Central Japan Inside of Japan Travel Tips

An Alterntive to Tokyo or Osaka Entry to Japan

When traveling in a foreign country, we bet what annoys you most is how to "read" transportation maps.  Needless to say, local train and bus rides make you feel as if you were locals, which is probably the best way to understand local cultures and people.  However, before reaching that point, you could be overwhelmed by complicated train maps to travel from the entry point of the country to your destination, usually downtown areas from where you take trains and buses to explore more the country, right?

Nagoya's symbol "Nana-chan', who stands outside of Meitetsu Ground Hotel,
 welcomes you in different outfits: Yukata, summer Kimono, in this picture 

This is really true to traveling in Japan!  Everyone wants quality travel for sure, seeing unique or "exotic' places, and being touched by Japanese hospitality.  However, if your travel intention includes feeling privileged to explore Japan and tell families and friends about your stay in Tokyo, which is GENERALLY expensive (don't get us wrong, it is quite natural and we are not judging it at all),  then, unfortunately, this post is not right for you. 

Our focus here is to introduce very economical, but memorable and somewhat stressless travel tips. 

We understand that our views may be distorted because we would like to introduce Central Japan, the City of Nagoya, which is less known than Tokyo and Osaka. However, you will find this very useful!

What do you know about Nagoya?  When we say Toyota, you would say it is one of the world-famous car companies.  What about Ichiro (Suzuki), who is in the Hall of Fame of MLB?  People know these names, but they don't know both are closely associated with the City of Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture (Central Nagoya). Toyota is very close to Nagoya, and Ichiro was born, raised, and distinguished himself at high school in and just suburb of Nagoya.

Tune In Nagoya would like to point out 5 reasons  why Nagoya is the BEST entry point to explore Japan.

1. Nagoya's geographical location: THE center of Japan
2. Easy entry at the Airport and easy access to downtown area
3. Good size  and convenient
4. Less crowded
5. luggage hold service for stressless explorations 

1) The Center of Japan

Nagoya is geographically located in the center of Japan.  From Nagoya, you can easily access to BOTH Tokyo and further north to Tohoku reagion AND Osaka and further south reagions, such as Hiroshima and Fukuoka.  Even to fly out to Hokkaido (the northern island) or to Okinawa (the small southern island further south to Kyushu Island), less expensive flights from Nagoya are available.  These flights include Low Cost Carriers like Skymark and JetStar, as well as major carriers of JAL and ANA.  With Japan Rail Pass, you can move around to the northern regions and to southern regions for the consecutive days the Rail Pass specifies.  Or, without the Rail Pass, you can make one- and more-day trips from Nagoya by using some Special Regional Passes (discussed in our previous post).  Yes, the Central Japan is really convenient.

2)  Easy Entry at Chubu International Airport and Easy Access to Downtown Nagoya

The Chubu Airport called Centrair is an international airport.  Indeed, it is much smaller than Narita Airport (in Tokyo) and Kansai Airport (in Osaka), but a decent size airport which smoothly accommodates departing and arriving passengers.  This Airport itself is less complicated and really straightforward access to public transportations for traveling to downtown Nagoya.   Going through the customs and security doors, everything is LITERALLY right there.   Airport buses and taxis are easily found.  Just follow the signs, and you can reach train platforms in less than 5 minutes.  From the Airport to Nagoya Station, which should be the hub of your train/bus excursions to explore more in and out of Nagoya, the straight-shot comfortable train ride is less than 30 minutes (as discussed in our post).

3) Good Size and Convenient City

Some people say "Culture is cultivated in the shade of tall trees".  We think this truly exemplifies Nagoya.  Yes, Nagoya is one of the largest cities in Japan, but it is NOT a concrete jungle.  Along with spacious parks, a bunch of small parks provide oases for people's get-together.  Tall trees lining up along roads and streets provide good shade where people can breathe nice breeze.

In addition, daily necessities are easily met here in Nagoya.  Less complicated public transportations, such as two local railway companies (Meitetsu and Kintetsu Lines),  Japan Railway Company (for traveling all over Japan), and subway and bus systems, provide comfortable service.  Supermarkets and convenience stores are easily found.  Medical attentions are promptly given when necessary.  Yes, fancy yet expensive hotels are available, but business hotels (good for budget travelers) are reasonable options because they are not so small like sardine boxes.    Finally, Nagoyans are pretty laidback.  All these create some good culture of Nagoya.

4) Less Crowded City

Manual Wicket which Rail Pass holders have to go through

Even with over 2 million people plus visitors, Nagoya is less crowded.  This may be, unfornately, due to a less-known tourist destination status in Japan.  However, you can take advantage of this when getting accommodations, train/bus tickets, and actual train/bus rides in Nagoya.  This means that you do not have to wait long in line to buy train tickets and to get station stuff's attention.  For example, as seen in the picture, Japan Rail Pass holders should go through the wicket where station staff check your Pass, not the automatic gates.  Can you imagine you have to wait in line just to go through that manual wicket  in order to catch trains?  We witnessed those crowded wickets in big cities.  Unless you have plenty of time in hand, waiting in line is a kind of wasting your precious time, right?

5) Luggage hold service and stressless explorations from Nagoya as a base city

Don't you wish you could travel and explore Japan without heavy luggage?  If you could travel with only necessary items in your backpack, with your heavy suitcase behind somewhere, that would be great.  If holding your luggage is not so troublesome or expensive, that would be even better, right?  For this travel, you can use "eco cloak" and other services,  by which you can find mot convenient places for your luggage hold in and near Nagoya Station (for more information, check our later post).    Some business hotels can hold your luggage while you explore other places in Japan.  Amazingly, at Chubu International Airport. there is a service counter where you can ask for baggage deliver service from the Airport to your hotel.  With this service, even from the Airport, you can travel without heavy luggage.  You could already be a local.
For more information about luggage hold service, check out our next post (6 Options/Places to Hold Your Luggage for Traveling Light)

Can you see our points now?  If you plan your trip from Nagoya as a base city, you can get your luggage held for certain days and travel to whatever destinations you head for, AND come back to Nagoya and go somewhere else, by whatever transportation means, such as Japan Rail Pass or some Regional Passes.  Thanks to the location of Nagoya, this could be possible.  Isn't it pretty neat?