The Japan 2005 World Expo in Aichi Prefecture is held at one major exhibition site connected to a smaller satellite locale. It runs until April 25. Admission is about $43 for adults, $23 for ages 17 to 12, $14 for ages 4 to 11 and free for children under 4.
GETTING THERE: Round-trip air from Washington to Nagoya's new Central Japan International Airport starts at around $730 on such carriers as Northwest, Continental and American. From the Nagoya station, it's about a 40-minute, $8 train ride. Take the Higashiyama subway line to the Fujigaoka station, where you board the Linimo levitating train to the expo grounds.
From Tokyo, take the bullet train from the Tokyo station to Nagoya; the trip takes about 90 minutes and starts at about $100 each way.
WHERE TO STAY: The Marriott Associa Hotel (011-81-52-584-1113, www.associa.com/english/nma), above the JR Nagoya station, is convenient to the expo grounds. Doubles start at $235 a night, but special offers can bring the price to below $190. Another good option is the Westin Nagoya Castle Hotel (3-19 Hinokuchi-cho, Nagoya, 011-81-52- 521-2121, www.castle.co.jp/english/index.html), with nice views of the city. Rooms start at $165 double per night. The expo Web site (see below) also lists accommodation options, such as ryokans, inns and homestays.
WHERE TO EAT: There are lots of food options at the expo. Among the nicer -- and pricier ($20 and up per person) -- are the Nadaman Japanese Restaurant in the Central Zone and Toh-Ka-Lin in Corporate Pavilion Zone A (a branch of the same Chinese restaurant is in the Okura Hotel in Tokyo). Near the West Entrance, Sushi Kaku offers cheaper, conveyer-belt sushi, with prices depending on how much you eat. There are plenty of spots to eatfor less than $15 inside country pavilions and at several food courts serving international cuisine. See www-2.expo2005.or.jp/en/gourmet/category.html for a list.
INFORMATION: Japan 2005 World Expo, 011-81-52-955-2005, www-2.expo2005.or.jp/en/index.html. -- Anthony Faiola
