Nagoya
At a Glance
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| Dates | Monday, April 6 - Wednesday, April 8, 2026 |
| Nights | 2 |
| Purpose | Explore city, castle, food, transition to mountains |
| Hotel | APA Hotel Nagoya Sakae Kita |
| Check-in | Mon, Apr 6, 3:00 PM |
| Check-out | Wed, Apr 8, 10:00 AM |
| Status | ✓ Booked |
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) — ✓ Booked:
- Nozomi 33: Tokyo Station 12:30 PM → Nagoya 2:09 PM
- Green Car 10, Seat 10-D
- Booked via SmartEX
Suggested Itinerary
Day 1 — Monday, April 6 (Arrival)
| Time | Activity |
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| Morning | Check out of Tokyo hotel |
| 12:30 PM | Nozomi 33 departs Tokyo Station |
| 2:09 PM | Arrive Nagoya, late lunch near station (kishimen or miso katsu) |
| 3:00 PM | Check in at APA Hotel Nagoya Sakae Kita |
| Afternoon | Nagoya Castle, walk around Sakae district |
| Evening | Dinner (hitsumabushi or tebasaki), sento |
Day 2 — Tuesday, April 7 (Full Day)
| Time | Activity |
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| Morning | Osu Kannon Temple, Osu Shopping District |
| Lunch | Local specialty (miso katsu at Yabaton) |
| Afternoon | Toyota Commemorative Museum or explore Sakae |
| Evening | Dinner, evening walk, pack for Gero |
Day 3 — Wednesday, April 8 (Departure)
| Time | Activity |
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| Morning | Check out by 10:00 AM, breakfast near hotel |
| Late Morning | Hida Express to Gero (~90 min) |
| ~Noon | Arrive Gero |
Accommodation
Booked: APA Hotel Nagoya Sakae Kita
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| Area | Sakae (main entertainment/shopping district) |
| Check-in | Mon, Apr 6, 3:00 PM |
| Check-out | Wed, Apr 8, 10:00 AM |
| Getting to station | ~10 min subway (Higashiyama Line) to Nagoya Station for Hida Express |
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 (2 nights) | TBD (booked) |
| Nagoya Castle | ~$5 |
| Toyota Museum (optional) | ~$5 |
| Food (2 lunches, 2 dinners, 1 breakfast) | ~$100-140 |
| Local transit | ~$15 |
| Subtotal | ~$125-165 + hotel |
Luggage Delivery to Gero
Send from Nagoya to Gero on April 7 (day before checkout):
- Ask hotel front desk to arrange Yamato Transport
- Arrives at Ooedo Onsen Monogatari Gero Honkan next day
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| Service | Yamato Transport (Kuroneko) |
| Cost | ~¥1,500 per bag |
| Alternative | Travel with bags — only ~90 min train ride |
Departure: April 8
To Gero:
- Hida Limited Express from Nagoya Station
- ~90 minutes
- ~¥4,500 one-way
- Depart late morning after checkout, arrive for lunch/early check-in
- Tip: Request right-side seat for river valley views