Nagoya Castle was once the heart of one of the most important castle towns in Japan, Nagoya-juku, which was a post station on the Minoji road linking two of five important trade routes. The original site was built in the early 17th century; it underwent numerous restoration and expansion projects during the centuries. The castle was severely damaged in air raids during World War II in 1945. Reconstruction began shortly after the war. Important sites include Nagoya Castle Honmaru Palace and the Ninomaru Teien Garden. There is also the Meijo Park to the north of the castle that used to be a part of its wider compound. The area is served by subway Meijo Line at Shiyakusho Station.

The Nagoya TV Tower is the oldest TV tower in Japan, and was completed in 1954. The tower is 180 metres high, and has two main observation decks at the heights of 90 metres (the indoor Sky Deck) and 100 metres (the outdoor Sky Balcony). Nagoya TV Tower closely resembles the Eiffel Tower. Recently, the tower became known under the nickname of "Thunder Tower" due to the nighttime illumination.

Nagoya City Science Museum houses the largest planetarium in the world and has three main sections on modern technology, life sciences and general science with a variety of hands-on exhibits. The museum also has features on the local Chubu region's links to science and industry.

Ōsu Kannon is a Buddhist temple that belongs to the Owari Thirty-three Kannon (a collection of Buddhist temples in western Aichi Prefecture). The temple's origin traces back to 1333. The current temple is home to a large collection of books. It houses about 15,000 classic Japanese and Chinese works. Among these is the oldest hand-written copy of the famous Kojiki, which describes the ancient mythological history of Japan. The library also has many other books designated as national treasures and important cultural properties.

Opened in 2011, the SCMaglev and Railway Park is a railway museum that features 39 full-size railway vehicles including the famous Shinkansen, as well as one bus exhibit, train cab simulators, and railway model dioramas.

Also known as Toyota Tecno Museum, it is a technology museum that focuses on the evolution of Toyota. Toyota started as a textile firm and evolved over decades into an international automobile producer. The museum was established in 1994 and is housed in an old red-brick textile factory. Its display starts with textile looms and then gradually goes over into the history of cars. Also featured are high-tech robots. The area is served by subway at Sako Station.

Noritake is a leading company in the Japanese ceramics industry for over 100 years, based in Nagoya. The garden was constructed on the former factory grounds and exhibits the company, its history and products. In the various showrooms visitors can observe the creation process of porcelain or participate in workshops. The museum exhibits old Noritake pieces, such as vases, jars and dishes from the early 1900s. Current products are also shown.

The Tokugawa Art Museum is a private art museum. Its collection contains swords, armor, Noh costumes and masks, lacquer furniture, Chinese and Japanese ceramics, calligraphy, and paintings from the Chinese Song and Yuan dynasties. It houses the hereditary collection of the Owari branch of the Tokugawa clan, which ruled the Owari Domain in what is now Aichi Prefecture. The most important and valuable treasures are the Genji Monogatari Emaki, three Heian period illustrated handscrolls of The Tale of Genji, dating to the 1130s. Next to the museum is the Tokugawa Garden, a serene landscape garden with a large pond.

Tsuruma Park's history goes back 1910 when the 10th Kansai Area Prefectural Union Joint Exposition was held at the park. It features a large water fountain and a gazebo for music bands from the early 20th century, constructed in the European style fashionable at that time. The park is very popular during the cherry blossom season in spring, as well as for outings and events.

Atsuta Shrine (jingu) is a Shinto shrine traditionally believed to have been established during the reign of Emperor Keikō (71-130). Since ancient times, it has been especially revered, ranking with the Great Shrine of Ise and it draws over 9 million visitors annually. The shrine's Bunkaden, or treasure hall, houses over 4,000 relics, which include 174 Important Cultural Properties and a dagger that is a designated National Treasure of Japan. Many ceremonies and festivals are held annually at the shrine.