The Tokaido Line (the main trunk route between Osaka-Kyoto-Nagoya-Shizuoka and Tokyo runs straight through Okazaki. This means that you have excellent access to Nagoya, Toyohashi and the coastal resort of Gamagori.

(a) WEST - Okazaki/Nagoya: Its actually faster to get to central Nagoya from Okazaki Station that from many parts of Nagoya city itself. The Limited Expresses run every 15 minutes and cost JPY600 one way for the 28 minute journey. You don't need to book a seat - its just an ordinary train. The Limited Expresses also stop at Atsuta Jingu (Atsuta Shrine) - one of the most famous in the country, and at Kanayama where you can connect directly to the Subway, JR Chuo Line (for Nagano) and Meitetsu Tokaido Line. Three stations from JR Okazaki is the Shinkansen station at Mikawa-Anjo. It is just 10 minutes by the local all-stops train. It is useful if you are heading west to places such as Gifu (Cormorant fishing), Hikone (Lake Biwa) and Kyoto as the Hikari Shinkansen does not stop at those locations. Using Mikawa-Anjo it is possible to jump on the Shinkansen after classes one Friday and be in Kyoto for a late lunch.

(b) EAST - Okazaki/Toyohashi: Toyohashi is only 20 minutes away by Limited Express. It takes 15 minutes to get to the resort town of Gamagori (320 yen) with its onsen, marina and various attractions while the journey to Toyohashi itself is only 20 minutes. At Toyohashi you can connect to the Shinkansen and the JR Iida Line - which runs north into the Minami Alps through gorges and spectacular scenery.