Photo courtesy of NPO Gondora to Horikawa Mizube o Mamoru Kai

NPO Gondora to Horikawa Mizube o Mamoru Kai (ゴンドラと堀川水辺を守る会) offers a unique way to experience the Horikawa River that runs through the center of Nagoya, riding in an authentic gondola that was once used in Venice. Presented to the City of Nagoya in 1989, the 11-meter, 4-passenger gondola was exhibited at the 1989 World Design Exposition, and later at the Nagoya Port Building, before returning to the water to provide gondola rides on the Horikawa River during the 2005 Aichi Expo.
Why not take a look at the city from a new perspective as the gondola carries you under the bridges? You might even encounter fish, crabs and other residents of the river.

When: The 4th Sat. & Sun. in Mar. to Jul. and Sep. to Nov. (11:00 - 16:00) *May be subject to change during the Horikawa Flower Festival in May. See website for updates.
Where: Boat departs from Nayabashi Bridge (納屋橋) (Pier Nayabashi [ピア納屋橋]), Naka Ward (中区)
Route: Nayabashi Bridge → Nishikibashi Bridge → Nayabashi Bridge
Fare: Adults 500 Yen; Children (Elementary school students) 300 Yen; Pre-school-aged children free.
Website: http://horikawa-gondola.com/ (Japanese)