Kawasaki to Nagakute train with JR Central

Information about the Kawasaki to Nagakute train route

The train from Kawasaki to Nagakute connects Kawasaki Station (1-1 Ekimae Honcho, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture 210-0007) with Nagakute-Kojo-mae Station (Iwazako, Nagakute City, Aichi Prefecture 480-1103), taking you from one of Kanagawa Prefecture's busiest urban hubs to a quieter city on the outskirts of Nagoya. This route is a great option for travelers heading to the Aichi area, whether for leisure, business, or as part of a wider Japan itinerary.

The journey typically involves traveling toward Nagoya via the Tokaido Shinkansen, before transferring to the Aichi Loop Railway or the Linimo (Tobu Kyuryo Line) to reach Nagakute-Kojo-mae Station. Nagakute is best known as the home of the Toyota Commemorative Museum sites and as the location of the 2005 World Expo grounds, now transformed into the Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park, also known as Moricoro Park. This makes the kawasaki to nagakute by train route particularly popular with families, day-trippers from Nagoya, and visitors with an interest in Japanese automotive culture.

Planning your connections in advance will make the trip far smoother, especially at busier times of year. Omio makes it easy to search and book train tickets across Japan's extensive rail network, including Shinkansen connections and local services, all in one place.

We recommend using the JR Pass for traveling in trains all around Japan to save more money if you plan to do many trips. You can check the correct prices for every station or shinkansen connection in Omio's JR Pass information.

Kawasaki to Nagakute by train: what to expect on board

The kawasaki to nagakute bullet train portion of your journey, the Tokaido Shinkansen leg, is a highlight in itself. Departing from or near Kawasaki, most travelers will access the Shinkansen from Shin-Yokohama Station, which connects to Kawasaki via local JR lines and is the most practical Shinkansen boarding point for this route. The Tokaido Shinkansen operates with the punctuality and comfort that Japan's bullet trains are world-famous for.

Best seats for the view

One of the great bonuses of the shinkansen from kawasaki to nagakute is the opportunity to spot Mount Fuji on clear days. To give yourself the best chance:

• Sit on the right-hand side of the train (D or E window seats) when traveling westbound toward Nagoya.
• The clearest views typically appear in the Shizuoka area, roughly 30 to 50 minutes into the Shinkansen leg.
• Autumn and winter mornings (October through February) offer the sharpest, snow-capped sightings.

On-board tips

• The Shinkansen is clean, quiet, and exceptionally comfortable. Seats recline smoothly and legroom is generous even in standard class.
• A trolley service passes through the carriages with drinks, snacks, and bento boxes. That said, picking up an ekiben (station bento box) before boarding at Shin-Yokohama or any major station is a far more rewarding experience, selection is excellent and it is a beloved Japanese travel ritual.
• Luggage space above the seats suits most travel bags. For oversized suitcases, consider reserving a seat behind the last row, where extra luggage storage is available.

Best time of year to travel

• Spring (late March to early May): Cherry blossoms are at their peak across the route, and Moricoro Park in Nagakute is particularly beautiful. Trains can be busy, book ahead.
• Autumn (mid-October to late November): Foliage colors across Aichi Prefecture are stunning, and crowds are manageable compared to spring.
• Winter (December to February): Quieter travel conditions, lower demand on trains, and the best weather for clear Mount Fuji views during the Shinkansen leg.
• Summer (July to August): Hot and humid throughout both Kanagawa and Aichi Prefectures. The Obon period in mid-August is one of the busiest times of year on Japanese trains, so reservations are strongly recommended.

Getting to Nagakute and beyond

Nagakute-Kojo-mae Station sits on the Linimo line (the Tobu Kyuryo Line), Japan's first commercial HSST maglev transit system, a fascinating ride in its own right. Once you arrive, getting around Nagakute and the surrounding Aichi area is straightforward.

Within Nagakute

The Linimo line connects Nagakute-Kojo-mae to Fujigaoka Station (on the Nagoya Municipal Subway Higashiyama Line) at one end, and to Yakusa Station (on the Aichi Loop Railway) at the other. This makes Nagakute well connected for a relatively small city. From Nagakute-Kojo-mae, the Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park (Moricoro Park) is within easy walking distance, one of the main draws for visitors to this area.

Onward connections from Nagoya

Most travelers passing through this route will stop at Nagoya before continuing to Nagakute. Nagoya makes an excellent base for regional exploration:

• Nagoya Castle, a short subway ride from Nagoya Station, this is one of Japan's most celebrated castle complexes.
• Inuyama, around 30 minutes north of Nagoya by the Meitetsu Inuyama Line, home to one of Japan's few remaining original feudal castles.
• Gifu, approximately 20 minutes from Nagoya by JR, offering easy access to the historic Gifu Castle and the Nagara River cormorant fishing tradition.
• Kyoto, around 35 minutes by Nozomi Shinkansen (Hikari services for JR Pass holders), making it a very achievable day trip from Nagoya.
• Toyota City, accessible via the Aichi Loop Railway from Yakusa Station, worth a visit for automotive history enthusiasts.

What to expect when you arrive in Nagakute

Nagakute-Kojo-mae Station is a compact, modern station that reflects the clean design aesthetic of the Linimo line. Unlike the vast interchange hubs of Tokyo or Nagoya, arrival here is calm and uncomplicated, making orientation easy even for first-time visitors.

Practical tips on arrival

• Signage: Station signage is in Japanese and English, and the layout is simple and manageable for international travelers.
• IC cards: Suica and Manaca IC cards are accepted on the Linimo line, making tap-and-go travel easy throughout the Nagoya and Aichi area. If you are arriving from Kawasaki with a Suica card, it will work seamlessly on most connections throughout this journey.
• Luggage: Nagakute-Kojo-mae is a smaller station without extensive luggage storage facilities. If you are carrying large bags, consider storing them at Nagoya Station (which has ample coin lockers and luggage forwarding services) before making the local connection to Nagakute.
• Connectivity: Free Wi-Fi availability is more limited at smaller stations in this area compared to major city hubs. Downloading offline maps before you travel is a practical step, particularly if you plan to explore Nagakute on foot.

Arriving in Nagakute for the first time

Nagakute rewards visitors who take a slower approach. The Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park stretches across a large area of the city and includes open grasslands, woodland trails, and the beloved Studio Ghibli-inspired Satsuki and Mei's House, a faithful recreation of the home from My Neighbor Totoro, which must be reserved in advance. The park is one of the most charming and underrated day-trip destinations in the wider Nagoya region.

Taxis are available outside the station, though their numbers are limited compared to larger urban hubs. If you plan to explore beyond the immediate area, renting a bicycle or using the Linimo line to connect to the Nagoya subway network is the most practical approach.