Nagoya — Castle City & Manufacturing Hub

Nagoya is Japan's third-largest metro area, with around 9.3 million people and a core city of about 2.3 million. Its strongest claim is being the nation's manufacturing heartbeat — Toyota is headquartered in nearby Toyota City, and the region has a centuries-old tradition of porcelain making, home to the Noritake brand. Nagoya Castle, completed in 1612, draws history buffs, and the Shinkansen puts Tokyo within about 100 minutes and Osaka and Kyoto within roughly 45 minutes to an hour. Its industrial identity means it draws fewer leisure tourists than Kyoto or Osaka, despite its size.