Getting from Narita Airport to Hakuba Valley
Getting from Narita Airport to Hakuba Valley
There are many different routes for getting from Narita Airport to Hakuba Valley. If it is your first time to Hakuba Valley, or you have a lot of luggage, then you may be better off using a direct service like the Nagano Snow Shuttle. Below we summarize the easiest route to Hakuba Valley from Narita Airport by Public Transport. If you’d like advice on other routes, please do not hesitate to send us an inquiry using the form on the right. | |
There are 2 train lines between Narita Airport and and Central Tokyo. The Narita Express, and the Keisei Skyliner. The Narita Express runs from Terminal 1, via terminal 2 to JR Tokyo Station. The Keisei Skyliner runs from Terminal 1 via Terminal 2 to Keisei Ueno Station, close to JR Ueno Station Tokyo. The JR transfer is easier as you can buy all your tickets at Narita Airport, but the Keisei Line is actually a bit quicker. Below we cover the transfer using the JR Narita Express and JR Hokuriku Shinkansen Bullet Train.
The JR station is located in the basement of Terminal 1. The station is called "Narita Kuko" but the there are many English and Chinese signs that identify it as Terminal 1. Terminal 2 (Kuko Daini Biru) The JR station is located in the basement of Terminal 2. The station is called "Narita Daini Biru" but the there are many English and Chinese signs that identify it as Terminal 2. Terminal 3 There are not stations at terminal 3. The closest station is terminal 2. It is about 400m from terminal 3 to terminal 2. There is a well sign posted walkway (15 min walk), or you can take the free shuttle from terminal 3 to terminal 2 in about 3 minutes. The shuttle bus stop does not have a number but is easy to find if you take the escalator down to the bus top floor. Buying a Ticket All the JR ticket counters are red. You can buy a ticket from a machine, but most international visitors will find it easiest to go to the JR EAST Travel Service Center. These are set up for foreign visitors and staff speak English. Explain that you want to go to Nagano, and they will work out the next available times and transfers and issue your tickets. Hint: Try to get a seat in car number 6 or above on the Bullet train to Nagano, as this will make it much easier to transfer at Nagano Station to the bus to Hakuba Boarding the Train The train tracks are on the level below the tickets sales and ticket gates. You will have several tickets in your hand, just put them all into the ticket machine together (not one at a time), and they will reappear part way down the ticket gate. Make sure you take your all your tickets. Take the escalator down and locate your car number. Trains run on time so be on board with time to spare. | |
Narita Airport Terminal 1 Station | Narita Airport Terminal 2 Station |
JR Narita Express
JR Narita Express is the flagship airport express train for JR East. It is a modern train with charging points in all seats and free Wifi on-board.
It usually operates as a 12 carriage train (actually 2 * 6 carriage trains that split at Tokyo Station).
Cars 1-5, and 7-11 are standard cars, while car 6 & 12 are Green Class (first class).
There is wheel chair access in cars 5 & 11
Car 1 is the front of the train when departing from Narita Airport.
All cars have 4 seats across, with an aisle in the middle.
Almost all Narita Express Trains head directly to Tokyo Station with no stops in between, but there is the occasional train that makes a brief stop at Chiba Station.
The trip from Narita Airport to Tokyo Station takes about 1 hour.
Tokyo Station is massive, and is the 3rd busiest station in Japanese with nearly 500,000 people daily.
On the main concourse level there are 10 platforms for commuter and express trains, and 10 platforms for Shinkansen Bullet trains.
There are also basement platforms (4) and a further 2 platforms for the JR Keio Line. Add in a couple of subway stations and you get the picture.
Rush hour here can be mayhem!
On arrival at Tokyo Station you will on basement level 5 (You arrive at Sobu Line platform 1 or 2). You need to get to the Hokuriku Shinkansen Bullet Train Platforms 20-23.
You need to go up several sets of elevators and follow the signs (the green ones as pictured on right) to the Shinkansen Bullet train platforms.
The Shinkansen have an extra set of ticket gates. You need to put your tickets into the machine before you can pass through (always remember to collect your tickets as they pop out part way through the gate).
Once through the gates you'll see a lot of digital signs that flick between English and Japanese. They will show the Train Name, Departure Time and Platform Number. Locate your platform and take the escalator up.
Hokuriku Shinkansen via Nagano
Train Classes
There are several classes on the Hokuriku Shinkansen.
- Standard Class (reserved and non reserved*) – 5 seats across the row in a 3-2 configuration (Cars 1-10)
- Green Class (superior class) – 4 seats across the row in a 2-2 configuration (Car 11) – Green Class costs about 20% more than standard class
- Gran Class (first class) – 3 seats across the row in a 1-2 configuration (Car 12). Complementary food and beverage service (Kagayaki and Hakutaka trains only) – Gran Class costs about double of standard class
- reserved seat means you have an assigned seat / non-reserved means you can sit in any seat in a “non-reserved” carriage (first come first seated basis)
Train Types
There are 3 types of train that run on the Hokuriku Shinkansen Line. While the train body is the same, the speed and number of stops vary. All trains will have either Kanazawa or Nagano as the destination, but all trains do make a stop in Nagano.
In all cases there are 12 carriages on the train with 12 being the front of the train heading towards Nagano.
- "Kagayaki" – This is the fastest type of train. After departing Tokyo it only stops at Ueno, and Omiya before arriving at Nagano. All seats on this train are reserved (seat assigned). The destination for the Kagayaki trains is Kanazawa. From Tokyo Station to Nagano this train takes about 90 minutes.
- "Hakutaka" – This train also heads to Kanazawa, but it stops at more stations along the way and is about 15 minutes slower than the Kagayaki Train. There are reserved and non-reserved seats on this train.
- Asama – This train only travels as far as Nagano, but it stops at most stations along the way.
- Nagano Snow Shuttle The Nagano Snow Shuttle operates from the Metropolitan Hotel (connected to Nagano Station) on the Zenkoji (West Exit) of the station. This can be booked in advance and your seat is guaranteed. Yuo can also wait in the hotel lobby, and not outside in the cold. Bookings can be made online
- Alpico Bus Alpico Kotsu operate from the East Exit (Bus Stop 26) of Nagano Station. Reservations cannot be made for this service. It is a first come service.
There are many different routes for getting from Narita Airport to Hakuba Valley. If it is your first time to Hakuba Valley, or you have a lot of luggage, then you may be better off using a direct service like the Nagano Snow Shuttle. Below we summarize the easiest route to Hakuba Valley from Narita Airport by Public Transport. If you’d like advice on other routes, please do not hesitate to send us an inquiry using the form on the right. | |
There are 2 train lines between Narita Airport and and Central Tokyo. The Narita Express, and the Keisei Skyliner. The Narita Express runs from Terminal 1, via terminal 2 to JR Tokyo Station. The Keisei Skyliner runs from Terminal 1 via Terminal 2 to Keisei Ueno Station, close to JR Ueno Station Tokyo. The JR transfer is easier as you can buy all your tickets at Narita Airport, but the Keisei Line is actually a bit quicker. Below we cover the transfer using the JR Narita Express and JR Hokuriku Shinkansen Bullet Train.
The JR station is located in the basement of Terminal 1. The station is called "Narita Kuko" but the there are many English and Chinese signs that identify it as Terminal 1. Terminal 2 (Kuko Daini Biru) The JR station is located in the basement of Terminal 2. The station is called "Narita Daini Biru" but the there are many English and Chinese signs that identify it as Terminal 2. Terminal 3 There are not stations at terminal 3. The closest station is terminal 2. It is about 400m from terminal 3 to terminal 2. There is a well sign posted walkway (15 min walk), or you can take the free shuttle from terminal 3 to terminal 2 in about 3 minutes. The shuttle bus stop does not have a number but is easy to find if you take the escalator down to the bus top floor. Buying a Ticket All the JR ticket counters are red. You can buy a ticket from a machine, but most international visitors will find it easiest to go to the JR EAST Travel Service Center. These are set up for foreign visitors and staff speak English. Explain that you want to go to Nagano, and they will work out the next available times and transfers and issue your tickets. Hint: Try to get a seat in car number 6 or above on the Bullet train to Nagano, as this will make it much easier to transfer at Nagano Station to the bus to Hakuba Boarding the Train The train tracks are on the level below the tickets sales and ticket gates. You will have several tickets in your hand, just put them all into the ticket machine together (not one at a time), and they will reappear part way down the ticket gate. Make sure you take your all your tickets. Take the escalator down and locate your car number. Trains run on time so be on board with time to spare. | |
Narita Airport Terminal 1 Station | Narita Airport Terminal 2 Station |
JR Narita Express
JR Narita Express is the flagship airport express train for JR East. It is a modern train with charging points in all seats and free Wifi on-board.
It usually operates as a 12 carriage train (actually 2 * 6 carriage trains that split at Tokyo Station).
Cars 1-5, and 7-11 are standard cars, while car 6 & 12 are Green Class (first class).
There is wheel chair access in cars 5 & 11
Car 1 is the front of the train when departing from Narita Airport.
All cars have 4 seats across, with an aisle in the middle.
Almost all Narita Express Trains head directly to Tokyo Station with no stops in between, but there is the occasional train that makes a brief stop at Chiba Station.
The trip from Narita Airport to Tokyo Station takes about 1 hour.
Tokyo Station is massive, and is the 3rd busiest station in Japanese with nearly 500,000 people daily.
On the main concourse level there are 10 platforms for commuter and express trains, and 10 platforms for Shinkansen Bullet trains.
There are also basement platforms (4) and a further 2 platforms for the JR Keio Line. Add in a couple of subway stations and you get the picture.
Rush hour here can be mayhem!
On arrival at Tokyo Station you will on basement level 5 (You arrive at Sobu Line platform 1 or 2). You need to get to the Hokuriku Shinkansen Bullet Train Platforms 20-23.
You need to go up several sets of elevators and follow the signs (the green ones as pictured on right) to the Shinkansen Bullet train platforms.
The Shinkansen have an extra set of ticket gates. You need to put your tickets into the machine before you can pass through (always remember to collect your tickets as they pop out part way through the gate).
Once through the gates you'll see a lot of digital signs that flick between English and Japanese. They will show the Train Name, Departure Time and Platform Number. Locate your platform and take the escalator up.
Hokuriku Shinkansen via Nagano
Train Classes
There are several classes on the Hokuriku Shinkansen.
- Standard Class (reserved and non reserved*) – 5 seats across the row in a 3-2 configuration (Cars 1-10)
- Green Class (superior class) – 4 seats across the row in a 2-2 configuration (Car 11) – Green Class costs about 20% more than standard class
- Gran Class (first class) – 3 seats across the row in a 1-2 configuration (Car 12). Complementary food and beverage service (Kagayaki and Hakutaka trains only) – Gran Class costs about double of standard class
- reserved seat means you have an assigned seat / non-reserved means you can sit in any seat in a “non-reserved” carriage (first come first seated basis)
Train Types
There are 3 types of train that run on the Hokuriku Shinkansen Line. While the train body is the same, the speed and number of stops vary. All trains will have either Kanazawa or Nagano as the destination, but all trains do make a stop in Nagano.
In all cases there are 12 carriages on the train with 12 being the front of the train heading towards Nagano.
- "Kagayaki" – This is the fastest type of train. After departing Tokyo it only stops at Ueno, and Omiya before arriving at Nagano. All seats on this train are reserved (seat assigned). The destination for the Kagayaki trains is Kanazawa. From Tokyo Station to Nagano this train takes about 90 minutes.
- "Hakutaka" – This train also heads to Kanazawa, but it stops at more stations along the way and is about 15 minutes slower than the Kagayaki Train. There are reserved and non-reserved seats on this train.
- Asama – This train only travels as far as Nagano, but it stops at most stations along the way.
- Nagano Snow Shuttle The Nagano Snow Shuttle operates from East Exit of the station. Departure times for 2023-24 season are 8:30, 11:30 and 15:45, running daily from 21 Dec 2023 to 10 Mar 2024. This can be booked in advance and your seat is guaranteed.Bookings can be made online
- Alpico Bus Alpico Kotsu operate from the East Exit (Bus Stop 26) of Nagano Station. Reservations cannot be made for this service. It is a first come service.