One of the best ways to explore a new city is on foot—so why not run it? 😊
On March 9, 2025, we laced up for the Nagoya City Half Marathon, kicking off at Vantelin Dome Nagoya and crossing the finish line at Shirakawa Park, home to the Nagoya City Science Museum. With clear blue skies and a crisp morning breeze, it was the perfect day to experience Nagoya, Japan’s fourth-largest city after Tokyo, Yokohama, and Osaka.
Nagoya isn’t just a bustling metropolis—it’s a powerhouse of automotive, fine ceramics, and railway industries, home to global giants like Toyota, Brother, and Mitsubishi. We passed by many of these giants’ office buildings. With a ceramics tradition spanning over a thousand years with Noritake (which we first learned about from our grandma who lived in Japan in the 1950s), the city blends history with cutting-edge innovation. As we ran past its soaring skyscrapers, we could feel the energy of a city that drives Japan’s economy forward.
We celebrated in style with well-deserved treats! Delicious strawberry cake and rich chocolate truffles. Strawberries are in season and featured in pies, tarts, cakes, madeleines, and more.
What a great weekend and fun way to experience another part of Japan. With only 300 international runners out of 8700, we were able to see how the Japanese are avid and excellent runners. The race was very well organized and had many friendly volunteers! We look forward to more races in Japan.