Nagoya has an efficient and easy-to-use public transportation system, making it simple for students to travel around the city and explore the wider region. Like other major cities in Japan, Nagoya offers a variety of transportation options, including subways, trains, and buses. While navigating a new transport network can feel overwhelming at first, getting around Nagoya quickly becomes easy once you understand the basics.
Whether you're studying in Nagoya for a month or a year, we strongly recommend getting a Manaca IC card. This rechargeable travel card allows you to pay for trains, subways, and buses without carrying cash. Manaca cards are available at most stations and come preloaded with travel credit. Students staying longer can also use their Manaca card to purchase a commuter pass, making daily travel to and from school even more convenient and affordable.
To help you plan your journeys, we always recommend downloading a route-planning app called Navitime.
If you have internet access on your phone, Google Maps is also very accurate. It should give you some idea of where you are and how to get to your destination!
The Nagoya Subway system is quite vast. Six lines cover almost 100 km and will get you to most places within the city limits. The lines are colour-coded, so once you are used to it, it is quite easy.
Official website (English) Click here to download a large version of the subway map
An incredibly convenient network of buses and one of the cheapest way of travel. Every ride, except for Night Buses has a flat fare.
Official bus website (English)
Several train lines are going through Nagoya. JR, Meitetsu and Kintetsu are the main ones you might want to remember. These are big companies, but for your information, we included their pages below.
Meitetsu website (English) Kintetsu website (English) JR website (English)
We can arrange for either a member of your host family, or a for a taxi driver, to fetch you from the airport when you arrive, and drop you off at your accommodation. The driver will meet you at the arrivals gate, after you collect your luggage/go through customs. They will be carrying a signboard with your name, as well as the name of the school.
Meitetsu line will take you from the airport directly to Nagoya Station in under 30 minutes, and with the fare of around 1300 Yen it is a great way to travel. There other limited express lines and they will take about 40 minutes. Meitetsu bus has a route which takes about 90 minutes and costs 1,200 Yen.
Meitetsu line timetable WeekdaysMeitetsu line timetable Weekends
The airport taxi will take you to the area around Nagoya station for about 15,000 Yen. Taking the train is a lot cheaper, but if you are travelling with quite a lot of luggage, a taxi may be a good option for you!
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