Chicago has world class museums. Nagoya doesn't. I thought Nagoya Castle was a real yawner, I don't think many medieval Japanese castles were really made of reinforced concrete.

How about a day trip to the Kiso Valley?

+1. ^

What to do? Arrive 12/29 Leave 12-31

Have you read the replies above?

That pretty much covers it for Nagoya, one of the least interesting cities in Japan. "A nice place to live, but I wouldn't want to visit there."

However, it will be the lead-up to New Year's celebrations, so you can ask at your hotel if any of the local shrines or temples have any interesting events scheduled. I once visited some acquaintances there in September or October, and they took me to a festival where people write wishes on a slab of wood and then burn them in a big bonfire. Obviously, that won't be going on while you're there, but in any large city, there's always a festival somewhere.

Best thing to do with one full day in Nagoya? Day trip to Kyoto.

Nagoya isn't as bad as people make out, it's just has a bit of a different focus to a lot of other Japanese cities. My suggestions would be:

Nagoya City Science Museum - one of the best science museums I've ever visited
Toyota Museum - high quality car museum, very well selected non Toyota stuff (the only place I've seen a Duesenberg for example)
Toyota commemorative museum of Industry and Technology - hands on museum with working exihbits tracking Toyota's life from the looms through to car production
Toyota factory tour - has to be organised ahead of time but really interesting
SC Maglev and Railway park - reasonably new rail museum, a lot of exhibits and some interesting stuff on the maglev
Tokugawa art museum - not a huge museum some nice stuff
Inuyama castle - one of the best castles in Japan
Ukai Fishing - The night fishing at Gifu is one of the highlights of all my trips to Japan
Day trip to Kiso Valley - in particular the walk between the well preserved postal towns Tsumago and Magome

Nagoya is an industrial city so a lot of the attractions are geared around science and technology rather than temples and geishas. I think a lot of people see that as a weakness but personally this is why I enjoy the city as it's a very good counterpoint to the Kyoto's and Takayama's.

The Design Center is worth a visit too IMO, and the Aquarium is okay, especially if you're a fan of giant sea turtles.

In July, I was impressed with Sakae Bus Terminal Oasis 21.

An ultramodern, relaxing space with some local cuisine restaurants.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bmvoFVm...%3DbmvoFVmJRxY

Slough recently got a new bus terminal too:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0t9Cd5rRPsE

Is Nagoya the Slough of Japan? Slough is forever linked to the poem David Brent recited in the Office, with commentary like, "You don't solve town planning problems by dropping bombs all over the place" Nice bus terminal btw. Really ^

Not really. Tachikawa or Ichikawa is probably the Slough of Japan.
Nagoya might be the Birmingham of Japan (that's Birmingham, England - not Alabama). Motown, without Tamla.

I didn't see that episode of The Office. But the poem in question is probably this one?
http://www-cdr.stanford.edu/intuition/Slough.html

Isn't Toyota also the hub of Brasilians in Japan? Just in case you wanted to add a frango sandwich or a spoonful of feijoada to your post-competition diet...

I thought Oizumi, north of Tokyo in Gunma prefecture, was the Brazilian hub of Japan. Or maybe just one of many?

Brazilian population:
Hamamatsu 12268
Oizumi 4396

Foreigner/resident ratio:
Hamamatsu 3.1%
Oizumi 15.3%

As of 2012 Apr.

Raw data: http://www.shujutoshi.jp/member/pdf/...katosidata.pdf

In late November, Korankei would be worth a visit.
http://www.asahi.com/national/update...211150024.html
http://www.hyakunensou.co.jp/asuke/