Getting Around Nagano
Nagano Prefecture is the fourth largest prefecture in Japan, extending north and south.
Various means of transportation including trains, buses, and the highway system are available. However, the Japanese Alps prevent easy access to certain locations. If you rent a car, you can freely drive throughout Nagano Prefecture, even on the Venus Line with its panoramic view.
Trains
A number of railroad lines run in Nagano Prefecture: the main lines being the Hokuriku Shinkansen; private lines such as Nagano Dentetsu Line, Kita-Shinano Line, and Shinano Railway Line; and JR lines including the Shinonoi Line, Chuo Line, and Iida Line.
The Hokuriku Shinkansen serves not only as the main route from Tokyo or Kanazawa to Nagano Prefecture but also as a convenient means of transportation within the prefecture, especially if you have a JR pass. Shinkansen trains stop at Karuizawa, Sakudaira, Ueda, Nagano, and Iiyama Station. Because various lines are operated by different companies, there is no single pass that covers all lines. See here for reasonable travel passes and the routes covered.
Buses
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Buses are a favorite means of transportation in urban districts, as well as to and from ski resorts and tourist attractions in mountainous areas. Most popular are the routes between Nagano and Hakuba, between Nagano and Jigokudani Wild Snow Monkey Park, and between Shin-Shimashima Station in Matsumoto and Kamikochi/Norikura Kogen/Shirahone Onsen. In winter, some buses connect separate ski resorts.
Reservations are not required for most buses, but purchase your ticket before boarding the bus.
Cars / Taxis
Taxis can be found outside of major stations around Nagano Prefecture and are convenient for transportation from stations to accommodations, or to a mountain trailhead. Reservations may be made in advance, but only in Japanese.
If you rent a car, you can freely drive throughout Nagano Prefecture. However, in winter, a four-wheel-drive car with snow tires is a must due to ice- and snow-covered roads.
Bicycles
Rent a bike and ride through mossy forests in Karuizawa, cycle by rice paddies and wasabi farms in Azumino City, or take a long tour along the Chikuma River. If you are a cycling enthusiast, go riding on the Venus Line or through Norikura Kogen, where magnificent views of mountains extend before your eyes.
Common Travel Routes
Choose your Destination
Nagano—Matsumoto
From Nagano Station, take the limited express Shinano to Matsumoto (50 min). Or, from Nagano Station, take a highway bus to Matsumoto Bus Terminal (weekdays only, 90 min).
Nagano—Hakuba
From Nagano Station, take an express bus to Hakuba (70 min).
Nagano—Nozawa Onsen
From Nagano Station, take the Hokuriku Shinkansen train to Iiyama Station (11 min). At Iiyama Station, transfer to the Nozawa Onsen bus to Nozawa Onsen (30 min).
From mid-December to late March, express busses run from Nagano Station to Nozawa Onsen (80 min).
Nagano—Shibu Yudanaka Onsen/Jigokudani Wild Snow Monkey Park/Shiga Kogen
From Nagano Station, take a Nagano Dentetsu Line train to Yudanaka Station (limited express: 45 min, local train: 70 min). From Yudanaka Station, take a Nagaden bus to Shibu Onsen (5 min), Jigokudani Wild Snow Monkey Park (10 min), or Shiga Kogen (35-80 min varying by bus stop). Or, from Nagano Station, take a Shiga Kogen Line express bus to Jigokudani Wild Snow Monkey Park (45 min) or Shiga Kogen (75-110 min).
Matsumoto—Kamikochi/Norikura Kogen/Shirahone Onsen
From Matsumoto Station, take the Kamikochi Line train to Shin-Shimashima Station (30 min). For Kamikochi, transfer to a bus to Kamikochi (70 min). For Norikura Kogen or Shirahone Onsen, transfer to a bus to Norikura Kogen Tourist Center (50 min) or Shirahone Onsen (85 min). *Only a few buses a day stop at Shirahone Onsen.
Matsumoto—The Kiso Valley
From Matsumoto Station, take the JR Chuo Line train to your destination. The train stops at Narai (45-70 min), Kiso Fukushima (75-90 min), Nagiso (120 min) and other stations. The limited express Shinano only stops at Kiso Fukushima Station, so if you want to go to Nagiso, take it to Kiso Fukushima Station (40 min) and then transfer to a local train to Nagiso (40 min).
Matsumoto—Ueda/Karuizawa
From Matsumoto Station, take the limited express Shinano to Nagano Station (50 min) and then transfer to the Hokuriku Shinkansen train bound for Tokyo to Ueda Station (11 min) or Karuizawa Station (30 min).
Matsumoto—Ina/Komagane/Iida
From Matsumoto Station, take the JR Chuo Line train to Okaya Station (30 min) and then transfer to the JR Iida Line train to Inashi Station (55 min), Komagane Station (80 min), or Iida Station (155 min).
Matsumoto—Suwa
From Matsumoto Station, take the JR Chuo Line train to Okaya Station (30 min), Shimosuwa Station (32 min), Suwa Station (40 min), or Chino Station (45 min).
Karuizawa—Nagano
From Karuizawa Station, take the Hokuriku Shinkansen train to Nagano Station (30 min). Or, take the Shinano Railway train to Nagano (80-90 min).
Karuizawa—Matsumoto
From Karuizawa Station, take the Hokuriku Shinkansen train to Nagano Station (30 min) and then transfer to the limited express Shinano bound for Nagoya to Matsumoto Station (50 min). Or, from Karuizawa Station, take the Shinano Railway train to Shinonoi Station (65 min) and transfer to the limited express Shinano to Matsumoto Station (40 min).
Ina/Komagane/Iida—Matsumoto
From Iida/Komagane/Inashi Station, take the JR Iida Line train to Okaya Station (55-155 min) and then transfer to the JR Chuo Line train to Matsumoto Station (30 min).
Ina/Komagane/Iida—Suwa
From Iida/Komagane/Inashi Station, take the JR Iida Line train to Okaya Station (55-155 min) and then transfer to the JR Chuo Line train to Shimosuwa Station (4 min), Suwa Station (10 min), or Chino Station (20 min).
Ina/Komagane/Iida—Kiso Valley
From Iida/Komagane/Inashi Station, take a JR Iida Line train to Okaya Station (55-155 min) and then transfer to the JR Chuo Line train bound for Matsumoto to Shiojiri Station (11 min). At Shiojiri Station, transfer to the JR Chuo Line train bound for Nakatsugawa to Narai Station (25-35 min), Kiso-Fukushima Station (50-65 min), or Nagiso Station (95 min).