Showa Ku

Yagoto has the advantage of being on the subway line connecting Nagoya with Toyota city, and is convenient for those who prefer to live in Nagoya but have work in Toyota. It is also served by the Meijo subway line as well as the Tsurumai line which connects to the Meitetsu rail line. Getting downtown via subway requires a change of trains to the Higashiyama line at either Motoyama in the east or Fushimi in the west. The main thoroughfares connect it to Nagoya University in the north and with Irinaka to the west. The roads are quite heavily trafficked and the main intersection can be somewhat congested at certain times of day. A car ride into the city takes approximately 30 minutes.

 

Tsuruma Park (Tsuruma Koen) in the far west of Showa Ward is perhaps the best known park in the city. First opened in 1909, with its wide open grassy spaces, pleasant flower beds and European-style layout that was popular at the time of its completion, it is lively all year round, but none more so than during the springtime cherry blossom viewing season, when seemingly the entirety of the city heads there to get together with friends and eat and drink under the beautiful flowers.

The area around the Kosho-ji temple is also a pleasant area, though perhaps more suited to quiet contemplation than the revelries of park life found at Tsuruma.

 

Frante and Yagoto AEON, the main shopping centers in Yagoto, stock everything you require for daily life, and there is really little need to look elsewhere. That said, elsewhere throughout the ward you can find Maxvalu, Yamanaka and other smaller supermarkets.

 

As there are two universities in Showa-ku, as well as other educational establishments, you can find a wide range of restaurants – both international and local – catering the the large influx of visitors to suit all tastes and budgets.

 

Again, thanks to the nearby universities, the area of Yagato can be reasonably lively on weekends, with various bars and restaurants teeming with students and locals alike. If you want nightclubs and all night revelry, the main party area of Sakae is accessible from Yagoto on the Meijo line.

 

Koshoji, near Yagoto Station, is a Shingon Buddhist temple and claims to have the only wooden pagoda in the Tokai area. It was founded by the monk Tenzui in the 17th century, and as well as the 30m-tall, five story wooden pagoda, it homes a beautiful, modern garden in the rear of the temple complex. Within that complex there is a small area in which you can enjoy a traditional Japanese tea ceremony.

The aforementioned Tsuruma park plays host to local events including the Nagoya Walkathon, and also is the location of the Tsuruma Central Library and has in recent times become particularly popular for people playing the ‘Pokemon Go’ game.

 

The Yagoto area is convenient for the Aichi International School, just 15 minutes drive or about 25 minutes on public transport. Nagoya International School is a bit further at 35 minutes in the car or an hour by train.

For younger kids the International Kids Academy is just ten minutes from Yagoto, while the acclaimed Abroad International School is around 25 minutes away.

 

See listings for properties available now for rent in Showa Ku on JapanHomeSearch.com by clicking this link (it will return only Showa-ku results), or browse the Nagoya Housing Cost Survey data below, which will give you a snap shot of what sort of expat housing is available in the area.