Meijo Park

Meijo Park is a broad, welcoming green space that wraps around the northern side of Nagoya Castle, forming part of the belt of parkland that surrounds the old fortress. Free and open at all hours, it is a favourite of local families, joggers, dog-walkers and office workers on their lunch breaks, and it offers visitors a relaxed, uncrowded counterpoint to the paid castle grounds. Its lawns, tree-lined paths, ponds and open sky make it one of the pleasantest places in central Nagoya simply to slow down and stretch your legs.

The park's greatest draw is its cherry blossoms. In late March and early April, avenues of sakura burst into bloom across the grounds and along the castle's outer moat, and Meijo Park becomes one of the city's most popular hanami spots. Families spread picnic blankets under the trees, and the pink canopy set against the white walls and green-tiled roofs of Nagoya Castle makes for one of the finest seasonal views in the city — all enjoyable for free from the public paths. Autumn brings a quieter beauty as the park's maples and ginkgoes turn colour.

A quirky landmark gives Meijo Park an unexpected character: a full-sized Dutch-style windmill stands within the grounds, a nod to Nagoya's sister-city and international ties, and it has become a beloved photo spot and meeting point. Around it the park offers wide lawns, a pond, walking and cycling paths, children's play areas and plenty of benches. The scale of the space means that even on busy weekends it rarely feels crowded, and there is room for children to run and for visitors to picnic.

Meijo Park's location makes it an ideal companion to a Nagoya Castle visit. The two are separated only by the castle's moat, and walking the moat-side path lets you appreciate the fortress's ramparts and the golden shachihoko on the keep from the outside, then step into the park's greenery. Many visitors combine a morning at the castle and its restored Hommaru Palace with a stroll or picnic in Meijo Park, and the nearby Nagoya Noh Theater and the Bunka no Michi heritage district are within walking distance for those wanting more.

Practical details could not be simpler. The park is free and always open, and Meijo Koen subway station sits right at its edge, just two minutes' walk away, making access effortless. Restrooms and some seasonal refreshment stands are available, and the flat, well-paved paths are easy for all ages and suitable for strollers and wheelchairs.

For travellers who want to enjoy Nagoya's nature and its most famous castle without spending a yen, Meijo Park is the answer — a spacious, friendly green lung in the heart of the city, at its most magical when the cherry trees bloom against the backdrop of the castle keep.