Getting to Nagoya Castle
The quickest way is the subway to Nagoyajo Station (M07): about 8 minutes from Nagoya Station with one change, ¥240, then 5 minutes on foot from Exit 7. The Me-guru sightseeing bus goes without a change (about 23 minutes, ¥210) but does not run on Mondays. Neither is covered by the JR Pass.
From Nagoya Station
Subway
- Sakura-dori Line (towards Tokushige), 3 stops to Hisaya-odori
- Change to the Meijo Line, clockwise (Migi-mawari), 1 stop to Nagoyajo (M07). The change is about a 1-minute walk
- About 8 minutes on the trains, ¥240. Trains about every 10 minutes
- From Exit 7, about 5 minutes on foot. Nagoyajo is the nearest station to the East Gate
- Not covered by the JR Pass
Me-guru sightseeing bus
- From stand 11 at the Nagoya Station bus terminal to the Nagoya-jo stop, by the Main Gate
- About 23 minutes, no change. ¥210 a ride (children ¥100)
- Tuesday to Sunday only. Not on Mondays
- Not covered by the JR Pass
Another way: the Meitetsu Seto Line
Higashiyama Line 2 stops to Sakae, walk about 3 minutes to Sakaemachi Station, then the Meitetsu Seto Line 1 stop to Higashi-ote. About 10 minutes on the trains but ¥390, because it uses two companies, and about 15 minutes on foot from Higashi-ote. The subway route above is cheaper and closer.
The Me-guru bus
Me-guru is Nagoya's sightseeing loop bus. It leaves Nagoya Station, stops at Nagoya Castle, goes on to Tokugawaen and the city centre, then comes back past the castle to the station.
| Board at | Nagoya Station bus terminal, stand 11 |
|---|---|
| Get off at | Stop 4, Nagoya-jo (Nagoya Castle). The stop is across the road from the Main Gate, just west of the Meijo Seimon crossing: cross at the lights to the gate. See it on the map |
| Time | About 23 minutes. Back from the castle to the station: about 25 minutes |
| Runs | Tuesday to Sunday. No buses on Mondays (on the next weekday instead when Monday is a public holiday) or from December 29 to January 3. August 13 to 15 use the weekend timetable |
| How often | Every 20 to 40 minutes on weekends and holidays, every 30 to 60 minutes on weekdays |
| First bus | 8:30 from Nagoya Station. The 8:30 and 9:00 buses go straight to the castle (arriving 8:45 and 9:15) and stop nowhere else |
| Last bus back | 17:32 from Nagoya-jo to Nagoya Station. The 17:00 bus from the station does not stop at the castle on the way back |
| Fare | ¥210 a ride, children ¥100. IC cards such as manaca are accepted |
| 1DAY ticket | ¥500, children ¥250, for unlimited rides that day. Sold on the bus. Show it at the castle ticket office for adult admission at ¥800 instead of ¥1,000 (high school age and older) |
Check the direction. At the Nagoya-jo stop, buses going on towards Tokugawaen and buses going back to Nagoya Station use the same stop. Read the sign on the front before you get on. The city bus stop Nagoyajo Seimon-mae nearby is a different stop.
Starting at the East Gate? Stay on one more stop to stop 5, Nagoyajo-higashi Shiyakusho (about 4 minutes more), by Nagoyajo Station. Buses back to Nagoya Station don't stop there, so for the return take the bus from stop 4.
Two single rides, there and back, cost ¥420. The 1DAY ticket costs ¥500 but takes ¥200 off admission, so it works out ¥120 cheaper, and you can ride on to Tokugawaen or Sakae.
Full Me-guru timetable (Japanese)
From Sakae
- Subway Meijo LineFrom Sakae, two stops to Nagoyajo (M07), by the East Gate. About 5 minutes on foot from Exit 7.
- City bus Sakae 13To the Nagoyajo Seimon-mae stop, in front of the Main Gate.
- Meitetsu Seto LineFrom Sakaemachi, 1 stop to Higashi-ote, then about 15 minutes on foot.
Which gate is closest
| Station or stop | Line | Nearest gate | On foot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nagoyajo (M07) | Subway Meijo Line | East Gate | About 5 min from Exit 7 |
| Higashi-ote | Meitetsu Seto Line | East Gate | About 15 min |
| Shiyakusho | Key Route Bus No. 2 | East Gate | |
| Sengencho (T05) | Subway Tsurumai Line | Main Gate | About 12 min from Exit 1 |
| Nagoyajo Seimon-mae | City bus Sakae 13 | Main Gate | In front of the gate |
| Nagoya-jo (Me-guru stop 4) | Me-guru sightseeing bus | Main Gate | By the gate |
Walking times are the castle's own. Both gates have a ticket office. Honmaru Palace is about 10 minutes on foot from either. See them on the map
Other ways
Horikawa Cruise. River boats stop near the castle. The service is in Japanese only.
By car. There are two pay car parks. The Main Gate car park is open 8:45 to 21:30 with 319 spaces for cars. The Ninomaru East car park, by the East Gate, is open 8:30 to 22:30 with 202 spaces.
Both charge ¥250 per 30 minutes for a car (from June 1, 2026; it was ¥180) and ¥150 per 30 minutes for a motorcycle or scooter.