An Afternoon in Nagoya’s Hisaya-Odori Park
The Mirai TV tower in Nagoya is one of the most famous landmarks in the area. It is the oldest TV tower in Japan, completed in 1954. It towers above Hisaya-Odori park and Sakae station. For many years, the only feature of the tower was its observation deck. As park traffic declined, people began to discuss what should happen to the tower and surrounding areas. There was a movement to save the TV tower and revitalize the park. Finally, the area was renovated last year. The tower is now home to a hotel and restaurants. Surrounding the tower, you can find many shops, restaurants, and beautiful green spaces in Rayard Hisaya-Odori Park. I have visited the park many times and each experience has been enjoyable. I have decided to share some of my favorite aspects of the park with you.
First, the TV Tower is now home to The Tower Hotel and restaurants. While I expected the interior to be underwhelming and dated, I was pleasantly surprised by the modern design. I plan to stay at the hotel for my next “staycation” in Nagoya. I visited Glycine, the French fusion restaurant inside the hotel. The large windows offered stunning views of the park and downtown. Even the women’s bathroom had some of the most gorgeous views. On top of the views, the service was impeccable, and the meal was incredibly delicious. The restaurant is designed to give each table plenty of space and comfort. The atmosphere makes it a great place for a date or group of friends. In the future, I want to try more of their seasonal menus. The only downside is that if you are a wine lover, the selection is quite small.
Another restaurant worth visiting is the Y. Market Brewing location. Craft beer in Japan started to take off about ten years ago. In 2012, Y. Market Brewing opened in Nagoya. In my opinion, their beers differ from other Japanese craft beers because they focus more on hoppy IPAs and interesting flavor combinations. They don’t always choose to play it safe or make something that they know will be perfect. Since opening, the company has started a few restaurants throughout the city, some better than others. Nagoroba, the restaurant in Hisaya-Odori Park is probably their best location. The food is Japanese style, and the beer menu is almost as good as their main taproom. In addition to beer, they offer homemade juices and other alcohols. My favorite menu items would have to be the chicken tataki (lightly seared chicken) and chicken karaage (fried chicken). They have multiple takeout options for both beer and food as well. Be sure to check out this location while you are in the park.
If you are looking for something sweet in the park, check out one of the numerous cafes, or my favorite chocolate shop, Venchi. The only complaint that I have about Venchi is that the staff seems to need a bit more training to avoid errors and bottlenecks. Despite this issue, the chocolate is just as good as the chocolate I had at their shop in Italy. The gelato is almost just as delicious. It was exciting to visit the shop because it reminded me of life before travel bans. If chocolate and gelato aren’t your things, Ralph’s café at the Ralph Lauren shop has several American-sized desserts including a brownie that looks sinful. There’s FabCafe at the end of the park as well. FabCafe is regularly home to pop-ups for local brands. Whether art, fashion, or food, you can find something interesting here. The interior of the café is modern with large windows which provide views of the park.
One of the newest restaurants to open in the park is Taco Fanatico. When I went, the reviews were mixed. My hope for excellent food slowly diminished as I got ready to go. Nevertheless, I was blown away by the food and atmosphere. Many people complained in reviews that there was a wait or that the tacos and other portions were small. Other complaints were that the food lacked spice. While it is not traditional Mexican or Central American food, I found the flavors to be outstanding. They were able to fuse Japanese and central American flavors. The tacos were small, but I prefer quality over portion size when I eat. We tried almost every taco except the lamb and vegan options. Additionally, we ordered the guacamole and jalapeno poppers. Everything was fresh and perfectly cooked. To add to the experience, the margaritas were divine. They were not overly sweet and did not taste like the typical mixes found in Japan. Furthermore, the décor of the restaurant added to the fun vibe. I will most definitely be a regular at this restaurant.
As for shopping, my favorite store in the park is Ralph Lauren. I’m a sucker for a cute oxford shirt, denim jacket, or leather bags and boots. The staff there are all welcoming and friendly. There are many Ralph Lauren shops throughout Nagoya. However, this one has the biggest and best selection. Other shops include Tatras, Michael Kors, Snow Peak, Cole Haan, and Furla. Most of the shops were okay but not too impressive. However, I must say that I’m not a fan of most of the brands. The Tatras shop was the most disappointing. The selection was horrible, and the staff was unhelpful and rude. If you are looking for a Tatras item, do yourself a favor and visit a department store or select shop. Because of my experiences shopping, I typically only visit the Ralph Lauren store while in the park.
If you are visiting Nagoya and looking for a way to spend a nice evening, look no further than Hisaya-Odori Park. If the restaurants I mentioned aren’t your style, there are several others in or near the park. Plus, the plentiful green space provides a nice area for a picnic if that’s your preference. I don’t recommend shopping at the park; however, it’s minutes away from the department stores and brand shops in Sakae. Be sure to check out Hisaya-Odori Park on your next trip to Nagoya.
