Oasis 21

Oasis 21 is one of Nagoya's most photographed modern landmarks, an architecturally daring complex in the Sakae district whose signature feature is an enormous elliptical glass roof called the Water Spaceship, or Mizu no Uchu-sen. Opened in 2002, it combines a bus terminal, shopping, dining and event spaces beneath a striking public space that has become a symbol of the city's contemporary face, glowing like a spacecraft above the busy streets.

The defining experience is the rooftop. The great glass oval, fifty metres across, is topped by a thin, shallow layer of water that shimmers under the sky, and a walkway rings its edge so that visitors can stroll around and across the luminous deck. Looking down through the glass you see the plaza far below; looking up and out you take in the Sakae skyline, dominated by the neighbouring MIRAI TOWER. Access to this rooftop water deck is completely free, making it one of the best no-cost attractions in central Nagoya.

By day the Spaceship Aqua is a serene, futuristic space, its water surface reflecting clouds and sunlight. By night it comes into its own, illuminated in shifting colours that change with the seasons and special events, and set against the floodlit TV tower it creates one of the city's most memorable nocturnal scenes. Photographers gather to capture the two landmarks together, and couples come for the romantic glow. The illumination is especially magical during winter, when the surrounding park hosts seasonal light displays.

Below the glass roof, Oasis 21 is a lively, practical hub. The Galaxy Platform level hosts events, performances and seasonal markets in a large sheltered plaza, while a basement level houses a shopping mall with fashion, souvenirs, cafes and a good range of restaurants, including outlets serving Nagoya specialities. An underground bus terminal makes it a genuine transport node, connecting the complex to airport limousines and regional services, and underground passages link directly to the subway and the surrounding department stores.

The visiting experience is flexible and undemanding. You can drop in for ten minutes to walk the water deck and admire the architecture, or linger for a meal and some shopping, or use it as a warm, dry base from which to explore Sakae in any weather. Because it connects underground to the wider Sakae network, it functions as a hub for the whole district, tying together the TV tower, Hisaya-odori Park, the Aichi Arts Center and the shopping streets.

Getting there is as easy as it gets. Oasis 21 is directly connected to Sakae Station on the Higashiyama and Meijo subway lines through underground passages, so you can reach it without stepping outside, and the complex is fully accessible with lifts and escalators throughout.

For travellers exploring central Nagoya, Oasis 21 is an essential and effortless stop, a piece of striking contemporary architecture that doubles as a free viewpoint, a shopping and dining destination and a transport hub, all wrapped in one glowing, spaceship-like landmark at the heart of the city.