As Japan's fourth-largest city, Nagoya is a key economic hub home to major automotive and transport industries. But beyond its industrial might, Nagoya boasts a rich cultural fabric, drawing from both Japanese heritage and an increasingly diverse international community. 

This cultural blend is perhaps best exemplified in the city's thriving food scene, especially its festivals that bring together tastes from around the globe.

Food is a powerful cultural bridge. It conveys geography, history, tradition, and community values and serves as a gateway into another way of life. In Nagoya, food festivals do more than delight the palate: they connect people from all walks of life, sparking curiosity and connection through shared experiences. 

Embracing both local delicacies and global fare, Nagoya's culinary celebrations are a testament to the city's evolving international spirit.

Blending its own deep appreciation for food with modern, global influences, Japan has embraced culinary festivals with enthusiasm. In Nagoya, this translates into a vibrant calendar of events and a diverse cafe culture. Here, we explore some of the top things to do in Nagoya, from sampling traditional dishes and international cuisine to immersing yourself in coffee culture and enjoying seasonal food festivals.

Coffee culture

Coffee is one of the most popular non-alcoholic beverages in Japan, alongside tea, mineral water, and carbonated drinks. As one of the top coffee-consuming countries globally, Japan has cultivated a rich and dynamic coffee culture that continually evolves with changing brewing styles and consumer tastes.

While coffee first arrived in Japan in the 1700s, it wasn't until the late 1800s that it became embedded in everyday life. Traditional Japanese coffee shops, or kissaten, gained popularity as places to socialise over pour-over or siphon-brewed coffee. 

The latter, a glass device that uses vapour pressure to extract flavour, has been used in Japan for nearly a century, offering a precise brewing method celebrated for both its taste and sensory experience.

In Nagoya, this heritage meets modernity through a diverse coffee scene.

Kurashiki Coffee Shop

Kurashiki is a Japanese kissaten that specialises in siphon-brewed coffee. Patrons can choose from a range of beans sourced from Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia, Papua New Guinea, and other growing regions. 

Here, the highest level of skill is pursued, and with rigorous professional coffee training, baristas are committed to perfecting each extraction and brew for their customers. This kissaten also serves light meals and desserts, and the cosy interior makes it a good location to indulge in the unique ambience of Japanese coffee culture.

• Oasis 21 B1F, 1 Chome-11-1 Higashisakura, Higashi Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 461-0005
• Mon-Sun, 7am-10pm

Trunk Coffee

With three outlets across central Nagoya, Trunk Coffee is a go-to spot for premium brews, specialty beans, and sleek coffee gear. TRUNK exudes an international cafe ambience rather than that of a traditional coffeehouse. As an independent roastery, it offers a diverse selection of beans sourced from Ethiopia, Colombia, Guatemala, Kenya, and Malaysia. 

Among their offerings is the sought-after Geisha variety, a favourite among world-class baristas. Whether you're after an espresso, a filter brew, or even a coffee IPA, their extensive menu invites you to explore the nuances of global coffee cultures.

• Trunk Coffee Bar (Coffee Roastery) | 2 Chome−28−24 Towa Takaoka Building 1F, Izumi, Higashi Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 461-0001
• Mon-Sun, 9.30am-9pm

Glitch Coffee

Glitch Coffee is a specialty coffeehouse and micro-roastery originally based in Jinbocho, Tokyo. Known for its close collaboration with coffee growers and a focus on single-origin beans, Glitch offers an impressive selection of coffees at its Nagoya outpost. The space features a sleek black industrial aesthetic and provides detailed tasting notes and flavour profiles for each brew. Ideal for discovering a coffee that suits your palate.

• 2 Chome-42-2 Meieki, Nakamura Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 450-0002
• Mon-Fri, 8am-7pm, Sat-Sun, 9am-7pm

Cafes

A hallmark of Nagoya's cafe culture is its iconic "Morning Service," a tradition where many coffee shops offer complimentary breakfast sets with the purchase of a drink. This custom dates back to the 1950s, when a simple slice of buttered toast and a boiled egg would accompany a cup of coffee. 

Over time, this offering has evolved, and today, cafes across the city present a wider selection of breakfast options, served throughout the day in some establishments, yet still rooted in the spirit of warm hospitality and value.

Sawamura Bakery & Restaurant

Assorted baked goods and cafe lattes. PHOTO: City Nomads

One of our all-time favourite cafes and undoubtedly a popular choice among visitors to Nagoya, is Sawamura, a French-style boulangerie that bakes its bread on-site and offers a broad selection of sweet, savoury, and unsweetened European-style baked goods. The cafe also serves hot meals on its breakfast and lunch menus, including paninis and soups, alongside espresso-based coffee drinks and a variety of hot and cold beverages.

• Floor B1 Midland Square, 4 Chome−7−1, Meieki, Nakamura Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 450-0002
• Mon-Sun, 7:30am-8pm

Zarame Nagoya

Located in Kakuozan, this cafe specialises in artisanal doughnuts, which are available in a rotating selection of seasonal flavours. With a cosy wooden interior and soft pastel tones throughout, Zarame offers a morning service featuring toast, sandwiches, and pancakes. 

Their lunch and late afternoon menu includes more substantial options such as meat or plant-based burgers, roast beef sets, and Japanese-style curry.

• 2-36 Sanmoncho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, 464-0064
• Mon-Sun, 9am-8pm

Local Nagoyan Cuisine

Nagoya's regional food — collectively known as Nagoya-meshi by locals — is characterised by its distinctive, rich, and hearty flavours. Among the standout features of Nagoya restaurants is their generous use of red miso — a fermented soybean paste with salt and koji, a type of mould also used in sake production. 

Aged longer for a deeper, more robust taste, red miso is a cornerstone of many iconic dishes found across the city. Here are a few quintessential Nagoya-meshi dishes that showcase this unique culinary tradition:

Miso Katsu

In Nagoya, tonkatsu (breaded and deep-fried pork cutlets) is frequently enjoyed with a robust red miso sauce. Each restaurant offers its own house blend of this rich condiment, creating unique flavour profiles that set them apart. The dish is typically served with shredded cabbage and a bowl of rice, with some places even offering the sauce on the side so diners can tailor the taste to their liking.

Misokatsu Yabaton is one of the city's most iconic destinations for Miso Katsu. Established in 1947, the restaurant handcrafts its miso sauce and serves a variety of breaded delights, including shrimp, crab meat, and vegetables, in addition to the signature pork cutlets.

• 3 Chome-6-18 Osu, Naka Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 460-0011
• Opens daily, 11am - 9pm

Hitsumabushi

Hitsumabushi is a renowned Nagoya specialty featuring charcoal-grilled eel fillets (unagi) served over a bed of fluffy steamed rice. The unagi is typically brushed with a thick, sweet-and-savoury soy-based glaze, and accompanied by assorted condiments, allowing diners to tailor the experience to their tastes.

What sets hitsumabushi apart from a typical unagi-don is the ritual of eating it in four stages. First, enjoy a portion as it is. For the second quarter, add condiments such as shredded nori (seaweed), negi (chopped spring onions), mitsuba (a mildly bitter Japanese herb), and grated wasabi. 

The third serving is transformed into ochazuke by pouring hot broth over the eel and rice, creating a warm, comforting porridge. The final portion is enjoyed in the way you liked best, offering a personalised finish to the meal.

Atsuta Horaiken is widely recognised as the originator of this dish, with four outlets across Nagoya. Its flagship location sits conveniently near the historic Atsuta Jingu Shrine, making it an ideal stop for both culinary and cultural exploration.

• 503 Godo-cho, Atsuta-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi 456-0043
• Opens daily, 11:30am-2pm (lunch), 4:30pm-8:30pm (dinner)

Miso-nikomi Udon

Miso-nikomi udon is a piping hot noodle dish served in a clay pot. The udon noodles are stewed in a red miso-based soup, and are firm and chewy, bringing out the flavors of the hearty miso broth! 

Served with vegetables, kamaboko fish cakes, and a raw egg that slowly poaches in the piping hot broth, some restaurants also provide additional toppings like sliced chicken, tempura shrimp, or deep-fried tofu for added protein. With its bold and distinct flavours, miso-nikomi udon is best enjoyed on a cold, rainy, winter's day!

Ogura Toast

Ogura is a sweet, adzuki red bean paste spread on buttered shokupan toast — a slice of soft, fluffy, slightly sweet milk bread. Besides the thickly sliced toast, butter (or margarine) also complements the sweetness of the ogura, creating a salty-sweet breakfast option that is extremely popular in Nagoya.

Komeda is a popular restaurant chain from Aichi Prefecture where you'll be able to try this Nagoyan specialty. Their breakfast special lets you pair this traditional item with any variety of side dishes, including yogurt or a fresh salad! With 213 different stores all around Aichi Prefecture, and over a thousand stores throughout the nation, you're bound to find Komeda all over the place!

International cuisine

Having access to a wide range of international cuisines is truly a luxury. Whether you're missing familiar flavours that are closely associated with home, or you're in search of a new way to broaden your culinary horizons, having a wide range of authentic cuisines to choose from is a glimpse into another culture's traditions, beliefs, and way of life.

Midtown BBQ Nagoya

For authentic and delicious American barbecue, Midtown BBQ is the place to be. The barbecue is smoked over wood and charcoal fires, which transforms tough cuts of meat into tender, flavorful, melt-in-your-mouth masterpieces. With a commitment to serving traditional, American-style barbecue, this place offers platters of good Southern-style cooking, plus steaks, burgers, and even Tex-Mex nachos and tacos.

• 5 Chome-24-3 Meieki, Nakamura Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 450-0002
• Opens daily from 11:30am-11pm

Sayulita Tacos & Craft Beer

A restaurant serving authentic Mexican cuisine, the head chef behind this place started out his journey in a food truck. After touring around the greater Nagoya area for many years, he finally opened a small restaurant in Osu, in 2024. The chef grows his own peppers and makes most of the condiments himself. 

Notable dishes include the Birrias Tacos, Chicken Quesadillas, and their Carnitas Tacos! This restaurant has even been recognised and certified by the Mexican Secretary of Tourism for its authentic Mexican food!

• 3-1 Monzencho, Naka Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 460-0018
• Wed-Mon, 12pm-8pm | Closed on Tue

Sukhontha

Thai food is a harmony of five key flavours: spicy, sweet, sour, salty, and umami. With their use of fresh herbs and spices, notable dishes include Pad Thai, Green Curry, and Stir-fried Soft Shell Crab Curry. In Nagoya, these delicacies can be found at Sukhontha, a restaurant with many outlets located throughout the city. This place has also been certified by the Thai Ministry of Commerce for its authenticity.

• Rayard Hisaya-odori Park, 3 Chome−15−14 Nishiki, Naka Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 460-0003
• Opens daily, 11am-11pm

Wine & beer festivals for food lovers

Nagoya's international food festivals are particularly appealing to those with a taste for fine wine and craft beer. These events go beyond just drinks, they're a celebration of flavour, seasonality, and culinary craftsmanship. From rose tastings under cherry blossoms to Belgian beer pairings with gourmet bites, the city's spring and summer festivals cater to foodies looking to savour global traditions in a local setting.

Sakura Wine Festival 2025

The Sakura Wine Festival is an annual wine festival that takes place at the end of March. Named for the period when all cherry blossoms (sakura) bloom, this wine festival features rose wine, which has a similar colour to the light pink blossoms of the flowers.

Held at Nagoya's Tsuruma Park, one of the city's top sakura viewing venues, there are 70 different types of wine to sample. A starter set for wine sampling begins at 3,000yen when purchased in advance, and 4,000yen at the door, but admission to the festival is otherwise free. This festival often features food, too, including pizzas, Cuban sandwiches, sausages, and churros.

Belgian Beer Weekend

Nagoya hosted the 2025 edition of the Belgian Beer Weekend from April 24 to May 6, featuring 133 Belgian-style brews-from small-batch craft beers to renowned European labels. The event combined live music performances with a delicious array of food pairings, including sausages, fries, onion rings, and deep-fried calamari. While the 2026 edition has yet to be officially confirmed, all signs point to its anticipated return.

Beer Fes Nagoya

Nagoya holds Beer Fes annually in the summer, typically around August, where visitors can sample a variety of different beers for a single admission fee. In 2024, the festival featured over 80 craft beers, including a few award-winning beers from the annual International Beer Cup. While the dates for 2025 have yet to be announced, you can expect that there'll be a beer festival in Nagoya sometime this summer.

Besides beer and wine festivals, Nagoya also throws festivals to celebrate the diversity of their international community, showcasing elements of their cultural traditions, music, and cuisine.

Is Nagoya worth visiting?

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While Nagoya may not be as flashy or bustling as Tokyo or Osaka, their growing international community has led to an ever-expanding arena of international food, festivals, and culture. Nagoya also offers a well-balanced blend between the traditional Japanese ethos and a myriad of international experiences, all of which are highly accessible! 

This article was first published in City Nomads.