Takasaki station guide. It’s junction to Nagano, Niigata, Kusatsu and Tomioka Silk Mill.

The west side of Takasaki station. The shopping complex building is connected to the station.

Takasaki station is the biggest station in Gumma pref where is located in northern Kanto region. But it is very easy to find the way in this station because it is not like major station in Tokyo. This station is the junction point to Kusatsu, Minakami, Nagano and Niigata. You may need to transfer at this station when you go to Kusatsu Onsen or Minakami Onsen.

And also local private railway line, Joshin Railway shares Takasaki station with JR trains. If you go to the newest World Heritage site, Tomioka Silk Mill, you will transfer to Joshin Railway.

In this post, I would like to show you some images and explain about this station. You will find how to transfer the trains at Takasaki station.

Station structure, tracks and platforms

Conventional train platforms of Takasaki station. This photo was taken at track #5.

First of all, please see Takasaki station map in JR East official site.

Most of station signage are shown in English too. (This signage is not Takasaki station.)

This terminal station is three levels structure. On the ground floor, there are the platforms of conventional train lines. At second level, there are ticket gates/exits and Shinkansen transfer gate. And Shinkansen platforms are located at third level.

Shinkansen platforms are track #11 #12, #13 and #14. There are only two platforms for both Shinkansen. It’s is very easy to find the way.
Track #2 to #8 are conventional line’s platforms. Track #1 was existed but it was removed. There are only three platforms. Only track #3 is assigned for Hachiko line train and other tracks are used for all trains other than Hachiko line. So you have to check which track your train depart from. But there are lots of signage. It is not difficult to find it.

Jonshin railway’s ticket gate (C) Nyao148 – 高崎駅上信電鉄改札口

All JR platforms and tracks are connected by overpass. And at outside of ticket gates, there is a walkway and connected both side, west and east. Anyone can use this walkway because of outside of ticket gates.

At last Joshin Railway has platform on the ground floor beside JR conventional lines and track# is 0. If you transfer to this train from JR, you have to exit JR station. You can take walkway to west side and go down to ground level. You will find Joshin Railway’s station. If you use Kanto Area Pass, Joshin Railway is covered even though this is not JR train.

Lines/Trains	Track#	Destination
Joshin Dentetsu Railway	0	Joshu-Tomioka, Shimonita
Takasaki line Shonan-Shinjuku line	2,4,7,8	Omiya, Ueno Shinjuku, Yokohama
Joetsu line Agatsuma line Shinetsu line Ryomo line	2,4-6	Shibukawa, Minakami Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi, Omae Yokokawa Mebashi, Kiryu, Oyama
Hachiko line	3	Hachioji
Nagano Shinkansne	11	Nagano, Karuizawa
Joetsu Shinkansne	12	Echigo-Yuzawa, Niigata
Nagano Shinkansen Joetsu Shinkansne	13, 14	Omiya, Tokyo

Ticket gate/Exit

Takasaki staiton main exit (conventional line)

Hotels in Takasaki
Hotels in Kusatsu Onsen
Hotels in Minakami Onsen

There are two ticket gates/exits, enter/exit Shinkansen platforms and other lines. And there is one Shinkansen transfer gates inside of the ticket gates. If you take Shinkansen from Tokyo or other stations and transfer to JR local trains, such as going to Kusatsu Onsen, you will go through this gate and proceed to the platform.

How to transfer from Shinkansen to conventional line (JR local trains) to Kusatsu, Minakami, Yokokawa.

If you cannot take Limited Express Kusatsu when you go to Kusatu, or if you go to Minakami Onsen, you have to transfer from Shinkansen to local trains. I show you how to transfer at Takasaki station.

After you get off Shinkansen train, follow the sign to exit and go down by stairs, escalators or elevators.

You will find two ticket gates when you get the downstairs.

Proceed to right. That is Shinkansen-Conventional line transfer exit.

The photo of Shinkansen transfer gate below was taken from Conventional line side.

And you get walkway to the platforms of conventional lines.

If you need more information about trip to Kusatsu, please see the post, How to access to Kusatsu Onsen. Japan Rail Pass covers all part of trip to Kusatsu.