Nagoya, like most large Japanese cities, has an extensive subway and rail system operated by multiple companies.
The city is connected to Japan’s major cities by the Shinkansen bullet train, operated by JR Central. Within Nagoya, JR also runs several local rail lines, alongside private railway companies such as Meitetsu and Kintetsu. These lines provide convenient access to the outer suburbs and neighboring regions, making them a useful alternative to the subway.
The Nagoya Subway is the most extensive rail network within the city. It provides good coverage of central Nagoya and offers connections to suburban rail services, including Meitetsu and Kintetsu, at various interchange stations.
An interesting feature of Nagoya’s rail system is the Linimo Line, a nine-station Maglev (magnetic levitation) train. Originally constructed to connect the site of Expo 2005 to the Higashiyama Subway Line, Linimo is considered the world’s first commercial automated Maglev train. Unlike conventional trains, Linimo has no wheels, instead floating above the track using magnetic levitation technology.
If you’re visiting the fantastic Toyota Automobile Museum, take the Linimo Line and alight at Geidaidori Station for easy access.
