Getting around Nagoya

Public transport

Many of Nagoya’s main sites are within walking distance from the city centre and the station area, so many visitors to Nagoya choose to explore large parts of the city by foot. Still, some attractions are located further away, and it is convenient that both the subway and the key bus routes cover a large area and are efficient and easy to use.

The major terminals for the city buses are Nagoya-eki (on the second floor of the terminal building, just north of Nagoya Station) and Sakae (at Oasis 21 or Funsui-minami).

You can buy one-day and weekend travel cards covering both the subway and the bus throughout Nagoya. For more information, see the transport deparment's website (www.kotsu.city.nagoya.jp).

Another convenient way to get around Nagoya’s main sites is with the Me-guru sightseeing route bus (www.nagoya-info.jp/en/routebus). You can buy one-day passes or single rides on the bus.

Taxis

There are several taxi ranks throughout Nagoya. You can hail taxis anywhere on the street and tipping is not expected. To pre-book a taxi, call Meitetsu Taxi (tel: +81 52 331 2211) or Tsubame Taxi (tel: +81 52 604 8183).

Driving

All foreign visitors need an International Driving Permit to drive in Japan. You can use this for up to a year.

Car hire

Car hire companies include Hertz (tel: +81 75 365 0100; www.hertz.com), Nippon Rent-A-Car (tel: +81 3 6859 6234; www.nipponrentacar.co.jp) and Nissan Rent-A-Car (tel: +81 75 661 4123; http://nissan-rentacar.com).

JR Eki Rent A Car (www.ekiren.co.jp) offers car hire and train fare package deals. Look for the travel centres in every JR station.

Bicycle hire

With its wide boulevards and leafy parks, Nagoya is a good city to explore by bicycle. Some hotels in Nagoya offer complimentary bicycle hire to their guests, but there are also bicycle rental companies that can deliver and pick up bikes from your hotel. Try Rentarin Nagoya (tel: +81 52 481 6963; http://rentalin758.com).