I'll be taking the Meitetsu train from Centrair airport to Nagoya station. I believe that it is too far to walk from there to the Nagoya Hilton. My options are to take a taxi from Meitetsu Nagoya station or to take a subway to Fushimi station and walk. I've been to the Hard Rock Cafe next to the Hilton, walking there from the Fushimi station, but that was without luggage and I don't remember if the walk was easy.

Kim, how do you get there: taxi, subway, or drive?

Walk out of the train, though the ticket gates that are sort of left, straight up the 1/2 flight of stairs. Turn left, walk 10 feet and there is an open door with a taxi line right there. The taxi fare from here to the Hilton has never gone over 1000 yen for us....typically 850 yen. When you arrive by taxi, the doorman will greet you and take your bags for you. As a gold, you should be upgraded to exec floor....at least we always are....if you aren't ask for the upgrade. At the very least you'll get breakfast coupons.

The walk from Fushimi station isn't far...but with luggage I'd be unhappy..it's about 5 or 10 minutes. I wouldn't recommend the subway for the initial trip to the Hilton, but it's useful and easy to navigate otherwise.

And, sometimes we drive from Kanazawa...but you won't be doing that.

Incidentally, there is a sporadically scheduled limo bus from Centrail that goes to the Hilton. We've never been able to use it as the times haven't matched, but might be worth looking into at the info desk right next to the train ticket buying place in Centrair.

Thanks, great info. Taxi it will be.

hi kim, i arr at ngo(nagoya international airport). do i take the same train into nagoya station?

There is only one train line out of Centrair. You go to Meitetsu Nagoya Station, which is right next to Nagoya Station. Be very careful about which train out of the airport you get on...if you aren't sure you are on a fast train, ask, because it can take over an hour to get to Nagoya on the wrong train. The fast ones, 29 minutes, run about every 30 minutes.

domo, kim-san.

My pleasure. Enjoy your stay there.

We like to sit in the lobby lounge and listen to the music and people watch there. The dessert buffet is good, too...but don't eat any dinner beforehand.

Man at the front desk apologized but said he could not upgrade me to the exec floor, because I am staying four nights. I was given a "deluxe" room, I think, and he put me on a high floor 14. Depending on how I read the hilton.com webpage for this place it is an upgraded room. But it is pretty basic and the bed is rock hard. I was expecting the upgrade either of two ways: HH Gold or because of the promotion that offered 2x points, breakfast, and upgrade. The room has a small sofa, desk, king bed. Maybe it is a step up from a standard room. Bed is rock hard.

I'm surprised you weren't given the upgrade. The only time we didn't get one was during Expo on a weekend. Since your rate already includes breakfast, you should get some other amenity according to HHonors T & C I think. Is the hotel full? I might ask to be upgraded for the last 2 nights or something if possible. The lounge is what makes me love that hotel so much. The rooms are nice enough, but not special. I guess I've lived in Japan too long...I love their beds...hard, but I always sleep so well for some reason...could be the wine.

So, ask about upgrade for part of your stay.

I did ask about upgrading for part of my stay but it was no go. I checked the rates for this place a couple days ago and go the same rate for tonight and tomorrow that I got weeks ago. Tues, Wed, were higher. So, I don't think the place is full.

Ken, just take a taxi from the Meitetsu station. Navigating Fushimi station is not easy and there are quite a few steps to climb. The Meitetsu tokkyu (express) train is very nice.

mrw, domo for the info. sry to hear about the upgrade problem. hows the weather? cb out yet?

Saw some cb on the train ride into town. Cloudy and going to rain today. There is a big weather system covering all of Japan from her to the west and south.

I slept thru from about 11PM to 7AM, so the bed worked. I was exhausted after having about 6 hours of sleep, total, since Friday morning.

I tried again at the front desk yesterday, with the same result. Then I spoke with the asst mgr who said the place was full and the upgrade was subject to availability. He said that I could go to the exec club, if I wanted. I went there this morning after breakfast on the 2nd floor. The exec lounge is nice but would not have been much use for me anyway. I was out the door yesterday at 8:45A and didn't get back until 11:30PM. So, no use for the pool or the happy hour, etc. Today I am going to Yoshino.

Then I wouldn't sweat the lack of upgrade. The rooms are the same on the exec floor, with the exception of free bottled water (which you might have anyway in your room) and really much nicer bathroom amenities. We do use the lounge, a lot. Breakfast, coffee before we go out, drinks when we come back, hors d'oevres after swimming, evening drinks after dinner. And we know many of the staff in the lounge so it is rather homey for us. But if you aren't actually in the hotel at some point during the day, no need for the lounge.

I'm back at the Nagoya Hilton and got upgraded this time. The room is the same. A bottle of Listerine in the bathroom and some cotton swabs are the only difference in the bathroom, and a weight scale and wooden basket for used towels. Western robes in the closet in addition to the yukata that was laid out. Same two bottles of Kirin water. Wireless phone on the desktop. The TV is not in a cabinet like downstairs, unfortunately. This is definitely a nice place to stay.