Nagoya Subway

Nagoya is a big city but it has an excellent subway system. Most of the major tourist attractions are accessible by subway, and for other attractions you can easily use a Nagoya City Bus. There are also one day discount passes available which make using the subway a very economical way to get around. In this article we will introduce the Nagoya Subway’s lines, the major stations, and explain how to buy tickets and discount passes.

Nagoya Subway Lines

Nagoya Subway has six lines. At Nagoya Subway Station you can access two subway lines: the Higashiyama Line and Sakura-dori Line. For the key destinations below all fares and travel times are given from Nagoya Station.

The Higashiyama Line

There are 22 stations on the Higashiyama Line which runs west to east across the city from Takabata Station to Fujigaoka Station. This is the city’s busiest subway line, because it links Nagoya Station with the central commercial district of Sakae. On subway maps and signage this line is color coded yellow.

Key Destinations & Transfer Points:

Hatta Station

Transfer here to the JR Kansai Main Line and the Kintetsu Nagoya Line.

Kamejima Station

From exit 2 of this station it is a 5 minute walk to Noritake Garden & Ceramics Museum and a 10 minute walk to the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry & Technology.

Nagoya Station

Transfer here to the Sakura-dori Subway Line, Aonami Line, JR Lines and the Tokaido Shinkansen at Nagoya Station, Kintetsu Nagoya Station, and Meitetsu Nagoya Station.

Fushimi Station

This station is convenient for the Hilton Nagoya, the Nagoya Kanko Hotel, and the Dormy Inn Premium Nagoya Sakae. Transfer here to the Tsurumai Subway Line.

Sakae Station

Sakae is a major commercial district in central Nagoya and has many popular shopping facilities and stores such as Oasis 21, Sakae Chika, and La Chic. This station is also convenient for Nagoya Tokyu Hotel. Transfer here to the Meijo Subway Line and to the Meitetsu Seto Line.

Chikusa Station

Transfer here to the JR Chuo Line.

Imaike Station

Transfer here to the Sakura-dori Subway Line.

Motoyama Station

Transfer here to the Meijo Subway Line.

Higashiyama Koen Station

From Exit 3 of this station Higashiyama Zoo & Botanical Gardens is a 3 minute walk.

The Meijo Line

The Meijo Line is a loop line with 28 stations running through the major interchange stations of Kanayama, Sakae, and Ozone. The Meijo Line also connects to all the other subway lines. On subway maps and signage this line is color-coded purple.

Key Destinations & Transfer Points:

Kanayama Station

This station is convenient for the Nagoya/Boston Museum of Fine Arts. Kanayama Station is an important transportation hub in Nagoya. Transfer here to the Meiko Subway Line. Transfer also to the JR Chuo Line, the JR Tokaido Main Line, and to Meitetsu Railway services. Meitetsu Railway express train services to and from Chubu Centrair Airport stop here.

Kamimaezu Station

This station is convenient for the Osu Kannon Shotengai shopping district. Transfer here to the Tsurumai Subway Line.

Yabacho Station

This station is convenient for the Matsuzakaya Department Store. This business was established in 1611 which makes it one of the oldest department stores in the world. It also has the largest floor space of any department store in Japan.

Sakae Station

Sakae is a major commercial district in central Nagoya and has many popular shopping facilities and stores such as Oasis 21, Sakae Chika, and La Chic. This station is also convenient for Nagoya Tokyu Hotel. Transfer here to the Higashiyama Subway Line and to the Meitetsu Seto Line.

Hisaya-odori Station

Transfer here to the Sakura-dori Subway Line.

Shiyakusho Station

This station is convenient for Nagoya Castle and for Nagoya City Hall.

Heian-dori Station

Transfer here to the Kamiiida Subway Line.

Ozone Station

The Tokugawa Garden and Art Museum is a 14 minute walk south of this station. Transfer here to the Meitetsu Seto Line. JR Ozone Station is a 2 minute walk south of this station and there you can transfer to the JR Chuo Line.

Nagoya Dome-mae Yada Station

This station is convenient for the Nagoya Dome baseball stadium.

Motoyama Station

Transfer here to the Higashiyama Subway Line.

Yagoto Station

Koshoji Temple is a 3 minute walk from Exit 1 of this station. This 17th century temple is best known for its 5-story wooden pagoda. Transfer here to the Tsuramai Subway Line.

Aratama-bashi Station

Transfer here to the Sakura-dori Subway Line.

Jingu-Nishi Station

Atsuta Jingu Shrine is a 7 minute walk from this station. This shrine is 1,900 years old and one of the most important Shinto shrines in Japan.

The Meiko Line

There are 7 stations on the Meiko Line which runs from Kanayama Station on the Meijo Subway Line to Nagoyako Station in Nagoya Port. This line operates through train services with the Meijo Subway Line. On subway maps and signage the Meiko Line is color-coded with purple and white stripes.

The Tsurumai Line

There are 20 stations on the Tsurumai Line which runs from Kami Otai Station in Nagoya to Akaike Station in the neighboring city of Nisshin. On subway maps and signage this line is color-coded blue.

Key Destinations & Transfer Points:

Kami-Otai Station

Transfer here to the Johoku Line. Beyond Kami Otai Station the Tsurumai Line operates through train services with the Meitetsu Inuyama Line.

Sengen-cho Station

This station is convenient for Nagoya Castle.

Marunouchi Station

Transfer here to the Sakura-dori Subway Line.

Fushimi Station

This station is convenient for the Hilton Nagoya, the Nagoya Kanko Hotel, and the Dormy Inn Premium Nagoya Sakae. Transfer here to the Higashiyama Subway Line.

Osu Kannon Station

This station is convenient for the popular Osu Kannon Temple and the Osu Kannon Shotengai shopping district.

Kamimaezu Station

This station is also convenient for the Osu Kannon Shotengai shopping district. Transfer here to the Meijo Subway Line.

Tsurumai Station

Transfer here to the JR Chuo Line.

Gokiso Station

Transfer here to the Sakura-dori Subway Line.

Yagoto Station

Koshoji Temple is a 3 minute walk from Exit 1 of this station. This 17th century temple is best known for its 5-story wooden pagoda. Transfer here to the Meijo Subway Line.

Akaike Station

Akaike Station serves the city of Nisshin. This station is convenient for Nagoya City Tram and Subway Museum (also called the Retro Densha-kan) which exhibits historic rail carriages, tramcars and subway cars. Beyond Akaike Station the Tsurumai Line operates through train services with the Meitetsu Toyata Line and the Meitetsu Mikawa Line.

The Sakura-dori Line

This line has 21 stations running from Nakamura Kuyakusho Station, which is close to Nagoya Station, to Tokushige Station in the south east of the city. This line can be accessed directly from Nagoya Subway Station. On subway maps and signage this line is color-coded red.

Key Destinations & Transfer Points:

Nagoya Station

Transfer here to the Higashiyama Subway Line, Aonami Line, JR Lines and the Tokaido Shinkansen at Nagoya Station, Kintetsu Nagoya Station, and Meitetsu Nagoya Station.

Kokusai Center Station

Exit here for Nagoya International Center.

Marunouchi Station

Transfer here to the Tsurumai Subway Line.

Hisaya-odori Station

Transfer here to the Meijo Subway Line.

Imaike Station

Transfer here to the Higashiyama Subway Line.

Gokiso Station

Transfer here to the Tsurumai Subway Line.

Aratama-bashi Station

Transfer here to the Meijo Subway Line.

The Kamiiida Line

There are just two stations on the Kamiiida Line: Kamiiida Station, and Heian-dori Station which connects with the Meijo Line. However, through train services run between this line and the Meitetsu Komaki Line, and that line runs all the way to Inuyama Station. For this reason you can actually use the Kamiiida Line to get to the castle town of Inuyama. Another useful stop on the Meitetsu Komaki Line is Tagatajinja-mae Station which is convenient for Tagata Jinja Shrine in Komaki City. This shrine celebrates a famous fertility festival called Honen Matsuri every March 15th. On subway maps and signage the Kamiiida Line is color-coded pink.

Subway Tickets & Fares

Subway fares range from 200 yen to 330 yen for adults or from 100 yen to 160 yen for children under 12. All stations accept MANACA or equivalent prepaid IC cards from other regions such as ICOCA and SUICA.

Ticket machines have English guidance and are easy to use. First check your fare on the fare chart above the machines and then put your money into the machine. You can then press your fare button and collect your ticket.

Discount Passes

There are three discount passes available for the Nagoya Subway.

The One Day Subway Pass gives unlimited subway rides and costs 740 yen for adults and 370 yen for children under the age of 12.

The One Day Bus & Subway Pass can be used on all of Nagoya’s subway lines and City Bus routes (including the Me~guru sightseeing bus) and costs 850 yen for adults or 430 yen for children under the age of 12.

The Donichi Eco Kippu is a one day pass that can only be used on Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays, or the 8th day of each month. It can be used on all of Nagoya’s subway lines and City Bus routes (including the Me~guru sightseeing bus) and costs 600 yen for adults or 300 yen for children under the age of 12.

All of these passes entitle you to a variety of discounts and services at tourist sites and facilities around Nagoya. They can be bought from subway ticket machines, inside city buses, and at participating hotels.

Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved.