By Train
Two options:
- Take the “Shinkansen” (bullet train) to Nagano city from Tokyo or Ueno station. This takes an hour and a half to two hours and services leave every twenty minutes (the earliest train leaves Tokyo station at 6:24am and the last at 10:04pm).When you arrive at Nagano station, transfer to the “Alpico” bus (East exit from bus stop 6) to Hakuba (1400yen – 70 min). The buses run every hour from 8:20am to 8:30pm. If there are no more buses (after 8:30pm), we can pick you up in Nagano city for a fee of 10000yen/car load.
Check out the “Alpico” bus web sight for more information: http://www.alpico.co.jp/access/express/nagano_hakuba/index_e.html
- Take the “Super Azusa” limited express from Shinjuku to Hakuba (7870yen – 4 hours). There is only 1 direct to Hakuba “Super Azusas” a day leaving Shinjuku at 7:30am. There are however “Azusas” leaving for Matsumoto every hour all day until 6:00pm. From Matsumoto take the “Oito” local train to Hakuba. We can pick you up at Hakuba station free of charge.*Note, depending on departure times for the “Oito” line, you may have to change trains in Shinano-Omachi.
**to calculate exact train times and fares check out; http://www.jorudan.co.jp/english/norikae/e-norikeyin.html
***Note if you don’t have a rail pass there are discount ticket shops near many of the big stations. At Shinjuku station for example, go to the west exit. Go up the escalator so you are now at street level and walk outside and turn right. In about 20meters you’ll pass a big electrical goods stores selling phones and cameras called “Sakuraya”. Keep walking and very soon you’ll see a KFC on your right. Just after the KFC you’ll notice a few shops selling what look like to be movie tickets. They also sell discount train tickets to Hakuba and Nagano city!! These will save you from 2 – 3000yen one-way.
By Bus
Take the Keio bus bound for Hakuba from Shinjuku bus terminal. The terminal can be reached from the west exit of Shinjuku station: just follow the signs. Take the bus all the way to Hakuba Happo bus terminal (41/2 hours) and give us a ring! We’ll come and pick you up.
Bus prices are 4700yen (one way) 8500yen (return – you must book the return date when you buy your ticket but you can change it later)
Buses leave Shinjuku at 8:00, 9:00, 15:30, 17:00, 19:00, 22:30 (this last one is a night bus and arrives in Hakuba very early)
For more information check out the Keio bus web sight: http://www.alpico.co.jp/access/express/hakuba_shinjuku/index_e.html
or call them at: 03 5376 2222 (Shinjuku), 0261 72 3155 (Hakuba)
By Car
From southern/western Tokyo
Take the Chuo expressway as far as the Okaya Junction then turn off onto the Nagano expressway. Follow this as far as Toyoshina before exiting the expressway. Follow the signs to Hakuba which will lead you along the Olympic road followed by national road 148 from Omachi to Hakuba.
From Northern/eastern Tokyo
Take the Kan-Etsu expressway as far as the Fujioka Junction then turn off onto the Joshin-Etsu expressway. Follow this as far as Nagano before exiting the expressway. Follow the signs to Hakuba first along route 35, then turn left onto route 19. Follow this until you leave Nagano city and see a turn off on your right to Hakuba. Follow route 31/33 to Hakuba. All roads are sign posted to Hakuba after leaving the expressway so it’s easier than it sounds!
Once in Hakuba
You need to be on the Olympic road in Hakuba. If coming from Nagano-city, just keep driving on the same road. If coming from Toyoshina you need to turn off route 148 onto the Olympic road when you see the Happo ski resort sign on the left. Follow the Olympic road all the way along past a 7-11 until you reach happo-iriguchi traffic light which has a Lawson next to it. Keep going straight until you see the Olympic village sign on the left. Turn up the hill to the left and drive up the curving road until you reach a crossroads. Turn left and drive past the Tokyu hotel entrance on your right. Turn right into the next road after this. The road will bend sharp left soon after. Morino Lodge is straight ahead!
- Access Map for Hakuba
- From Matsumoto Airport
- From Nagoya
- From Narita Airport
- From Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo
- From Toyko
- Links and useful Phone numbers
- Taxis in Hakuba