Japan (Lonely Planet, 11th Edition) - Chris Rowthorn [184]
Some 30 airlines connect Centrair with around 30 international cities (in Europe, North America, Australia and especially Asia) and 20 Japanese cities, though some are faster reached by train.
Boat
Taiheiyo ferry (398-1023) runs between Nagoya and Tomakomai (Hokkaidō, from ¥10,500, 38½ hours) via Sendai (from ¥7000, 21 hours) every second evening at 8pm. Take the Meikō subway line to Nagoya-kō Station and head for Nagoya Port.
Bus
JR and Meitetsu Highway buses (563-0489) operate services between Nagoya and Kyoto (¥2500, 2½ hours, hourly), Osaka (¥2900, three hours, hourly), Kanazawa (¥4060, four hours, 10 daily) and Tokyo (¥5100, six hours, 14 daily). Overnight buses run to Hiroshima (¥8400, nine hours).
Train
Nagoya is a major shinkansen hub, connecting with Tokyo (¥10,580, 1¾ hours), Shin-Osaka (¥6180, 50 minutes), Kyoto (¥5440, 35 minutes) and Hiroshima (¥13,630, 2½ hours). The private Meitetsu line is your best bet within the region.
To the Japan Alps, you can take the JR Chūō line to Nagano (Shinano tokkyū, ¥7330, 2¾ hours) via Matsumoto (¥5670, two hours). A separate line serves Takayama (Hida tokkyū, ¥5670, 2¼ hours).
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GETTING AROUND
To/From the Airport
Central Japan International Airport is accessible from Nagoya Station via the Meitetsu Kūkō (Airport) line (tokkyū, ¥870, 28 minutes). A taxi from central Nagoya costs upwards of ¥13,000.
Bus
The Me~guru bus (www.ncvb.or.jp/routebus/en/index.html; day pass adult/child ¥500/250; 9.30am-5pm, hourly Tue-Fri, twice hourly Sat & Sun) makes a convenient loop (close) to attractions in the Meieki, Sakae and castle areas, and offers discounted admission.
Subway & Train
Nagoya’s Transportation Bureau (www.kotsu.city.nagoya.jp/english/index.html) operates an excellent subway system with six lines, clearly signposted in English and Japanese. The most useful lines for visitors are the Meijō (purple), Higashiyama (yellow) and Sakura-dōri (red) lines. The last two serve Nagoya Station, and the Meijō line has a spur to the Meikō line to Nagoya Port. Fares cost ¥200 to ¥320 depending on distance. One-day passes (¥740, ¥850 including city buses), available at ticket machines, include subway transport and discounted admission to many attractions. On Saturday and Sunday the donichi eco-kippu (Saturday-Sunday eco-ticket) gives the same benefits for ¥600 per day.
Meitetsu Nagoya Station is cramped and confusing. Trains for different destinations come at rapid-fire pace on its four underground platforms. Departures are colour-coded on platform signage.
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FAMOUS FACTORIES FOR FREE
Nagoya is the hub of a major industrial centre and visitors have a unique opportunity to visit some of the world’s leading manufacturers. Bookings are required.
Two-hour tours of Toyota Motor Corporation’s main plant in Toyota city depart from the Toyota Kaikan Exhibition Hall (0565-23-3922; www.toyota.co.jp/en/about_toyota/facility/toyota_kaikan; 11am Mon-Fri). Book online up to three months in advance. Allow at least one hour to get to Toyota city from central Nagoya; check the website for directions. See also the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry & Technology.
Denso (off Map; 0566-61-7215; www.globaldenso.com/en/aboutdenso/hall/gallery; Kariya City; 9.30am-5pm Mon-Fri) is a company whose products you’ve used even if you don’t know its name: its backbone is automotive components, but there are also industrial robots. Short visits (up to one hour) take place in the Denso Gallery, or you can visit the plant on a 2½-hour tour. It’s a seven-minute walk from Kariya Station on the JR Tōkaidō line.
The Nagoya brewery of Asahi Beer (Map; 052-792-8966; 9.30am-3pm, closed irregularly) welcomes visitors for 1¼-hour tours. Sample the wares for the tour’s final 20 minutes – woo-hoo! Request about one month in advance for English guidance. Take the JR Chūō line to Shin-Moriyama Station; it’s a 15-minute walk.
If none of that starts your motor, visit www.sangyokanko.jp for more ideas.
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