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

Station information
Conventional train platforms of Takasaki station. This photo was taken at track #5.
The west side of Takasaki station. The shopping complex building is connected to the station.

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.

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.)

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

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/TrainsTrack#Destination
Joshin Dentetsu Railway0Joshu-Tomioka, Shimonita
Takasaki line
Shonan-Shinjuku line
2,4,7,8Omiya, Ueno
Shinjuku, Yokohama
Joetsu line
Agatsuma line
Shinetsu line
Ryomo line
2,4-6Shibukawa, Minakami
Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi, Omae
Yokokawa
Mebashi, Kiryu, Oyama
Hachiko line3Hachioji
17px-Shinkansen_green.svg Nagano Shinkansne11Nagano, Karuizawa
17px-Shinkansen_green.svg Joetsu Shinkansne12Echigo-Yuzawa, Niigata
17px-Shinkansen_green.svg Nagano Shinkansen
Joetsu Shinkansne
13, 14Omiya, Tokyo

Ticket gate/Exit

Takasaki staiton main exit (conventional line)

Takasaki staiton main exit (conventional line)

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.

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

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

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

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And you get walkway to the platforms of conventional lines.

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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.

Comments

  1. Pieter Bruinstroop says:

    We are travelling from Kusatsu to Kyoto by Bus then train.
    We get a bus from Kusatsu to Naganohara then train to Takasaki, then Shinhansen to Tokyo (and then on to Kyoto).

    Which platform is the Shinkansen to Tokyo ?

  2. Elaine says:

    Hi Takeshi-san,

    Thank for the great guide. I have a quick question. I’ll be transferring from the Takasaki line (arr. trac\k 2) to Joetsu line (dep. track 4). According to the station map, it seems like track 2 & 4 share the same platform. Is that correct? If so, I’m assuming there is no need to exit and re-enter when transferring? I’ll be using a Suica card if that makes any difference. Thank you!

    Best,
    Elaine

  3. Tak says:

    Hi Takeshi san,
    I stayed at a hotel near the station to took steam train from Takasaki to Yokogawa. I found the famous Yokogawa station’s “Toge no kamameshi” (cray pot rice) in Takasaki station. They have opened a restaurant in Takasaki station. It’s called “Oginoya”. I might want to try next time. http://sayachan28.exblog.jp/17209530/

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