Nagoya

Stations worth a stop

• Nagoya 名古屋

  Higashiyama LineSakura-dori Line

  Nagoya is the city's main rail hub, where the Higashiyama and Sakura-dori lines meet the Tokaido Shinkansen, JR lines, Meitetsu and Kintetsu. The JR Central Towers and JR Gate Tower rise above the station, and Noritake Garden, a former ceramics factory site with a museum, is about fifteen minutes' walk north.

• Kamejima 亀島

  Higashiyama Line

  Kamejima is the nearest subway station to Noritake Garden and to the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology, which occupies a red-brick spinning mill of the early Toyoda group. Both are within about ten minutes' walk.

• Nakamura Koen 中村公園

  Higashiyama Line

  Nakamura Koen is the station for Nakamura Park, the area traditionally regarded as the birthplace of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Toyokuni Shrine, dedicated to him, stands in the park, and a very large red torii gate marks the approach from the station.

• Fushimi 伏見

  Higashiyama LineTsurumai Line

  Fushimi, where the Higashiyama and Tsurumai lines cross, is a business district between Nagoya Station and Sakae. Nagoya City Science Museum, known for its large planetarium dome, and the Nagoya City Art Museum are in Shirakawa Park, about five minutes' walk south.

• Sakae 栄

  Higashiyama LineMeijo Line

  Sakae is Nagoya's central shopping and entertainment district, with department stores and a large underground mall. Oasis 21, a bus terminal under a glass-roofed 'spaceship' deck, and the old Nagoya TV Tower stand along Hisaya-odori Park just north of the station.

• Hisaya-odori 久屋大通

  Meijo LineSakura-dori Line

  Hisaya-odori, an interchange of the Meijo and Sakura-dori lines, lies under the long green strip of Hisaya-odori Park. The park was redeveloped with lawns, cafes and shops, and the old TV tower is a short walk south.

• Shiyakusho 市役所

  Meijo Line

  Shiyakusho, meaning 'city hall', is the closest station to Nagoya Castle, whose east gate is about five minutes' walk west. Nagoya City Hall and the Aichi Prefectural Government building beside it, both from the 1930s, combine Western structure with Japanese castle-style roofs.

• Meijo Koen 名城公園

  Meijo Line

  Meijo Koen is on the eastern side of Meijo Park, which spreads north of Nagoya Castle with lawns, a pond and a flower garden. The castle grounds can be reached on foot through the park.

• Kamimaezu 上前津

  Meijo LineTsurumai Line

  Kamimaezu, where the Meijo and Tsurumai lines cross, is at the eastern edge of the Osu shopping district. Its covered arcades are filled with second-hand clothing, electronics shops and inexpensive eateries.

• Osu Kannon 大須観音

  Tsurumai Line

  Osu Kannon is named after the temple beside the station, a popular Buddhist temple whose library holds old manuscripts. The Osu shopping arcades begin just east of the temple gate, and a flea market is held in its grounds on fixed days each month.

• Yabacho 矢場町

  Meijo Line

  Yabacho is at the southern end of the Sakae shopping area, near the main Matsuzakaya department store. The street is known for the original restaurant of Yabaton, a chain famous for miso katsu, a Nagoya speciality of pork cutlet with a rich miso sauce.

• Kanayama 金山

  Meijo LineMeiko Line

  Kanayama is a major interchange where the Meijo and Meiko lines meet JR and Meitetsu lines. Meitetsu trains from here run to Chubu Centrair International Airport, making it a convenient transfer point for air travellers.

• Jingu Nishi 神宮西

  Meijo Line

  Jingu Nishi, meaning 'west of the shrine', is a few minutes' walk from the western gate of Atsuta Shrine. The shrine is one of the most important in Japan and is said to house the sacred sword Kusanagi, one of the three imperial regalia, within a wooded precinct.

• Nagoyako 名古屋港

  Meiko Line

  Nagoyako is the southern terminus of the Meiko Line at the Garden Pier of the Port of Nagoya. The Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium, the retired Antarctic research ship Fuji and the observation floor of the Nagoya Port Building are all within a few minutes' walk.

• Kakuozan 覚王山

  Higashiyama Line

  Kakuozan is the station for Nittaiji, a temple built in 1904 to enshrine relics of the Buddha presented by the King of Siam. The sloping approach to the temple is lined with small cafes, sweet shops and galleries.

• Motoyama 本山

  Higashiyama LineMeijo Line

  Motoyama is an interchange of the Higashiyama and Meijo lines in the hilly eastern part of the city, a residential and student area close to several universities. Nagoya University's Higashiyama campus is one stop south on the Meijo Line.

• Higashiyama Koen 東山公園

  Higashiyama Line

  Higashiyama Koen is the station for Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens, a large hillside site with a zoo, a historic glass greenhouse and wooded walking paths. The main gate is a few minutes' walk from the station, and Higashiyama Sky Tower stands on the hill inside the grounds.

• Nagoya Daigaku 名古屋大学

  Meijo Line

  Nagoya Daigaku station lies directly under the Higashiyama campus of Nagoya University, a leading national university. The campus has several museums open to the public, including the Nagoya University Museum.

• Nagoya Dome-mae Yada ナゴヤドーム前矢田

  Meijo Line

  Nagoya Dome-mae Yada is the subway station for Vantelin Dome Nagoya, home ground of the Chunichi Dragons baseball team, about ten minutes' walk away. A large shopping mall stands next to the stadium.

• Ozone 大曽根

  Meijo Line

  Ozone is an interchange of the Meijo Line with JR, Meitetsu and the elevated Yutorito Line guideway bus. The Tokugawa Art Museum, which holds treasures of the Owari branch of the Tokugawa family, and the adjoining Tokugawa Garden are about fifteen minutes' walk south.

• Imaike 今池

  Higashiyama LineSakura-dori Line

  Imaike, where the Higashiyama and Sakura-dori lines cross, is an entertainment district of izakaya, small live-music venues and late-night restaurants. It has a more local feel than Sakae, three stops to the west.

• Fujigaoka 藤が丘

  Higashiyama Line

  Fujigaoka is the eastern terminus of the Higashiyama Line and the transfer point for the Linimo maglev line. Linimo runs to the Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park, which now includes Ghibli Park.

• Tsurumai 鶴舞

  Tsurumai Line

  Tsurumai, shared with the JR Chuo Line, faces Tsuruma Park, one of Nagoya's oldest public parks, opened in 1909. The park is a well-known cherry blossom spot, and the Nagoya City Public Hall stands at its edge.

• Kokusai Center 国際センター

  Sakura-dori Line

  Kokusai Center is named after the Nagoya International Center, which provides information and support for foreign residents and visitors. Shikemichi, a short street of preserved merchant houses from the Edo period, lies a few blocks to the north.

• Kami Otai 上小田井

  Tsurumai Line

  Kami Otai is the north-western terminus of the Tsurumai Line, where many trains continue onto the Meitetsu Inuyama Line toward Inuyama, a town known for its original castle keep.

• Akaike 赤池

  Tsurumai Line

  Akaike is the south-eastern terminus of the Tsurumai Line. Many trains continue from here onto the Meitetsu Toyota Line toward Toyota City, the home of Toyota Motor Corporation.

• Kamiiida 上飯田

  Kamiiida Line

  Kamiiida is the northern end of the short Kamiiida Line, which runs only two stations. Trains continue beyond it onto the Meitetsu Komaki Line toward Komaki and Inuyama.

• Tokushige 徳重

  Sakura-dori Line

  Tokushige is the south-eastern terminus of the Sakura-dori Line, reached by the extension opened in 2011. The station is in a growing residential area in Midori Ward.