Getting from Central Tokyo to Nozawa Onsen
Getting from Central Tokyo to Nozawa Onsen
Tokyo is a massive city, with several large transport hubs. Unless you arrange a private transfer, you will probably be transiting through JR Tokyo Station.
Above is the simplest route from Tokyo to Nozawa Onsen. If you have something else in mind, then please contact us and we give you the best advice we can.
Many people prefer to use the world famous Shinkansen Bullet train as part of their transfer. This is indeed a great option, but the main issue is luggage. The bullet trains have very limited luggage space, especially for skis and snowboards. If you have a few days in Tokyo before your ski vacation, then we recommend sending all your ski gear to your ski resort accommodation, and traveling light while in Tokyo.
Tokyo Station is a massive station, the 3rd busiest in Japan (after Shinjuku and Ikebukuro). It averages over 450,000 passengers per day, and that’s just the JR lines.
There are entrances on the West Side (Marunouchi Entrance), and East Side (Yaesu Entrance).
Tokyo Station is well signposted and to get to the Shinkansen platform, you follow the signs (pictured right). The blue logo is for the Shinkansen west to Nagoya and Osaka, so follow the Green Logo which includes the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Nagano.
There is a double ticket gate system to use the Shinkansen Bullet trains. You first enter the main concourse, follow the green signs to the Shinkansen ticket gates, where you insert your tickets into the ticket gate again. Always remembering to collect your tickets as you pass through the gates.
The Hokuriku Shinkansen departs from platforms 20-23. The departures are displayed in Japanese and English. The platforms are on level 2, so you take the escalator up to the platform from the main concourse.
Once on the platform, the carriage numbers are displayed overhead. This is exactly where the car doors will open.
Note that when the train arrives at Tokyo station, it will be cleaned and serviced before passengers are allowed to board. Boarding generally only starts 3-4 minutes before departure.
Buying Tickets
Tickets can be purchased at any JR Station in Tokyo. You can purchase from a ticket vending machine, or from a counter at a ticket office.
Larger stations may also have a travel service center for foreign visitors, where multi lingual staff are available.
Payment can be made in cash or by credit card, but there have been issues where foreign issued credit cards do get rejected, so it pays to bring a couple.
If purchasing from a counter, then tell the attendant your origin and destination (train station, not ski resort). The attendant will show you the next available train times.
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
The only trains that stop at Iiyama Station are called “Hakutaka”. You cannot take the “Kagayaki” or the “Asama” trains to Iiyama.
You also need to check carefully if your train does make a stop at Iiyama, some Hakutaka trains do not.
Iiyama is the stop after Nagano.
The trip from Tokyo to Iiyama takes just under 2 hours.
Nozawa Liner Bus
From JR Iiyama Station the easiest option to get to Nozawa Onsen is the Nozawa Liner Bus.
The Nozawa Liner bus is operated by Nozawa Onsen Kotsu Ltd. The buses leave frequently from Iiyama Station (about 10 times per day) and take about 30 minutes to get to Nozawa Onsen.
Buses can get quite crowded during peak season so give yourself plenty of time to get to the bus stop and be among the first to board and guarantee yourself a seat.
Bus is first come, first seated and there are no reserved seats.
Buying Tickets
There is a vending machine close to the bus stop. As you exit the train station and head to bus stop 4, the vending machine is on the left. It only takes cash. If you don’t have cash then head to the Seven-Eleven close to the station (exit the station on the Chikumagawa Exit and turn right. Follow the train line south for 1 block and you see the seven-eleven). The Seven Eleven has an international ATM.
Boarding the Bus
The buses leave from bus stop #4.
Arrival in Nozawa Onsen
The Nozawa Onsen liner makes 4 stops in Nozawa Onsen. In order the stops are Maezaka, Nakao, Shinden and Nozawa Onsen Chuo Terminal (the central bus terminal). If you plan to walk to your accommodation then find out from your hosts which bus stop is closest.
If your accommodation does a pick up service, then call them when you leave Iiyama Station to let them know you are on your way.
Tokyo is a massive city, with several large transport hubs. Unless you arrange a private transfer, you will probably be transiting through JR Tokyo Station.
Above is the simplest route from Tokyo to Nozawa Onsen. If you have something else in mind, then please contact us and we give you the best advice we can.
Many people prefer to use the world famous Shinkansen Bullet train as part of their transfer. This is indeed a great option, but the main issue is luggage. The bullet trains have very limited luggage space, especially for skis and snowboards. If you have a few days in Tokyo before your ski vacation, then we recommend sending all your ski gear to your ski resort accommodation, and traveling light while in Tokyo.
Tokyo Station is a massive station, the 3rd busiest in Japan (after Shinjuku and Ikebukuro). It averages over 450,000 passengers per day, and that’s just the JR lines.
There are entrances on the West Side (Marunouchi Entrance), and East Side (Yaesu Entrance).
Tokyo Station is well signposted and to get to the Shinkansen platform, you follow the signs (pictured right). The blue logo is for the Shinkansen west to Nagoya and Osaka, so follow the Green Logo which includes the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Nagano.
There is a double ticket gate system to use the Shinkansen Bullet trains. You first enter the main concourse, follow the green signs to the Shinkansen ticket gates, where you insert your tickets into the ticket gate again. Always remembering to collect your tickets as you pass through the gates.
The Hokuriku Shinkansen departs from platforms 20-23. The departures are displayed in Japanese and English. The platforms are on level 2, so you take the escalator up to the platform from the main concourse.
Once on the platform, the carriage numbers are displayed overhead. This is exactly where the car doors will open.
Note that when the train arrives at Tokyo station, it will be cleaned and serviced before passengers are allowed to board. Boarding generally only starts 3-4 minutes before departure.
Buying Tickets
Tickets can be purchased at any JR Station in Tokyo. You can purchase from a ticket vending machine, or from a counter at a ticket office.
Larger stations may also have a travel service center for foreign visitors, where multi lingual staff are available.
Payment can be made in cash or by credit card, but there have been issues where foreign issued credit cards do get rejected, so it pays to bring a couple.
If purchasing from a counter, then tell the attendant your origin and destination (train station, not ski resort). The attendant will show you the next available train times.
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
The only trains that stop at Iiyama Station are called “Hakutaka”. You cannot take the “Kagayaki” or the “Asama” trains to Iiyama.
You also need to check carefully if your train does make a stop at Iiyama, some Hakutaka trains do not.
Iiyama is the stop after Nagano.
The trip from Tokyo to Iiyama takes just under 2 hours.
Nozawa Liner Bus
From JR Iiyama Station the easiest option to get to Nozawa Onsen is the Nozawa Liner Bus.
The Nozawa Liner bus is operated by Nozawa Onsen Kotsu Ltd. The buses leave frequently from Iiyama Station (about 10 times per day) and take about 30 minutes to get to Nozawa Onsen.
Buses can get quite crowded during peak season so give yourself plenty of time to get to the bus stop and be among the first to board and guarantee yourself a seat.
Bus is first come, first seated and there are no reserved seats.
Buying Tickets
There is a vending machine close to the bus stop. As you exit the train station and head to bus stop 4, the vending machine is on the left. It only takes cash. If you don’t have cash then head to the Seven-Eleven close to the station (exit the station on the Chikumagawa Exit and turn right. Follow the train line south for 1 block and you see the seven-eleven). The Seven Eleven has an international ATM.
Boarding the Bus
The buses leave from bus stop #4.
Arrival in Nozawa Onsen
The Nozawa Onsen liner makes 4 stops in Nozawa Onsen. In order the stops are Maezaka, Nakao, Shinden and Nozawa Onsen Chuo Terminal (the central bus terminal). If you plan to walk to your accommodation then find out from your hosts which bus stop is closest.
If your accommodation does a pick up service, then call them when you leave Iiyama Station to let them know you are on your way.