The Nakagawa Canal is an approximately 8-km-long canal that connects Nagoya Port with the Nagoya city center. After opening in 1932, it supported daily life and manufacturing as a logistics artery. With the decline of water transportation in recent years, and in order to revitalize the canal as a valuable urban waterfront area with pleasant and attractive spaces, the Nagoya Port Authority joined together with the City of Nagoya to establish the Nakagawa Canal Revitalization Plan in 2012 and promote initiatives for the revitalization of the canal.
The Nakagawa Canal is a closed water area separated from the sea by locks, and water quality tends to be poor. To create a more favorable water environment, highly treated water has been introduced into the canal since 2017 and the Matsushige Pump Station was renovated to promote water circulation by increasing seawater intake in 2024. In the eastern branch of the canal, efforts have been made since 2021 to cover the canal bottom with sand. As a result, the water quality of the canal has steadily improved compared to previous levels.
The Nagoya Port Authority is also developing waterfront green areas and promenades on both sides of the canal that have attracted restaurants and shops. The Nakagawa Canal is being revitalized into an attractive waterfront space where events that utilize the green spaces and water areas in front of the canal are held, attracting many people.