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 discount passes available that make the subway an economical way to get around. In this article we introduce the Nagoya Subway lines and major stations, and explain how to buy tickets and discount passes.
Fushimi Station on the Higashiyama Subway Line
Table of Contents
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, adult fares and train times are given for subway journeys from Nagoya Station checked for departures at about 12:00 on 17-Jul-2026. Transfer waits can change the total journey time.
The ticket gates at Nagoya Subway 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.
On-board signage for the Higashiyama Line
Key Destinations & Transfer Points:
Hatta Station
Transfer here to the JR Kansai Main Line and the Kintetsu Nagoya Line.
Kamejima Station
From Kamejima Station Exit 2, it is about a five-minute walk to Noritake Garden, including the Craft Center and Noritake Museum, and about a ten-minute walk to the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology.
Train fare: 210 yen
Train time: 1 minute
Nagoya Station
Transfer here to the Sakura-dori Subway Line, the Aonami Line, JR conventional lines and the Tokaido Shinkansen. Kintetsu Nagoya Station and Meitetsu Nagoya Station are also part of the wider Nagoya Station area.
Boarding at Nagoya Station
Fushimi Station
Fushimi 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.
Train fare: 210 yen
Train time: 2 minutes
Sakae Station
Sakae is a major commercial district in central Nagoya and has popular shopping facilities such as Oasis 21, Sakae Chika and LACHIC. This station is also convenient for Nagoya Tokyu Hotel. Transfer here to the Meijo Subway Line and to the Meitetsu Seto Line at Sakaemachi Station.
Train fare: 210 yen
Train time: 4 minutes
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 and Botanical Gardens is a three-minute walk.
Train fare: 270 yen
Train time: 17 minutes
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.
Two trains on the Meijo Line
Key Destinations & Transfer Points:
Kanayama Station
Kanayama Station is an important transportation hub in Nagoya. Transfer here to the Meiko Subway Line, the JR Chuo Main Line, the JR Tokaido Main Line and Meitetsu Railway services. Meitetsu express services to and from Chubu Centrair International Airport stop here.
Train fare: 240 yen
Train time: 18 minutes
Kamimaezu Station
This station is convenient for the Osu Kannon Shotengai shopping district. Transfer here to the Tsurumai Subway Line.
Train fare: 240 yen
Train time: 14 minutes
Yabacho Station
This station is convenient for Matsuzakaya Nagoya. The business was established in 1611, making it one of the oldest department stores in the world, and its Nagoya store has one of Japan’s largest department-store floor areas.
Train fare: 240 yen
Train time: 12 minutes
Sakae Station
Sakae is a major commercial district in central Nagoya and has popular shopping facilities such as Oasis 21, Sakae Chika and LACHIC. This station is also convenient for Nagoya Tokyu Hotel. Transfer here to the Higashiyama Subway Line and to the Meitetsu Seto Line at Sakaemachi Station.
Train fare: 210 yen
Train time: 4 minutes
Hisaya-odori Station
Transfer here to the Sakura-dori Subway Line.
Nagoyajo Station
This is the direct subway station for Nagoya Castle and is also convenient for Nagoya City Hall. The castle grounds and Hommaru Palace remain open, but the main tower keep is currently closed.
Train fare: 240 yen
Train time: 10 minutes
Heian-dori Station
Transfer here to the Kamiiida Subway Line.
Ozone Station
Tokugawa Garden and the Tokugawa Art Museum are about a ten-minute walk from the south exit of JR Ozone Station. Ozone is also a transfer point for the JR Chuo Main Line, the Meitetsu Seto Line and the Yutorito Line.
Train fare: 270 yen
Train time: 21 minutes
Nagoya Dome-mae Yada Station
This station is convenient for Vantelin Dome Nagoya, the home stadium of the Chunichi Dragons.
Train fare: 270 yen
Train time: 23 minutes
Motoyama Station
Transfer here to the Higashiyama Subway Line.
Yagoto Station
Koshoji Temple is a three-minute walk from Exit 1 of this station. The temple was founded in 1688 and is best known for its five-story wooden pagoda, built in 1808. Transfer here to the Tsurumai Subway Line.
Train fare: 270 yen
Train time: 28 minutes
Aratama-bashi Station
Transfer here to the Sakura-dori Subway Line.
Atsuta Jingu Nishi Station
Atsuta Jingu Shrine is a seven-minute walk from this station. Founded about 1,900 years ago, it is one of Japan’s most important Shinto shrines.
Train fare: 240 yen
Train time: 23 minutes
A route map for the Meijo & Meiko Lines
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.
A sign for the Tsurumai Line
Key Destinations & Transfer Points:
Kami-Otai Station
The Johoku Line’s Otai Station is separate and about a ten-minute walk away, so this is not a direct interchange. Beyond Kami Otai Station, the Tsurumai Line operates through services on the Meitetsu Inuyama Line.
Sengen-cho Station
This station can be used for the western side of the Nagoya Castle area, but Nagoyajo Station on the Meijo Line is the more direct stop for castle visitors.
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.
Train fare: 210 yen
Train time: 2 minutes
Osu Kannon Station
This station is convenient for the popular Osu Kannon Temple and the Osu Kannon Shotengai shopping district.
Train fare: 210 yen
Train time: 13 minutes
Kamimaezu Station
This station is also convenient for the Osu Kannon Shotengai shopping district. Transfer here to the Meijo Subway Line.
Train fare: 240 yen
Train time: 14 minutes
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 three-minute walk from Exit 1 of this station. The temple was founded in 1688 and is best known for its five-story wooden pagoda, built in 1808. Transfer here to the Meijo Subway Line.
Train fare: 270 yen
Train time: 28 minutes
Akaike Station
Akaike Station serves the city of Nisshin. Retro Densha-kan (Nagoya City Tram and Subway Museum), which exhibits historic tramcars and subway cars, is about a seven-minute walk from Exit 2. Beyond Akaike Station, Tsurumai Line trains operate through services on the Meitetsu Toyota Line and continue to Toyotashi via part of the Meitetsu Mikawa Line.
Train fare: 310 yen
Train time: 39 minutes
A Tsurumai Line train bound for Kami Otai Station
The Sakura-dori Line
This line has 21 stations running from Taiko-dori Station, one stop west of Nagoya Station, to Tokushige Station in the southeast 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, the Aonami Line, JR conventional lines and the Tokaido Shinkansen. Kintetsu Nagoya Station and Meitetsu Nagoya Station are also part of the wider Nagoya Station area.
Kokusai Center Station
Exit here for Nagoya International Center.
Train fare: 210 yen
Train time: 1 minute
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. Through services operate between this line and the Meitetsu Komaki Line, and some continue to Inuyama Station. Check the train’s destination if traveling 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. The shrine celebrates the famous Honen Matsuri fertility festival on 15 March each year. On subway maps and signage, the Kamiiida Line is color-coded pink.
Subway Tickets & Fares
Subway fares range from 210 yen to 340 yen for adults and from 100 yen to 170 yen at the child rate. Child fares generally apply to elementary-school-age passengers, usually ages 6 to 11, with separate conditions for younger children. All stations accept manaca and equivalent prepaid IC cards from other regions, including ICOCA and Suica.
Nagoya Subway ticket machines
Ticket machines have English guidance and are easy to use. First check your fare on the fare chart above the machines, then insert your money, select the fare and collect your ticket.
Ticket machine touch screens have English guidance
Discount Passes
There are three main discount passes available for travel on the Nagoya Subway.
You can buy a Discount Pass from a subway ticket machine
The Nagoya Subway 24-Hour Ticket gives unlimited rides on all subway lines for 24 hours from first use and costs 760 yen for adults and 380 yen for children.
The Nagoya City Bus & Subway 1-Day Ticket can be used on all Nagoya subway lines and City Bus routes, including the Me~guru sightseeing bus, from the first to the last service on the day of use. It costs 870 yen for adults or 430 yen for children.
The Donichi Eco Kippu is a one-day pass valid on Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays and the eighth day of each month. It can be used on all Nagoya subway lines and City Bus routes, including the Me~guru sightseeing bus, and costs 620 yen for adults or 310 yen for children.
An earlier version of Nagoya’s subway pass
All of these passes provide discounts and services at participating tourist sites and facilities around Nagoya. They are sold at subway stations and other designated sales points. The Bus & Subway 1-Day Ticket and Donichi Eco Kippu can also be bought on city buses, but the subway-only 24-hour ticket cannot.
Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved. Last updated 17-Jul-2026.
