Complete Guide to Nagoya Transport Passes

Introduction

This guide summarizes the transport passes you need for Nagoya travel. It is especially important to understand the difference between subways and railways (JR & private lines) and the difference between city buses and Meitetsu buses to choose the right pass.

For a detailed explanation, see “All About Nagoya Transport”. Reading that first will help you understand this guide more accurately. 📖

City Bus & Subway 1-Day Pass

Unlimited rides: A pass that allows unlimited rides on city buses (市バス) and the subway for one day.

When to use

• Days with multiple bus/subway rides
• Days when you want to explore the city freely without a fixed plan
• Days with many stopovers for sightseeing

Convenience

• No need to buy tickets each time
• No fare worries, hop on and off freely

Types

• City Bus & Subway 1-Day Pass: Adult 870 yen, Child 430 yen

How to buy

• Basically cash only
• Some locations accept manaca stored value (SF)

All-Bus 1-Day Pass

Features

• Valid only on the day of use (from first to last service).
• Unlimited rides on all Nagoya City Bus routes for one day.
• Includes the sightseeing loop bus “Meguru”.

Price

• Adult: 620 yen
• Child: 310 yen

Coverage

• All Nagoya City Bus routes
• Includes the sightseeing bus “Meguru”
• Not valid on subways, Meitetsu buses, JR buses, or other operators

Rules

• Validity: Until the last service of the day you start using it (not a 24-hour pass).
• Where to buy: On city buses (ask the driver), subway ticket machines, transport service centers.
• How to use: Insert into the reader near the driver when you get off to print the date. From the second ride, show the date to the driver.
  • Meguru bus: Show the pass to the driver when boarding.
• Late-night buses require an additional half of the late-night fare.

Donichi Eco Ticket

• Valid days:

  • Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays
  • Special operating days on weekends/holidays
  • The 8th of every month (Environment Day)

• Coverage: Unlimited rides for one day on Nagoya City Bus + all subway lines

• Note: “Donichi (どにち)” means Saturday and Sunday in Japanese

Price

• Adult: 620 yen
• Child: 310 yen
• Much cheaper than the weekday 1-day pass (Adult 870 yen for bus & subway)

Benefits

• Unlimited rides all day
• Travel without worrying about fares
• Free to hop on and off and transfer

Subway All-Lines 24-Hour Pass

Features

• More flexible than a standard 1-day pass
• Unlimited rides on all subway lines for 24 hours from first use
• Example: Start at 9:00 → valid until 9:00 the next day

Price

• Adult: 760 yen
• Child: 380 yen

Coverage

• All Nagoya subway lines
• Not valid on other transport

Rules

• Validity: 24 hours from first gate entry
• Can be used across two calendar days
• If validity ends during a ride, it is valid until you exit.
• Note: Green paper passes bought from machines must be used on the day of purchase (if unused, they expire).
• Passes bought at counters/service centers can be dated for another day.

Exclusive TourCast Tips!

Common rules, discounts, and cautions for Nagoya city passes

1) Where to buy

• Station ticket machines, gate counters, station offices
• On city buses
• Limited stock — may be sold out
• Transport Service Centers
• Located at Nagoya, Kanayama, and Sakae stations
• Cards accepted at service centers (details)
• Designated ticket shops
• Some convenience stores, tobacco shops, and liquor stores near bus stops
• Some shops sell only certain types
• Shop list (Japanese)



• City bus depots
• Basically cash only. At manaca-compatible machines, you can buy only the 1-day pass and the subway 24-hour pass. If you buy with manaca, the pass is valid only on the purchase day.
• Some hotels, travel agencies, highway bus companies, and tourist information centers
• Types sold vary by hotel — check directly
• Hotel list (Japanese)

2) Discounts

With the City Bus & Subway 1-Day Pass, All-Bus 1-Day Pass, Donichi Eco Ticket, and Subway 24-Hour Pass, you can get discounts at attractions, restaurants, and shops, including:

• Nagoya Castle: 100 yen off
• Midland Square Sky Promenade: 200 yen off
• Tokugawa-en: 60 yen off
• Higashiyama Zoo & Botanical Gardens: 100 yen off
• Nagoya Port Aquarium: 200 yen off, etc.
• Notes
• Show the pass when entering
• Passes without a validity date/time are not eligible

Attraction discountsRestaurant & shop discounts

3) Using city buses

• City Bus & Subway 1-Day Pass, All-Bus 1-Day Pass, Donichi Eco Ticket are valid on:
  • Nagoya City Bus
  • Sightseeing loop bus (Meguru)
  • Not valid on Meitetsu buses

4) Using the subway

• City Bus & Subway 1-Day Pass, 24-Hour Pass, and Donichi Eco Ticket are valid only on Nagoya subway lines
• Not valid on Meitetsu, Aonami Line, or other operators

5) Through-services with Meitetsu

Extra fare is required when using subway ↔ Meitetsu through services.

1. Subway → Meitetsu: Show 24-hour pass at exit + pay Meitetsu fare
2. Meitetsu → Subway: Pay Meitetsu fare on entry, then show 24-hour pass at subway exit

6) Yutorito Line

• Valid on ground sections
• Not valid on elevated sections (Ozone–Obata Ryokuchi)
• However, passengers under 18 can use elevated sections with the Donichi Eco Ticket
• How to use
1. Boarding: take a numbered ticket
2. Alighting: insert the ticket + show the valid pass
3. If no printed validity: insert the pass into the fare box card slot
4. Elevated sections require an extra fare

7) Important

Green paper Bus & Subway 1-Day Passes and Donichi Eco Tickets bought from machines must be shown to the driver when using buses.Do not insert them into the fare box card slot ❌

Meguru Pass for Major Sights

Price

• Adult: 500 yen → Cheaper if you ride 3 times or more (regular fare 210 yen)
• Child: 250 yen

Coverage

• Unlimited rides for one day on the sightseeing loop bus Meguru (Me~guru)
• On operating days, also valid on downtown loop bus route C-758 (only on Meguru operating days)

Perks

• Show the pass for discounts at attractions, restaurants, and souvenir shops
• Various benefits such as 10% off

Operating days & frequency

• Runs Tuesday–Sunday (closed Mondays and year-end/New Year; special schedules on holidays)
• Weekends/holidays: every ~20–40 minutes
• Weekdays: every ~30–60 minutes

Where to buy

• On board the Meguru bus (buy from the driver when boarding)
• Tourist information centers: Oasis 21 Info Center, Kanayama Tourist Info, etc.
• Transport Service Centers: Nagoya, Kanayama, Sakae stations
• Some hotels

Kintetsu Rail Pass

After Meitetsu, the most famous private railway from Nagoya is the Kintetsu Line. It connects Nagoya with the Kansai area (Nara, Kyoto, Osaka) and Ise City (Mie Prefecture).

From Nagoya, only the 5-Day and 5-Day Plus passes are available. If you plan just a one-way or round trip, you may not need a pass.

👉 When is it useful?

• A relaxed 4–5 day trip across Nagoya, Ise, Nara, Kyoto, Osaka with stays in each area
• Multiple city hops on one itinerary
• Traveling to Kansai using only Kintetsu

Hida Area Free Ticket (Hidaji Pass)

The Hida area mainly refers to northern Gifu Prefecture, centered on Takayama (with its preserved old town) and the mountainous Hida city.

The Hida Area Free Ticket helps you travel this region at a lower cost.
For example, the one-way reserved-seat fare on the Limited Express Hida from Nagoya to Takayama is 5,940 yen, while this pass costs 12,370 yen and includes a round trip on Limited Express Hida plus a round-trip bus to Shirakawa-go.

If you plan to travel by train from Nagoya to Takayama, this pass is highly recommended.

1. What’s included

• Round trip between the departure stations (Nagoya City, Gifu, Ogaki) and the Hida area (Gero, Takayama, etc.) with reserved seats on Limited Express “Hida”
  • One-way and return stations can be different (e.g., Nagoya → Takayama / Gero → Nagoya).
• On the free section, unlimited rides on Limited Express (non-reserved), Rapid, and Local trains
  • Free section: Hida-Kanayama ↔ Hida-Furukawa
• Valid for 3 consecutive days from the start date
• Blackout dates
  • Golden Week: Apr 27–May 6
  • Obon: Aug 10–Aug 19
  • Year-end/New Year: Dec 28–Jan 6
• Children aged 6 and over pay the same fare as adults.
• For children (6–12), booking round-trip reserved seats + Shirakawa-go bus separately can be about 3,500 yen cheaper, but requires separate reservations.

2. Choose a benefit (Bus or Meal)

The ticket includes an exchange voucher. Choose Course A (Bus) or Course B (Meal), then select one option.

(A) Bus course

• Nohi Bus exchange voucher → choose one:
  • ① Round-trip Shirakawa-go bus ticket (excluding reservation-only services)
  • ② Takayama & Shinhotaka free bus pass (useful for the Okuhida onsen tour)

(B) Meal course

• Food & dessert exchange voucher → choose one:
  • ① Hida Takayama food coupon
  • ② Hida-Furukawa dessert/café/culture experience (round-trip bus included)
  • ③ Gero Onsen “Sohada Bijin” dessert coupon
    • Exchange ①,② at Takayama Nohi Bus Center
    • Exchange ③ at Gero City Tourist Information

How to use

1. You receive four tickets:
   • Hida Area Free Ticket (Outbound): Nagoya City → (Hida-Kanayama–Hida-Furukawa)
   • Hida Area Free Ticket (Return): (Hida-Kanayama–Hida-Furukawa) → Nagoya City
     👉 The return ticket allows free travel on the free section.
   • Nohi Bus exchange voucher
   • Guide sheet
2. The Hida Area Free Ticket alone does not include reserved seats.
   You must issue a separate reserved-seat ticket for your chosen date/time/section.
3. Exchanging the Nohi Bus voucher (Course A)
   Place: Takayama Nohi Bus Center (left of JR Takayama Station east exit)
   • Show the return ticket → exchange for the actual bus ticket
4. Choose one bus ticket:
   • ① Shirakawa-go round trip
     • Takayama ↔ Shirakawa-go
     • No hop-on/off
     • On the timetable, services marked “R” require reservation and are not valid
   • ② Takayama & Shinhotaka free pass
     • Takayama ↔ Shinhotaka Ropeway line
     • Unlimited hop-on/off during validity

JR Passes (except Hida Area Free Ticket)

1) Takayama–Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass

A 5-day pass covering JR lines north of Nagoya: Takayama – Toyama – Kanazawa – Fukui – Kyoto – Osaka – Kansai Airport.

• Price: Adult 19,800 yen / Child 9,900 yen
• Validity: 5 consecutive days from start date

Included rail

• JR lines: Nagoya – Fukui – Kyoto – Osaka – Kansai Airport
• Shinkansen: Tsuruga ↔ Toyama (Hokuriku Shinkansen)
• Limited Express & local trains within the area
  • Direct Nagoya → Kyoto/Osaka is not included

Seat reservations

• Up to 6 reservations on Shinkansen and Limited Express

Included buses (reservation usually required)

• Kanazawa ↔ Shirakawa-go: Nohi Bus / Hokutetsu Bus
• Takayama ↔ Shirakawa-go: Nohi Bus
• Toyama ↔ Shirakawa-go: Nohi Bus / Toyama Chiho Railway Bus

2) Ise–Kumano–Wakayama Area Tourist Pass

A 5-day pass covering JR lines to Mie, Wakayama, Nara, Osaka, and Kansai Airport.

• Price: Adult 16,500 yen / Child 8,250 yen
• Validity: 5 consecutive days

Included rail

• Nagoya – Nara – Osaka – Kansai Airport (JR)
• Nagoya – Ise – Katsuura – Shirahama – Wakayama (JR)
• Wakayama Dentetsu (Wakayama Station ↔ Kishi Station)

Seat reservations

• Up to 6 reservations on Limited Express

Included buses

• Mie Kotsu Bus, Kumano Gobo Nankai Bus

3) Alpine–Takayama–Matsumoto Area Tourist Pass

A seasonal pass ideal for the Japanese Alps, Alpine Route, Takayama, and Gero Onsen.

• Price: Adult 24,000 yen / Child 12,000 yen
• Validity: 5 consecutive days

Included rail

• Nagoya ↔ Toyama (JR)
• Shinano-Omachi ↔ Nagoya (JR)

Seat reservations

• Up to 4 reservations on Limited Express

Alpine Route included transport

• Toyama Chiho Railway (Dentetsu-Toyama ↔ Tateyama) Limited Express non-reserved
• Tateyama Cable Car, Highland Bus, Tunnel Electric Bus
• Tateyama Ropeway, Kurobe Cable Car, Kanden Tunnel Electric Bus
• Oogizawa ↔ Shinano-Omachi bus (show pass)

Notes

• At Tateyama/Ogizawa ticket offices, show the pass to receive the Alpine Route boarding slip.

Baggage transfer on the Alpine Route

Large luggage is restricted. Use the baggage transfer service:

• Counters: Dentetsu-Toyama Station, Shinano-Omachi Station (incl. Omachi Onsenkyo)
• Fee: 4,000 yen per item
• Arrive 20–30 minutes early to apply

4) Aozora Free Pass (青空フリーパス)

A JR Central regional pass for unlimited rides on weekends/holidays on JR local/rapid trains in the Greater Nagoya area.

Main destinations are Gero and Ise/Toba. In practice, it is most useful for a weekend day trip to Ise Grand Shrine.

• Buy at JR counters/machines
• Unlimited hop-on/off on designated lines