Nagoya Airport to Sakae 2026: Train & Transfer Guide
Landing in Nagoya? Here is your stress-free 2026 guide to taking the train from Chubu Centrair Airport to downtown Sakae, including fares and transfers.
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Nagoya Travel Guide
How to Get from the Airport to Downtown Sakae
Words/Photos ©Hi-Bubu
Many travelers are flocking to Nagoya in 2026
to experience its incredible culinary scene and beautiful surrounding nature.
Your Nagoya adventure officially kicks off
by traveling from Chubu Centrair International Airport to the city center.
If it's your first time visiting, navigating the Japanese transit system can feel a bit confusing.
To help you start your trip stress-free, I've put together this step-by-step guide
on exactly how to get from the airport to Sakae, Nagoya's bustling downtown hub.
First, after arriving at Nagoya Airport and clearing customs,
follow the overhead signs that say "Train."
You will eventually reach a long corridor.
Keep walking straight down this path until you see a wide central plaza,
which is where you can purchase your airport train tickets.
Next, let me explain how to buy your ticket.
You can buy them at the ticket machines shown in the photo.
The Meitetsu Limited Express ticket prices are as follows:
📌 Meitetsu Limited Express Fares
To Nagoya Station: 980 JPY (~$6.50)
To Kanayama Station: 910 JPY (~$6.00)
✅ If your hotel is located in Sakae,
you only need to buy a ticket to Kanayama Station.
For context, I breezed through immigration almost first,
so there was barely any line for the ticket machines.
However, during peak times, the queues can get pretty long.
❗️ If you want to skip the lines at the station,
I highly recommend booking your tickets in advance online.
Book Your Nagoya Meitetsu Airport Train Ticket Here
📌 Note that there are two types of trains heading to the city:
the Meitetsu Limited Express and the μ-SKY (Mu-Sky).
The fares I mentioned earlier
are for the standard 'Meitetsu Limited Express.'
If you want to ride the μ-SKY or reserve a seat on the Limited Express,
you must purchase a separate 'μTicket' (MuTicket) as shown in the photo ▶️.
This costs an additional 450 JPY (~$3.00).
I decided to skip the μ-SKY
and just took the regular Meitetsu Limited Express.
On the machine screen, select 'Ticket'
and choose the fare that corresponds to your destination.
Since I was getting off at Kanayama,
I selected the 910 JPY option.
After that, select the number of passengers,
choose your payment method, and complete the transaction.
You'll then receive a physical train ticket like the one in the photo.
Crucial tip: Do not throw this away! You need it not only to board
but also to exit the ticket gates at your destination.
To board the airport express train,
head to the ticket gates.
If you bought a paper ticket at the station,
insert it into the slot to pass through.
If you pre-booked online, simply scan your QR code
on the reader below and walk through.
I caught the 7:14 PM Limited Express train
and headed down to Platform 3, as shown on the electronic departure board.
Just a heads up: The airport train gets surprisingly crowded.
If you didn't purchase a reserved seat ticket,
be prepared that you might have to stand for the journey.
Even in the unreserved section, the Meitetsu Limited Express
features comfortable, forward-facing seats (similar to long-distance commuter trains),
so if you manage to snag a spot, it's a very relaxing ride into the city.
If your accommodation is near Nagoya Station,
you can just ride the Meitetsu Limited Express all the way there.
However, if you're heading to Sakae, you'll need to transfer.
Since my hotel was in Sakae,
I got off to transfer at Kanayama Station.
Here is where you need to pay close attention:
When transferring at Kanayama, do NOT go to the JR Line.
You need to take the Meijo Subway Line.
You can easily find the Meijo Line by following
the purple subway signs, as shown in the photo above.
The fare from Kanayama to Sakae is 210 JPY (~$1.50).
Just buy a 210 JPY subway ticket and head to the platform.
A quick tip: Nagoya's Meijo Line is a circular loop line
(similar to London's Circle Line or Chicago's Loop).
Make absolutely sure you are boarding the train heading in the direction of Sakae!
That wraps up my guide on how to get from Nagoya Airport
to downtown Sakae in 2026.
Let's do a quick recap:
📍 After landing, take either the Meitetsu Limited Express or
the μ-SKY train into the city.
If your destination is Nagoya Station, you can ride directly without transferring.
If you're heading to Sakae, it's much faster
to transfer at Kanayama Station.
When transferring, remember that you need the Meijo Subway Line,
NOT the JR Line! Safe travels!
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