departs at 0 and 30 minutes past the hour, covering the journey in as little as two hours, but at a cost of �4150 each way. (The shinkansen, by comparison, makes the run from Shin-Osaka to Nagoya in under an hour for �5670). Japan Rail Passes are not valid for the Urban Liner.
By bus
As Nagoya is a major city, there are many day and overnight buses which run between Nagoya and other locations throughout Japan, which can be a cheaper alternative than the shinkansen or local trains.
From Tokyo, bus runs to Nagoya are frequent, using either the Tomei Expressway along the southern coast or the Chuo Expressway through the central part of the country. Trips take approximately 6-9 hours depending on the route and stops.
The following are among the major bus services available between Tokyo and Nagoya: (Current as of March, 2012)
Willer Express
Discount bus operator Willer Express runs daytime and overnight buses with a variety of seating options. Bus journeys can be booked online in English, and Willer's Japan Bus Pass is valid on all of their routes with some exceptions.
Buses from Tokyo leave from Willer's own bus terminal, located west of Shinjuku Station in the Sumitomo Building. Some buses also leave directly from Shinjuku Station's West exit, Tokyo Station - Yaesu-Chuo Exit, Tokyo Disneyland - Goofy Car Park, Hamamatsucho Station and Yokohama Station. Buses discharge in Nagoya at the Taiko exit in front of the BIC Camera store.
Willer's overnight one-way fares to/from Tokyo start from approximately �3000 for overnight trips in standard seats up to �5300 in canopy seats with advanced purchase. Daytime bus fares start from �3000. Fares are typically higher on weekends and holidays.
JR Bus
JR Bus (Japanese Website) is also a major operator on the Tokyo-Nagoya route. The drawback is that you cannot make online reservations in English, but you can make reservations in train
