Nagoya Chubu Centrair International Airport, commonly referred to by its airport code NGO, opened in 2005, it is a large, modern facility built on reclaimed land in the nearby sea. It replaced Nagoya Airport as the main international airport serving the Chubu region. Located around 20 miles south-west of central Nagoya, it handles flights to numerous Japanese cities as well as to other Asian countries, the US and Europe.

The single four-storey terminal of the airport is well laid out and straightforward to navigate. Facilities include ATMs, banks and bureaux de change in a variety of locations, while Internet kiosks and Wi-Fi access are also on hand. There are plenty of shops, dining and relaxation facilities, as well as a business centre providing a wide range of amenities and services, which is available to all passengers.

Chubu Centrair International Airport is home to a total of five car parks, offering no less than 4,500 parking spaces. The closest parking facility is P3, which is located next to the terminal building. Car parks P1 and P2, as well as a small motorcycle car park are located in front of Access Plaza, while a parking facility with time restrictions for temporary parking can be found to the left of the terminal. Parking options at P1, P2 and P3 include short-term, long-term and disabled parking facilities.

You can get to the airport in approximately 30-40 minutes from the Nagoya area. The drop-off area for private vehicles is in front of the Passenger Terminal building on the first floor. The Nagoya Railroad will get you to the airport from Nagoya in as little as 28 minutes. The Airport Station is linked to the Passenger Terminal building by a flat connecting passageway. A bus station with six platforms provides bus services from the airport to a range of destinations. For connections to Nagoya Station, passengers should use Platform 3, while buses serving popular Nagoya hotels leave from Platform 4. Other destinations served include Aichi, Gifu, Shizuoka and Nagano. Taxis are available from a stand located on the first floor of Access Plaza. Nineteen fixed destinations are offered, for which a standard fee is charged.

There is an excellent subway system in Nagoya operating on four lines, all with clear signposts in English and Japanese. The bus system is extensive, but more difficult to use than the subway for those who don’t know much Japanese.

The main city bus centre is located on the second floor of the Matsuzakaya department store, just northeast of Nagoya station.

To catch a taxi, you can hail one down on the street, go to a taxi stand or phone a taxi company directly. Any taxi displaying a ‘vacant’ sign on the right side of the windshield can be flagged down. If you don’t speak much Japanese, it’s a good idea to have someone write down the address of your destination to show the driver. There is no need to open or close the door, as the driver controls it automatically.