Where to spend a long layover: NRT or NGO?
May 7, 2013, 10:57 am
#1
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Where to spend a long layover: NRT or NGO?
Hi guys. This June, I am scheduled to fly to PDX from MNL, hopefully on DL, for a conference, and there are quite a number of interesting itineraries that DL.com has been generating for me. Some of these include long layovers in Japan, and I was wondering where I should spend my layover. I can choose from the following:
*DL 172 -> DL 608 (MNL-NRT-HNL): 7h45
*DL 630 -> DL 612 (MNL-NGO-HNL): 8h40
I was last in Tokyo in 2009, so I don't mind going back for a bit and looking around again, but if I stop in Nagoya, it will be my first time there. Also, yes, I hold a U.S. passport.
Thanks and I hope this will be a very interesting layover!
*DL 172 -> DL 608 (MNL-NRT-HNL): 7h45
*DL 630 -> DL 612 (MNL-NGO-HNL): 8h40
I was last in Tokyo in 2009, so I don't mind going back for a bit and looking around again, but if I stop in Nagoya, it will be my first time there. Also, yes, I hold a U.S. passport.
Thanks and I hope this will be a very interesting layover!
May 7, 2013, 12:54 pm
#2
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For a seven or eight hour layover, I think Tokyo is probably more interesting than Nagoya. The trouble with Nagoya is that when you get there, there isn't any there there. (Apologies to Gertrude Stein and mjm)
May 7, 2013, 1:26 pm
#3
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Nagoya has a number of interesting things located an hour or two away, but very little right in the city, unless you just want the feeling of wandering streets in Japan.
If you were on a longer stay, it could be the base for day trips to Takayama, Ise, Hikone, and Inuyama, but as a destination in itself, it fits the description, "It's a nice place to live, but I wouldn't want to visit there."
If you were on a longer stay, it could be the base for day trips to Takayama, Ise, Hikone, and Inuyama, but as a destination in itself, it fits the description, "It's a nice place to live, but I wouldn't want to visit there."
May 7, 2013, 5:06 pm
#4
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....well, maybe a couple of things in favor of a Nagoya layover.....isn't the train from airport to city fairly quick, 30 mins or so?.........and does flying out of NGO give you a better chance of upgrade for the long segment to HNL?
Look at info on some of the museums of science/technology in Nagoya to see if they are of interest......the Noritake china dish store/oulet at their former factory site is a 15min walk from Nagoya station.....and the station has the usual set of huge major dept. stores for any shopping (as in Tokyo).
Look at info on some of the museums of science/technology in Nagoya to see if they are of interest......the Noritake china dish store/oulet at their former factory site is a 15min walk from Nagoya station.....and the station has the usual set of huge major dept. stores for any shopping (as in Tokyo).
May 8, 2013, 2:12 am
#5
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About 30 to 40 minutes. The journey time from NRT to Nippori or Ueno is about the same.
I don't know. Does it?
I think the suggestion to look up some museums is a good one if the OP has to do a long layover at NGO and hasn't been to Nagoya before.
For myself, if I had an 8 hour layover at NGO, I'd probably look around the run down neighborhoods that I've seen from the train to the airport. And I might check out the INAX site near the airport .... and then I'd probably spend a few hours at the airport onsen.
I think the suggestion to look up some museums is a good one if the OP has to do a long layover at NGO and hasn't been to Nagoya before.
For myself, if I had an 8 hour layover at NGO, I'd probably look around the run down neighborhoods that I've seen from the train to the airport. And I might check out the INAX site near the airport .... and then I'd probably spend a few hours at the airport onsen.
Last edited by jib71; May 8, 2013 at 2:17 am
May 10, 2013, 1:06 am
#7
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Unfortunately, the NRT layover is no longer tenable because of the cost (it's now $200 more expensive), so it looks like I'll be spending my long layover in NGO. Any suggestions as to what I should do? The onsen sounds nice (and I hope it's not too pricey), but I was also thinking of probably doing Nagoya Castle and a few other sights, as well as lunch in the city. 
Last edited by Akiestar; May 10, 2013 at 1:12 am
May 10, 2013, 11:48 am
#8
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Unfortunately, the NRT layover is no longer tenable because of the cost (it's now $200 more expensive), so it looks like I'll be spending my long layover in NGO. Any suggestions as to what I should do? The onsen sounds nice (and I hope it's not too pricey), but I was also thinking of probably doing Nagoya Castle and a few other sights, as well as lunch in the city.
I really can't see the point of visiting ferroconcrete reconstructions of castles, when anyone with a lego set can build one with as much authenticity, but I suppose they allow you to imagine how things were once upon a time. Museums sounds like a better option to me. I've been to the Toyota museum, which was fine. The zoo ... I don't like zoos.
May 13, 2013, 9:48 pm
#10
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For the real deal, go a little bit further north to Inuyama. There are non-stop trains from NGO that will take you to Inuyama Station in 55 minutes; Inuyama Castle is another 20 minute walk from there. Depending on when in June you'll be here the weather may be warm and sunny or humid and overcast.
May 20, 2013, 7:30 pm
#11
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Thanks for the responses, guys.
A friend of mine (who is from Japan) suggested that I go to Ise, though I'm worried since the ferry to Matsuzaka takes around 70 minutes, then to Ise is another 15 minutes by train. Not sure 85 minutes is the best way for me to see Japan.
I can get an upgrade on NGO-HNL? I'd love that!
But then again, I highly doubt I will get an upgrade unless something happens.
I could see the Toyota Museum, which I hear is quite interesting. And maybe I can find a nice lunch around Nagoya station.
I was really thinking of doing Inuyama Castle instead, especially since there are trains that go from Nagoya to Inuyama in only 37 minutes.
But then again, I highly doubt I will get an upgrade unless something happens.
Look at info on some of the museums of science/technology in Nagoya to see if they are of interest......the Noritake china dish store/oulet at their former factory site is a 15min walk from Nagoya station.....and the station has the usual set of huge major dept. stores for any shopping (as in Tokyo).
For the real deal, go a little bit further north to Inuyama. There are non-stop trains from NGO that will take you to Inuyama Station in 55 minutes; Inuyama Castle is another 20 minute walk from there. Depending on when in June you'll be here the weather may be warm and sunny or humid and overcast.
May 20, 2013, 7:56 pm
#12
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Meiji Mura is in Inuyama. It's a pretty cool place. For lunch, go to the Nenohi, a Nagoya institution. The head office and a couple of their locations are near Nagoya station.
May 28, 2013, 9:29 pm
#13
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May 29, 2013, 7:30 am
#14
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Toyota Automobile Museum
It's a long time since I visited, but I remember that it was a good car museum. I think I've been to places in Europe that have larger collections - like the one in Beaulieu. But there were some very unusual historical vehicles showing the development of key technologies in cars today and a good collection of Japanese vehicles.
It's a long time since I visited, but I remember that it was a good car museum. I think I've been to places in Europe that have larger collections - like the one in Beaulieu. But there were some very unusual historical vehicles showing the development of key technologies in cars today and a good collection of Japanese vehicles.