Toyohashi, centrally located between the main metropolis cities of Tokyo and Osaka, is known for its port, the largest for the import/export of automobiles in Japan. The Toyota Motor Company also has a production facility in the nearby city of Tahara, and the city has a manufacturing base. Volkswagon also has a large factory here. Yoshida Castle is at the center of the city, which was once an important post town on the Tokaido road linking Edo with Kyoto. Toyohashi has extensive forests, and is close to the beaches of the Atsumi Peninsula, an important nesting habitat for the loggerhead turtle.
The nearest airport to Toyohashi is Chubu Centrair International Airport near Nagoya. From there, Toyohashi is about 70 minutes away via the Meitetsu Line (¥1590). A change of trains at Jingu-mae station is required.
Toyohashi Railroad runs an hourly bus service from Centrair directly to Toyohashi station in 1 hour, 40 minutes (¥2200).
Toyohashi is a stop on the '''JR Tokaido Line''' and the '''Tokaido Shinkansen''', and is also the terminal of the '''Meitetsu Main Line''' from Nagoya and Gifu.
There are eight daily '''Hikari''' trains on the Shinkansen that run from Tokyo to Toyohashi in about 90 minutes. The all-stopping '''Kodama''' trains, which depart twice every hour, take 45 minutes longer. The price is the same for both trains (¥8700).
Bullet trains from Kyoto (¥7530) and Osaka (¥8380) reach Toyohashi in about 75 and 90 minutes, respectively (1 or 2 departures per hour).
From Nagoya you can reach Toyohashi in 25 minutes by bullet train (¥2230 unreserved seat, 2 to 3 departures per hour) or in 50-60 minutes on the Meitetsu Line (¥1080, 5 to 6 departures per hour).
Regular local JR trains make the trip east to Hamamatsu in about 30 minutes.
With the exception of the Meitetsu Line, all of the above trains can be used at no charge with the Japan Rail Pass.
Highway buses only stop at the Toyohashi Kita stop of the Tomei Expressway. There are six daily ''Tokkyu'' buses from Tokyo station which run to Hamamatsu station, from which you can take a local train to Toyohashi (about 5 hours, ¥4420 [¥3770 Bus Fare + ¥650 Train Fare])
Toyohashi can be navigated by streetcar. It is one of the few cities in Japan where streetcars are still in regular use.