NAGOYA PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Unless you have specific business else where - you'll probably only need to take the Higashiyama subway line between Nagoya Station and Sakae station. Those stations, with Fushimi Station between, make up the downtown district of Nagoya. However, if you are traveling elsewhere, Nagoya has a great public transportation system, and you can get to most points around the city using the subway, trains or the bus.
The Nagoya Subway system is clean and efficient and goes to most points in the city. The lowest fare is 200 yen, and depending on which station you are going to, rises to 320 yen. If you have any trouble figuring out the fare, just buy the 200 yen ticket, and pay the extra amount to the wicket person at your destination. Click the above tab for the Nagoya Subway map in English.
The Nagoya Bus system covers most of the city - but unless you can read Japanese or know the area it's not recommended to ride a regular city bus as it can be confusing about what station you are at. Taking the Subway or trains, and then a taxi if necessary is probably your best bet.
Nagoya Taxis are usually clean and efficient. The minimum fare varies from around 600 yen for the first two kilometers and rises rapidly afterward. A meter box displays the amount, and you can ask for a receipt upon arrival. Drivers are always white-gloved, invariably courteous, and usually take the most direct route. Sometimes late night taxis tack on a small percentage.
TO and FROM DOWNTOWN NAGOYA TO CENTRAIR - NAGOYA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
The most convenient way to Nagoya Airport 'Centrair' is to use the Meitetsu Airport train line, which gets to Nagoya Station in just 28 minutes (Price 870 yen). Along the way it also stops at Kanayama Station (15 minutes, 790 yen) and Tokoname station (10 minutes, 300 yen). There are several trains every hour throughout the day.
Going by Airport Bus is also an option. To Downtown Sakae it takes an hour or so and costs 1500 yen - stops are made at several hotels in downtown Nagoya, finishing at Nagoya Station.
Taxi’s from the Nagoya airport are about 7000 yen for the one way trip into Nagoya.
Train travel to any other major city in Japan probably means using the Shinkansen, the bullet train. All Shinkansens depart from Nagoya Station every 10-15 minutes North toward Tokyo, and South toward Kyoto and Osaka throughout the day.
The most convenient way to buy a ticket is at the electronic windows near the center of Nagoya Station. There is an English display option. The screen shows whether reserved seats are open (a circle), or full (an X mark). If almost full, there is a triangle mark. The reserved seats are worth the small extra amount as the open seating sections are usually full.
On the ticket, your carriage number, row number, and seat letter are indicated. Be sure to hold on to your tickets, as a conductor will check during the ride, and you need them upon exiting at your final station.
