by the Sakae, Yaba-cho and Osu Kannon stations. Sakae has a large red light district as well, but as with most of Japan, there's no sense of danger so don't worry about drifting around. There are countless izakayas around Kanayama station, both cheap chains and more upscale places.

If the bar and club scene is not for you, try Nagoya Friends and their bimonthly international parties. Always a dynamic mix of foreigners and Japanese. At the party it's all you can drink and eat (~¥3000).

Nightclubs
Nagoya has some good clubs. A lot of the DJs who play Tokyo also pass through Nagoya. Many of the most popular clubs are located in Sakae and Shin-sakae-machi (just east of Sakae and south of the Naka ward office).

Even on week-ends, on less popular nights, clubs empty or even close early (02:00-03:00) in Nagoya. This is a sharp contrast to Tokyo, where most people come by train and have to stick around for good or for bad until the first train in the morning. In auto-city Toyota, however, many people come by car; they can and will go home early if they are bored.

Gay and lesbian dance events are held monthly by the at LOVER: z across from the CBC-TV building in Shinsakae-machi.

Banking
As elsewhere in Japan, ATM machines at post offices and 7-Elevens allow international cash withdrawals.

Consulates

 * 🇧🇷 Brazil
 * 🇨🇦 Canada
 * 🇺🇸 United States

Publications
Like other major cities in Japan, you can also pick up the (Tokyo-centric) English dailies The Japan Times and Japan News (by the Yomiuri Shimbun) at selected bookstores and convenience stores around the city (or read them for free at the International Center library).
 * Japanzine Monthly tabloid-style magazine published in Nagoya featuring a section on local events, concerts, job listings, and a restaurant/bar map and guide. Available free at numerous businesses catering to foreign residents, and at Maruzen bookstore in Sakae.
 * RAN Magazine A magazine focused on life in Nagoya and the city's culture and arts scene. Features articles on a wide array of topics. Available online and for free at businesses catering to foreigners around the Nagoya area.
 * Nagoya Calendar Monthly magazine featuring event information, daily-living advice, movie & TV listings, and a community bulletin board. Available free at International Center, the Maruzen Bookstore in Sakae, and several subway stations.
 * ET People Small monthly magazine aimed at English learners. Offers restaurant/bar map and listings in English. Available free at numerous bars and restaurants around the city.

Go next

 * Inuyama, with its picturesque castle, kinky fertility shrines, and nearby Meiji Village, is a short day trip from the city. From Meitetsu Nagoya station next to Nagoya station, there are express trains (around a 30-minute ride) to Inuyama station or Inuyamayuen station. From either station, Inuyama castle is about a 20-minute walk to the west and is on the south side of the river. The entrance is on the south side of the castle grounds.
 * Gifu - Visit Gifu castle (take a bus from the train station). Ride the cable car up the mountain (or hike), feed the squirrels (they jump on your arm and eat from your hand), visit the museum, enjoy the amazing view from the top of the castle.  See the Nagaragawa fireworks display during the summer festival.
 * Nagakute, former home of Expo 2005, now hosting the whimsical Ghibli Park and the Toyota Museum
 * Tokoname, on the first express train stop from Nagoya airport, is a ceramic centre dating back from the 9th-century Heian period. The old town by the hill next to the train station features streets decorated with industrial ceramic pieces and pottery shops with pottery displays inside old brick furnaces.
 * Okazaki - Take in the castle, tour the miso factory and enjoy the fresh suburban air.
 * Ise, home to Japan's holiest shrine, is within striking distance.
 * Tsushima - Visit Tenno River park in the spring to see amazing cherry blossoms and wisteria.
 * Tajimi - Visit Eihoji Zen Temple. A beautiful walk down to the river.  Be sure to see the bamboo grove (takebayashi).
 * Hida-Takayama - Check out the Edo-era atmosphere of this famous historic town.
 * Kiso Valley - Walk the historic Nakasendo highway, an old post road running through the valley's beautiful green hills and well-preserved towns.

Hiking

 * Asuke, where you can visit the Korankei Gorge and enjoy the changing of leaves in autumn and blossoms in spring.
 * Gujo Hachiman, an idyllic town where 80% of Japan's plastic food replicas are created.
 * Magome to Tsumago, a nice hike between the two historic villages in the Nagiso/Nakatsugawa area.
 * Tadachi, a nice hike along many waterfalls.
 * Yoro - Waterfalls, fancy onsen and Japan's most bizarre park.

title: Nagoya


text:
Nagoya (Indonesia)

Nagoya, also known as Lubuk Baja, is the main town of the island of Batam in the Riau Islands of Indonesia.

Understand
Nagoya is located on Batam Island's northern peninsula. The local government would like Batam Centre to become the center to governmental offices, business and commerce. However, private enterprise has voted for Nagoya. Nagoya is the city center where you can find most hotels, food or entertainment.

The name comes from Japanese engineers who arrived on the island in the 1970s to work on early infrastructure projects. Lubuk Baja was where they came to drink and eat, so they dubbed it after the city of Nagoya in Japan, and the name has stuck — although the name remains informal, and in all official contexts it's Lubuk Baja.

By boat
The closest ferry terminal is at (Jodoh), a short drive from central Nagoya, with frequent services on Horizon Fast Ferry from Singapore's HarbourFront terminal. Visa on arrival is available. The old ferry terminal at Batu Ampar is now closed.

By car
Nagoya is well linked by road. During peak traffic periods, it takes about an hour to drive from Nagoya to Batam's furthest places, such as Tanjung Uncang or Nongsapura.

Get around
Taxi to Sekupang costs Rp 12.000 per person if you are sharing, Rp 40.000 if chartered. Going to Harbour Bay ferry terminal is about Rp 15.000.

Do
Do what all seem to do: hang out at Nagoya Hill Shopping Mall.

Buy
For clothing check out Batam City Square / Nagoya Hill Mall. Sporting equipment is dominated by golf equipment, which can be found in a large sporting store in Nagoya. Tourist from Singapore love to shop for local products from Hypermart in Nagoya Hill Mall and Mega Mall. Some favorite grabs includes LAYERS /LAMOIST BATAM Style kue lapis, keropok gonggong (crackers), Indomie (local instant noodles), and cheap tidbits. Some local shops usually accept Singapore Dollars, because of Batam being very close to Singapore geographically. In any case you need extra cash to shop, you can still exchange your currency at the local money changers which offer competitive rates, or you may use a credit card.

Budget
Nagoya has many outdoor food courts called pujasera, akin to Singapore's hawker centres.

There's a variety of local food stalls located on the left side of Nagoya Hill entrance where you can find sate, ayam panggang and ikan bakar.
 * Nagoya Food Court, opposite Hotel Sahid Rashinta. Nagoya's largest with 400 seats.  Try 888 Seafood Tofu Claypot, Pork Knuckle, Tom Yum soup or New Hai San Seafood 新海汕海鲜 (Tel:+62-811-77-9656) steamed orbfish (清蒸白鲳).
 * Pujasera A1, near Lucky Plaza. Has a wide variety of Indonesian and Chinese food, including another branch of New Hai San.
 * Pujasera Sindo Happy, at the intersection of Jalan Iman Bonjol and Jalan Windsor.

Mid-range

If you'd like local food with air-con and perhaps a little more hygiene, head to the food court in any shopping mall. Nagoya Hill's Food Street, in particular, is large, cheap, tasty and always packed.

 * Ayam Penyet Ria, Nagoya Hill and elsewhere. Famous for their ayam penyet "smashed" fried chicken, but also does good gado-gado and other Indonesian favorites.
 * Bakso Lapangan Tembak Senayan, in BCS Mall, Nagoya Hill and Mega Mall.

Splurge
You can find excellent Western food in downtown Nagoya Entertainment District outlets, such as Red Cock, Bistro and Lucy's Oarhouse.

Drink
The Nagoya Entertainment District is Batam's most notorious den of sleazy nightlife.

title: Nagoya (Indonesia)


text:
Nagpur

Nagpur (Marathi: नागपूर Nāgpūr) is a city in the Indian state of Maharashtra famous for its Nagpur oranges. It is also the "second capital" of Maharashtra, which means that some administrative functions are carried out here, and one of three sessions of the Legislative Assembly in a year occur here.

By auto-rickshaw
The best way to get around are the yellow and black 3-wheeled autorickshaws, commonly called autos. Hollering 'auto' at a passing one should be enough to catch the driver's attention. In most cases the drivers would be able to understand Hindi and maybe even a few words of English. They are normally quite helpful but some are known to cheat tourists so bargain hard and it might be a good idea to ask a pedestrian to get an idea about how much it costs normally to reach your destination by auto.

By car
Ride-hailing apps like Ola and Uber can be used to quickly and efficiently travel around the city. These are accessible from and to almost any part of the city. (However, as of February 2018 there was ongoing protest from autorickshaw drivers against these cabs picking people from the Nagpur Railway Station, which they consider blows their earnings. For pickups, the cabs halt some distance away from the station to which one can walk. For drops at the station, there is no such issue.)

Other than these, there are taxis (cabs) available at the Airport and Railway Station. You can also rent a "Qualis" (a slang for a SUV-taxi named after the common Toyota Qualis, which now includes many other brands, such as the Chevy and India's own luxury brand, Mahindra). Normally they are offered with a driver, and they will stay with you all day, week, or even month if you'd like. This chauffeur can normally understand English, and knows the city very well.

By bus
For using the local buses, you will need to know the routes and numbers. You can take help from people standing on bus stops (usually people are helpful and may be able to communicate in English). Besides, buses are the most common transport facility for the common people in the city and hence they are overcrowded at times. Star Bus service operates here also. Bus mainly go to Buldi station from there you can get to other places. Frequency of city buses are quite good enough to reach local destinations and suburbs area.

By metro
The Nagpur Metro is the metro system serving the city and it serves several important destinations. As of June 2023, it has two lines with an interchange at Sitabuldi.
 * Orange Line (Automative Square–Khapri)
 * Aqua Line (Prajapati Nagar–Lokmanya Nagar)

Talk
The local language is Marathi. Like most of Maharashtra, Hindi is understood by almost everyone and English is prevalent to educated people. Nagpur city's literacy rate is quite high by Indian standards, as Nagpur is a major education centre in Central India that attracts students from all over the country. English is at least partially understood by most people in the tourist industry.

Do

 * Cricket:

Buy
During summers don't forget to buy oranges. Nagpur is sometimes called the "Orange City" of India. If you visit during another season, then try orange burfi, a milk-based sweet with orange flavor.

Itwari, Sitabuldi, Sadar and Dharampeth areas are especially known as shopping areas due to the large number of shops and pavement hawkers in these areas. Bargaining is a must. Sunday Foot Path Market is a very good market at Sitabuldi for shopping household things.

Nagpur is also famous for cotton articles. Various handicrafts, most of them cotton-based, can be purchased from Sitabuldi, Itwari.

Eat
Nagpur has a lot of good places to eat.

During summers the best place is Khindsi lake with huts around the lake and serving veg and non veg food.

For Non-Veg, many restaurants in Momin pura (this neighbourhood is a must visit during the month of Ramzan) serve specialities like Biryani and other eats in places like M.L Canteen, Tanveer Hotel, Babbu's Hotel at old VCA Ground Sadar, Hotel Al-Zam-Zam on CA Road, Babbu's Hotel in Dharampeth. Many of these restaurants have branches in other places within Nagpur.

The best continental can be savoured at 10 Downing Street in Ramdas Peth while Fountain Sizzlers & Bistro serves amazing sizzlers.

Mount Road near Sadar is the best hang-out for foodies. Ashoka for continental or Indian, Nanking for Chinese, Barbecue for Punjabi (Indian Tandoori), Veeraswamy's and Kamat for South-Indian Food.

Zinq for Italian food, Masala for Indian, China for Chinese. V5, a group of 5 different restaurants including a bar, a family restaurant and a disco is a neat establishment. Village Tadka on outer ring road serves excellent Saoji cuisine and Saoji Chicken is a must try. And if you like Saoji taste, you can take home Saoji Curry of Actchawa, which can be used in easy one-step preparation of Saoji food. Pintu Saoji near Vidhan bhavan is also good.

Haldiram's is also a good place to eat it also provides packed food for Air/Railway Passengers.

Some of the restaurants of the hotels also offer a great dinner opportunity like Tuli's 'Frontier Post' for Afghani food (peshawari naan and frontier dal recommended) and LB's 'Drums of Heaven'. The Pride Hotel, a favourite amongst air-travelers due to its proximity to the airport, holds numerous food festivals throughout the year for food conneussiers.

For food on the run The Kathi Crossing near VCA Ground, Poonam Chambers Byramji Town, Pratap Nagar and LAD Collge offer amazing rolls which are a meal in themselves.

For street food, roadside carts are lined up with pani puri, Chat, Pav Bhaji and the Indianised version of Chinese noodles and Manchurian at Bajaj Nagar and Yeshwant Stadium.You can also find them near Traffic Park and Futala Lake.

It has one of the biggest Grocery market in Central India near Shaheed Chowk. Shaheed chowk (square) is also very famous in the night for variety of street foods.

There is also a place for people who are on tight on budget namely " Calcutta Rolls " it is located in Sadar and one near Shankar Nagar Square.

Drink
There are numerous places in Nagpur for variety of drinks. Almost, all the hotels in City are fully licensed.

Sleep
Since its a booming economy for Nagpur, many of the good hotels have set up their businesses here. There are many hotels ranging from budget to luxury. MTDC counters at Railway Station And Airport will be able to help you find a good place to sleep. Below are few good hotels where a good bargain can be obtained.

Go next

 * Bandhavgarh National Park — 465 km from Nagpur in Umaria district, M.P., Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve is a tiger reserve which has a population of about 59 tigers. Bandhavgarh is very well connected to Nagpur and Jabalpur.
 * Mansar — 35 km from Nagpur. Has archeological excavations and temples. The best one is Ramdham.
 * Pench Tiger Forest — 90 km from Nagpur. Nearer to Ram mandir Ramtek. Very good forest reserved for tigers.
 * Ramtek —
 * Tadoba — 180 km south of Nagpur in Chandrapur district, Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve is a tiger reserve which has a population of 55-60 tiger and in addition about 25 cubs are spotted in 2009-2010 aged from 4 months to 18 months. Tadoba is very well connected to Nagpur, Chandrapur, Wardha and Ballarshah.
 * Wardha — 70 km south west to Nagpur, this place has great importance in the history of independent India. Mahatma Gandhi's Ashram at Sewagram and Vinoba Bhave's Paramdham Ashram at Pawnar are 6 km and 9 km from Wardha. This place is also famous for its Khadi cloths. Ramtek is about 40 km from Nagpur a Hill where Lord Rama Visited.

title: Nagpur