Tokoname Pottery Footpath and Aichi Sky Expo: Private Car Combo
Esports at Aichi Sky Expo runs 23 Sept to 2 Oct beside Centrair. Pair a session with the Tokoname pottery footpath by private car, 45–60 minutes from Nagoya.
Sep 5, 2026·✍️ olablog·⏱ 5 min read
Esports at Aichi Sky Expo runs 23 Sept to 2 Oct beside Centrair. Pair a session with the Tokoname pottery footpath by private car, 45–60 minutes from Nagoya.
Aichi Sky Expo, the exhibition centre next to Chubu Centrair International Airport in Tokoname, hosts the Asian Games esports competition from 23 September to 2 October. Tokoname itself is a pottery town with a walking route through kilns and workshops. The two are minutes apart, and a private car with driver turns them into one easy day 45 to 60 minutes south of Nagoya, traffic-dependent.
This guide covers the geography, three ways to combine the venue with the footpath, and how the airport fits in if your Tokoname day is also your arrival or departure day.
An island airport and a pottery town
Centrair sits on an artificial island in Tokoname, about 40 km south of downtown Nagoya. Aichi Sky Expo is next to the airport terminal on the same island. Tokoname's old town and its pottery footpath are on the mainland side, a short drive over the bridge.
By train, the Meitetsu Airport Line links Centrair with Kanayama in about 30 minutes on the μ-SKY express, and with Nagoya Station in 30 to 40 minutes. That is a good service, and for a straight venue trip from central Nagoya it is a fair alternative. The car earns its place when you add Tokoname town, luggage or an airport connection.
Esports at Aichi Sky Expo
Sessions run 23 September to 2 October. Check the official schedule for the exact competition times and how tickets are sold for each day; the official Aichi-Nagoya 2026 ticketing site is the place to buy. Vehicle access at venues is restricted and organisers ask spectators to use public transport, so your driver drops and collects at an agreed point rather than at a promised bay.
Because the exhibition centre sits beside an airport, the surrounding roads are designed for volume, but Games traffic still bunches at session start and end. Give the drop-off a 30 to 45 minute margin.
The pottery footpath
Tokoname's footpath is a marked walking route through the old kiln district: brick chimneys, a slope lined with embedded pipes and bottles, workshops and small galleries selling teapots and tableware. It is an hour to ninety minutes at a gentle pace, longer if you shop. Check current opening days for individual workshops; many are small family operations with irregular hours.
Pottery is heavy and fragile. This is the reason for the car: purchases go straight into the boot, wrapped, rather than being carried into a venue and back.
Three ways to combine
| Plan | Morning | Afternoon | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Footpath first | Nagoya to Tokoname, walk the footpath, lunch in the old town | Esports session, return to Nagoya | Afternoon or evening sessions |
| Session first | Esports session | Footpath and a late lunch, return | Morning sessions |
| Airport day | Collect from Centrair arrivals, luggage in the car | Footpath, then session or hotel | Arrival on a competition day |
In every plan the venue slot is the fixed point; the footpath flexes. Tell us the session time and let the day be built backwards from it.
The airport add-on
If you land at Centrair on an esports day, the driver can meet you at arrivals, keep your luggage in the car while you walk Tokoname and watch the session, and deliver you and the bags to your Nagoya hotel afterwards. The same works in reverse on departure day: hotel to Tokoname, session, then a short hop to the terminal with the bags already loaded.
One thing to know: Centrair is not on our fixed-price airport transfer list, which covers Narita, Haneda, Kansai and New Chitose. Centrair transfers, with or without the Tokoname day, go through the charter quote form and are priced on your exact plan. For the flight itself, allow the usual check-in margin on top of the venue-to-terminal hop; the two are close, but security queues are not something the driver can shorten.
How to book with OlaChill
Send the esports session date and time, your Nagoya hotel or flight details, the number of passengers and how much luggage. OlaChill arranges an Alphard or similar with a driver on the private car with driver by the hour service, with the tariff on that page. If the day includes a Centrair pickup or drop, use the charter quote form instead, and we reply within 24 hours. A Japan travel eSIM set up before landing means you can message the driver as soon as you clear customs.
FAQ
How far is Tokoname from Nagoya?
About 40 km, 45 to 60 minutes by road on a normal day, traffic-dependent. The Meitetsu Airport Line is a solid alternative for a straight venue trip; the car pays off when you add the footpath, luggage or a flight.
Can the driver park at Aichi Sky Expo?
No specific bay can be promised. Venue vehicle access is restricted, and drop-off and pickup happen at an agreed point within a short walk. Fix the point the day before and allow a margin at session start.
Is the pottery footpath suitable for strollers or wheelchairs?
Parts of it are steep and uneven. Able walkers manage it easily; anyone with mobility limits should plan to see the flatter sections and let the driver bring the car close. Tell us the group's needs when booking.
Is a Centrair pickup a fixed-price transfer?
No. Our fixed-price list covers Narita, Haneda, Kansai and New Chitose. Centrair is quoted on request through the charter form, priced on your exact route and hours.
Can we watch esports and be at the airport for an evening flight?
Yes, they are on the same island. Build the departure back from your check-in deadline with a full margin, and check the official schedule so the session's end does not collide with it.
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