When you go to southern part of Nagano from Nagano, the Limited Express Azusa is most convenient choice. You can get Matsumoto directly. And one trip of this train takes you to Hakuba and Shinano-Omachi directly.
The Limited Express Kaiji runs on the same route between Kofu and Shinjuku/Tokyo.
And the new train, “FUJI EXCURSION (Fuji-Kaiyu)” has been introduced in March 2019. This train connects Shinjuku and Kawaguchiko (Lake Kawaguchi at Mt. Fuji) directly.
I will explain you the route, schedule and accommodations of these trains.
Route, schedule and travel time
Hotels in Matsumoto
Hotels in Hakuba
Hotels in Kofu
The Limited Express Azusa is operated between Shinjuku and Matsumoto. A few operation of this train depart from Tokyo and Chiba. And one round trip of Azusa is operated between Shinjuku and Minami-Otari. You can get Hakuba and Shinano-Omachi directly from Shinjuku. In daytime, Azusa leaves Shinjuku station hourly, at 00 and 30 minutes past the hour.
The Limited Express Kaiji runs on same route as Azusa but this train is operated between Shinjuku and Kofu mostly. Some trips departs from Tokyo and Ryuo. This train is operated once every hour.
The Limited Express Fuji Kaiyu is operated between Shinjuku and Kawaguchiko. But this train is operated between Shinjuku and Otsuki being connected with the Limited Express Kaiji. Two round trips of this train are operated daily.
The Limited Express Fuji Excursion is operated by JR. But the segment between Otsuki and Kawaguchiko is Fujikyu Railway which is not JR. Some rail passes do not cover this segment and you have to pay the extra fare on top of the pass. I will tell you later in this post.
Trip time
The fastest Azusa connects Shinjuku and Matsumoto in 2.5 hours. The average trip time is around 3 hours between Shinjuku and Matsumoto.
The Limited Express Kaiji stops many more stations than Azusa. But the travel time between Kofu and Shinjuku is not so different from the Limited Express Azusa. It takes 1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours.
The Limited Express Fuji Excursion is coupled with Kaiji between Shinjuku and Otsuki as I mentioned above. The trip time is 1 hour 40 minutes from Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko.
Extra fare for taking the Limited Express Fuji Excursion
You may find the interior of this train in the movie below:
This train is JR train but it runs on Fujikyu railway line which is not JR. On this segment, this train is operated as one of Fujikyu railway train. That means that this train is not covered by some rail passes.
The only railway pass which covers this train fully is Tokyo Wide Pass.
JR Pass (Japan Rail Pass), JR East Pass Nagano Niigata and any other JR deals other than Tokyo Wide Pass does not cover the Limited Express Fuji Excursion fully. You have to pay the extra fare for the segment between Otsuki and Kawaguchiko.
The extra fare is 1,740 yen. (base fare 1,140 yen + limited express fee 600 yen)
But if you take this train between Kawaguchiko and Mt. Fuji only, limited express fee is not required.
Accommodation and train formations
The Limited Express Azusa, Kaiji and Fuji Excursion are operated by E353 series. E257 series is used for the seasonal operation only.
E353 series
The seat configurations are 2+2. It is same configuration on both Green seat and ordinary seat. Accommodation is no difference between reserved ordinary and non reserved ordinary. This series equips the all seats with the power outlet.
Train formation
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | G | R | R | R |
R=Reserved ordinary seat G=Green seat
Azusa is operated by this 12 cars train set. Kaiji is mostly 9 cars train set (car #4 to #12). And Fuji Excursion is operated by 3 cars train set which is car #1 to #3.
All train do not proved non reserved seat. If you take this train without reservation, you still can take this train but your seat is not secured. You can take one of unoccupied seat. But other passenger will take your seat later. You have to move and find the other seat.
JR Pass, Tokyo Wide Pass and JR East Pass cover the reserved seat fee. Please do not forget book your seat before boarding. You cannot book a seat in the train.
E257 series
This train set is used for the seasonal operation only.
The seat configurations are 2+2. It is same configuration on both Green seat and ordinary seat. It is no difference between reserved ordinary and non reserved.
Comments
Hi Takeshi,
I’m going tokyo from 30 Mar – 10 Apr 17. Would like to know where can I bring the kids to experience snow in Nagano without visiting ski resort? Or if there is other place that you would recommend which can be easily accessible from Shinjuku?
Thanks.
Hi CT,
Most of places in Nagano can be accessed by drive. It’s not easy access. Gala is not in Nagano and it’s snow resort but it’s most accessible and kids friendly area. It’s just located in front of the station.
https://gala.co.jp/winter/english/
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi there,
I will go to kawaguchiko straight away as after I arrived at the Narita Airport terminal 1. I will take Keisei skyliner to Nippori then take the Yamanote Line Inner Tracks to Shinjuku. The problem is when I arrived in Shinjuku station, where can I buy the ticket for the Chou line limited express, do I have to go all the way out of the gate and buy one? or can I just buy it from Nippori station?
Thank you.
Hi Mark,
You can buy a base fare ticket from Nippori to Otsuki and Limited Express seat ticket for Shinjuku to Otsuki at Nippori. If you want, you can purchase it at Narita airport station too.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi,
I would like to go to otsuki for Kawaguchiko, but I have the question about non-reserve seat.
If I use the suica and no any JR pass, can I go with non-reserve seat? or I should buy the another ticket for get to Asuza (non-reserve seat).
If the another ticket should buy, where can I buy the ticket (JR shinjuku)?
Thank you
Hi Thanee,
You must have non reserved seat ticket beside Suica because Suica covers only base fare. You can purchase non reserved seat ticket at any major JR stations. Of course you can purchase it at Shinjuku station. There are a few reservation window that is called “Midori no Madoguchi” in Shinjuku station. You can purchase it there on the day of trip or in advance.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi there
I am travelling from Shinjuku to Kamishiro on Jan 16. I wanted to go to Matsumoto first to have a look at the castle. I am assuming I will need two tickets, one for Shinjuku to Matsumoto and another for Matsumoto to Kamishiro. Is this correct? And where do I purchase the tickets? Can they be booked online or do I have to buy them at Shinjuku station? If so where in Shinjuku station is the ticket office?
Thank you
Andrew B
Hi Andrew,
Actually you can use one ticket for Shinjuku to Kamishiro. You can make a stopover at Matsumoto. Please see the link below:
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
You cannot purchase it online but you can purchase it at any major JR station in advance. You can purchase it at Shinjuku station. There are some reservation window that is called “Midori no Madoguchi”. You can find it easily. There are lots of signage.
http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/stations/e866.html
Or you can go to JR East Travel Center.
http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/customer_support/service_center_shinjuku.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Arrigato Takeshi
hello,
i really need this confirmation
i will buy tokyo wide pass, and just wanna ask if asuza to to otsuki covered by the pass?i am clueless because it is limited train express but on the website said they cover limited train express but just need confirmation
Hi Rozeti,
Yes, it’s covered fully. You can book a reserved seat without any extra charge by this pass.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
thank you so much for the reply,another one please, how about tokyu toyoko/minatomirai line ltd exp which run to minato mirai of yokohama?do we have to pay for it?i understand that tokyo wide pass cover until yokohama station when we use JR but how about the line i mention above?please help me,thank you so much again and again
Hi Rozeti,
It’s not JR and you have to pay.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi,
Im using tokyo wide pass from saturday to monday. On monday I wish to go to matsumoto at night. Is it cover by tokyo wide pass?
And let say I take the last train at 11pm, does the tokyo wide pass still valid because it is for 3 consecutive days and I assume that it valid from 0000 on the first day until 2359 on the last day.
Hi Mama,
Matsumoto is outside coverage area. The border station between Tokyo and Matsumot is Kobuchizawa. So you need to purchase extra ticket from Kobuchizawa to Matsumoto. If you take express trains, it costs around 3,000 yen.
The last train depart to Matsumoto from Shijuku at 21:00. There is no train later than this.
http://www.eki-net.com/pc/jreast-shinkansen-reservation/english/wb/common/timetable/e_lex_chuo_d/08.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi. I just want to know if LTD. EXP SUPER AZUSA 19 is covered by Japan Rail Pass?
If a route is covered by JR East, does this mean it is automatically covered by Japan Rail pass as well?
Thank you!
Hi Marian,
Yes. It’s covered. All JR East trains are covered by JR Pass.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
When does the last train depart from Shinjuku for Matsumoto on Mondays?
Hi Wendy,
Please see the link below:
http://www.eki-net.com/pc/jreast-shinkansen-reservation/english/wb/common/timetable/e_lex_chuo_d/index.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi, just want to confirm the LTD. EXP AZUSA is cover by JR Pass right? so i do not need to pay from Shinjuku to Otsuki right? and is it i need to show my JR pass first whenever i want to travel by train to avoid pay extra since i am not sure which subway/railway line can be use by JR pass. Or can i know which subway/railway line can use by JR pass. Please advice. Thanks
Hi Yi,
Limited Express Azusa is covered by JR pass fully.
When you enter the station, you need to show your JR pass. Some trains go through subway line from JR. Subway line is not covered by JR pass. But this case is not very often. As long as you enter JR station, you don’t face this situation.
I show the coverage of JR pass at the link below:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/japan-rail-pass-user-guide-how-to-use-jr-pass-to-its-maximum.html#Other_train_services
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
I wish to travel from shinjuko to matsumoto on oct 12th I would buy tickets on the day would this be a problem
Hi i.mackay,
You can purchase it on the day of travel. You might not be able to purchase reserved seat but there is non reserved seat too. You can make a trip anyway.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com