Getting from Osaka and Kyoto to Shiga Kogen

Shin Osaka is the Shinkansen Bullet train that serves the Osaka area. It is located to the north of Osaka central, and can be access using the JR Lines or the Midosuji Subway Line.

If transferring from JR, you will arrive on the ground level on platforms 1-10. Take the the elevator up to the main concourse.

Buying a Ticket

You can purchase a ticket through a vending machine (multi language available), but as this route requires 2 changes and 3 trains, you are probably better off going to the Jr ticket counter.

At the counter tell the staff member you wish to travel to Nagano. They will tap away on their computer finding the next available route, and may even consult the 500 page monthly JR timetable. They may ask you if you’d like a reserved seat or a non-reserved seat. Reserved seats assign you a seat number, while Non Reserved seats are on a first come basis. ALWAYS book a reserved seat to guarantee you have somewhere to sit.

Once they have worked it out they will show you the route, and take payment. Credit Card payment is fine, but there have been cases where foreign credit cards get rejected in Japan, so it pays to bring a couple.

You will probably be issued with 3 tickets.

1. Your base fare from Shin Osaka Station to Nagano
2. Your Shinkansen Bullet Train Seat ticket from Shin Osaka to Nagoya
3. Your Limited Express Seat ticket from Nagoya to Nagano

Boarding the Train

From the main concourse, you head through the Shinkansen ticket gates. You need to insert both the base fare ticket and the Shinkansen seat ticket into the machine (insert together). And remember to collect as you pass through the gate.

Beyond the ticket gates are digital screens listing the next 4-5 departures in each direction. As you are heading to Nagoya, you need to look at trains heading east to Tokyo. Locate your train number and verify the platform number.

Kyoto Station is one of the more modern stations in Japan. It can be accessed by JR Lines or the Karasuma Subway Line. The are 14 regular platforms, and 4 Shinkansen Bullet train platforms.

Most people will be coming from the North side of the station and coming into the Central Entrance. The Shinkansen platforms are on the far side of the station (Hachi-jo Entrance).

Buying a Ticket

Kyoto to Hakuba Valley is quite a complicated route, and while tickets can be purchased via a vending machine, it may be easier to go to the JR Ticket Counter.

At the counter tell the staff member you wish to travel to Nagano. They will tap away on their computer finding the next available route, and may even consult the 500 page monthly JR timetable. They may ask you if you’d like a reserved seat or a non-reserved seat. Reserved seats assign you a seat number, while Non Reserved seats are on a first come basis. ALWAYS book a reserved seat to guarantee you have somewhere to sit.

Once they have worked it out they will show you the route, and take payment. Credit Card payment is fine, but there have been cases where foreign credit cards get rejected in Japan, so it pays to bring a couple.

You will probably be issued with 3 tickets.

1. Your base fare from Kyoto Station to Nagano
2. Your Shinkansen Bullet Train Seat ticket from Kyoto to Nagoya
3. Your Limited Express Seat ticket from Nagoya to Nagano

Boarding the Train

Once through the first ticket gate head to platform 11-14 (Shinkansen Platforms). There is an underground passage and a passage on the 2nd floor. Once at the Shinkansen ticket gate insert your tickets and collect as you pass through.

Bullet trains heading East (towards Tokyo and Nagoya) leave from platforms 11 & 12.

Trains generally have 16 carriages. #16 is the front of the train, #1 is the rear. 8-10 are green class.

Shinano Wide View Express

The train from Nagoya to Nagano (via Matsumoto) is called “Shinano Wide View Limited Express”. Limited Express are the 2nd fastest type of train in Japan after the Shinkansen Bullet train. They only stop at larger stations, and by-pass the commuter ones. The train from Nagoya to Nagano will only stop at about 10 stations along the way and take about 3 hours.

There are 6 carriages on the train. #1 is the front of the train heading towards Matsumoto, while 6 is the rear of the train.

Car 1 is Green Class (first class) and a surcharge is required in addition to the limited express fare.
Cars 2-4 are reserved sets. These are for people with seat assignments on their tickets.
Cars 5-6 are non-reserved, meaning these seats are on a first come basis.

There is no food or beverage service on this train so it pays to buy a few snacks at Nagoya Station before boarding.

Boarding the Train

Most of the Wide View Shinano Trains depart from platform #10, but you need to check the digital signs at the station entrance to confirm this as it can change on occasion.

The ticket sales and ticket gates are on the basement level. There are 3 pathways to the platforms (North, Central, and South). You walk along the tunnel like corridor and there are a number of staircases (and escalators on the North and Central pathways). These have the platform numbers on them. At the platform 10 sign, climb the stairs and you will be on the ground level on the platform.

There are small convenience stores on the platform where you can buy snacks and drinks.

The train will arrive 5-10 minutes before departure.

The trip from Nagoya to Nagano takes about 3 hours. After leaving Nagoya the train travels through the suburbs before following a number of river valleys. Between the many tunnels, there are some great valley views on both sides of the train.

For much of the way the train follows the old Nakasendo route. This is the ancient walkway from Osaka to Tokyo through the mountains. Many of the townships you pass through on the way are the old staging towns where weary travelers would stay over night in small Japanese style lodges.

After Matsumoto the train runs through a number of tunnels and up to the Hijiri plateau. The final part of the trip offers great views of Nagano and Chikuma cities from Obasute.

Arrival at Nagano

There is no dedicated platform for Wide View Shinano arrivals at Nagano Station. But most trains arrive at either platform 2, 3 or 5.

Transfer to Bus to Shiga Kogen

Buses to Shiga Kogen Depart from Bus Stop #23 at the East Exit of JR Nagano Station.

On exiting the ticket gate turn left.

In the far left corner there is an elevator. Take the elevator to the first floor.

On exiting the elevator, do a u-turn to the left and you will see the bus stop numbers in front of you. Walk to bus stop 23.

Buying tickets

You buy  tickets on the bus. Cash only. There is an international ATM across the road from the East Exit of JR Nagano Station in the Seven Eleven. Different locations in Shiga Kogen have different fares (from 1,800 – 2,100yen). Bus Stop map

The Trip

The bus route goes via the Snow Monkey park to Shiga Kogen. Most buses take the route to Oku Shiga Kogen, however a few buses turn right at Hasuike and go up to Kumanoyu and Hotaru Onsen.

All buses go as far as Yama-no-Ie.

From Nagano Station to Sun Valley takes about 1 hour 15 minutes, but from there it can take nearly an hour to get across to Oku Shiga Kogen.

Note that the bus stops at bus stops, not hotels, so check with your accommodation which is the closest bus stop. Passengers staying in Hoppo Onsen area will need to let they accommodation know when they are arriving so they can come and pick you up.