Time tables have been updated with information for the new season.
Train Fares
Narita – Tokyo (JR Narita Express): ¥3140
Narita – Ueno (Keisei Skyliner): ¥2400
Narita – Nagano: ¥10370
Tokyo – Nagano: ¥8170
Nagano – Hakuba (via Matsumoto): ¥3360
Nagano – Myoko Kogen*: ¥650
Nagano – Togari Nozawa Onsen*: ¥740
Togari Nozawa Onsen – Myoko Kogen*(via Toyono): ¥950
Shuttle Transfers
Narita – Nagano/Niigata Resorts: ~¥12000
Between Resorts: ~¥30000/van
Bus Information and Fares
Tokyo (Shinjuku) – Hakuba: ¥4700
Tokyo (Shinjuku) – Nagano: ¥4000
Nagano – Nozawa Onsen: ¥1400
Nagano – Hakuba: ¥1500
Nagano – Shiga Kogen: ¥1600
JR Rail Pass
4 days of unlimited travel on JR East lines including reserved seating over a 28 day period: ¥20000
* Myoko Kogen and Nozawa Onsen Ski Resorts are a local bus or taxi ride away from their nearest train station.
Close proximity to Tokyo makes Nozawa Onsen easily accessible via a variety of transport options. Browse our guide (which will be updated with timetables closer to the season) and if you need any help email us.
The Bullet train will speed you from Tokyo to Nagano in one hour and 40 minutes.
Trains
¥10000 one way/adult | ~4.5 hoursProbably the most popular way to get to Nozawa, the bullet train from Tokyo to Nagano is unbelievably quick and a great experience. View more info
Direct Shuttle
¥12000 one way/adult | ~5 hoursThe easiest way to get to Nozawa Onsen, simply book in advance (at least a week to be sure) for door to door service!
Bus
¥5400 Shinjuku – Nozawa | ~6 hoursThe bus takes longer but will save you a bit of cash and allow you to see a little bit of the countryside. More Effort, less money.
Rental Car
¥variable/day| ~4 hours Tokyo – NozawaCars are driven on the left side of the road in Japan, quality of roads are excellent, signs are in English and it’s generally quite an easy country to drive in. Have an adventure!
Train travel to Nozawa Onsen
JR East pass validity area and bullet train lines
JR East Pass
JR East offers a 4 day flexi pass which allows 4 days of travel on JR East lines over a 28 day period. The cost of this is ¥20000 for over 25s, ¥16000 for 12-25 year olds, and ¥10000 for under twelves. As a return trip from Narita to Togari Nozawa Onsen in reserved seating costs more than this, buying a JR East Rail pass will essentially give you two days of free travel (which you could potentially use to cover a lot of miles!).
Buying Tickets
If you have a JR pass you can show your pass at the gate, board any train and sit in the non reserved seating. You can also go to the booking office and get reserved tickets in advance, with no extra cost.
You can buy tickets from the train station using your credit card or cash.Tickets are electronic – you put them through a machine and a gate will open. If you are unsure of where you are going, most stations have a manned gate as well.
Trains and Transfers to Nozawa
- Take the Keisei Skyliner from Narita to Ueno, or the JR NEX from Narita to Tokyo. The Skyliner is cheaper and quicker, but if you have a rail pass it makes sense to go with JR.
- Transfer to the bullet train station. The transfer is clearly marked with signs in English. From Keisei Ueno station you need to leave the building and go up the road to the JR station.
- Jump on a bullet train to Nagano! The bullet train is a great ride, with lots of leg room and comfortable seats. It’s a great idea to pick up a bento box and watch the world go by at 240kmh, perhaps even enjoy a beverage or two from the drinks trolley.
- From Nagano you can either take an express bus straight to Nozawa Onsen, or a train on the local line to Togari Nozawa Onsen and then bus up to Nozawa.
Direct Shuttle
Door to door taxi - a convenient way to get to the snow.
The Direct Shuttle is probably the easiest way to get to Nozawa, all you need to do is book in and you will have someone waiting for you at the airport to take you directly to your accommodation. The cost of this service is ¥12000/adult and ¥8500/child using Chuo Taxi. If you are arriving into Narita after about 6pm then the direct shuttle is the only option for getting to the snow on the same day. You can also take the shuttle from Nagoya or Haneda Airports.
The only downside of the shuttle is that it is a share taxi, which means you may be riding with people going to other resorts, which can stretch the journey out to around 6 hours.
Tokyo – Nagano Bus (and night buses)
The bus from Tokyo - Nagano
If you want to save a bit of money on travel then buses are a viable option. From Tokyo you can catch an express bus to Nagano (¥7000/¥4000 – return/one way) and then take a train or bus out to Nozawa. The bus takes a bit longer – around 4 hours – but if you have enough time it can be a good saving. The overnight bus is not the most comfortable way to travel, but you can catch it from Nozawa to Tokyo, Nagoya or Osaka. Taking an overnight bus from the big cities to Nozawa would probably not be a great idea unless you can speak Japanese, as getting to the bus depots can be a bit of a rigmarole. Going from Nozawa back to the cities is easy, as the bus leaves from the central Nozawa depot and will drop you at a major central train station.