Nagoya Station

No matter if you are looking to visit the Chubu area of Japan or if you are traveling between the eastern and the western halves of the country, there’s a good chance you’ll come across Nagoya Station. If are arriving in Japan via Chubu Centrair International Airport, you can get to Nagoya Station directly by train. Here is all you need to know about Nagoya Station.

History

Nagoya has a long and historical significance in Japan. It is also the third most populous urban area of the country. With its population and location, this station sees over 200,000 residents and visitors on a daily basis, so it is not surprising that the headquarters of the Central Japan Railway Company are housed here. The station itself also has a long history with its first form established all the way back in 1886, with a humble two-line beginning. With more lines added, the station also created more and more platforms to accommodate the increase of train line services. The Shinkansen service at Nagoya was established in 1964 and it is now an essential station that all Tokaido Shinkansen trains stop at. As of 2019, Nagoya Station has 25 platforms combining all the lines that connect to Nagoya Station.

Transportation

Nagoya Station is one of the most important stops of the Tokaido Shinkansen. Besides the bullet train, there are plenty of other lines that the station services for those traveling in Aichi and its surrounding prefectures. Below is a list on train lines passing through the station:

Central JR
1. Tokaido Shinkansen
2. Tokaido Main Line
3. Chuo Main Line
4. Kansai Main Line

Nagoya Subway
1. Higashiyama Line
2. Sakura-dori Line

Aonami Line
1. Aonami Line

In terms of Shinkansen, you can ride one of the bullet trains: Nozomi, Hikari or the Kodama, to and from this station. There are also several limited express lines that go to specific popular tourist spots, specifically the Shirasagi Limited Express for Fukui and Kanazawa, the Shinano Limited Express for Nagano, and the Hida Limited Express for Gero and Takayama.

Nagoya Station also has access to highway buses that you can take to travel to different prefectures, and these are often cheaper than taking the train but would take longer. Many of them require booking online, except for the JR highway buses which have a service counter outside of the Shinkansen exit.

Accommodation

If you are looking to spend some time in the central area of Japan, staying close to Nagoya Station undoubtedly gives you an advantage in terms of the ease of traveling. Here are some suggestions.

The Meitetsu Inn Nagoyaeki Shinkansenguchi is a great hotel to stay at. Only a short 4-minute walk away from the Shinkansen exit of the station, this clean and modern hotel operated by Meitetsu Railway will give you everything you need for a peaceful stay.

For a more affordable option, the 11-minute walk Kuretake-Inn Premium Nagoya Nayabashi will give you a private accommodation in the center of the city while helping you save some yen to spend on the rest of your trip.

If you are on a trip to treat yourself and you do not mind spending a bit more for a nice room and an overall better hotel experience, then the Nagoya Marriott Associa Hotel is an excellent choice that is directly connected to JR Nagoya Station.

Dining

Being a transportation hub, Nagoya is certainly not lacking in terms of food. Tens of restaurants underground and on the top floors of skyscrapers right above the station are ready to serve your hungry needs. No matter what kind of food you are craving for, there will certainly be at least a couple of restaurants nearby to satisfy you. You might need some time to study the directories to understand all the options. If you are down for trying the best of the local cuisine, here are three places we recommend.

Misen

Misen is a Chinese food restaurant serving quality food since 1960, but more importantly, it is the origin of the local cuisine, Taiwan ramen. This bowl of spicy noodles topped with fried and seasoned minced meat will give you a good garlicky kick. There is a reason why this invention has taken the whole region by storm, and you can taste the original right here. Here is an extra tip: if the shop inside the JR Station is full, you can walk to the Dai-Nagoya Building branch, which is often less crowded.

Maruya-honten

Another iconic Nagoya specialty is Hitsumabushi, which is grilled eel on rice eaten in three steps. First, eat as it is. Then mix in condiments for “Act 2”. To finish off the meal, add in the tea and dashi broth. This luxurious cuisine is not necessarily a cheap eat, being typically priced at 3,000 yen for a standard set, but you do not want to miss out on this delicacy while you are in Nagoya. Maruya-honten is recommended for both its quality and its ease of access for having 3 branches around Nagoya Station.

Mokumoku

For those traveling in a bigger group, perhaps with kids, with each person wanting something slightly different, mokumoku is an excellent restaurant full of options. It is a buffet-style establishment that focuses on getting its ingredients fresh from its dedicated farms. Food is cooked fresh and the options are very healthy. The salad is plentiful too, making this restaurant a good choice for vegetarian and vegan travelers. Although not a Nagoya-exclusive restaurant, the branch in Nagoya Station on the 13th floor of the building gives you a stunning view of the city.

Shopping

Finally, you also need to think of some souvenirs to bring home, whether for yourself or to give to others. Within the JR Nagoya Station itself is a Takashimaya, which is a multi-story department store selling all sorts of fashion, gadgets, cosmetics, and more. Tokyu Hands is home to many neat and innovative stationery and toys that make perfect fun gifts. You can easily spend half a day in this store alone. For something edible to bring back, there are several souvenir shops on the first floor of the JR Nagoya Station selling boxes of local snacks, all individually packaged and ready to be enjoyed.

Besides the destinations suggested above, you will find plenty of big name shops too such as Bic Camera and Loft as well as several other department stores attached to or next to the station. There are also several interconnected underground malls at Nagoya Station selling all sorts of useful items and fun products. You will definitely need some time to explore all the shops.

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This post was written by Jackson Lee