NewbieRunner

Japan Do 2024 will “return” to Nagoya where it was scheduled to take place in 2020. Nagoya is the fourth most-populated city in Japan and 1 hr 37 mins by the Shinkansen from Tokyo, 34 mins from Kyoto and 50 mins from Osaka.



The dates will be from Thursday 28 March to Sunday 31 March and we will follow the usual pattern with meet & greet drinks on Thursday evening, a tour of Nagoya and the Do dinner on Friday.

Other details are still being worked out but a whole day bus trip to Takayama and Shirakawago is likely on Saturday and a day trip to Ise Shrine on Sunday.

As Easter is early next year and close to the end of the cherry blossom season, hotels are likely to be more expensive than usual.

NewbieRunner

Nagoya: Getting there and around (Japan Guide)
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3302.html

Getting to Nagoya
Nagoya has an airport (NGO or Centrair) with some international flights from Asian countries but I expect most people will arrive at one of the Tokyo airports (HND or NRT) or at Kansai airport (KIX) near Osaka. There are a few flights to NGO from HND and NRT but it’s probably not worth flying to NGO unless you can add it to your international flight. NGO is 35km (22 miles) south of Nagoya.

From Haneda Airport
Keikyū train to Shinagawa, then Tōkaidō Shinkansen to Nagoya.
Up to 10 trains per hour taking about 1hr30mins on Nozomi. Hikari takes a little longer. Avoid Kodama unless you want to spend longer on the train.
The fare between Shinagawa and Nagoya is ¥6,380 plus Limited Express charge of ¥4,180 to ¥4,920 with or without seat reservation.

From Narita Airport
The easiest would be to take Narita Express to Shinagawa and change to Tōkaidō Shinkansen as above. Don’t change at Tokyo Station if you can avoid it. It would be much easier and quicker to change at Shinagawa. Seat reservation is mandatory on Narita Express.

If you are going back to NRT within 14 days you can get a discounted return ticket from Narita Airport to Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shinjuku, Yokohama, etc. it costs ¥5,000 return and is valid for 14 days.
https://www.jreast.co.jp/multi/en/pass/nex.html

From KIX (Kansai Airport)
The quickest way is to take Limited Express "Haruka" to Shin-Osaka and change to Tōkaidō Shinkansen to Nagoya. Takes a little over 2 hours and costs ¥8,800. There are also slower and cheaper options as well.

From NGO (Chūbu Centrair Airport)
Chūbu Centrair Airport is 35km south of Nagoya. The quickest way into Nagoya is by “μSky” trains to Meitetsu Nagoya station which take 28 minutes and cost ¥1,250 or limited express trains which take 37 minutes and cost ￥890 without seat reservation. There is also an airport limousine bus service for “major hotels in Sakae and Fushimi area” but it only runs every two hours and costs ¥1,500.
http://www.meitetsu-bus.co.jp/image/...32685017ed.pdf

Searching train timetables
To search train timetables I recommend Japan Transit Planner https://world.jorudan.co.jp/mln/en/. I regularly use the (original) Japanese version, Jorudan. Google is also useful in some cases.

Japan Rail Pass
Since the massive price increase in autumn 2023, the JR Pass is no longer a worthwhile product for most visitors to Japan.

ATM
Many ATMs in Japan do not accept credit, debit, and other cash cards issued outside Japan. But there's no need to panic. You will find Seven Bank ATMs in 7-Eleven convenience stores everywhere which do accept foreign credit and ATM cards. These ATMs are available 24 hours a day and can display English, Japanese, and several other languages. Assistance is available using the handset in English, 24 hours day, year-round. There are also ATMs in Post Offices (Japan Post/Yucho Bank) during the Post Office hours. Family Mart convenience stores and Aeon Bank also accept cards issued outside Japan. Some ATMs may charge fees.

Entry requirements - Visit Japan Web
Visa waiver has been restored for visitors from most countries. Registering with Visit Japan Web is not mandatory, however it is supposed to help speed up the entry procedures in Japan. More information may be found in post #103.

WiFi in Japan
More places such as department stores, convenience stores, restaurants, trains, and railway stations, are providing free WiFi access, but WiFi in Japan is still a little patchy compared to many other countries. As Japanese cellular plans are very inexpensive residents don’t need to use WiFi much. Unless your contract allows free or cheap roaming in Japan you might like to consider a prepaid SIM or eSIM. Bear in mind that prepaid SIMs for visitors which are easy to get are for data only. For more info check the recent posts in the following thread in the Japan forum.
Prepaid SIM discussion (consolidated)

Adding Suica on iPhone
See post #109

Nagoya Castle
https://www.nagoyajo.city.nagoya.jp/en/

Toyota-related Museums
* Toyota Automobile Museum
In Nagakute City, east of Nagoya, about 1 hour 15 minutes by bus
Showcases the worldwide history of automobiles and automobile culture

* Toyota Kaikan Museum
In Toyota Ciy about 1 hour 20 minutes from Nagoya.
Exhibits Toyota’s latest technology on environment, safety, and manufacturing, as well as new Toyota and Lexus models.
(Plant tours at Toyota Motor Corporation headquarters area have been suspended until further notice)

* Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology
About 1.5km north of Nagoya Station
To enter Technoland a numbered ticket is required which will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis on the day.
Free guided tours in English
- Textile Machinery Pavilion: 14:00
- Automobile Pavilion : 15:15

Attractions further afield
Flight of Dreams : an airplane theme park built around the exhibition of the first-ever Boeing 787 (at Centrair Airport, aka NGO)
Legoland Japan : close to the SCMAGLEV and Railway Park
Ghibli Park : close to the Toyota Automobile Museum


Here are some links to information on Nagoya for tourists.
https://time.com/collection/worlds-g.../nagoya-japan/
https://www.willflyforfood.net/nagoya-travel-guide/
https://www.trip.com/travel-guide/de...n/nagoya-2127/
https://www.japan.travel/en/itinerar...ste-of-nagoya/
https://www.japan-guide.com/ad/centr...an/201126.html

For those looking for international chain hotels there are:

TIAD Autograph Collection (Marriott)
Nagoya Marriott Associa Hotel
Courtyard by Marriott Nagoya
ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel Grand Court Nagoya
Hotel Indigo Inuyama Urakuen Garden
Hilton Nagoya
Ibis Styles Nagoya
Tower Hotel Nagoya(SLH)
Comfort Inn Nagoya Sakae
Comfort Hotel Nagoya Fushimi
Comfort Hotel Nagoya Meiekiminami
Comfort Hotel Nagoya Shinkansenguchi

NewbieRunner

For more information please follow links.

Thursday 28 March 7pm - Meet & Greet Drinks - Y Market Brewing Kitchen, 4-17-6 Meieki, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya
https://ymarket-brewing-kitchen.com/en/ (post #52)

Friday 29 March 10am - Visit to Nagoya Castle, followed by Toyota Techno Museum, Railway Museum, etc. (See post #131)
Meet at exit #7 of Nagoya Castle Station (M07) on Subway Meijō Line.

Friday 29 March 6:30pm - Do Dinner (See posts #60 and #61)
Tengushi Meieki 4-chome ten (4-5 minutes from KintetsuNagoya Station)
https://bit.ly/48EZjU4 (Japanese website: https://n244931.gorp.jp/)
7 course meal (oden, sashimi, tempura, steak, etc.) & all you can drink for 2 hours for ¥7,500
Please bring cash on the day.
Fully booked

Saturday 30 March 8:50am - 6pm (post #53, detailed info post #130 and post #135)
Day trip to Ise Shrines ¥6,700
Please post in the thread if you are planning to come.

Sunday 31 March 7:50am - 7:50pm (post #54, booking info in post #76)
Bus tour to Takayama and Shirakawagō ¥7,500
Please book your own place on the bus.
.

NewbieRunner

Will be there - got tickets
Antonio8069
BigRedBears
Bundy Bear
Bundy Bear +1
ClaudiSTR
cocobird
cocobird +1
FlyerBeek
FlyerBeek +1
Governator
kiyaj
kpc
kpc +1
Majuki
mnmag
NewbieRunner
nme7
oliver2002 +3 (Sunday only)
restlessinRNO
restlessinRNO +1
wysiwyg
Xyzzy
Zorak
Zorak +1


Maybe
elliott44k
Ikaz
JY1024
pudgym29


Not this year
ChrisFlyer66
JapanFlyerT
Sykes
The_Wrath_of_Khan


Please post if I have put anyone in the wrong category or if you would like to be added.
.

NewbieRunner

Confirmed Do Dinner attendees (now full)

1. kpc
2. kpc +1
3. Governator
4. ClaudiSTR
5. restlessinRNO
6. restlessinRNO +1
7. Zorak
8. Zorak +1
9. wysiwyg
10. cocobird
11. nme7
12. Majuki
13. Bundy Bear
14. FlyerBeek
15. FlyerBeek +1
16. NewbieRunner
17. mnmag
18. Antonio8069

Wait list
19. pudgym29


Booked on Sunday bus tour to Takayama & Shirakawago

NewbieRunner
oliver2002
oliver2002 +3
Zorak
Zorak +1
cocobird
cocobird +1
Xyzzy
Governator
wysiwyg
Majuki
restlessinRNO
restlessinRNO +1
Bundy Bear
Bundy Bear +1
mnmag
Antonio8069
BigRedBears
.

Majuki

Mrs. Majuki and I stayed at the Courtyard in Nagoya back in December, and it was a great hotel. We walked from the train station, and it took perhaps 20 minutes with luggage at a leisurely pace.

I'm going to make a booking now as a placeholder. I'm hoping to attend since I had to decline last minute in 2023 due to work commitments.

cocobird

Looking forward to joining you. I am bringing a friend and we will be traveling around Japan for 10 days prior to meeting up for the DO.

wysiwyg

I will be joining you all in Nagoya. Flights secured since earlier this year I will be in Nagoya from March 28 to April 1st. Looking forward to seeing everyone again.

ChrisFlyer66

I'll be there.

Edit: Some personal conflicts came up, and I won't be able to make it in 2024. I look forward to the 2025 DO.

kirkwoodj

Joining the thread, dunno if I'll make it. Will be in Nagoya for the sumo in July, at least.

Zorak

Put me down as a "maybe"...

FWIW I also see there's The Tower Hotel Nagoya which is part of the Hyatt-affiliated Small Luxury Hotels (SLH)

nme7

Can't wait for more vending machine fun!

kirkwoodj

And Strong Zero!

elliott44k

I should again be able to make the quick hop over from Korea, but unsure of what my schedule will be like. Thursday and Friday are likely a go, I might end up having to hop over to Tokyo or another city for work though. It's hard to ever even pretend to know my schedule this far out.

kpc

We will be there...flights booked ages ago and we will be at Hilton Nagoya from March 28 til April 1.