Rain and wind may intensify next week in the Tokai region due to Typhoon No. 6; scattered rain expected today, with highs of 29°C in Nagoya and 28°C in Gifu.

Nagoya Castle, originally built in 1612 by the Tokugawa shogunate, served as a key military and political center in Japan’s Owari Province. The castle was largely destroyed during World War II air raids in 1945, but its iconic main keep was reconstructed in 1959 using reinforced concrete. Today, it is a popular tourist attraction, known for its golden shachihoko (dolphin-like roof ornaments) and surrounding park.

The Nagoya City Science Museum, located in Nagoya, Japan, is one of the largest science museums in the world, renowned for its massive planetarium dome. Opened in 1962 and extensively renovated in 2011, the museum features interactive exhibits on astronomy, physics, and biology, including a deep-freeze laboratory for experiencing extreme cold. Its iconic 35-meter-diameter dome, one of the largest on Earth, showcases cutting-edge digital projections that explore the universe.

Gifu Castle, originally built in the early 13th century, is a historic hilltop fortress in Gifu City, Japan. It is famously associated with the warlord Oda Nobunaga, who captured it in 1567 and used it as a base for his campaign to unify Japan. The current castle keep is a concrete reconstruction from 1956, offering panoramic views and housing a museum about the castle’s samurai history.

Mount Kinka is a 329-meter-tall mountain located in Gifu City, Japan, renowned for its distinctive, cone-like shape and the historic Gifu Castle perched at its summit. Originally fortified in the 13th century, the castle served as a strategic stronghold for the Saito and later Oda clans during the Sengoku period. Today, the mountain is a popular tourist destination, accessible via a ropeway, offering panoramic views of the Nagara River and the surrounding city.

The Nagara River, located in Gifu Prefecture, Japan, is renowned for its clear waters and traditional cormorant fishing (ukai), a practice that dates back over 1,300 years. Historically, the river served as a vital transportation route and was celebrated in classical literature, including the Manyoshu poetry anthology. Today, it remains a cultural landmark, where visitors can witness the nighttime fishing spectacle with blazing torches.

The Ise Grand Shrine (Ise Jingu) in Mie Prefecture, Japan, is the most sacred Shinto shrine, dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu Omikami, from whom the Imperial family is said to descend. Its history dates back at least 1,300 years, and it is famously rebuilt every 20 years in a ritual called Shikinen Sengu, which preserves ancient construction techniques and symbolizes spiritual renewal. The shrine complex consists of two main shrines—Naiku (Inner Shrine) and Geku (Outer Shrine)—and is a major pilgrimage site, though access to its innermost sanctuaries is restricted.

Ise Bay, located in Mie Prefecture, Japan, is a large, scenic inlet of the Pacific Ocean known for its rich marine life and cultural significance. Historically, it has been a vital center for pearl cultivation, pioneered by Kokichi Mikimoto in the late 19th century, and is closely associated with the sacred Ise Grand Shrine, one of Shinto’s holiest sites. The bay’s calm waters and surrounding landscapes also support fishing, tourism, and traditional industries that have shaped the region’s heritage for centuries.

Takayama, located in the mountainous Hida region of Japan, is a historic city renowned for its beautifully preserved Edo-period (1603-1868) streetscape and traditional crafts. Its history as a prosperous merchant and political center under the control of the Kanamori clan is visible in its old town, which features wooden machiya houses and sake breweries. The city is also famous for its vibrant spring and autumn festivals, which feature elaborate, mechanized floats.