Published date: April 28, 2025
Unexpectedly Large Room
Room Type Stayed
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Experience of the stay
Because we arrived in Nagoya on a very early flight, we got to the hotel around 7:30 AM to drop off our luggage. The front desk staff kindly helped us store our luggage, and even though I was speaking less fluent Japanese to explain the luggage storage, he patiently waited for me to finish. When it was almost time to check in (around 1:30 PM), we returned to the front desk. Since it wasn’t 2 PM yet, the staff asked me to fill out the check-in form and had me wait in the lounge area. Later, when it was time for check-in, there was no need for us to go to the front desk. The staff came to find us and provided the room key and check-in information. Upon entering the room, I found it much larger than I expected. We brought a large 29-inch suitcase, a 24-inch medium suitcase, and a carry-on, and there was still space in the aisle to walk without blocking the door. The air conditioning was powerful, and the room cooled down quickly. This time we were arranged on a high floor, and the view was very expansive. The bathroom facilities are excellent with a very good separation of wet and dry areas, and the hot water came out quickly without long waits. Moreover, the hotel also provides a large public bath (the men's is on the first floor, and the women's is on the 14th floor); those who want to experience the public bath can definitely give it a try. I must say this accommodation experience was very good!
Experiences during the trip
This trip was my first time to Nagoya, and most of the restaurants I visited were well-known. There were a few places that I found very worthwhile, and I would go even if it meant queuing! 1. Horai-ken Unagi Rice: Originally, I planned to go to the Jinmu branch, but because it was a holiday, without a reservation, I had to wait 3 hours for lunchtime. In the end, I followed the map provided by the staff to the main store, which took about a 10-minute walk. The waiting time there was about 2 hours. While waiting, I could stroll around Atsuta Shrine, and by the time I finished, it was just right to go to the main store to eat. The portion of the unagi rice was very large; I recommend ordering the regular size even if it’s for two people to share. The unagi was grilled very well, and the sauce was almost soaked into the white rice. Another way to enjoy it is to make it into ochazuke, which was definitely to my taste. Moreover, the individually ordered grilled unagi is highly recommended. 2. TKG Rice Bowl Shop in Sakae - Taramann: We ordered a bowl of mentaiko and a limited quantity bowl of raw shrimp and salmon roe. The mentaiko was grilled, giving it a nice aroma, the tamagoyaki was very moist, and the salmon roe wasn’t too salty. The raw shrimp was quite sweet, and paired with raw egg yolk, the rice bowl became very smooth. Almost everyone lining up was waiting for this place! 3. Tebasaki Musume near Osu Shopping Street: Although the shop is small and not very bright, making it look somewhat unclean, the various flavors of fried chicken wings are very interesting. The wings are crispy on the outside but still juicy on the inside, and each flavor has a small sign introducing it. The five flavors that would be my top picks are yuzu pepper, citrus, chili powder, green onion salt pepper, and mayonnaise. Additionally, there’s seasonal shochu available, and on that day, the limited flavor was strawberry. The strawberry syrup is homemade, and I must say, the alcohol content is strong, so be careful as drinking too fast might make you a bit dizzy XD. As for sightseeing, since I was in Nagoya for the first time, I visited all the famous attractions. If I had to say which few are a must-visit, I highly recommend Atsuta Shrine, Inuyama Castle, and the surrounding castle town. If you enjoy shopping, the Sakae shopping district and Nagoya Station are more than enough to explore. Also, Harbs started in Nagoya; even though there are many branches, around 6 PM (about 2 hours before closing) there were no signature fruit layers left, so you have to go early if you want to eat it!