The Meitetsu Line is the fastest and cheapest way to the city centre. Nagoya city centre can be reached within 35 minutes from 980 jpy.
Alternative bus lines are slower and more expensive. They make sense, for example, when travelling to Hamamtsu, where there are no direct trains.
Meitetsu train
The station is connected to the terminal and is clearly signposted. The station is called "Central Japan International Airport" and is only served by Meitetsu trains.
Most direct trains go to Nagoya Central Station in the city centre, where you can transfer to shinkansen or the Nagoya Metro.
On the way from the city centre to the airport, trains that do not go to the airport stop at the same platform. Therefore, keep an eye out for the train's destination station.
On the way from the airport, trains run twice an hour in the afternoon only to Otagawa Station in the southern suburbs of Nagoya.
Tickets and train types
The basic fare is the same for all trains and at Meitetsu Nagoya Station is 980 jpy.
A ticket at Kanayama Station in the southern part of the city centre costs 910 jpy.
- JR Pass - not valid on Meitetsu trains
- Nagoya Metro Day Pass - not valid on Meitetsu trains
Tickets can be purchased at the ticket machine before entering the platform. You select the amount you want to pay on the screen. You can find this on the Meitetsu rail network station map displayed above the machines.
Tickets can only be paid for with cash or one of 10 Japanese transport cards. At a special machine, you can buy one of these cards - Manaca - with a deposit 500 jpy and top up with any amount. The Manaca card can then be used to pay fares throughout Japan.
If you travel in a first class carriage (only first class carriages are available on the fastest μSky-Express trains), you must also pay for a seat reservation at 450 jpy.
There are four types of trains to the airport: the Express, Semi-Express, Limited-Express and the fastest μSky-Express. Each type of train stops at a different number of stations, but all will take you to the main station in the city centre.
- μSky-Express
- Journey time to Central Station - 28 minutes
- Price at Meitetsu Nagoya Station - 980 jpy + mandatory fee 450 jpy for 1st class
- Frequency - 30 minutes
- Marked in white in red box in the timetable
- Limited Express
- Travel time to Central Station - 37 to 40 minutes
- Price at Meitetsu Nagoya Station - 980 jpy (optional extra 450 jpy for 1st class carriage)
- If you do not purchase 1st class, board from the seats marked in green on the platform (2nd class cars stop here)
- Frequency - 30 minutes
- Marked in red in the timetable
- Semi-Express
- Travel time to Central Station - 48 minutes
- Price at Meitetsu Nagoya Station - 980 jpy (no 1st class cars)
- Frequency - 30 minutes
- Marked in green in the timetable
- Express
- Travel time to Central Station - 45 minutes
- Price at Meitetsu Nagoya Station - 980 jpy (no 1st class cars)
- Frequency - only a few connections in the morning and evening
- Marked in blue in the timetable
Timetable
Trains run between the airport and downtown Nagoya an average of 5-8 times per hour.
- First train from Nagoya Central Station - 5:23
- Last train from the airport - 23:31 (Limited Express towards downtown and on to Gifu)
- Tip for a hotel right in Nagoya station: Nagoya Marriott Associa Hotel *****
There is currently no earlier morning bus service, and the 5:23 train is the first connection of any public transport from downtown to the airport.
For official information, see the following links:
- Connection search: meitetsu.co.jp
- Timetable from Central Japan Int. Central Japan Airport: trainbus.eitetsu.co.jp/airport
- Timetable from Meitetsu Nagoya Station towards the airport: trainbus.eitetsu.co.jp/nagoya
Buses
There are bus stops on the ground floor of Terminal 1, but they are not as cost or time effective compared to the train if you are going to central Nagoya.
The ticket price is 1 500 jpy and the journey time to the centre is about 90 minutes.
Services to central Nagoya are operated by Meitetsu Bus on several routes:
- Sakae - Nishiki
- 1x every 2 hours
- Timetable: meitetsu-bus.co.jp/airport/limousine
- Fujigaoka
- 4x daily
- Timetable: meitetsu-bus.co.jp/airport/fujigaoka
- Toyota City
- 4 times a day
- Timetable: meitetsu-bus.co.jp/airport/toyota
The bus line to Hamamatsu City is the busiest. Official information, timetable and online ticket purchase can be found at inhamamatsu.com/ewing
- Price - 3 500 jpy
- Frequency - 1x per hour
- Travel time - 2 hours
Taxi
Only official taxis operate in Nagoya, as well as the Uber app, but only regular taxis can be hailed through the app at a metered price.
You can book a car at the counter in the atrium outside the train station near Terminal 1.
The price to central Nagoya varies depending on traffic around 17 500 jpy.
Rent a car
If you are only heading to Nagoya, renting a car is not worth it due to the uncluttered traffic and the quality of the subway and train network.
If you want to venture out of the airport and into the countryside, there are several local and large multinational car rental companies.
Prices for weekly rentals start at 430 usd.
Ferry
Take a boat to the town of Tsu on the other side of the bay. You'll find the dock just behind the train station.
Boats leave 7 times a day and one trip costs 2 980 jpy. The cruise takes 45 minutes.
- First ferry from Tsu town - 6:00
- Last ferry from the airport - 22:00
Official information is available at tsu-airportline.co.jp.
Hotels near the airport
Due to the distance of the airport from downtown Nagoya and the poor night or early morning traffic, we recommend staying at one of the airport hotels if you have a departure before 8:00am.
Although the public area of Terminal 1 is open 24/7, there are no suitable places to stay in the terminal.
There are two hotels directly connected to the public part of the terminal.
- TUBE Sq - a capsule budget hotel with rates from 30 usd
- Centrair Hotel **** - a large quality hotel with prices from 70 usd
Near the boat dock to Tsu town there are 3 more hotels with prices from 60 usd. You can walk to the terminal from them through the pedestrian corridor in 5-7 minutes.
- Comfort Hotel Central International Airport ***
- Four Points by Sheraton Nagoya ****
- Toyoko Inn Chubu International Airport ***
