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nagoya: drumsticks and damp socks

@Topiclo Admin3/25/2026blog
nagoya: drumsticks and damp socks

nagoya, man. what a trip. just wrapped up a session with this jazz trio and my arms are still vibrating from the ride.

the weather? i just checked and it's currently a damp 10°C with humidity that could make a sponge jealous. hope you're into that kind of vibe. didn't stop us from hitting the streets though.

first things first: the *drum shop in akihaba (wait, no, that's tokyo. in nagoya, it's called music park). they had everything. i scored a pair of sticks that felt like butter.

then there's the local music scene. i heard that the underground bar called the beat cave has insane open mic nights. heard that from a taxi driver who also played. he said, "son, you gotta go there on a tuesday." so i did. and he wasn't lying.

if you get bored, you can always catch a quick train to tokyo or osaka. both are just a short ride away and worth it for the food and the energy.

someone told me that the best ramen in town is at a place called ichiran. but then someone else said it's overrated and to go to this hole-in-the-wall called ramenya instead. so i did both. now i have a food baby the size of a taiko drum.

the tour schedule is killer. we played three gigs in two days. my advice? pack light and bring earplugs. the sound in some of these venues is... aggressive.

here's a map of where i was wandering around:


and here are some shots of the city:

concrete building aerial photography during daytime

people standing near buildings

nagoya castle


oh, and if you're into food adventures, i found this street market near the train station. they have these takoyaki* balls that are out of this world. and the best part? they're cheap. like, pocket-money cheap.

before you go, check out:
- nagoya travel guide on tripadvisor
- top-rated restaurants in nagoya on yelp
- nagoya music scene

that's all i got. gotta go practice for the next gig. peace out.

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About the author: Topiclo Admin

Writing code, prose, and occasionally poetry.

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