The Asian Games 2026 open in Nagoya and Aichi Prefecture on 19 September and run through 4 October. Forty-five countries across the Asia-Pacific region will compete across more than 40 sports at venues spread across the greater Nagoya metropolitan area. For travellers already in Japan or planning a trip in late September, the event offers a rare opportunity to watch world-class athletics in a city that sits between Kyoto and Tokyo on the Shinkansen corridor.
Venues and Sports
The main competition hub is Nagoya, with subsidiary venues spread across Aichi Prefecture including Toyota, Okazaki, and Nagakute. Highlights by discipline:
- Athletics and swimming at Nagoya’s main municipal stadium and aquatics centre
- Football split between Nagoya Grampus Eight’s Toyota Stadium and the Paloma Mizuho Stadium
- Martial arts (judo, karate, wrestling) at the Dolphins Arena
- Cycling and triathlon using a course along the Noritake Canal and Nagoya Port area
The full schedule with arena-by-arena times is available through the official Aichi-Nagoya 2026 organising committee website.
Getting There
Nagoya is 50 minutes from Shin-Osaka and approximately 1 hour 45 minutes from Tokyo Shin-Yokohama on the Tokaido Shinkansen. Nozomi services run every 10 minutes during peak hours.
Central Japan International Airport (NGO) in Tokoname, 35 minutes from Nagoya Station by Meitetsu Airport Express, serves international routes including direct flights from Seoul, Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, and Taipei.
Within the city, the Nagoya Municipal Subway network connects Nagoya Station to the main stadium area and Dolphins Arena. Temporary shuttle services will operate between Nagoya Station and Toyota and Nagakute venues during the Games.
Tickets
Tickets for individual sessions were released through the official organising committee platform in August. Some sessions in marquee sports are sold out, but availability remains for many athletics, aquatics, and combat sports sessions. Check the official website for the current inventory.
What Else to Do in Nagoya and Aichi
Nagoya is undervisited relative to Kyoto and Tokyo, which makes the Games period a useful reason to explore. Nagoya Castle’s Honmaru Palace - recently restored - is one of the finest castle interiors in Japan. The Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology is excellent for anyone interested in manufacturing history.
Ghibli Park opened in Nagakute in 2022 and is a 30-minute subway ride from Nagoya Station. Separate tickets are required and sell out weeks in advance - see our things to do guide for planning advice.
The Tokai region extends to the Kiso Valley post towns (Magome, Tsumago) and the Ise Jingu shrines, both reachable as day trips. Our itineraries section includes multi-day routes through central Honshu that pair well with a Nagoya base.
Accommodation
Hotel availability in Nagoya for the opening weekend (19–21 September) is tight. Rates in the city centre are elevated by 30–40% above normal for this period. Travellers with flexibility should consider staying in Toyota or the Nagoya suburbs and commuting in, or visiting mid-week when prices ease.
Advance booking through the end of September is strongly recommended.
For tours and experiences in Nagoya during the Games, browse activities in Nagoya on GetYourGuide.