The Chunichi Building: Shopping in Central Nagoya

Nagoya is quickly becoming a must-see Japanese travel destination for visitors looking to enjoy a mix of sightseeing and shopping, and it’s not hard to see why. This major Japanese city is easily accessible by shinkansen (or directly by plane), and while it has all of the lively energy and vibrant culture you look for when exploring a new country, it has none of the unbearable crowds you’ll find in Tokyo or Kyoto. What it does have is a beautiful castle, excellent food, and plenty of shopping, from small local brands to international favorites. One of Nagoya’s newest shopping destinations, the Chunichi Building, is a perfect example of everything this city has to offer.

The Chunichi Building opened in April 2024 as a new multipurpose facility in the heart of Nagoya, located in a bustling neighborhood just across the street from Hisaya Odori Park, and a few blocks from Nagoya Castle. The upper floors of the 32-story building host offices and The Royal Park Hotel Iconic Nagoya (very conveniently located), but floors B1 to seven are where you’ll find close to 100 shops, restaurants, and cafes. The majority of the shops are Japanese brands, and quite a few of them have very limited availability elsewhere, making this a great place to pick up some unique Japanese souvenirs for yourself or your loved ones. Plus, the yen is still weak, and many of the shops offer tax-free services, so foreign shoppers get an especially good deal.

The Chunichi Building’s modern, open design around a central atrium makes it a comfortable place to browse at your leisure. With plenty of shops to look through (and some great places to eat and relax), it’s certainly not difficult to spend several hours there. If you’re looking to shop for souvenirs in Nagoya, or you just want to enjoy a relaxed shopping experience during your trip to Japan, take a look at what Nagoya’s Chunichi Building has to offer.

The Chunichi Building (中日ビル)
4-1-1 Sakae, Naka Ward, Nagoya, Aichi
Shop Hours: 10:00 – 20:00
Restaurant Hours: 11:00 – 23:00
^{*Business hours may vary; please check the official website for details.}
Directions: directly connected to Sakae Station
Official Website (jp)

Shopping Recommendations: Japanese Brands, Local Culture, & Nagoya Souvenirs

HARUTA ^{_{Chunichi Building Shop}}

A Japanese shoe brand boasting over a century of first-rate craftsmanship, HARUTA’s classic styles offer a blend of nostalgia and quality, which has helped the brand become a staple of the Japanese fashion scene over the years. HARUTA’s leather loafers were originally made to go with Japanese school uniforms during the brand’s early years, but these days they make stylish shoes for customers young and old.

^{_{Top: Coin Loafers / Bottom left: Spock Shoes}}

Check out the boutique at the Chunichi Building to see shelves lined with chunky loafers in a range of colors, retro designs like oxfords and mary-janes, and some of the brand’s more unique models. (Their “Spock Shoes” are a fan-favorite fashion statement.) HARUTA has even been known to work with a variety of other brands to offer cute collab items! Thanks to HARUTA’s commitment to high-quality materials and impeccable made-in-Japan craftsmanship, these versatile shoes can be dressed up or down, and they’re made to last a lifetime. The shop even stocks leather maintenance products to keep your shoes looking their best for years to come. Get a pair as a gift for the shoe-lover in your life, or get your own pair to show off back at home.

HARUTA ^{_{Chunichi Building Shop}} (ハルタ中日ビル店) | 1st Floor

Utsuwa Marukaku

From rustic tea bowls to the most delicately painted porcelain, Japan is known for its ceramics, and Utsuwa Marukaku is dedicated to sharing some of the country’s best pieces with anyone who visits their 2nd-floor space. Utsuwa Marukaku’s selection includes both new works from active ceramic artists all over Japan as well as a selection of antiques, with items as old as the final years of Japan’s Edo period (1603-1868). If you’re ready to splurge on something truly magnificent, their selection of multi-tiered serving dishes called “oju” (お重) are really something. (And while these beautiful antiques are certainly not cheap, even the most expensive one we saw was just 80,000 yen.)

^{_{Bottom right: Kitagama Kasen Matcha Bowl}}

Or you might find yourself besotted with a more modern creation, like the surprisingly sparkly tea bowl we found ourselves eyeing, made by a 12th-generation ceramic artist at the local Kitagama Kasen studio. Of course, Utsuwa Marukaku offers plenty of appealing options for shoppers with a more limited budget as well. Look for the whole table of tiny dishes perfect for soy sauce or other condiments (many of which are under 1,000 yen) to find the perfect little souvenir, easy to stuff safely in a suitcase.

Utsuwa Marukaku (器まるかく) | 2nd Floor

Mont-bell ^{_{Nagoya Sakae Shop}}

Thanks to their consistently high-quality products, Mont-bell has gained an international reputation for offering some of the most reliable outdoor gear on the market. But if you want to try out (or try on) their products before you buy, this Japanese brand has very few overseas locations, which means you’ll definitely want to browse the selection while you’re in Japan. Their spacious Chunichi Building shop has a huge selection, making it the obvious place to shop in Nagoya!

^{_{Bottom left: Women’s Climaplus Knit Cardigan / Bottom right: Men’s 3in1 Fall Line Parka}}

Mont-bell is known for lightweight, durable items with lots of features, and they offer plenty of products geared towards serious outdoor activities. Some of their most popular items, however, can pull double duty – keeping you comfortable during a long hike or just a quick everyday errand. Stay warm during your winter travels with the soft Women’s Climaplus Knit Cardigan and any of the broad selection of down jackets. Or try out the Men’s 3in1 Fall Line Parka for customizable warmth, constructed with an outer shell and inner liner to keep you nice and cozy throughout your trip to Japan, and for many years to come!

Mont-bell ^{_{Nagoya Sakae Shop}} (モンベル名古屋栄店) | 2nd Floor

Face Records Nagoya

The rich warm sound and amazing album art have helped vinyl make a comeback in recent years, and if you (or your loved ones) own a record player, Face Records is the place to shop. Japanese record shops tend to have a unique variety you won’t often find in other countries, and this one in particular has shelves and shelves of rare oldies, classic Japanese city pop, the latest chart toppers, and everything in between.

Face Records has a selection you could flip through for hours, which means just about any record enthusiast is likely to find something to bring home, whether that’s an eclectic, uniquely Japanese album or a popular single from an international superstar. Before you visit, you can get an inkling of what they have to offer by looking at the interesting mix of records featured on the official Face Records Instagram. Stop by Face Records to pick up the latest hits from Japanese popstars like YOASOBI to round out your collection, search for your favorite The Beatles album, or buy some Mariya Takeuchi and Tatsuro Yamashita vinyls for your city pop-loving friends back home!

Face Records Nagoya (フェイスレコード名古屋) | 2nd Floor

Restaurant & Cafe Recommendations: Nagoya Cuisine, Matcha Treats, & Amazing Views

THE 7th TERRACE (The Royal Park Hotel Iconic Nagoya)

If you’re the kind of traveler who enjoys good food and even better views, you’ll want to visit THE 7th TERRACE during your trip to Nagoya. The lunch menu offers a high-end experience for a reasonable price, and throughout the afternoon the cafe options give travelers a convenient spot to relax while making the most of their time in Nagoya. We recommend the standard lunch set, which includes a vibrant green salad with balsamic dressing and a hearty chunk of focaccia, along with a choice of pasta dishes or protein-based main dishes (like the sauteed salmon above, dressed in an anchovy-caper sauce).

While THE 7th TERRACE does have indoor seating for chilly days, we recommend asking for a seat out on the terrace when weather permits. The scenery is amazing, with Nagoya’s skyline stretching out in front of you, Hisaya Odori Park down at street level, and the Nagoya TV Tower (officially the “Chubu Electric Power Mirai Tower”) not far in the distance. On warm sunny days it’s a heavenly place to enjoy lunch, or just a cup of coffee, and take some pretty cool photos too!

The 7th Terrace (The Royal Park Hotel Iconic Nagoya) | 7th Floor

Unagi no Kanemitsu ^{_{Chunichi Building Shop}}

Nagoya is known for its “unagi” (eel) cuisine, grilling the fish over a hot charcoal grill for crispy edges, and dousing it in a rich, sweet sauce for a mouth-watering result. At the Chunichi Building, it only takes one glance past the glass at the chefs cooking eel at Unagi no Kanemitsu to see that this is the place to try it! The restaurant offers a variety of eel dishes, from local classics to their own unique specialties.

^{_{Top: Una-kimo-don / Bottom: Hitsumabushi}}

For a unique unagi meal, order Unagi no Kanemitsu’s original Una-kimo-don, a rice bowl topped with grilled eel meat and liver – a highly sought-after delicacy! This meat and liver bowl is in high demand, and since the restaurant can only prepare a limited number of them each day, you’ll want to visit Unagi no Kanemitsu close to opening time if you want to try it. For a traditional experience, order Nagoya’s famous dish “hitsumabushi” instead. Each platter includes a generous portion of eel on a bed of rice, along with dashi broth, and a selection of condiments, ready to be eaten in a variety of delicious combinations!

Unagi no Kanemitsu ^{_{Chunichi Building Shop}} (うなぎの兼光中日ビル店) | 3rd Floor

YATAGARASU

_{^{Dera Dera Matcha Latte}}

Matcha has become more and more popular across the globe in recent years, but despite the green tea powder’s increasing availability overseas, there’s still nowhere better to enjoy matcha than in its home country of Japan – and YATAGARASU is a great example. This specialty shop prepares matcha drinks and sweets using single-origin green tea from a farm in Kyoto, frothing up hot bowls of tea in front of your eyes, and serving some of the lushest matcha treats you’ll find anywhere on this planet. 

^{_{Bottom: Matcha Choux Creme (Cream Puff)}}

A simple matcha latte or a scoop of YATAGARASU’s matcha ice cream are each packed with matcha flavor, but true matcha lovers might want to order some of the more deluxe options on the menu. The matcha cream puff offers a satisfyingly crisp and lightly sweet shell filled to the brim with fluffy green tea cream. The Dera Dera Matcha Latte is probably the most decadent choice of all, with a layer of matcha red bean jam on the bottom of the cup to add a touch of sugar to the strong, unsweetened matcha latte base, topped with both a scoop of ice cream and a cute little matcha terrine cake. The variety of different textures, with each part adding another layer of distinct matcha flavor, will send matcha lovers straight to paradise.

YATAGARASU | B1F

Only at the Chunichi Building

The Nationwide Tourism Center

No matter how long your trip to Japan is, fitting in a visit to every region across the country is probably unrealistic. But at the Chunichi Building, you can get a little look at a few extra destinations all around Japan! Most of the 5th floor is devoted to the unique Nationwide Tourism Center, which hosts tourism offices from a dozen or so Japanese prefectures! Each area has its own displays, packed with plenty of tempting tourist information that might just help you discover a new destination for your next trip to Japan, and many prefectures have unique cultural exhibitions as well. Some areas even sell regional products, which you’re likely to find anywhere else – until you visit that region of Japan, of course! Don’t miss the giant (fake) sushi from Toyama, the Ishikawa displays plastered in gold leaf, the dramatic diorama of gods and dragons looming over Shimane’s area, or Fukushima’s enormous “akabeko.” If traveling from the southernmost prefecture in Japan to the northernmost island in just a few footsteps leaves you feeling exhausted, the center of the 5th floor also has a comfortable lounge area where you can relax.

Views of Nagoya

Even if you don’t make it to The 7th Terrace, you can still enjoy Chunichi Building’s great views of Nagoya from the 7th-floor viewing deck! We particularly recommend visiting at night, when the space is lit* with a colorful glow.

^{*Light displays present for a limited time only, and may be subject to end without warning.}

Don’t Miss This Convenient Shopping Spot in Nagoya!

With shopping options that range from traditional ceramic treasures to Japan’s most high-tech outdoor apparel, the Chunichi Building in Nagoya is a modern shopping and cultural hub. Stop in to find nearly 100 shops and restaurants in close proximity to iconic landmarks like Nagoya Castle and Hisaya Odori Park, and directly connected to the subway station. Whether your ideal trip to Japan has you savoring local delicacies, browsing unique shops, or enjoying panoramic views, this convenient Nagoya spot offers something for everyone!

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