[ UrbanRail.Net ]     [ Europe ] [ America ] [ Asia ] [ Africa ] [ Oceania ]     [ News ] [ Books ] [ Links ]

Nagoya has a population of 2.1 million and built Japan's third subway system (1957) following Tokyo and Osaka. Today there are five lines, of which two, the Meijo and the No.4 Line, are operated jointly. The total length of the network is 87 km with 93 stations (average distance is 968 m). With 1 million daily passengers the Nagoya Subway has only a share of little more than 10% of all trips done within the city, traffic is still dominated by the use of private vehicles. Most subway cars and major stations have been equipped with air-conditioning, the newer Sakura-dori Line also offers access via elevators. The metro is operated by the City of Nagoya Transportation Bureau.

Higashiyama Line (Line 1) - 20.6 km, 22 stations, partly elevated, 37 minutes travel time, 2- 4 min. headway, 6-car-trains, 1434 mm gauge, 3rd rail power supply, ATS.

Meijo (Line 2) and Meiko Lines  - 33 km, 34 stations, 27/10 min., underground, 2.5-8 min. headway, 6-car-trains, 1435 mm gauge, 3rd rail, ATC. Until 2004, the Kanayama - Aratama-bashi stretch was known as Line No. 4. Upon completion on 6 Oct. 2004, the circle line became known as the Meijo ("Nagoya Castle") Line and the spur running to the port is now the Meiko ("Nagoya Port") Line.

Tsurumai Line (Line 3) - 20.4 km, 20 stations, partly elevated, 35 min. travel time, 4-6 min. headway, 6-car-trains, 1067 mm gauge, overhead line, ATC. Through service in both directions on Meitetsu Toyota and Inuyama lines (60km).

Sakura-dori Line (Line 6) - 14.9 km, 17 stations, 27 min., 4-6 min. headway, 5-car-trains, 1967 mm gauge, overhead line, ATC.

Within Nagoya City there are some 170 km of rail lines:

76.5 km - Subway
41 km - JR Japan Railway (5 transfer stations to subway)
39 km - Meitetsu-Nagoya Railroad - a private suburban rail service, partly shared service on Tsurumai Subway Line
8.5 km - Kinetsu-Kinki Nippon Railway (suburban)
5 km - Tokai Kotsu Jigyo line

For the Expo 2005, a new line, the 9.2 km maglev line Linimo Line (Tobu Kyuryo Line) was built from Fujigaoka (terminus of Higashiyama Line) to Yagusa Station on the Aichi Loop line.

15/11/1957 - Nagoya - Sakae (2.4 km)
15/06/1960 - Sakae - Ikeshita (3.6 km)
01/04/1963 - Ikeshita - Higashiyama Koen ( 2.5 km)
15/10/1965 - Sakae - Shiyakusho (1.3 km)
30/03/1967 - Higashiyama Koen - Hoshigaoka (1.1 km) and Sakae - Kanayama (3 km)
01/04/1969 - Hoshigaoka - Fujigaoka (4.4 km) and Nagoya - Nakamura Koen ( 3.5 km)
29/03/1971 - Kanayama - Nagoyako (6 km)
20/12/1971 - Shiyakusho - Ozone (4.6 km)
30/03/1974 - Kanayama - Aratama-bashi (5.7 km)
18/03/1977 - Fushimi - Yagoto (8 km)
01/10/1978 - Yagoto - Akaike (5.4 km)
27/11/1981 - Fushimi - Joshin (2.9 km)
21/09/1982 - Nakamura Koen - Takabata (3.1 km)
06/09/1984 - Joshin - Shonai Ryokuchi Koen (2.7 km)
10/09/1989 - Nakamura Kuyakusho - Imaike (6.3 km)
12/08/1993 - Shonai Ryokuchi Koen - Kami Otai (1.4 km)
30/03/1994 - Imaike - Nonami (8.6 km)
19/01/2000 - Ozone - Sunada-bashi (intermediate station - Nagoya Dome-mae-Yada)
27/03/2003 - Kami-Iida Link Line: Heian-dori - Ajima (3.3km underground) - through running on Meitetsu Komaki Line
13/12/2003 - Sunada-bashi - Nagoya Daigaku (6.2km)
06/10/2004 - Nagoya Daigaku - Aratama-bashi (5.1km)

 Projects

The Sakura-dori Line (Line 6) will be getting a 4-station, 4.2 km extension from Nonami to Tokushige. Construction is scheduled to start in 2009 for completion in 2014.

- OPERATION

During rush hours every 2-5 minutes, daytime every 4-8 minutes

- FARES

Single fare - 200-320 Yen depending on distance

Prepaid cards (Yurika cards) available for 500, 1000, 2000, 3000 and 5000 Yen. These cards offer a discount on single fares.

1-Day Subway Pass - 740 Yen
1-Day Subway and Bus Pass - 850 Yen

IKOMAI-Pass (1300 Yen) is a 1-day tourist pass valid on subways and buses and includes free entrance to some tourist attractions

Nagoya Subway Fare Finder

City of Nagoya Transportation Bureau

Nagoya Subway on Wikipedia

Nagoya Subway Stations

Outline of Nagoya City Subway by Kenichi Tatsukawa

Nagoya Subway by Osamu Abe

Subway Map 1995

Kami-Iida Link Line