Seven species of carnivorous plants make the Ichōda Wetland a distinctive natural feature of Taketoyo. Other highlights include an unusual railway turntable, historic lanes, and the traditions of miso and tamari. Nature, railway history, and production offer different ways to explore the town.

Plant Life and Walking Paths

Seven species of carnivorous plants grow in the Ichōda Wetland. They include rare species and Hime-mimikakigusa, which is endemic to the Tōkai region. The plant community as a whole is also protected: the wetland is designated both as a natural monument of Aichi Prefecture and as an area for the protection of the prefecture’s natural environment. Here, individual botanical features sit alongside the protected status of the plant community.

Those interested in walking can find two different landscapes in Taketoyo. Gota Pocket Park lies south of JR Taketoyo Station on a former railway line. A walking path lined with cherry trees runs through it. A park has been created by the water at Shikagai Pond, where you can walk along the shore and watch ducks arriving at the pond. While Gota Pocket Park centers on a path along the former railway line, Shikagai Pond brings together the waterside and duck-watching.

Railway Heritage and Historic Lanes

The turntable at the former Taketoyo-Minato Station is protected as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan. Its rare design has two tracks crossing at right angles. This type of turntable is said to survive only in Taketoyo in Japan. It is a tangible technical record of the town’s railway history.

The lanes of Ōashi and Satonaka offer a different view of the town’s history. Preserved brewery buildings and black plank fences shape the historic townscape. Their interplay along the lanes creates this impression: the distinctive streetscape is formed not only by individual buildings but also by the dark fences.

Miso, Tamari, and Places to Visit

Five breweries in Taketoyo continue to make traditional miso and tamari. The Jōzō Denshōkan adds another dimension to this story in a former brewery belonging to Nakatei Shoten. It displays equipment used to make miso and tamari, as well as a range of documents. This shows two sides of brewery culture: production that continues in Taketoyo and an exhibition of equipment and documents related to production. Check the exhibition center’s visitor arrangements before your trip.

The Mitsui Family Residence also connects local history with a specific opportunity to visit. For generations, the Mitsui family served as village headmen of Nagao Village, which is now part of Taketoyo. The residence is open to the public on the second and fourth Sundays of each month, twice monthly, and also hosts various events. Plan your visit around the specific Sundays and event dates, and check the program before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Inazawa, Toyota, Higashiura, Ōbu, Seto, Toyohashi, Ama, Toyone

For the overview of the wider region: Aichi Prefecture.