From Nagoya to Tokyo - TravellingMOOD

Nagoya used to be known as an industrial city not worth visiting except for business, but it’s starting to find its place as a place to visit on any trip to Japan. With the famous TV Tower and the beautiful Nagoya Castle, this city is more than just a place to stop on your way to another destination. So if you are in Nagoya, give yourself a chance and stay for a few days. Once you’ve explored it, don’t hesitate to visit the capital, Tokyo, which can’t be missing from your list. It can be scary because of how busy and crowded it is, but it’s a fantastic city with so much to see: from neon lights and skyscrapers to historic temples and museums, karaoke bars and great food. We will tell you the details so you know how to get from Nagoya to Tokyo.

Shinkansen train between Nagoya and Tokyo with Mount Fuji in the background © Blanscape / Shutterstock.com

Travel options from Nagoya to Tokyo

The straight-line distance from Nagoya to Tokyo is 260 kilometers (162 miles), but such a direct route can only be done by plane. The good thing is that there are flights from Nagoya to Tokyo, so it’s a good option if you’re going to the capital and want to get there in a short time. Although, to travel in true Japanese style, you might want to consider traveling by train. The Shinkansen train is only slightly slower than a plane, and the ride on the super-fast train is quite an experience. Of course, neither trains nor flights are cheap. So if you are traveling in Japan on a budget, the cheapest way to get from Nagoya to Tokyo will be by bus.

From Nagoya to Tokyo by train

People waiting for the high-speed Shinkansen train on the platform in Tokyo © PassionPhotography / Shutterstock.com

In Japan, it’s called the Shinkansen, but almost everyone knows it as a super-fast train. And Japan’s high-speed trains are the envy of the whole world. They reach dizzying speeds but are incredibly safe and in fact there have never been any injuries or deaths in over fifty years of operation. If you’re traveling around Japan, we’re sure you’ll want to take at least one Shinkansen trip.

Traveling by train from Nagoya to Tokyo is a great way to experience the high-speed train. But before you buy a ticket, there are a few things you should know. First of all, there are three different types of bullet trains that run from Nagoya to Tokyo. The fastest is Nozomi, which can be reached in 1 hour and 40 minutes. Hikari takes about two hours and the slowest, Kodama, is the older model and takes about three hours to get there. There are many types of trains running daily from Nagoya to Tokyo, so you won’t run out of options. However, it is always advisable to book tickets in advance to ensure a seat.

Inside the Shinkansen superfast train © Giovanni G / Shutterstock.com

If you are going to travel from Nagoya to Tokyo and do not plan to travel on the Shinkansen again, you can buy a ticket for this trip only. You can save some money if you travel on Kodoma as there are usually discounted tickets on this train. However, if you only travel on the bullet train once, it might be worth taking the faster one.

Another way to save money is to buy the Japan Rail Pass. These are tickets at a very good price if you are going to make several train journeys. You can buy it for periods of 7, 14 and 21 days. You can also choose between a regular car and a green car, which is what first class is called. If you buy this ticket, please note that you will only be able to board Hikari and Kodoma high-speed trains, and you will not be able to travel on faster ones.

Through the website, you can buy single tickets as well as the Japan Rail Pass 12Go.asia. You can check availability and book tickets on their website. Don’t forget that you will receive a document or proof of purchase from 12Go, but you will need to pick up your tickets or voucher while in Tokyo. You can also choose to send it to you by EMS.

From Nagoya to Tokyo by bus

The bus is the slowest means of transport from Nagoya to Tokyo, but has the advantage of being the cheapest. There is an express bus service from Nagoya Station to Ikebukuro Sunshine Terminal in Tokyo. This service is operated by Grace Liner and the journey takes 6.5 hours. It leaves Nagoya at 23:15 and arrives in Tokyo at 5:50 the next day. You can book with instant confirmation on 12Go.

Nagoya to Tokyo flights

Flying from one city to another is usually the fastest way to travel. However, this is not always the case in Japan thanks to bullet trains. In theory, a flight from Nagoya to Tokyo is the fastest option, with a journey time of approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes, depending on which Tokyo airport you are flying to. However, if you add the transfer time to and from the airport and the waiting time at the airport, the Shinkansen is the fastest way to get from Nagoya to Tokyo. Still, flying is a good option if you want to save time but don’t want to pay the price of a train. Some flights are much cheaper than the train, so we recommend looking around for different options to find good deals.

Nagoya is served by Centrair Airport, officially known as Chebu Centrair International Airport. From there, you can fly with All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines to Narita Airport or Tokyo Haneda Airport. Tickets with All Nippon Airways are usually much cheaper than with Japan Airlines, regardless of the airport you fly to.

While buses and flights are good options to get from Nagoya to Tokyo, we recommend taking the Shinkansen. Traveling on a bullet train is a unique experience not to be missed if you are going to Japan. Remember that you can buy single tickets or vouchers for a few days If you plan to travel by train to visit other places.