thumb|Naka Ward Office

is one of the 16 wards of the city of Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 October 2019, the ward has an estimated population of 90,918 and a population density of 9,693 persons per km<sup>2</sup>. The total area is 9.38&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>.

Geography

Naka Ward is located in the center of Nagoya city. Largely hemmed in by Sakura-dōri (桜通り), Ōtsu-dōri (大津通り), Fushimi-dōri (伏見通り) and Tsurumai-dōri (鶴舞通り), it contains the main shopping area of Sakae which includes a massive air-conditioned 5 square-kilometer underground mall and the 'after-five' semi-red light districts of Nishiki and Shin-sakae.

Surrounding municipalities

  • Chikusa Ward
  • Kita Ward
  • Higashi Ward
  • Nishi Ward
  • Nakamura Ward
  • Shōwa Ward
  • Atsuta Ward
  • Nakagawa Ward

History

Naka Ward was one of the original four wards of the city of Nagoya, established on April 1, 1908. On February 1, 1944, a portion of Naka Ward was divided out to become , but was merged back into Naka Ward on November 3, 1945. Most of the area was completely destroyed during the bombing of Nagoya in World War II. After the war, the layout of the streets was changed to a grid pattern, with wide streets serving as firebreaks. The city is especially proud of Sakae's 100-meter road (100メートル道路) so named because of its width. There are small parks and areas for public performances in the area between two four-lane roads that service the city centre. The road is about in width, and in length.

Until the 1980s, town-planners were not allowed to build structures more than six stories in height outside of the business districts.

Economy

In addition the Sakae shopping area, there is also Ōsu, a sprawling old-style small-trader shopping area spreading out from the large Ōsu Kannon (大須観音), a Buddhist temple that holds flea markets. The covered streets housing numerous restaurants and stores selling fashion garments, electronics and alternative medicine give a small taste of what Japan might have been like before modernization. Between Ōsu and Sakae in Shirakawa Park are the city's Science and Modern Art museums. South of Ōsu is Kanayama Station (straddling the border with Atsuta-ku and Nakagawa-ku), Nagoya's second-most important rail transportation hub after Nagoya Station and a major access point for the Central Japan International Airport. Many izakayas and pachinko parlors can be found in its vicinity.

Naka-ku is also home to the city's Opera House and the main government offices, including the Nagoya City Hall and the Aichi Prefectural Government Office.

When Matsuzakaya was an independent company, its headquarters were in Naka-ku.

Fushimi is the traditional commercial area.

Education

  • Ohkagakuen University
  • Tokyo University of Social Welfare

Transportation

Railroads

  • JR Central – Chūō Main Line
  • –
  • Meitetsu – Seto Line
  • Nagoya Municipal Subway – Higashiyama Line
  • –
  • Nagoya Municipal Subway – Meijō Line
  • Kanayama – – – – Sakae – –
  • Nagoya Municipal Subway – Tsurumai Line
  • – Fushimi – – Kamimaezu – Tsurumai
  • Nagoya Municipal Subway – Sakura-dōri Line
  • Marunouchi – Hisaya-ōdōri

Highways

  • Ring Route (Nagoya Expressway)
  • Route 2 (Nagoya Expressway)
  • Japan National Route 19
  • Japan National Route 22
  • Japan National Route 41
  • Japan National Route 153

Notable attractions

  • Nagoya Castle
  • Nagoya TV Tower
  • Ōsu Kannon
  • Banshō-ji
  • Shōman-ji, Nagoya
  • Nagoya City Science Museum
  • Nagoya City Art Museum
  • Electricity Museum, Nagoya
  • Nagoya/Boston Museum of Fine Arts
  • Hisaya Ōdori Park
  • Misono-za
  • Ran no Yakata
  • SKE48
  • Kawabun

<gallery>

File:Marunouchi Ramp 20160403A.JPG|Marunouchi and Sannomaru

File:Sakura-dori Street from Nichigin-mae Crossroads (east).JPG|Marunouchi (Business District)

File:Shiyakushokencho1.JPG|Sannomaru (Government Town)

File:@NAGOYA.jpg|@NAGOYA

File:Street view of Hirokoji-dori Street from Hirokoji-Fushimi Crossroads (east).JPG|Fushimi (Financial District)

File:Main shopping street (Osu in Nagoya, Japan).jpg|Ōsu (Electric Town)

File:Osukannon.jpg|Ōsu Kannon

File:Banshoji.jpg|Banshō-ji

File:Nagoya TV Tower1.jpg|Nagoya TV Tower

File:Nagoya TV Tower3.jpg|Oasis 21 and Nagoya TV Tower

File:Central Park Underground City 20150918.JPG|Central Park Underground City

File:OASYS 21, Sakae, Nagoya - panoramio.jpg|Sakae Underground City

File:1 Chome Higashisakura, Higashi-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi-ken 461-0005, Japan - panoramio (2).jpg|Aichi Arts Center(Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art)

File:2016 Japan Nagoya 81 (33038233234).jpg|Oasis 21

File:Ikeda park.jpg|Ikeda Park

File:3 Chome Sakae, Naka-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi-ken 460-0008, Japan - panoramio (7).jpg|Ōtsu street

File:LACHIC 2017.jpg|LACHIC

File:Nagoya zero gate edited.jpg|Nagoya ZERO GATE

File:でんきの科学館 (愛知県名古屋市中区栄) - panoramio (1).jpg|Electricity Museum, Nagoya

File:Princess-Odori 101027.jpg|Entertainment district in Princess Street(Gofukucho streer)

File:3 Chome Sakae, Naka-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi-ken 460-0008, Japan - panoramio (9).jpg|Nadya park

File:白川公園入口 - panoramio.jpg|Shirakawa Park

File:Nagoya City Art Museum ac.jpg|Nagoya City Art Museum

File:Shirakawa Park 20161119A.jpg|Nagoya City Science Museum

File:Kanayama Minami Building s2.JPG|Nagoya/Boston Museum of Fine Arts

File:Grande maison Misonoza the tower (2017-11-05).jpg|Misono-za

File:Fushimi Millionza-e.jpg|Fusimi Million-za

File:Hisaya-odori Garden Flarie, in Naka, Nagoya, Aichi (2016-03-26) 13.jpg|Hisaya-odori Garden Flarie(Ran no Yakata)

File:The night view of Hisaya Odori Park.jpg|Hisaya Ōdori Park

File:Ferris Wheel at Sakae.jpg|Sunshine Sakae

File:Ske48 teamk2.jpg|SKE48

File:錦通り - panoramio.jpg|Nisiki Street

File:Proud Tower Nagoya Sakae.jpg|Terrasse Nayabashi

File:Nayabashi night.jpg|Nayabashi

File:Sakae night.jpg|Sakae Night

</gallery>

Noted people

  • Oda Nobunaga – samurai during the Sengoku period
  • Midori Ito – professional figure skater
  • Kanako Murakami – professional figure skater
  • Shoma Uno – professional figure skater
  • Hiroshi Tachi –actor, singer

References

  • City of Nagoya website – English