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Chubu Centrair International Airport

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Chubu Centrair International Airport [1] (中部国際空港 Chūbu Kokusai Kūkō) is located on an artificial island 30 minutes south from Nagoya.

Culture and History

Japan's third major international gateway after Narita and Kansai, Centrair prides itself on offering seamless interchange between international and domestic flights, making this a good option if you are heading elsewhere in Japan. Centrair opened in 2005, and this airport replaces the existing Nagoya airport, also taking over its IATA code NGO.

Travel to Chubu Centrair International Airport & Visa Requirements

For most visitors the train is the fastest, cheapest and most convenient method of access.

All transportation means are available from the Access Plaza next to the main terminal. You can take your luggage cart all the way from the arrival or departure lobby to the train and bus platforms.

By train

The Meitetsu Airport Line (åéç©ºæ¸¯ç·) connects the airport to Nagoya. From here, you can transfer to the Tokaido Shinkansen line, as well as a multitude of other train lines for connections throughout the Chubu region. Some trains continue directly onward to Gifu and Inuyama. Note that trains to Toyohashi (one per hour) run east from the airport and do not pass through Nagoya!

μSKY (μ pronounced myuu) rapid limited expresses (å¿«éç¹æ¥ kaisoku-tokkyu) run twice per hour and do the trip in just 28 minutes, while other services (total 4 per hour) stop more and take longer. The price of all services is the same, except that reserved seats cost an extra ¥350, and μSKY trains have only reserved seats.

Buses to Chubu Centrair International Airport

The bus may also be an option, particularly if you have heavy luggage and don't want to deal with train transfers.

Platform 1 - to Shizuoka, Gifu and Nagano
- buses to Chino, Hamamatsu, Minowa, Matsumoto, Nagano, Nakatsugawa, Numazu

Platform 2 - to Mie and Fukui
- buses to Kuwana, Fukui, Nabari, Toba (via ferry), Yokkaichi

Platform 3 - to Nagoya Station
- buses to JR Nagoya Station (Shinkansen side), Nagoya Marriott Hotel

Platform 4 - to Sakae district and other in Nagoya
- buses to Nagoya Tokyu Hotel, Hilton Nagoya, Westin Nagoya Castle, Nagoya Kanko Hotel, Fujigaoka

Platform 5 - for eastern Aichi (Mikawa)
- buses to Akaike, Ishigami, Okazaki, Toyohashi, Toyota, Ueta

Platform 6 - for eastern Aichi (Mikawa/Chita)
- buses to Chita Handa, Chiryu, Kariya, Kowa, Mikawa-Anjo, Nishio

By boat

Tsu Airport Line ferries connect directly from the airport to Tsu, and at 40 minutes one-way (¥1890) are your fastest option for going towards Ise and Wakayama.

Ise-Bay Ferry shuttles between nearby Tokoname Port (transfer by bus) and the pearl town of Toba, further down the coast.

By taxi

The taxi stand is on the 1st floor of Access Plaza. A taxi to central Nagoya, 40 km away, will cost over ¥12,000.

By car

Car rental is available on the 1st floor of the Access Plaza, past the bus stops.

A toll road links Centrair and the mainland, and the airport has 4000 parking spaces. Parking is free for 30 min but costs ¥300/hour for 5 hours, or ¥1500 per day (¥1000/day after the 5th day).

See, Do, Buy and Eat

If you've got time to kill, head up to the 4th floor Skytown, designed specifically for this purpose. There are plenty of cafes, restaurants, boutiques and even a spa. Note that the Skytown is landside before security/immigration, and the facilities on the airside are rather limited.

Hu no Yu (é¢¨ã®æ¹¯ãFu no Yu), [2]. 4F Skytown. If naked planespotting sounds like your idea of a good time, check out this Japanese-style spa with views of a strip of the tarmac. Jacuzzi, jet bath, sauna and washing facilities are provided, the only lack is that there's no place to cool off (except a cold shower). Entrance ¥900 plus optional purchase of a towel for ¥250, open 8 AM to 10 PM daily.