*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
Can I use a Suica card to get from Tokyo to Nagano ? Or will I need to buy a ticket/JR card
Hi Lou,
You canāt. Nagano is not in the area of Suica. You need to purchase a regular ticket.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi,
can we use free shuttle bus to Hoshinoya area? how frequent the bus depart from Karuizawa train station? or do you have time table for 30 April or 1 may 2016?
Thanks
Hi Nunu,
Do you mean Hoshinoya hotel? I have no idea about shuttle. Please ask your hotel to find it.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Can I book a reserved seat online from Asakusa to Nagano? I can find timetables but not how to book and pay. Is it easier to book once in Tokyo?
thanks
Hi Jill,
You may book it at the site below for Tokyo (or Ueno) to Nagano.
http://www.eki-net.com/pc/jreast-shinkansen-reservation/English/wb/common/Menu/Menu.aspx?_ga=1.217181014.1325107855.1421419524
But itās not hard to book Shinkansen ticket to Nagano from Tokyo after you arrive in Japan.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Thank you for your reply
No problem, Jill.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Pls I want to know much the round fare from Tokyo to Nagano ?
Hi Edna,
You can find it at Hyperdia:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/timetable-and-reservation/hyperdia-perfect-guide-train-timetable-and-route-search-engine.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Thanks a lot, can you pls suggest me the cheapest transportation to Nagano from Tokyo,
Hi Edna,
Probably highway bus is the cheapest.
http://willerexpress.com/st/3/en/pc/bus/feature/sales-period/?mid=157
But Iām not familiar with bus and not 100% sure this is the cheapest.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
I am going to Yudanaka to visit an ryokan/onsen for 2 nights mid-week. I take the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Nagano. Then take a Nagano dentetsu until Yudanaka station. Are both trains covered by JR pass? If not, what is the most economical way to go? (I want to travel only by shinkansen to Nagano) Arigato
Hi Garmon,
Nagano Dentetsu is not covered by JR Pass. Simply add single fare for Nagano Dentetsu. This is the best and the easiest way.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
I will take JR train shinkansens to Nagano ,after tht will change to take expressway bus frm Nagano to Tateyama Kurobe.Does the JR train shinkansens stop at station Nagano?Any idea which station should I go down?
Yes, Pinky. Please see the post below:
https://jprail.com/trains/sort-by-departure-arrival-stations/stations-in-kanto/tokyo/ueno/hokuriku-shinkansen-direct-access-to-kanazawa-nagano-and-toyama-from-tokyo.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
can anyone please tell me how much it would cost to get a bullet train from Tokyo to Ueno
Hi xavier,
You can find it at Hyperdia.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/timetable-and-reservation/hyperdia-perfect-guide-train-timetable-and-route-search-engine.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi Takeshi , Iām planning to go Tateyama Kurobe nxt 3 weeks frm haneda airport. Which JR pass should I buy?Any JR rail from haneda airport?So I got to take to toyama station?
Hi Pinky,
Do you take JR train to Toyama from Haneda and Shinano-Omachi to Haneda? If so, single fare is cheaper than any passes.If you intend to have any other trips, JR pass may be cheaper. Total fares for Haneda to Toyama and Shinano-Omachi to Haneda is slightly cheaper than JR pass 7 days. So it depends on the rest of your plan other than Tateyama Kurobe alpine route.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Tommorw I want go nagano but I donāt know train ruleā¦ Now I m in omiya please help me its urgent
Hi Saugat,
All you have to do is just going to Omiya station ticket office (itās called āMidori No Madoguchi). You can book and purchase a ticket. You can find the price and timetable at Hyperdia.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/timetable-and-reservation/hyperdia-perfect-guide-train-timetable-and-route-search-engine.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi Takeshi/JP Rail
im going to OSAKA and spend 5 days there, northern kyoto, southern kyoto, kobe, mt.koya.
then we will move to NAGANO, spend 2 nights
then go to TOKYO, spend 3 nights
finally back to OSAKA
im planning to buy the 7days JR rail pass and will activate it when we move to NAGANO from OSAKA.
is it a good idea? can JR rail pass cover the OSAKA ā NAGOYA ā TOKYO ā OSAKA?
really appriciate for your reply
thank you
Hi Dian,
Your plan is perfect. All trips are covered by JR Pass.
YOu can use several local deals in Osaka, The following link may help you to pick up the deals.
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/7days/how-to-build-the-itinerary-and-choose-the-deals-for-osaka-stay-5-to-7-days.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail