NGO Hotels - help!
 

Hi. Grateful if anyone can help. I have a stopover at NGO in early March with an 11AM flight the next morning. Keen to stay at the airport as will have baby and wife with me. Can anyone recommend a hotel and a website I can book on? There seem to be 2 on the centrair complex, Comfort hotel and Centrair hotel but getting more detailed info is suprisingly difficult.

As an aside this my first triip to Japan outside of Tokyo and even though I am a regular traveller I have found it quite hard to research things like hotels and restaurants in the smaller Japanese cities. Still, makes it more exciting!

How much more detail do you need?

http://www.comfortinn.com/hotel-tokoname-japan-JP039

The Centrair hotel's English site is admittedly rather useless...

http://www.centrairhotel.co.jp/eng/

...but they can probably handle a reservation if you call them up. FYI, the Japanese site lists a special rate of Y6000/10000 per couple for a 6-hour/overnight stay, ask for the "Duo Plan".

It's not much in the way of help, but I took a photo of the outside of the Comfort Inn at NGO.
http://bp1.blogger.com/_n1sjt7SfiAw/...+NGO+hotel.jpg
Behind is a view of the sea (as shown here) and the covered walkway leads to the Rail Station and from there access to the rest of the airport.
There are restaurants and shops within Nagoya airport that give a bit of local flavour (it's a nicer airport to spend time in than Narita/Tokyo is even if it is a bit Disneylandy)
both the following photos were taken early, the atmosphere improves a little later on
http://bp3.blogger.com/_n1sjt7SfiAw/...F+NGO+up+1.JPG
http://bp2.blogger.com/_n1sjt7SfiAw/...F+NGO+up+2.JPG

I would agree with the information provided so far about staying at one of the two hotels mentioned right by the airport. I've been to Centrair countless times both as a passenger and when picking up/dropping off someone. It's one of my favorite airports! BabyTokyoKid (who'll be 2 next week) loves going out on the observation deck to watch the aircraft taking off and landing. There's a lot to do/explore throughout the entire terminal. Oh! And it's quite child friendly, too. You can use a free baby stroller since you're flying. Just ask for one at the information desk located in the center of the departure check-in counter floor. There are nice, clean infant changing/feeding rooms at either end of the same floor as the check-in counters, in the middle near an elevator and the escalators, as well as by the gates after clearing immigration.

If your flight arrives around mid-day, you might want to consider staying at the Marriot Hotel over Nagoya Station. From the airport to Nagoya Station it's an easy 25 minute commute by train. Upon exiting the train at the airport there are many free luggage carts available. In and around Nagoya Station there are many restaurants. Across the street from the station and the Marriot you can easily find all sorts of restaurants in the Midland Square building, as well as in a buidling by the Matsuzakaya Department store. Just ask at the hotel. Also, from Nagoya Station, you can take a five minute subway ride on the Higashiyama Line to Sakae where there are all sorts of restaurants and shopping. If you want to by some books on Japan, visit Maruzen bookstore.

If you need any further information, I'd be happy to help you. Having lived in Nagoya now for about 5 years (I'm originally from the Boston area) I'm quite familiar with Centrair, Nagoya Station, Sakae, and other areas in case you're interested in doing some sightseeing (Yes. There are some worthwhile sights to see here in Nagoya). If you opt to stay around the Nagoya Station area, depending on the day, I'd be glad to meet you somewhere and show you a nice, historic area about a 10 minute walk away. Most foreign tourists don't know about this historic area.

TokyoKid, would you mind sharing with us the location of this historic area in Nagoya (the ku and cho?) so I can find it on my map the next time I'm there?

Sure. The area, which dates back over 300 years, is located directly behind the Nagoya International Center and runs parrallel to a river (concrete lined, of course!). The nearest subway station is the Kokusai International Center which is one stop away from Nagoya Station. To walk from Nagoya Station is an easy 10 minute walk along Sakura Dori heading in the direct of the Kokusai International Center which is an easy landmark to spot while walking from the station as it's a tall white building located on the other side of an elevated highway.

Sorry I can't provide more specific information than this since street names are virtually non-existent in Japan. I have information about this area in English with maps which was given to me by a Japanese tour guide/teacher I happen to know and work with. Similar information might be available at the Tourist Information desk located inside Nagoya Station. Some sights to see on this route: Yane Gami (roof top shrine), Sengen Shrine, Komori Jizou, Gojyou Bridge, Shikemichi (7 Meters Road), Taganomiya Shrine and Omokaruishi Shrine. I would highly recommend hiring an English speaking tour guide so you can learn about the history of this area (which apparently survived the devastating destruction from U.S. bombing during WWII). Or, PM me and perhaps we can arrange to meet somewhere so I can give you a copy of the information I have. The area isn't big and can easily be seen in less than 90 minutes...walking slowly.

Thanks for the information! I found the area on my map.

Since Nagoya was so heavily bombed during World War II and I've seen very little construction that isn't postwar, I'm intrigued to learn that there is a historic district so close to the main train station.

I don't really need an English-speaking guide, since I earn my living as a Japanese-English translator, so next time I'm in Nagoya (whenever that is), I'll see if they have any information at the station.

The Marriott Associa Hotel is a great place to stay. Very convenient.

I forgot to mention that the Yane Gami (roof top shrine) is found only in Nagoya and nowhere else in Japan and is quite rare! I went with the image of a big, Kyoto-like shrine on a roof which is quite far from what you will actually see. So, please don't go expecting to see such a sight. It's too small for any human to enter and can only be seen from street level. However, it's certainly worth seeing if you happen to walk in this area. Unlike many places in Kyoto, with the exception of those living in the neighborhood, you'll have the sights to yourself and won't have to contend with crowds of any size.

I was pleasantly surprised to learn about this area of Nagoya and never imagined such a hidden gem existed! In December 2008 I took my parents to this area and they really enjoyed the walking tour. I had arranged in advance for a student tour guide (one of my students) who was familiar with this hidden gem to take us. If possible, I would recommend trying to arrange in advance for a tour guide through the Tourist Information Center located in Nagoya Station, especially if reading/understanding Japanese presents a problem.

On a side note, for those visiting Nagoya and who want a touch of home (US), there's a Starbucks on the 13th floor above Nagoya Station, and coming on March 13, 2010 (place sound of fanfare here), Krispy Kreme will open its first shop in Nagoya!!!! :cool: ^ It will be located within Nagoya Station on the street level floor across from a small post office (near the Nagoya Bus Terminal) and connected with Takashimaya Department Store (There are three seperate "sections" of Takashimaya when approaching from the street level. Krispy Kreme will be located in the Takashimaya Department Store closest to Matsuzakaya Department Store). I hope this information will help make someone's visit to Nagoya more comfortable and enjoyable.

There are several places in Gifu and Aichi where such shrines are found.

Thanks
 

Thanks guys for the help - really useful especially Tokyo kid.

I'm overnighting in NGO on Feb. 25-26. Is it necessary to have a reservation at the Centrair hotel, or can you usually get a room on arrival (and without being gouged on the price)?

Every time I have tried this, I have been thoroughly gouged on the price. Literally, I've had to call my broker to release funds to enable me to stay. And then I've been thrown out of the room to accommodate a late arrival who had an existing reservation. The staff literally threw me out of the window into the sea surrounding the airport island and I had to swim ashore with my suitcase. All my essential business documents were ruined and I suffered a crippling pneumonia. It's happened every time so far and if it happens again I will be writing the manager a stiff letter of complaint.
What's more, they took a long time to post the points to my account.