Mikawa Bay is Aichi’s sheltered inland sea, its calm waters and mild shores long developed as the prefecture’s seaside playground around the resort town of Gamagori. The bay’s landmark is Takeshima, a tiny sacred islet crowned with a shrine and linked to the shore by a 387-metre footbridge, while the modern draw is Laguna Ten Bosch, a waterfront leisure complex whose theme-park zone mixes summer pools, rides, some of central Japan’s most lavish winter illuminations and a festival marketplace of shops and restaurants, making the area an easy family day out of Nagoya.
🗓️ At a Glance
| Location | Gamagori, Aichi |
| Hours | Laguna hours vary by season; Takeshima always open |
| Admission | Laguna from ~¥2,500; bay and islet free |
| Time needed | Half day to full day |
| Best time | Summer for pools; winter for illuminations |
What to Do
- Takeshima islet, a shrine-topped rock reached by footbridge.
- Laguna Ten Bosch pools, rides and marketplace.
- Winter illuminations among central Japan’s most lavish.
- Gamagori’s onsen hotels and bayside promenade.
Combine Your Visit
- Combine with Irago Cape further down the coast.
- Pair with Nagoya Meshi back in the city.
- Read our Aichi overview .
Getting There
- By train: JR Tokaido Line to Gamagori, ~35 minutes from Nagoya; shuttle bus to Laguna.
- By car: about an hour from Nagoya via the Tomei Expressway.
Tips
Check Laguna’s seasonal calendar before going — the pools run high summer only and the famous illuminations light from late autumn through winter evenings, so the complex rewards different seasons differently. Takeshima’s footbridge crossing and the island’s shrine loop take under an hour and cost nothing, making them the perfect counterpoint to the theme park.
