Nagoya
At a Glance
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| Dates | Monday, April 6 - Tuesday, April 7, 2026 |
| Nights | 1 |
| Purpose | Stopover en route to Takayama, see the city |
| Status | To Book |
Why Nagoya?
Breaking up the Tokyo → Takayama journey makes sense:
- Direct Tokyo → Takayama is ~4.5 hours with a Nagoya transfer anyway
- Nagoya is Japan’s 4th largest city with its own character
- See Nagoya Castle, try local food, have a relaxed transition day
- Fresh start to Takayama the next morning
Getting There
From Tokyo (Shinkansen):
- ~100 minutes on Hikari
- ~¥11,000 one-way
- Book via SmartEX
- Depart mid-morning, arrive for lunch
Suggested Itinerary
| Time | Activity |
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| Morning | Check out of Tokyo hotel, Shinkansen to Nagoya |
| ~12:00 | Arrive Nagoya, drop bags at hotel |
| Afternoon | Nagoya Castle, walk Osu shopping district |
| Evening | Dinner (hitsumabushi or miso katsu), sento |
| Next AM | Breakfast, Hida Express to Takayama |
Accommodation Options
Best Area: Near Nagoya Station for easy access to Hida Express next morning
| Hotel | Price | Notes | Links |
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| Nagoya JR Gate Tower Hotel | ~$150-200 | Directly connected to station, convenient | Map |
| Daiwa Roynet Nagoya Ekimae | ~$100-130 | Good value, near station | Map |
| APA Hotel Nagoya Ekimae | ~$80-100 | Budget, same chain as Tokyo | Map |
Things to See
Must-See
| Attraction | Notes | Links |
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| Nagoya Castle | Iconic castle, reconstructed after WW2, impressive grounds | Map · Site |
If Time Allows
| Attraction | Notes | Links |
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| Osu Kannon Temple | Buddhist temple, adjacent shopping arcade | Map |
| Osu Shopping District | Covered arcades, eclectic mix, local vibe | Map |
| Toyota Commemorative Museum | Toyota’s industrial history (if cars interest you) | Map |
Food
Nagoya has distinctive local cuisine:
| Dish | What It Is | Where to Try |
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| Hitsumabushi | Grilled eel over rice, eaten 3 ways | Atsuta Horaiken (famous), many restaurants |
| Miso Katsu | Tonkatsu with red miso sauce | Yabaton (chain, reliable) |
| Tebasaki | Crispy chicken wings | Sekai no Yamachan (chain) |
| Kishimen | Flat udon noodles | Station restaurants |
Sento
| Sento | Notes | Links |
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| Taikounoyu | Large facility, multiple baths, near station | Map |
Budget (Nagoya Leg)
| Category | Estimate |
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| Accommodation (1 night) | ~$100-150 |
| Nagoya Castle | ~$5 |
| Food (lunch, dinner, breakfast) | ~$50-70 |
| Local transit | ~$10 |
| Subtotal | ~$165-235 |
Luggage Delivery to Takayama
Option A: Send from Tokyo directly to Takayama (skip Nagoya luggage handling)
- Send April 5 from Tokyo → arrives Takayama April 7
- Travel Tokyo → Nagoya → Takayama with just day bag
Option B: Send morning of April 7 from Nagoya
- Ask Nagoya hotel front desk first thing in morning
- May arrive same day (afternoon) or next day
- Confirm with Takayama hotel
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| Service | Yamato Transport (Kuroneko) |
| Cost | ~¥1,500 per bag |
| Best approach | Send direct from Tokyo to Takayama |
Departure: April 7
To Takayama:
- Hida Limited Express from Nagoya Station
- ~2 hours 20 minutes
- ~¥6,000 one-way
- Depart mid-morning, arrive Takayama for lunch
- Tip: Request right-side seat for mountain views
- Travel light — luggage already at Takayama hotel!