wendy's Reviews Page 17/28

This time I made a special trip to try Yabaton. Around mealtime, I waited in line for a little over an hour. The wait was a bit long, but after eating, I really felt it lived up to its reputation!

The tonkatsu was crispy outside and tender inside, and the pork was soft and juicy without being dry at all. The signature miso katsu is topped with a sauce made from naturally brewed miso. It's savory and rich with a touch of sweetness, and goes perfectly with the piping-hot tonkatsu.

I also tried the cutlet this time. Eating it with plenty of cabbage was refreshing and helped balance the richness. I had the miso katsu with white rice, and mixing the sauce into the rice made it really hard to stop eating!

I highly recommend setting aside some time to walk around Hisaya-odori Park! The park stretches through the city center, and the tree-lined streets, surrounding high-rises, and urban scenery make it especially pleasant to explore.

There are also department stores and boutiques nearby, including Matsuzakaya and Shin Kong Mitsukoshi, making it convenient for shopping, dining, and buying souvenirs. Popular attractions such as Oasis 21 and Chubu Electric Power MIRAI TOWER are also close by, so you can visit several of Nagoya's iconic landmarks in one trip.

During the day, you can take a leisurely stroll and go shopping. At night, the park has a completely different feel—the lights make it romantic and atmospheric. It's truly beautiful!

I highly recommend visiting Chubu Electric Power MIRAI TOWER! From the Sky Deck, you can look out over downtown Nagoya. The daytime views feel wide open, while at night, the sparkling city lights are especially beautiful and truly captivating.

This is also one of my favorite attractions in Nagoya. After visiting Tokyo Skytree and Tokyo Tower, Nagoya TV Tower may seem much smaller, but I actually really like its relaxed atmosphere. Especially when there aren't many visitors at night, you can take your time enjoying the night view without the crowds, which is really comfortable.

The area around the tower is also great for exploring, with restaurants, izakayas, department stores, and drugstores. Spending half a day walking around, eating, and taking photos is just right.

A small shrine tucked away in the center of town, where people mainly pray for blessings such as business prosperity and peace in the home. What attracted me most was the vivid vermilion architecture, which stands out amid the surrounding greenery and looks great in photos.

You can also see many fox statues characteristic of Inari shrines. Some look mysterious and a little cute. Surrounded by trees, the shrine feels completely different from the bustle of the city once you step inside, with a quiet and mysterious atmosphere.

If you're nearby, I highly recommend stopping by for a walk and experiencing the beauty of this little shrine hidden in the city.

On this trip to Nagoya, I ate at three famous eel restaurants. Sumiyaki Unafuji is also Michelin-recommended, so this was something of a pilgrimage. I was very lucky to get a last-minute reservation through Tabelog that day, and there was no wait at all when I arrived, which was definitely a big plus!

First, the eel itself. Of the three restaurants, I thought this one had the best-quality and largest eel, with the most pronounced eel flavor. However, it didn't have the same especially fragrant, crispy charcoal-grilled texture as the other two and was instead closer to the Kanto style. I thought the sauce was just average, and overall, the unagi rice felt relatively light.

I ordered the Deluxe and Premium options. The main difference was the portion size, and there wasn't any noticeable difference in eel quality. If you don't have a big appetite, the regular unagi rice is enough. The only condiments were wasabi and green onions, with no nori, and both the wasabi and green onions were fairly subtle. The broth wasn't particularly impressive either, and the portion was a little smaller than at the other two restaurants.

The soup, however, left a very good impression! The clams in it were huge—just one was very satisfying. The limited menu also includes eel liver, but it was already sold out that evening. If you want to try it, you may have a better chance at lunchtime.

While shopping, I happened to pass by Alice on Wednesday, and as soon as I saw that super unusual little door, I couldn't help but stop! To get inside, you have to bend down, crouch, and squeeze through it. Even the entrance feels just like Alice in Wonderland and is perfect for photos.

The store isn't big, but it's packed with Alice-themed decor. Most of the merchandise is accessories and miscellaneous goods that women would like, and the prices aren't too outrageous. Plus, with the yen exchange rate looking pretty favorable right now, as I browsed, I kept thinking, "I could buy this too, and that one's so cute."

That day, I couldn't resist taking home stickers, postcards, a ring, and a soda, and I love every single one. If you're a fan of Alice in Wonderland, it's worth stopping by while shopping in Nagoya. The entrance itself is worth a photo!

When you visit Osu Shopping Street, besides shopping and enjoying the food, you should also try this super-famous mini burger place!

It was my first time trying the “SLIDERS” mini burgers. I swapped the set drink for a Budweiser, and they went perfectly together! The burger buns were soft and delicious, and the fries were so crispy I couldn’t stop eating them. The set was also more filling than I expected, and I left feeling very satisfied.

When visiting the Osu Shopping District, don't just focus on shopping and food—nearby Osu Kannon Temple is also well worth a stop!

This historic temple still retains the strong atmosphere of an ancient temple despite being rebuilt, and it is an important spiritual center protecting the Osu Shopping District and nearby residents. The temple also has a library that preserves precious Buddhist scriptures, giving it deep cultural significance.

My favorite part was the handwritten goshuin, with beautiful calligraphy and a warm, personal touch. However, there's another special star at the temple—the nearby feral pigeons have a huge presence, with whole flocks occupying the area around the temple. Somehow, it's quite an impressive sight! Unfortunately, I was in too much of a hurry this time and couldn't capture the spectacular sight of the entire flock taking flight.

While visiting downtown Nagoya, I unexpectedly came across the atmospheric Wakamiya Hachimansha Shrine. As Nagoya's guardian shrine, it is best known for the historic and lively Wakamiya Festival held every May.

Although the shrine is in the middle of the city, it feels like a quiet retreat amid the bustle. As soon as you enter, it becomes much quieter, making it a great place for a walk, a prayer, and a chance to experience the atmosphere of a traditional Japanese shrine.

There are also many distinctive goshuin to collect. However, the monthly limited-edition goshuin has date restrictions. If you don't visit on the first day of the month, you can only get a postcard-style goshuin, which still makes a nice keepsake!

If you're visiting Nagoya, make sure to leave time for Osu Shopping Street.
This place is basically one huge treasure-hunting area, with long-established shops, affordable food, vintage clothing, trendy accessories, and even an otaku paradise!

What I like most is that the food is delicious and inexpensive. Every few steps, you'll see something you want to eat, so it's impossible to stop snacking while browsing. The shops are also full of character, and you'll often suddenly come across something and think, “Huh? What's this? It looks interesting!” 😂