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Voykit pocket guide · 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.
- Country
- Japan
- Local name
- 名古屋
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (hot and humid), Golden Week
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- JPY
- Money
- Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget ¥7,000–11,000 excl. bed · Mid ¥11,000–18,000 excl. bed · High ¥18,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Data-only eSIMs are the easy route: buy before you fly; voice SIMs need a residence card.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 119 · Japan Visitor Hotline (24 h, English) 050-3816-2787
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 100 V · 50 Hz east (Tokyo), 60 Hz west (Osaka) · Most sockets are two flat pins without earth; European and UK plugs need an adapter. Phone and laptop chargers handle 100 V.
- Tipping
- Restaurants and bars: No tip; staff will chase you to return money left on the table.; Taxis: No tip; pay the meter.; Ryokan: Optional: ¥1,000–3,000 in an envelope for the room attendant; never loose cash.; Private guide: Not expected; a small gift or a thank-you meal is more usual.; Hotel porter: No tip.
- Water
- Safe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains.
- Toilets
- Free, clean public toilets in stations, parks and konbini; paper goes in the toilet. Rural and old stations may have squat toilets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee (many cafés add free toast before 11:00)Coffee (many cafés add free toast before 11:00 AM) | ¥400–700 |
| Noodle soup (kishimen or ramen) | ¥800–1,300 |
| Beer: draught in an izakaya / can at a konbini | ¥500–750 / ¥250–350 |
| 5 km (3.1 mi) taxi3.1 mi (5 km) taxi | ¥2,200–2,700 |
| Subway ride | ¥210–340 (check) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | ¥2,000–4,000 |
| Castle, shrine museum or art museum entry | ¥500–1,600 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- NGO · Chubu Centrair
- Meitetsu limited express to Nagoya station, about 30 min
Typical fares
- Centrair → Nagoya Station, Meitetsu
- about ¥1,450 with the μ-ticket seat, about 30 min (check)
- Taxi Nagoya Station → Sakae
- ¥1,500–2,000
- Shinkansen Nagoya → Kyoto
- about ¥5,000–6,000 reserved, 35 min (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get 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.
See and do
Known for
- Nagoya Castle
- Atsuta Shrine
- Hitsumabushi and miso katsu
- Toyota museums
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Inuyama Castle | Meitetsu from Meitetsu Nagoya, about 30 min, then a 15-min walk | About 1 h |
| Ghibli Park | Higashiyama subway line to Fujigaoka, then the Linimo line | About 1–1.25 h |
| Ise Grand Shrine | Kintetsu limited express to Ise-shi, about 1 h 20 min, then bus between the outer and inner shrines | 1.5–2 h |
| Takayama | JR limited express Hida, about 2 h 30 min | About 3 h |
Sleep
- 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.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | すみませんsumimasen |
| Thank you | ありがとうございますarigatō gozaimasu |
| This one, please | これをくださいkore o kudasai |
| How much is it? | いくらですか？ikura desu ka |
| Can I pay by card? | カードで払えますか？kādo de haraemasu ka |
| Where is the toilet? | トイレはどこですか？toire wa doko desu ka |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: A small bow; a handshake if the other person offers; avoid: Hugs, back slaps, loud greetings
- Names: Family name plus -san; avoid: First names unless invited; adding -san to your own name
- Paying: Put money in the tray at the register; avoid: Tipping, or leaving loose cash for staff
- Trains: Queue at the floor marks, phone on silent, ask before reclining on the Shinkansen; avoid: Phone calls, eating on crowded commuter trains, blocking doors with bags
- Escalators: Stand on the side locals use — left in Tokyo, right in Osaka; stations now ask people to stand still on both; avoid: Stopping at the top or bottom
- Shoes: Off at the step-up entrance; toilet slippers only inside the toilet; avoid: Stepping on tatami in shoes or slippers
- Shrines: Rinse hands at the basin; bow twice, clap twice, bow once; avoid: Walking down the centre of the approach, which is for the deity
- Gifts: Offer and receive with both hands; bring a small omiyage for hosts; avoid: Sets of four; cash outside an envelope
Scams and watch-outs
- 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.
One of Japan's safer big cities. The real risks are summer heat, bicycles on the pavements and Sakae or Nishiki bars with no posted prices: ask the total before you sit.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Nagoya yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Nagoya Castle
- Atsuta Shrine
- Hitsumabushi and miso katsu
- Toyota museums
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Nagoya official travel guide: www.nagoya-info.jp/en/
- Wikivoyage — Nagoya: en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Nagoya
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Nagoya名古屋
ここまでお願いします
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police110
- Fire and ambulance119
- Japan Visitor Hotline (24 h, English)050-3816-2787
The US has a consulate in Nagoya (check the address); most other countries: consulates-general in Osaka, embassies in Tokyo.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/nagoya). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.