Traveling SFO-NGO (UA 831) Jan 9…

Not familiar with NGO nor Nagoya.

Would appreciate the following information:

Are there buses to hotels in Nagoya like there are from Narita to Tokyo hotels? If not, what’s best way into town with a lot of luggage?

If so, which hotels are recommended (preferably near the main JR station)?

Thanks in advance.

Haven't actually been there so caveat emptor on my advice but I recently cancelled a trip: here is a link I was referred to:

http://www.centrair.jp/en/

Train info:
http://www.centrair.jp/en/access/ac-to-train/index.html

I was going to stay here:

http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hote...hotel/index.do

Didn't plan on doing the train. You say "lot's of baggage" and for me that means no thank you on taking the train. I usually call the hotel I am staying at and arrange for them to send a car if I have a lot of bags.

Here is my informational thread on NGO:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...light=Centrair

You can also find a LOT more information by navigating to the Destinations >> The World : Japan forum and searching on either NGO, Centrair, or Nagoya.

Generally, the Meitetsu express train is the best alternative for travel from NGO to Nagoya. It is easy to catch right at the airport. As for hotels, there are many near the train station. Marriott has an arrangement with a luxe hotel right in the station building but it is expensive. Hilton is a short cab ride away.

Join us in the Japan forum.

JR

As helpfully suggested by abmj-jr, our Travel->Japan forum is the place to go for this info. Please follow the discussion there. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, United forum.

Here's a useful link:
http://wikitravel.org/en/Chubu_Centr...tional_Airport

Basically, if you're staying at one of the larger hotels, the bus is probably an easier option. For the smaller ones you're probably best off booking near the station (where there are hotels everywhere, albeit with tiny rooms of varying quality) and taking the train into the city.

I stayed at the Hilton a year ago - it is a short cab ride from the station. Very good service and convenient location.

I came in by Shinkansen, hence can't comment on NGO and transport from airport to town.
I do have a hotel recommendation, that's the Marriott Nagoya Associa. It's located right at the Nagoya train station. A great hotel. Service is top notch, specially if you are MR Elite.
Access to numerous restaurants and shops are in this complex without setting foot outside. That's real nice now when it is snowing outside.

It seems that everyone recommends the Meitetsu train. However, I'm arriving next Saturday on the SFO-NGO flight and when I look at Hyperedia.com it says that there is a bus I can use my JR Rail pass on to get to the JR Nagoya station. It says the bus is only 30 mins or less. What would most people recommend?

The NGO web site states 50 minutes for a bus ride to Nagoya station, which is operated by Heiwa Corporation. Given the distance, I would say that 50 mins is more likely than 30.
http://www.centrair.jp/en/access/ac-to-bus/index.html

- Is the bus you found the Heiwa Corp. one?

If so, I'm surprised that a private bus company should accept the JR pass. Where did you find that information? AFAIK Hyperdia doesn't show whether JR pass can be used or not. (It does have an option for avoiding Nozomi trains which helps the pass user to plan routes on Hikaris and Kodamas).

Also, AFAIK, there is no JR Pass exchange counter at NGO. So, if you haven't already exchanged your voucher for a JR pass, you won't be able to activate the pass until you reach Nagoya Station.

I think the train fare to Meitetsu Nagoya station can be as little as 850 yen if you avoid the fastest trains. (The slow ones aren't much slower).

OP,
While you are in Nagoya, don't miss the Robot Museum.

Unfortunately the Robot Museum closed.

The name of the international airport in Nagoya is Chubu International Airport / Centrair Airport.

On hyperdia did you enter "Nagoya Airport" ?

"Nagoya Airport" is the name of the old Airport in Nagoya, used by a small domestic airline. To that airport is about 30 minutes by bus.

That is exactly what I found. When I search for Chubu airport I get what looks like two segments on the Meitetsu and then the Hikari to Kyoto.

There are meitetsu trains that go direct from Chubu Airport to Meitetsu Nagoya station. (One segment).

Hyperdia is only showing you the all-first class deluxe Meitetsu trains and the Meitetsu-to-JR connections to Nagoya Station. The direct Meitetsu trains go to the Meitetsu-Nagoya station, which is across the street from the JR Nagoya station where you catch the shinkansen. In this case, Hyperdia is not your best choice for finding train schedules. Instead, use the Meitetsu schedule linked from the Centrair site here: http://www.centrair.jp/en/access/ac-...ain/index.html .

There are trains leaving every few minutes - some the regular trains for 850 yen and others the deluxe, all first class for 1200 yen. Just ride whichever you want to Meitetsu-Nagoya and walk across to the JR station for the shinkansen. I am unsure whether the Help counter in the middle of the Access Plaza can exchange a JR Pass voucher but think not. You will probably have to do the exchange after you get to the main JR station in Nagoya, then make your shinkansen reservation after that. When I have done that arrival (UA SFO-NGO) I chose to stay the night in Nagoya and continue on west the next day but I think there would be time to catch a late shinkansen if you don't mind arriving in Kyoto late that evening.

JR

Thanks again for all the great advice. My UA flight lands at 3:30, so I'm hoping to be in Kyoto by 7ish.