*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)
Comments
Hi I would like some info on getting from Narita to Hakuba via the bullet train.I fly into Narita at 5.05pm what times etc and and changing trains etc.I would like to travel Granclass also what is the price and how do I book.Thanks
HI Mark,
I donāt think you can reach Hakuba on arrival day.
I have arrived Japan two days ago. I spent two hours to get out Narita. So you can take Narita Expres to Tokyo around 19:12. And you will arrive at Tokyo around 20:00.
You can reach Nagano. But there is no options from Nagano to Hakuba in late night. So your choice is staying Tokyo or Nagano.
You can find timetable and fare at the links below:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/timetable-and-reservation/hyperdia-perfect-guide-train-timetable-and-route-search-engine.html
http://www.eki-net.com/pc/jreast-shinkansen-reservation/english/wb/common/timetable/index.html
You may be able to take one earlier Narita Express at 18:48. But itās still to late to get Hakuba.
Overnight bus from Shinjuku to Hakuba is available too.
http://highway-buses.jp/hakuba/
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi there,
We are flying into Tokyo Narita airport early saturday morning and plan to get the shinkansen to Nagano then bus on to Hakuba. We are in Hakuba for 10 days then back to Tokyo for 4 days before flying out. Would you recommend any kind of rail pass or just single tickets?
Thank you!
Emma
Hi Emma,
Unfortunately single ticket is the best choice. There is no deals that is better and cheaper than single ticket.
But direct bus service is cheaper and may be faster.
http://highway-buses.jp/hakuba/
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi Takeshi!
Will JR Pass cover way from Karuizawa to Narita Airport (or at least to Tokyo)? i wonder because Karuizawa is probably last spot on my route through Japan (Tokyo-Kyoto-Nara-Hiroshima-Takayama-Shirakawago-go-Karuizawa-Narita) and Iām curious if my 14day JR Pass will cover it all up. Thanks!
Hi Peter,
Yes. It covers Nagano Shinkansen (Karuizawa-Tokyo) and Narita Express (Tokyo-Narita airport) fully.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi,
I will be buying a 14-day JR Rail Pass for my coming trip to Japan. My itinerary is as follows:
Tokyo -> Nagano -> Kyoto -> Osaka -> Tokyo
Are there any parts of the above which, to your knowledge, are covered by the JR Rail Pass?
Thank you.
Hi Ghaleon,
Your trip will be covered by JR pass other than local transportation, such as subway in Kyoto, Osaka, Tokyo.
However if you use JR pass just for your itinerary, itās way more expensive than single fare actually. If you have a plan to use the pass for long distance day trip, like day trip to Hiroshima from Osaka, it will work. Roughly your itinerary is almost same as 7 days pass price.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi,
My flight arrive to Nagoya airport. I plan to Nagano ā Tokyo ā Kawakuchiko and then leave from Haneda Tokyo back to home.
At Nagano I plan to take Shinkansen from Saku-Daira station to Tokyo. So I would like to buy and use JR Kanto Area Pass from Saku-Daira.
Could you please advise ā¦ where I can buy JR Kanto Area pass?
Thank you in advance.
Jummy
Hi Jimmy,
Unfortunately Kanto Area Pass cannot be purchased in Nagano area. This pass is on sale in Tokyo area only. Please find the info at JR East site below:
http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/kantoareapass/index.html
At this point, only single fare is your choice from Nagoya to Tokyo via Nagano.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/for-non-jr-pass-travellers-guide-to-use-jr-single-ticket-basic-rules-validity-and-stopover.html
Highway bus is available for Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko.
http://transportation.fujikyu.co.jp/english/gettinghere/01.html#pgm03
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hello,
We, family of 2 adults and 2 children aged 11 years, will be traveling from Narita Airport to Hakuba for 5 days, then back to Tokyo for 6 days, before heading home through Narita airport. What would be the most economical and simple ways to travel? Thank you very much!
Hi Nelly,
I donāt have the detailed information. But I believe bus runs between Tokyo or Shinjuku and Hakuba. Trains run only one round trip to Hakuba from Shinjuku. I think bus is cheaper.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Im bought JR East Pass, i planned to travel to Nagano on 11th Jan 2015. How to reserve the seat? Where do i reserve the seat? I tried online reservation, it donāt work.
Hi Vivien,
Shinkansen ticket to Nagano can be booked easily at the station. Please see the link below:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/timetable-and-reservation/how-to-reserve-seat.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi,
Iām going from Nagano to tokyo on 11 th January 2015 on bullet train and then 4 days tokyo doing day trips on the subway around tokyo, what pass do you suggest? 3 adults and 1 kid,
Thanks matt
Hi Matt,
Only single ticket is your choice for Nagoya to Tokyo.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/for-non-jr-pass-travellers-guide-to-use-jr-single-ticket-basic-rules-validity-and-stopover.html
In Tokyo, you can use subway pass or Tokunai pass.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/compare-many-discount-tickets-and-passes-for-sightseeing-tokyo-how-to-choose-the-right-tickets.html
https://jprail.com/destinations/kanto-area/tokyo-metropolitan-district-pass-tokyo-tokunai-pass-good-choice-for-sightseeing-in-tokyo.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi Takeshi / JP Rail
I will go to Tokyo in late June for sightseeing (from Australia).
But on 1 July will go to Karuizawa, and back to Tokyo on 4 July 2014.
Most of my friends suggested me to buy JR East Flex Pass for 5 days with Ā„22000.
But Hyperdia gives me the info of single journey ASMA fare costing Ā„5910. All up (plus return) would be Ā„11820.
So do you think buying the return tickets are better than the pass?
I appreciate for your reply
Hi Poky,
JR East Pass is wrong choice as you guess. Single ticket is much cheaper.
If you visit somewhere around Tokyo before going to Karuizawa, Kanto Area Pass may be considerable.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/jr-east-kanto-area-pass-perfect-choice-for-tourist-who-want-to-go-to-fuji-izu-nikko-for-a-day-trip.html
Itās sold at 8300 yen for 3 days. So itās about 3,000 yen higher than single one way fare. For example, if you go to Lake Kawaguchi, you can spend more than 3,000 yen easily. Unfortunately this pass is valid 3 days consecutive. So you canāt use this for return trip to Karuizawa. But if you have any other plan other than Karuizawa, this pass gives you a great deal.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
WE ARE ARRIVING IN TOKYO ON JULY 20TH.
VISITING THE TSUKIJI FISH MARKET ON THE MORNING OF THE 21ST.
WOULD LIKE TO GO TO NADANO TO SEE THE SNOW MONKEYSā¦.
VIA A NON-STOP BULLET TRAIN. SPEND ONE NIGHT.21ST.
NEXT, WOULD LIKE TO GO TO SEE MT. FUJI AND SURROUNDING AREA
AND SPEND ONE NIGHT.22ND.
TAKING A LOCAL BUSā¦.OR TOURā¦.
NO TRAIN POSSIBILITY???
MY QUESTION IS WOULD BUYING A RAIL PASS BE A GOOD IDEA.
WE HAVE TWO MORE DAYS ā¦..AVAILABLE.
LEAVING ON THE 25TH.
THANK YOU,
LISE POIRIER
Hi Lise,
I recommend you to use these two passes.
Kanto Area Pass for July 21 to 23.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/jr-east-kanto-area-pass-perfect-choice-for-tourist-who-want-to-go-to-fuji-izu-nikko-for-a-day-trip.html
Nagano is outside of coverage area. But you can add 7000 yen return to get Nagano.
Lake Kawaguchi area can be accessed by this pass.
Suica and Nāex for arrival day, departure day and sightseeing in Tokyo
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/suica-nex-ticket-very-flexible-and-good-deal-for-tourist-who-stay-in-tokyo.html
This deals includes transfer between Narita and Tokyo, and also 1500 yen e-money. This Suica e-money can be used for JR trains and subways. But it cannot be used for extra charge for Nagano. You can basically use this e-money for sightseeing Tokyo.
By the way, July is summer. You can see monkey, but they donāt take a onsen bath in summer time.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Trains on this route have extra luggage space near the entrance doors (there is a picture above). This is quite unusual for shinkansen (I have not seen it on other routes) but I think is added due to people heading for the mountains with skis and snowboards.