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Nagoya travel guide

Nagoya is Japan's fourth-largest city and the industrial centre of Aichi prefecture, with the car industry dominating the local economy. The city spreads over 16 wards, but visitors mostly need three hubs, all linked by subway: Nagoya Station, Sakae and Kanayama. It lies on the Tōkaidō Shinkansen between Tokyo and Kyoto, which makes it a practical stopover.

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Getting there and choosing your base

  • Chubu Centrair International Airport (NGO): On an artificial island south of the city. The Meitetsu Airport Line runs to Meitetsu Nagoya, next to the JR station, so a hotel around Nagoya Station is the simplest choice after a late landing.
  • Nagoya Station: A Tōkaidō Shinkansen stop and the starting point for limited expresses to Takayama and to Matsumoto and Nagano. A station-area base works for day trips across central Japan.
  • Nagoya Airport (NKM), Komaki: The old airport north of the city now handles only regional Fuji Dream Airlines flights. Check which airport your ticket names before choosing a hotel.

Areas to consider

Nagoya Station (Meieki)

Suits rail travellers and short business trips. The station complex is large; check whether the hotel is on the Sakura-dōri (east) side or the Taikō-dōri (west) side.

Sakae

Suits shopping, dining and evenings out, within reach of Nagoya Castle and Ōsu. Sakae is served by several stations, including Sakae, Hisaya-ōdōri and Yaba-chō; confirm which is nearest and which line it is on.

Fushimi

Suits a central stay between the station and Sakae, where the Higashiyama and Tsurumai lines cross. It is mainly an office district, so check what is open nearby in the evening if you are staying over a weekend.

Kanayama

Suits travellers looking for lower rates with good rail and Meijō Line connections in the south of the city. Most sights are a subway ride away, so weigh the saving against daily travel time.

When to go

The Nagoya sumo tournament runs for 15 days in July and adds demand for central rooms. As elsewhere in Japan, Golden Week, the mid-August Obon holidays and New Year are the domestic travel peaks. Summers are hot and humid, so air conditioning matters from June to September.

Before choosing a room

  • Airport buses from Centrair stop at a few major hotels as well as the Meitetsu Bus Terminal; check whether yours is one of them.
  • For day trips to Ise on Kintetsu or to Inuyama on Meitetsu, check which station entrance is closest, since the private railways have separate platforms from JR.
  • Ryokan-style hostels near the station may have shared baths with set hours; check the arrangements if you arrive late.

Sources and planning resources

Facts checked on . Transport services, taxes and hotel offers can change. Confirm the details for your trip before booking.

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