I had nothing to expect when I first arrived in Nagoya. Therefore, I had no itinerary for 2 days in this town. I just hopped on Nagoya Sightseeing Bus from Nagoya Station, and took the one day pass ticket which costs ¥500. Noritake Garden is the second stop after Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology, and I fell in love instantly with it after alighting. It was so pretty with all the Christmas decorations and autumn-colored trees, yet it was a restful garden too.
It is free to enter Noritake Garden and enjoy all the autumn colors. Admission fees only apply for the Craft Center and Noritake Museum. It will be closed if you visit on Monday (when Monday is a holiday, the following day will be closed) and the New Year holiday season. But just to be sure, you can check the website, where you can download the brochure.
Things that captured my eyes besides the Christmas gimmicks and autumn-colored trees, are the brick buildings. One of the brick buildings in Noritake Garden was actually the first factory of Nippon Toki Gomei Kaisha. It was constructed in 1904 and remained in operation until 1975. It also symbolizes the history of Western-style dinnerware in Japan.
There are also "The Six Chimneys" and "The Kiln Wall" to see. "The Six Chimneys" are relics from tunnel kilns which were built in 1933 to bake ceramics. "The Kiln Wall" is kind of retaining wall made of old brick which was first used as the solid foundation of the original factory building. The wall contains plates inscribed with the names of donators to the Noritake Garden Foundation.
Bringing your car to Noritake Garden? Parking is ¥100 every 30 minutes, or waived if you purchase something over ¥5,000.
Prefer to walk? No need to worry, Noritake Garden is located in a very good area. From JR Nagoya Station/Meitetsu-Nagoya Station/Kintetsu-Nagoya Station it is only a 15 minutes walk. From Kamejima Station on the Subway Higashiyama Line, it is a 5 minute walk or 3 minutes from Nagoya Station City Bus Stop. If you take the Nagoya Sightseeing Bus (Me-guru Bus) like I did, you only need to get off at Noritake Garden.
Enjoy the early Christmas in Noritake Garden!
