Japan Rail Pass NowAustralia's No.1 Choice
1300 635 500Mon-Fri, AEST
Buy Now
Japan Rail Pass NowAustralia's No.1 Choice
The Tokyo to Nagano Shinkansen is the quickest way into the Japanese Alps. The Hokuriku line reaches Nagano in as little as 1 hour 20 minutes on the Kagayaki, and from there the snow monkeys at Jigokudani, the ski fields at Hakuba and Nozawa, and the great temple of Zenkoji are all within reach. It is a day trip from Tokyo if you are determined, and a far better overnight.
Check live fares & book →The Kagayaki is the fastest train from Tokyo to Nagano, taking 1h 20m. Direct, no transfers. A reserved seat in Ordinary Car costs from AUD 78 one way. All Hokuriku Shinkansen trains covered; no Nozomi style supplement.
The Asama takes 1h 45m (terminates at Nagano, most frequent, has non reserved cars). Two to three an hour through the day.
One-way fares by seat class. Return simply doubles the fare.
| Seat class | Price (AUD) | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Non-reserved, Ordinary Car | from AUD 73 | Cheapest, on the Asama and Hakutaka only |
| Reserved, Ordinary Car | from AUD 78 | Required on the Kagayaki, worth having in ski season |
| Reserved, Green Car | from AUD 106 | Business class 2 by 2 seating, more room |
Fares are indicative from prices and vary by date, train and season. The live fare is shown when you search. As a guide, an Ordinary reserved seat is around AUD 78 one way, and the whole route is included in a Japan Rail Pass with no supplement.
All three run the Tokyo–Nagano route direct — they differ in how many stations they skip.
| Train | Journey time | Stops | Japan Rail Pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kagayaki | 1h 20m | Fastest, all seats reserved, continues to Kanazawa | Covered by JR Pass |
| Hakutaka | 1h 40m | More stops, has non reserved cars, continues to Kanazawa | Covered by JR Pass |
| Asama | 1h 45m | Terminates at Nagano, most frequent, has non reserved cars | Covered by JR Pass |
A sample of daily Tokyo → Nagano departures.
| Depart Tokyo | Arrive Nagano | Train | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 06:16 | 07:38 | Kagayaki | 1h 22m |
| 07:52 | 09:30 | Asama | 1h 38m |
| 08:24 | 09:45 | Kagayaki | 1h 21m |
| 10:52 | 12:13 | Kagayaki | 1h 21m |
| 14:04 | 15:26 | Kagayaki | 1h 22m |
| 18:00 | 19:22 | Kagayaki | 1h 22m |
Indicative departures. Asama services run roughly every half hour through the day, with Kagayaki and Hakutaka in between. Search your date for live times.
The Kagayaki is all reserved. The Asama terminates at Nagano, runs most often and has non reserved cars you can walk onto. It is only about twenty minutes slower.
The line climbs through the mountains after Takasaki and the better views are on the left hand side of the train going towards Nagano.
From Nagano Station it is an express bus or the Nagano Electric Railway to the monkey park, about an hour, and neither is covered by a rail pass. Allow a full day from Tokyo, or stay the night at Yudanaka.
Every Hokuriku Shinkansen stops at Ueno a few minutes after leaving Tokyo. If you are staying in the north or east of the city it is the easier station, though the platforms are a long way down.
Planning more of Japan by rail?
Reserve your seat, pay in AUD, and board with a QR code.
Check live fares & book →