Doala steals the show
The Chunichi Dragons' mascot Doala is arguably more famous than any player on the team. This blue koala attempts a backflip during every game — sometimes landing it perfectly, sometimes failing spectacularly. Either way, the crowd erupts. Doala's deadpan comedy transcends language and is the #1 reason many tourists visit Vantelin Dome.
The stadium
Vantelin Dome Nagoya (formerly Nagoya Dome) is a 36,000-seat indoor dome. Climate-controlled and comfortable in any weather. The Dragons have a loyal, knowledgeable fanbase that appreciates good pitching and fundamentals — Nagoya is a 'baseball purist' city.
Nagoya food (Nagoya Meshi)
Nagoya has one of Japan's most distinctive regional cuisines. Inside the dome: miso katsu (deep-fried pork with red miso sauce), tebasaki (chicken wings), kishimen (flat noodles), and Taiwan ramen. Nagoya meshi and baseball are a perfect pairing.
Getting there
Nagoya Dome-mae Yada Station (Meijo Line) is a 5-minute walk. Nagoya Station is about 25 minutes by subway. If you're coming by shinkansen from Tokyo (100 minutes) or Osaka (50 minutes), it's an easy day trip.