Most of train is operated by this fleet, E6 / W6 series.
*Nagano Shinkansen will be extended to Kanazawa in March 2015 and now it is called Hokuriku Shinkansen. Please see the link below to learn more:
Hokuriku Shinkansen, direct access to Kanazawa, Nagano and Toyama from Tokyo
This Shinkansen services are operated between Tokyo and 1988 Olympic winter game host city, Nagono via Ueno, Omiya, Takasaki and Karuizawa. This Shinkansen will be extended to Kanazawa by 2014 and this route is the original plan. This Shinkansen share the rail with Joetsu Shinkansen between Omiya and Takasaki. If you travel from Niigata to Nagano, you can transfer to Shinkansen at Takasaki station.
Route, schedule and trip time
Nagono Shinkansenās train is given the name, āAsamaā. āAsamaā is named from the active volcano, āMt. Asamaā near Karuizawa. It takes about 1 hour 23 minutes from Tokyo to Nagano by the fastest Asama. But it takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes from Tokyo to Nagano on the average. This train services are operated mostly every 20 minutes. But there are many types of Asama are operated. Stop stations are different by the trains. Please make sure which station your Asama will stop at before on board.
View Nagano Shinkansen (Bullet Train) in a larger map
Stations
| Station | Asama |
|---|---|
| Tokyo (ę±äŗ¬) | x |
| Ueno (äøé) | * |
| Omiya (大宮) | x |
| Kumagaya (ēč°·) | = |
| Honjo-Waseda (ę¬åŗę©ēزē°) | = |
| Takasaki (é«å“) | * |
| Annaka-Haruna (å®äøę¦å) | = |
| Karuizawa (č»½äŗę²¢) | * |
| Sakudaira (ä½ä¹ å¹³) | * |
| Ueda (äøē°) | * |
| Nagano (é·é) | x |
x:All train stop *:Most of Asama stop =:Some of Asama stop
Accommodation
All trains are operated by E2 series. E2 series gives you 2+2 seat configuration for Green class and 2+3 for Ordinary class. The seat pitch in Green seat is 1160mm and 980m in Ordinary seat. This series is the most common train in Tohoku and Nagano Shinkansens.
Train formation
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| NR | NR | NR | NR | R | R | G | R |
This train formation is very typical one. The extra cars maybe added in peak season.
R:Ordinary class reserved seat NR:Ordinary class non-reserved seat G:Reserved Green class (First class seat)
*This train is all non smoking.
Images
*Sonic Rail Garden has copyright for all images below.
Green seat (Seat pitch 1160mm/Seat configuration 2+2)
Ordinary seat (Seat pitch 980mm/Seat configuration 2+3.)
Sanitary space
Other facilities
vending machine and luggage space.
Comments
Hi, I will be arriving in Tokyo airport and going directly to Karuizawa for 6 days before heading back to Tokyo for another 2 days. Is it better to get the JR Tokyo Wide pass or should I just go with one-way train tickets? I will probably not be travelling to other areas of Japan. Thank you very much
Hi Sharon,
Tokyo Wide Pass is not recommended because you cannot get the worth of it by one way trip to Karuizawa. Itās just valid for 3 days.
Regular one way ticket is better choice.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
On the JR East Pass, is it possible to take the shinkansen
1. From Tokyo to Karuizawa
2. From Karuizawa to Niigata
(which train would this be? I cannot seem to locate the train for this leg)
3. From Niigata back to Tokyo
Would the JR East Pass be the most economical Pass for these 3 trips within 5 or 7 days?
Hi Rebecca,
All trips are covered by JR East Pass Nagano Niigata.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/jr-east-pass-niigata-and-nagano-flex-5-days-pass-in-14-days-period-to-cover-kanto-region-nagano-and-niigata.html
You can take Hokuriku Shinkansen from Karuizawa to Takasaki. And then take Joetsu Shinkansen from Takasaki to Niigata. There is no direct rains between Karuizawa and Niigata.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi-san,
Need your advise as follows: ā
1) If I purchase Hokiruku Arch Pass, can I travel to Disneyland and MT Fuji? Iāll be travelling to Nagano & Kanazawa as well.
Thanks & Regards,
Hi Ten Choy Yan,
Maihama station to Disneyland is one station away from the coverage area. You need to pay extra 140 yen.
Mt. Fuji is totally outside coverage area. The pass does not cover at all.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi takeshi san,
Pls advise what pass shall i purchase if need to cover the places i intend to visit.
Thanks n regards.
Hi Ten Choy Yan san,
Hokuriku Arch Pass is still the best choice for your trip. But you need to add single fare to get Fuji on top of the pass. Please see the link below to find the info about trip to Fuji.
https://jprail.com/destinations/chubu-area/fuji-hakone-access-guide-by-train-and-bus-from-both-tokyo-and-osaka-kyoto-nagoya.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi,
I would like to know is it possible to access to āKaruizawaā from Tokyo station/ Shinjuku station by using JR Pass?
Hi Xiong,
Yes, you can. You can get Karuizawa by Hokuriku Shinkansen and itās fully covered.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Dear Takeshi,
Thanks for your reply! =)
May I ask another question? Is there any source or website which providing railway timetable and information (like which kind of shinkansen) other than āHyperdiaā? Thanks again =)
Hi Xiong,
Please refer the link below. I show some links to timetable by JR companies.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/timetable-and-reservation/japan-railways-timetables.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi
Would wish to enquiry about Nagono- Ueda
Just wondering which pass will be a more economical way to travel from Tokyo to Ueda.
Will it be better to get NN pass or wide pass (to sakudaira & adhoc train fares).
Just wondering if the NN pass allows local travels in Ueda.
Thank you.
Hi Patty,
Tokyo wide pass + extra fare is cheaper. JR East Pass Niigata and Nagano does not cover any local transportation there.
Cheers,
Takehsi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi
Thank you for your reply.
The places I wish to go are
1. Ueda
2. Hakone
3. Fuji*
I understand that Hakone Fuji are covered by Fuji Hakone free 3 day ( with their local transportations). I am just wondering if is it economical if I get the Wide to go to Fuji via otsuki station on the 3rd day of the Wide pass. Thereafter, use adhoc fares to get to Hakone and use the hakone only free pass.
Otherwise should I just get the Hakone Fuji pass & the Tokyo Wide pass.
Thank you for your advice.
Hi Patty,
Hakone Free Pass and single bus fare to Gotemba from Kawaguchiko is cheaper than Fuji Hakone Pass.
http://bus-en.fujikyu.co.jp/route/detail/id/1/#fare
You can use Tokyo Wide Pass to get Kawaguchiko via Otsuki. In this case, you must purchase Hakone Free Pass before you leave Shinjuku. Gotemba is border place of Hakone Free Pass. But you cannot purchase Hakone Free Pass there. If you donāt buy it in advance, you have to go down Hakone Yumoto. That is wasting time and cost. Donāt forget to purchase it in Shinjuku.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com