Top recommended night spots in Nagoya

Visit the towering Midland Square Sky Promenade at night for the best view of Nagoya City in the Tokai area. At 220 meters above the ground, you can feel the breeze and enjoy a 360-degree night view from this Open-Air Observation Platform located on the 44th to 46th floors of the Midland Square office building. A mist is sprayed from time to time during the night, transforming into a variety of colors and producing a magical atmosphere.

The platform has special opening hours on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day for you to watch the first sunrise of the year. Located right in front of JR Nagoya Station in Midland Square, it's ideal for a quick layover before boarding a bullet train or just for an after-dinner stroll.

The Oasis 21 complex consists of "Spaceship-Aqua" on the rooftop, the "Field of Green" area and bus terminal at ground level, and the "Galaxy Platform" and stores on the basement floor. The iconic glass-roofed Spaceship, in particular, is one of Japan's most instantly recognizable photo spots, and it's lit up from season to season to create a fantastic scene at night.

Once you're done taking pictures, how about an after-dinner coffee at one of the cafés in the store area, like Starbucks or Kurashiki Coffee Shop? It's easy to get to Oasis 21, as it's directly connected to Sakae Station on the Higashiyama and Meijo Subway Lines.

Sitting in Nagoya's busiest shopping district, the six-storey Sunshine Sakae fashion building is home to the Sky-Boat Ferris wheel, with its 3rd-floor boarding platform. Rising to a height of 52 meters, higher than the castle tower of Nagoya Castle, the transparent gondolas offer 360-degree views of Sakae at night.

Each gondola seats four people, and the fare is 500 yen. A 500-yen coin replaces the ticket, and if you don't have one, you'll need to exchange it at a money changer. After admiring the night view from the Ferris wheel, you could head on over to the Tully's night café in the same building for some refreshments. The building is directly connected to Exit 8 of Sakae Subway Station.

If you're looking for a more atmospheric night view experience, the Nagoya Port Sea Train Land Ferris wheel is a must. Children love this amusement park during the day, but since admission is free and you only pay for the attractions you use, many people come here just to see the Ferris wheel at night when it's lit up. This is one of the largest Ferris wheels in the Chubu area offers a see-through gondola with transparent walls and floor, so maybe think twice if you suffer from vertigo. But if you can stomach it, the thrill and the night view of the harbor are not to be missed.

If you're on a date and you want to spice things up, you could then head to one of the bars close to the nearby Nagoya Port Station and enjoy a cocktail at Neko to Madogarasu (Cat and Window Glass) or Yozora no Tsuki to Pierce (Moon and Earrings in the Night Sky).

Hoshigaoka was once ranked as the number one place to live in Nagoya City. This is a sophisticated area that features a women's university and the MITSUKOSHI Hoshigaoka department store. Right in the middle of the area is the Hoshigaoka Terrace mall. As well as the boutiques, there are also restaurants, so it's a top spot for shopping and dining.

Alternately, you could stop by to relax at a café at night after taking a walk in the Hoshigaoka area. Aloha Table, Earth Café and Starbucks are all excellent choices. Hoshigaoka Terrace is at its most beautiful in winter, when the whole mall is illuminated. This runs from November to February every year, bringing in crowds of visitors to admire the views at night. Hoshigaoka Terrace is just a 1-minute walk from Hoshigaoka Station on the Higashiyama Subway Line.

Although business hours end earlier in Nagoya than in Tokyo or Osaka, the largest entertainment district in Nagoya, Nishiki 3-chome, remains bright with neon lights until midnight. Locals call this area "Kin-san" and it's typically their first choice for a night out. Clubs, lounges, ryotei (Japanese-style restaurants) and izakaya (Japanese-style pubs) line the streets, but you'll also find large corporations headquartered here, such as Kagome, famous for its ketchup.

And adding to the diversity are the bars and restaurants, such as Yokoi Nishiki Ten with its famous Ankake Spaghetti, or Nagoya Cochin Torishige and its branded chicken. The nearest station is Sakae Station on the Subway Higashiyama and Meijo lines.

The perfect way to cap an evening at Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Garden is with a visit to Higashiyama Sky Tower. Selected as one of the 100 best night views in Japan, it provides stunning night views from 134 meters above ground and 214 meters above sea level.

At Sky Restaurant NAGOYA Higashiyama on the top floor, you can take in the vistas while enjoying some top-notch Italian or French food. To get here, take Exit 6 at Hoshigaoka Station on the Higashiyama Subway Line, turn left (toward Hoshigaoka Terrace) and walk for about 15 minutes. It's also a 15-minute walk from the main entrance of the Zoo and Botanical Garden.

Nagoya is one of Japan's leading trade ports. On the Nagoya Port Night Cruise you can enjoy a night view of Nagoya from the waterside. A 60-minute tour hosted by NOGOYA Cruising will take you to the Meiko Triton (the collective name for the 3 bridges that span the Isewangan Expressway), the Nippon Steel plant, and other impressive urban landscapes that look spectacular at night.

The cruise starts at 6.45 pm and ends at 8 pm. The minimum number of passengers is 8, so it's a good idea to book online or call ahead. If seats are available, it's also possible to board on the day of the tour without booking. The boarding point is Miya no Watashi, which is a 10-minute walk from Denmacho Station on the Meijo Subway Line.

Want to enjoy a drink at a bar nestled in one of the most historic buildings in Nagoya? The café and bar Sozanso in Tokugawaen is a building designated as a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan, and was originally the official guest house for the Pan Pacific Exposition held in 1937. A selection of Japanese wines and whiskey is on offer, providing an exceptional drinking experience under fantastic lighting. The café side of things is based on sodas.

Either way, Sozanso is perfect for a relaxing stop after a stroll along the Bunka-no-michi (Cultural Path). You can take the Me~guru bus to get here, as it's just a few stops away from Tokugawaen.

Nagoya is home to a few of the most historic izakaya (Japanese-style pubs) in Japan. The Daijin Honten is an izakaya with over 100 years of history, a must-try for any fan of the izakaya style. It's located in Hirokoji Fushimi, close to Fushimi Station, which is right next to Nagoya Station and near the downtown area of Sakae.

Nothing beats a glass of Kirin Classic Lager with a side of shelled Shako (Mantis shrimp). The special small dishes on the menu are reasonably priced, too. Whether you settle down for a drink at Daijin Honten, or hit up one of the other izakaya in the area, such as Torimasa for oden or Kimboshi for yakitori, you're guaranteed to have a great night out in Nagoya.