Getting to Nagoya Castle

How do I get to Nagoya Castle?

By subway to Nagoyajo Station (Meijo Line, M07), then 5 minutes on foot from exit 7 to the East Gate. Sengencho on the Tsurumai Line serves the Main Gate.

The official access list in one table:

Nagoyajo exit 7 is the simplest choice for most visitors. Sengencho suits you if you are already on the Tsurumai Line or want to start at the Main Gate.

How do I get from Nagoya Station to Nagoya Castle?

Sakura-dori Line to Hisaya-odori (about 5 minutes), then the Meijo Line one stop to Nagoyajo: roughly 10 minutes and 240 yen in all.

From the JR station, follow the signs for the Sakura-dori Line (red). Ride three stops east to Hisaya-odori, change to the purple Meijo Line and go one stop north to Nagoyajo. Japan Guide puts the trip at about 10 minutes and 240 yen. Suica, ICOCA and other IC cards work on the Nagoya subway.

The Higashiyama Line to Sakae, then the Meijo Line north two stops, works too and is handy if you are already on the yellow line. A taxi takes about 15 minutes outside rush hour and drops you at either gate.

If you plan several rides, the Nagoya Subway 24-hour ticket costs 760 yen, and on weekends, holidays and the 8th of each month the Donichi Eco Kippu covers subway and city buses for 620 yen.

Is Shiyakusho Station the same as Nagoyajo Station?

Yes. The Meijo Line station called Shiyakusho (City Hall) was renamed Nagoyajo on 4 January 2023. Same station, same number, M07.

Older guidebooks, blogs and some tour listings still say Shiyakusho. Ignore the old name and look for M07 on the subway map. The bus stop on Key Route Bus 2 is still called Shiyakusho, which adds to the confusion. Exit 7 is the one you want for the East Gate.

How do I get to Nagoya Castle from Sakae?

Two stops north on the Meijo Line from Sakae to Nagoyajo, a few minutes' ride. Or walk: it is roughly 2 km and takes 25 to 30 minutes.

From Sakae Station, take the Meijo Line towards Ozone and get off at the second stop, Nagoyajo. Walking from Sakae up through Hisaya-odori Park is pleasant in good weather and passes Mirai Tower, Japan's first TV tower. A map app will give you the exact time from your hotel.

Coming back, the Muneharu zone of Kinshachi Yokocho at the East Gate has places open into the evening, which suits a late meal before heading back to Sakae.

Three private hours on foot from Nagoya Station: the castle, Kinshachi Yokocho, Sakae and Mirai Tower. Castle ticket extra.

New · 3 hours · from $84

Explore the private castle and city walk → Tour details

Is there a bus from Nagoya Station to Nagoya Castle?

Yes: the Me-guru sightseeing loop bus, about 25 minutes to the Main Gate, 210 yen per ride or 500 yen for a day pass. It does not run on Mondays.

The Me-guru route starts at Nagoya Station and stops at the Toyota Commemorative Museum, Noritake Garden, Nagoya Castle, Tokugawa-en and Mirai Tower before looping back. According to the official page, the 8:30 and 9:00 departures from Nagoya Station run straight to the castle, and the 17:00 departure skips it. The bus is closed on Mondays (the next weekday after a Monday holiday) and over New Year.

The 500 yen day pass also cuts the adult castle ticket from 1,000 to 800 yen on the day you use it. If you add Tokugawa-en or the Toyota museum, it pays for itself.

How do I get to Nagoya Castle from Tokyo or Kyoto?

Shinkansen to Nagoya Station, then the subway. Tokyo to Nagoya is about 1 hour 35 minutes on a Nozomi; Kyoto to Nagoya about 35 minutes.

All Tokaido Shinkansen trains stop at Nagoya. Fares and times from Ekitan; timetables and online booking are on JR Central:

Peak-season surcharges apply around New Year, Golden Week and Obon. From the shinkansen gates, follow signs for the Sakura-dori subway line and you can be at the castle gate within 20 minutes. Kyoto makes an easy day trip: leave at 8:00, see the castle at opening, eat lunch on Kinshachi Yokocho and be back by mid-afternoon.

From Chubu Centrair airport, the Meitetsu train reaches Meitetsu Nagoya Station, next to the JR station, in under 30 minutes on the fastest service.

Which gate should I use, the Main Gate or the East Gate?

The East Gate if you come by subway; the Main Gate if you come by bus or car, or want lunch on the Yoshinao side of Kinshachi Yokocho first.

Both gates sell tickets and both are about 10 minutes' walk from the palace. The Main Gate (Seimon) is on the west side, with the larger car park and the Yoshinao zone of the food street. The East Gate is on the east side, closest to Nagoyajo Station and to the Muneharu zone, which stays open later. The route guide walks you from one to the other.

Can I drive to Nagoya Castle?

Yes. The Main Gate and East Gate car parks hold 319 and 202 cars and charge 250 yen per 30 minutes. No overnight parking.

The official page gives the routes: about 8 minutes south of the Kurokawa exit on the Route 1 Kusunoki Line, or 5 minutes north of the Marunouchi exit on the Ring Route. The Main Gate car park opens 8:45 to 21:30 and the East Gate one 8:30 to 22:30. The fee rose from 180 to 250 yen per 30 minutes in June 2026, so a two-hour visit costs 1,000 yen in parking, as much as the ticket.

For most visitors the subway is cheaper and faster. Drive only if the castle is a stop on a longer road day, such as Inuyama.

A private local guide meets you at your hotel or Nagoya Station and plans the route: no maps, no transfers to work out.

★ 5.0 · 2 to 8 hours · from $60

Explore a private tour with a local → Tour details

Frequently asked questions