Goodbye Singapore, hello Japan! We’re off to Hakuba for our very first snowboarding adventure, but decided to spend a couple of days exploring Nagoya first since we’ve never been. If you’re flying in too, here’s the lowdown on getting from Chubu Airport to Nagoya Station via the Meitetsu train — the fastest, cheapest, and most fuss-free way to start your Japan trip.
We took SQ 672 from Singapore (about 6.5 hours) and touched down at Chubu Centrair International Airport (NGO) Terminal 1 at 8.30am. From there, the Meitetsu train whisked us straight into the heart of Nagoya. Here’s exactly how to do it.
The Meitetsu Line is right inside the terminal — follow the signs and you’re already on your way.
Getting to the Meitetsu Train from Chubu Airport
This part is genuinely idiot-proof. Once you exit the arrival hall, just follow the signs to Central Japan International Airport Station. The airport train station is connected directly to the passenger terminal, so you won’t need to step outside or drag your luggage through carparks. Maybe a 5-10 minute walk, tops.
Looks overwhelming, but the machines have English and the whole process takes maybe two minutes.
Buying Your Train Ticket: Klook vs At the Station
I’d pre-booked our Airport Express tickets on Klook before leaving Singapore. They come as QR codes — just scan at the gate and you’re through. Handy tip: the Klook ticket is valid for 30 days from purchase date, so you’re not locked into a specific train or time.
Not on Klook yet? Sign up using my link and you’ll get a S$5 promo code to kick things off!
The catch with Klook tickets
Here’s something worth knowing — the Klook tickets are basic fare tickets only. That means you can only board the ordinary (non-first class) cars with free, non-reserved seating. If the train’s packed, you might be standing the whole way with your luggage. Not fun after a long flight.
Price-wise, Klook tickets cost roughly the same as buying directly from Meitetsu website or at the station ticketing machine (give or take a few cents on exchange rate). The only real upside is if you have KlookCash or a promo code to offset.
Select “One-way ticket and μ ticket” to grab both at once — the one-way ticket is your basic fare, and the μ ticket is your first class car reservation.
Why We Topped Up for First Class (Best ¥450 Spent)
To skip the hassle, we bought additional First Class Car tickets at ¥450 per person (about S$3.60) at the airport train station. This reserves you a guaranteed seat with:
- Extra legroom — bliss after a long-haul flight
- Quieter carriages — fewer crowds
- Reserved seating — no awkward shuffling around
The μ tickets
Word of warning: if you accidentally board the first class car without the top-up ticket, the conductor will charge you ¥500 on the spot. So either commit or stick to ordinary class.
Real-life example — there was a lady in our car with two suitcases who clearly boarded first class without a reservation. She got bumped twice at different stations as the actual ticket holders boarded. Imagine wrangling two luggages around a moving train. For ¥450, just save yourself the drama.
Clean, quiet, and genuinely comfortable — this is what ¥450 extra gets you after a long flight.
μSky Limited Express vs Limited Express: Which to Take?
Two main train options run between Chubu Airport and Nagoya Station:
- μSky Limited Express — 29 minutes, ¥1,430. All seats are first class, so the fare already includes the ¥450 reserved seat fee. Fastest option.
- Limited Express — 38 minutes. Choose ordinary seating (¥980, same as Klook) or top up ¥450 for first class (Cars 1 and 2 only). This is what we did.
Check the screen at the station to see which train is heading towards Nagoya Station next, then simply buy your ticket accordingly. Honestly, the 9-minute travel time difference between the two train types is no big deal.
Arriving at Nagoya Station
Nagoya Station is the main transport hub of the city, so once you arrive, you can connect to pretty much anywhere via:
- JR Central
- Meitetsu lines
- Kintetsu
- Nagoya City Subway
- Aonami Line
Final Verdict
Getting from Chubu Airport to Nagoya Station is honestly one of the easiest airport-to-city transfers in Japan. My advice? Buy the basic fare ticket, then top up ¥450 for a guaranteed first class seat. For under S$4 extra, you skip the stress and start your Nagoya adventure relaxed. Worth every yen.
