Nagoya Travel Guide

Getting There By Air

Central Japan International Airport (Centrair) (NGO)
Tel: (056) 938 1195.
Website: www.centrair.jp/en

Central Japan International Airport, or Centrair as it’s popularly called, opened in 2005 on a man-made island 35km (23 miles) to the south of Nagoya, and is the nearest international airport to the city.

Facilities at the airport include disabled access, car rental, currency exchange offices, ATMs, bars, restaurants, shops and baby care facilities. Passengers can take advantage of the Business Center, which offers fax, copying and other office functions. Internet access is also available at the airport. There are five information desks in the terminal building where staff can assist with transportation enquiries, flight information and rental of wheelchairs or baby carriages.

JR Tokai Bus Company (tel: (052) 354 3811) operates frequent services between the airport and Nagoya station (journey time - about 45 minutes). Meitetsu (tel: (052) 582 5151; website: website: www.meitetsu-bus.co.jp) bus services are also frequent and call at Sakae and several hotels in the city. Many Nagoya taxi companies serve the airport at all times. Meitetsu (tel: (052) 582 5151; website: www.meitetsu.co.jp) trains offer the fastest way of getting into town, covering the distance between the airport and the central station in 28 minutes.

Getting There By Road

Nagoya is situated in the middle of Japan along the east-west stretch between Tokyo and the western Kansai region. It is extremely well connected, and several big motorways converge on the city. Roads are well maintained. Traffic drives on the left and the minimum driving age is 18 years old. Speed limits vary considerably so pay attention to speed limit signs. Foreign drivers can use an international license for up to one year. The Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) (tel: (03) 3578 4910; www.jaf.or.jp/e/index_e.htm), provides an English-language 'Rules of the Road' booklet and JAF Road Service offers 24-hour breakdown assistance for both members and non-members. In the case of an accident, the police must be informed (tel: 110).

Emergency breakdown services
JAF (tel: 8139).

Routes to the city
The Tomei Expressway and Chuo Expressway both run from Tokyo westwards to Nagoya, while the Meishin Expressway takes you straight to Nagoya if you drive from Osaka or Kyoto.

Driving times to the city
From Tokyo - 5-7 hours; Osaka - 3 hours; Kyoto – 2 hours 30 minutes.

Coach services
The bus station in Nagoya is located adjacent to the main train station. JR Bus Kanto (tel: (03) 3844 1950; www.jrbuskanto.co.jp/bus_route_e) operates regular coach services between Nagoya and Tokyo. JR Tokai (tel: (052) 563 0489; www.jrtbinm.co.jp) runs coach services to and from Kyoto, Osaka and several other cities. Meitetsu (tel: (052) 582 5151; www.meitetsu-bus.co.jp) buses run between Nagoya and Kanazawa and Takayama, while Willer Express (tel: (050) 5805 0383; http://travel.willer.co.jp/index.html) has direct coaches from Nagoya to Sendai in northern Japan, as well as Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the south.

Getting There By Rail

Rail Services
Nagoya's huge central railway station, JR Nagoya Station, is located in Nakamura-ku, on the western side of Nagoya's city center, right below the landmark Japan Railway Central Towers. It connects the city to national and regional rail networks, while within the city there are six subway lines convenient for Fushimi, Sakae and Imaike - the main shopping and nightlife areas in Nagoya.

Rail Operators
Central Japan Railway Company (tel: (050) 3772 3910; http://english.jr-central.co.jp/index.html) runs the Tōkaidō Shinkansen bullet train that stops at JR Nagoya Station on its way between Tokyo and Osaka. Departures are frequent. Nozomi trains are the fastest, while hikari trains are slightly slower – add about 10-20 minutes to the journey time. Please note that the Japan Rail Pass is not valid on nozomi trains. The JR Kansai line, servicing the western region, also runs from Nagoya's main railway station. Next to JR Nagoya Station is Meitetsu Nagoya Station, from where Nagoya Railroad (tel: (052) 582 5151; www.meitetsu.co.jp/english) operates the local rail network for Nagoya and the surrounding region, and Kintetsu Nagoya Station, the terminal of the Kintetsu Nagoya Line (www.kintetsu.jp/english/index.html), which connects Nagoya with Kuwana, Yokkaichi, Suzuka and Tsu.

Connections
Journey times using the fast nozomi Shinkansen trains: From Tokyo – 1 hour 40 minutes; Kyoto – 35 minutes; Osaka – 50 minutes.

Getting Around in Nagoya, Japan

Public Transport

Many of Nagoya's main sites are within walking distance from the city center and the station area, so many visitors to Nagoya choose to explore large parts of the city by foot. Still, some attractions are located further away, and it is convenient that both the subway and the key bus routes cover a large area and are efficient and easy to use. The major terminals for the city buses are Nagoya-eki (on the second floor of the terminal building, just north of Nagoya Station) and Sakae (at Oasis 21 or Funsui-minami). A one-day travel card covering both the subway and the bus throughout Nagoya is available. For more information, visit: www.kotsu.city.nagoya.jp/english/index.html. Another convenient way to get around Nagoya's main sites is with the Me-guru sightseeing route bus (www.ncvb.or.jp/routebus/en/index.html). You can buy one-day passes or single rides on the bus.

Taxis

There are several taxi ranks throughout Nagoya. They can be hailed anywhere on the street and tipping is not expected. To pre-book a taxi, call Meitetsu Taxi (tel: (052) 331 2211), Tsubame Taxi (tel: (052) 203 1212), Kintetsu Taxi (tel: (052) 221 6611), Fuji Taxi (tel: (052) 523 2211) or Towa Taxi (tel: (052) 962 2331).

Car Hire

All foreign visitors need an international driver's license to hire a car in Nagoya. Hertz has several offices in Nagoya, including in Sakae (tel: (052) 204 0100; www.hertz.com) and at Central Japan International Airport (tel: (056) 938 0100). Other companies include Nippon Rent-A-Car (tel: (03) 3485 7196; www.nipponrentacar.co.jp), and Toyota Rent-A-Car (tel: (03) 5954 8020; http://rent.toyota.co.jp/en/index.html). Travelers can also make discounts with car hire and train fare package deals by booking at JR Eki Rent A Car, just look for the travel centers in every JR station (www.ekiren.co.jp).

Bicycle Hire

With its wide boulevards and leafy parks, Nagoya is a good city to explore by bicycle. Some hotels in Nagoya offer complimentary bicycle hire to their guests, but there are also bicycle rental companies that will deliver and pick up bikes from your hotel. Try Raku-Chin Ketta Rent-a-cycle (tel: (052) 201 6023; www.jtb.co.jp/shop/houjinnagoya/info/rentacycle) or Rentarin Nagoya (tel: (052) 481 6963; http://rentalin758.com).