Major city · Japan
Nagoya名古屋
Use Nagoya as a rail stop between Tokyo and Kyoto, not a base: one night, or a day-trip for the castle and Atsuta Shrine.
Nagoya is Japan's fourth-largest city and a Shinkansen junction, 1 h 40 min from Tokyo and 35 min from Kyoto. Its sights are spread out and the city rewards food more than sightseeing. Most trips use it for a single night or a Toyota/Ghibli-park side trip.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- JPY
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- avoid Jul–Aug (hot and humid), Golden Week
- Airport
- NGO
- Nights
- 1
Rules in force · 5
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- Japan ↗IC cards (ICOCA/Suica) are topped up with cash at station machines.
- Japan ↗Smoking while walking is banned in most city centres; use designated areas.
- Japan ↗Shinkansen bags 160–250 cm (L+W+H) need a seat reserved with the oversized-baggage area.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Nagoya110 ▾
- Police110
- Fire and ambulance119
- Japan Visitor Hotline (JNTO, 24 h, English)050-3816-2787
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Nagoya, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.Japan-wide
- SIM or eSIMData-only eSIMs are the easy route: buy before you fly; voice SIMs need a residence card.Japan-wide
- Tap waterSafe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains.Japan-wide
- TippingRestaurants and bars: No tip; staff will chase you to return money left on the table.Japan-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 100 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Japan-wide
- SafetyOne of Japan's safer big cities.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree, clean public toilets in stations, parks and konbini; paper goes in the toilet.Japan-wide
- Emergency numbers110 police · 119 fire and ambulance · 050-3816-2787 Japan Visitor Hotline (JNTO, 24 h, English) (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMuseums close on Mondays (Tuesday when Monday is a holiday); many family restaurants close one weekday, often Tuesday or Wednesday…Japan-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportNGO Chubu Centrair (Meitetsu limited express to Nagoya station, about 30 min).
- Getting aroundSubway (Higashiyama and Meijo lines) covers the centre; buy a one-day subway ticket if you visit three or more sights.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee (many cafés add free toast before 11:00)Coffee (many cafés add free toast before 11:00 AM)¥400–700 (≈ US$3–5)
- Street or quick mealNoodle soup (kishimen or ramen)¥800–1,300 (≈ US$6–9)
- Beerdraught in an izakaya / can at a konbini¥500–750 (≈ US$4–6)¥250–350 (≈ US$2–3)
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)5 km (3.1 mi) taxi3.1 mi (5 km) taxiLate-night surcharge after 22:00.Late-night surcharge after 10:00 PM.¥2,200–2,700 (≈ US$15–19)
- Metro or bus rideSubway ride¥210–340 (≈ US$2–3) (check)
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week¥2,000–4,000 (≈ US$14–30)
- Museum or sight ticketCastle, shrine museum or art museum entry¥500–1,600 (≈ US$4–11)
- Budget bedCapsule or hostel bed, a night, per person¥3,500 (≈ US$25)
- Mid-range bedBusiness-hotel double room, a night, per room¥15,000 (≈ US$110)
- High-end bedBusiness-hotel double room, a night, per room¥35,000 (≈ US$250)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget ¥7,000 (≈ US$50) · Mid ¥13,000 (≈ US$90) · High ¥25,000 (≈ US$170)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- NGO Chubu Centrair (Meitetsu limited express to Nagoya station, about 30 min)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
not flagged
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
Feb
not flagged
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
Mar
Best
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
Apr
Best
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
May
Best
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
Jun
not flagged
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Jul
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Aug
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Sep
not flagged
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Oct
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Nov
Best
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Dec
not flagged
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
Best: Mar–May, Oct–Nov. Avoid: Jul–Aug. Month by month →
Warmest Aug (33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)), coolest Jan (1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C) low), wettest Jun (13 rain days), driest Jan (5). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Nagoya: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
5 rd
Feb
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
7 rd
Mar
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
10 rd
Apr
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
10 rd
May
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
11 rd
Jun
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
13 rd
Jul
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
13 rd
Aug
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
9 rd
Sep
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
12 rd
Oct
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
9 rd
Nov
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
7 rd
Dec
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
6 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Subway (Higashiyama and Meijo lines) covers the centre; buy a one-day subway ticket if you visit three or more sights. Shinkansen and Meitetsu/JR lines connect the region.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Inuyama Castle
goDoor to door: About 1 h
Meitetsu from Meitetsu Nagoya, about 30 min, then a 15-min walk
Original castle keep with steep inner stairs; go at opening.
Ghibli Park
cautionDoor to door: About 1–1.25 h
Higashiyama subway line to Fujigaoka, then the Linimo line
Dated, timed tickets only: no ticket, no trip.
Ise Grand Shrine
goDoor to door: 1.5–2 h
Kintetsu limited express to Ise-shi, about 1 h 20 min, then bus between the outer and inner shrines
A full day; outer shrine first, then the inner shrine.
Takayama
overnightDoor to door: About 3 h
JR limited express Hida, about 2 h 30 min
Too long for a return day: sleep one night.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Nagoya Station area
Shinkansen and metro access; best for one night with bags.
Sakae
Shopping and nightlife; 5 min by Higashiyama metro line from the station.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ¥7,000–11,000 (≈ US$50–75) excl. bed
- Mid
- ¥11,000–18,000 (≈ US$75–130) excl. bed
- High
- ¥18,000 (≈ US$130)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Business-hotel double room1 × 1 night × ¥15,000 | ¥15,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × ¥13,000 | ¥26,000 |
| Meitetsu from Centrair, both ways (with μ-ticket seat)2 × ¥2,900 · check | ¥5,800 |
| Subway one-day ticket, one day2 × ¥870 · check | ¥1,740 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × ¥2,500 | ¥5,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | ¥5,350 |
| Trip total≈ ¥29,450 per person per day, bed included | ¥58,890≈ US$400 |
2026 estimate in yen; flights and rail passes excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee (many cafés add free toast before 11:00) | ¥400–700 (≈ US$3–5) |
| Noodle soup (kishimen or ramen) | ¥800–1,300 (≈ US$6–9) |
| Beer: draught in an izakaya / can at a konbini | ¥500–750 (≈ US$4–6) / ¥250–350 (≈ US$2–3) |
| 5 km taxiLate-night surcharge after 22:00.Late-night surcharge after 10:00 PM. | ¥2,200–2,700 (≈ US$15–19) |
| Subway ride | ¥210–340 (≈ US$2–3) (check) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | ¥2,000–4,000 (≈ US$14–30) |
| Castle, shrine museum or art museum entry | ¥500–1,600 (≈ US$4–11) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Last trains run around midnight; taxis queue at the station.
- The castle keep is closed for rebuilding at times: check the official site.
- Ghibli Park entry is by dated, timed ticket only: book on the official site weeks ahead; no ticket, no entry.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 110
- Fire and ambulance
- 119
- Japan Visitor Hotline (JNTO, 24 h, English)
- 050-3816-2787
Pocket card
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Nagoya名古屋
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
ここまでお願いしますTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police110
- Fire and ambulance119
- Japan Visitor Hotline (24 h, English)050-3816-2787
Embassy
The US has a consulate in Nagoya (check the address); most other countries: consulates-general in Osaka, embassies in Tokyo.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Centrair → Nagoya Station, Meitetsu: about ¥1,450 (≈ US$10) with the μ-ticket seat, about 30 min (check)
- Taxi Nagoya Station → Sakae: ¥1,500–2,000 (≈ US$11–14)
- Shinkansen Nagoya → Kyoto: about ¥5,000–6,000 (≈ US$35–45) reserved, 35 min (check)
Say or show
- すみません — Excuse me / Sorry (sumimasen)
- ありがとうございます — Thank you (arigatō gozaimasu)
- これをください — This one, please (kore o kudasai)
- いくらですか？ — How much is it? (ikura desu ka)
- カードで払えますか？ — Can I pay by card? (kādo de haraemasu ka)
- トイレはどこですか？ — Where is the toilet? (toire wa doko desu ka)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Nagoya. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Mar–May, Oct–Nov · avoid Jul–Aug (hot and humid), Golden Week · month by month →
- 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for NGO: last Meitetsu departures field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Nagoya Station, Sakae and Ōsu, the castle and Tokugawa-en, Atsuta.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (castle, Atsuta Shrine, Tokugawa Art Museum, SCMAGLEV and Railway Park) and eat pages with last orders.
- Golden and hostile arrival fixtures so gates A–D can go green.
Sources
- officialNagoya official travel guide
- secondaryWikivoyage — Nagoya