Shinkansen (bullet train)
It is the fastest way, but you will have to change transport a few times.
Route: Airport -> Ueno/Tokyo Station -> Nagano Station -> Hakuba
Total travel time: around 3.5 – 4 hours
Price: around 11,000 – 12,000 yen per adult
Available: whole year round
▶ Getting to Tokyo from Narita airport:
- To Ueno station. Keisei Skyliner: 2,520 yen (discounts available if bought online), departing every 20 minutes, travel time – 40 minutes. https://www.keisei.co.jp/keisei/tetudou/skyliner/us/skyliner/index.php
Please note that you will have to go outside from Keisei Ueno station and walk to JR Ueno Station to transfer to shinkansen. Map: https://goo.gl/maps/rmtqg7mwoohaP9mZ6
- To Shinjuku Bus Terminal. Limousine Bus: 3,200 yen, departing every 15-20 min, travel time – 130 min
https://www.limousinebus.co.jp/en/
- To Tokyo and Ginza Station. Airport Bus: 1000-2000 yen, departing every 10-30 min, travel time – 65 min (Tokyo station), 78 min (Ginza)
https://tyo-nrt.com/timetable (Japanese)
The above are just the easiest and most convenient ways of getting to central Tokyo, but you can find more here: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2027.html
▶ Getting to central Tokyo from Haneda Airport:
- To Tokyo Station. Limousine Bus: 950 yen, departing every 30-60 min, travel time – 40-55 min
- To Shinjuku Station. Limousine Bus: 1250 yen, departing every 15-30 min, travel time – 45 – 80 min.
There are no direct train connections, but if you do not mind changing trains you can use either Tokyo Monorail or Keikyu Airport Line – it will only take you only 30 minutes and 470-660 yen. More information here: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2430.html?aFROM=2430_3037
You don’t have to buy shinkansen tickets in advance, as most of the trains have both reserved and non-reserved tickets and they depart every 20-30 minutes. However during busy times (New Year period, for example) it might be difficult to buy reserved seat tickets just before departure and if you buy non-reserved ones you might end up standing.
Line: Hokuriku Shinkansen, Bound for: Nagano/Kanazawa
Trains: Hakutaka (reserved/non-reserved), Asama (reserved/non-reserved), Kagayaki (reserved only).
Price: 7,680 (non-reserved), 8,400 yen (reserved)
Travel time: 80-100 min
Timetable and seat reservation: https://www.jreast.co.jp/e/routemaps/hokurikushinkansen.html#category04
▶ Getting to Hakuba from Nagano Station.
Once at Nagano Station, head to Higashi-guchi (East Exit) and outside take an elevator or stairs to your left to get to the bus stops. You will need bus stop 6. Tickets can either be bought from the driver or from the souvenir shop nearby (you will find directions at the bus stop). These buses cannot be reserved, but during busy hours the bus company has 2-3 buses running to accommodate all passengers.
Price: 2,000 yen
Travel Time: 75 min
Timetable: https://www.alpico.co.jp/en/timetable/hakuba/r-nagano-hakuba/
If you prefer to reserve your seats in advance, book the bus running from Metropolitan Hotel right nearby. They also offer more bus stops in Hakuba.
Price: 2,300 yen
Timetable: https://naganosnowshuttle.com/Nagano.aspx
Direct airport express bus
The buses operate by Nagano Snow Shuttle and run both from Narita and from Haneda airport.
The bus will drop you off at Hakuba Base Camp, from where most of the accommodations will provide a complimentary pick-up for you. After 8 pm the company will provide a complimentary drop-off at the accommodation. They offer an accommodation drop-off during the day as well at additional fee.
Route: Airport -> Hakuba
Travel time: 5-6 hours
Price: 9,900 -10,900 yen
Available: 18 Dec – 15 March
The buses would have to leave on time and as a rule will not wait for you if your plane is late. However you will be able to board the next bus if they have seats available.
Timetable: https://naganosnowshuttle.com/
Share jumbo taxi
Route: Airport -> Hakuba
Travel time: 5-6 hours
Price: 15,700 -17,200 yen
Available: all year round
Info: http://air.chuotaxi.co.jp/index.html?lang=en
The driver will meet you at the gate and the bus will wait for you even if your flight is late. However it should be pointed out that sometimes it might take hours to wait for other passengers and the bus might need to stop by other locations to drop off passengers, so it might take much more time than an express bus.
Express bus from Tokyo
If you are planning to head to Hakuba not directly from an airport but from Tokyo, we recommend taking a bus from Shinjuku, as it is the cheapest and easiest way. The bus will drop you off at Hakuba Station or Happo Bus Terminal from where your accommodation can pick you up.
Reservation recommended during weekends and peak season.
Route: Tokyo (Shinjuku) -> Hakuba
Travel time: 5 hours
Price: 5,200 yen
Available: all year round
Timetable: https://www.alpico.co.jp/en/timetable/hakuba/r-shinjuku-hakuba/
Trains from Tokyo (apart from shinkansen)
We recommend this option to JR Pass holders, as you won’t have to use buses to get to Hakuba. Azusa limited express trains arrive in Matsumoto which has a direct train connection to Hakuba, compared to shinkansen that arrive in Nagano. However this way will not save you time or money if you do not have the pass, so we recommend to use other options mentioned above.
Other than that, Matsumoto is a beautiful historical city so it is worth a visit in itself on your way to or from Hakuba.
Route: Tokyo (Shinjuku) -> Matsumoto -> Hakuba
Travel time: 3 h 40 min – 5 hours
Price: 8,000 yen
Available: all year round
Direct train going to Hakuba leaves only once or twice a day at 8:00 AM and 10:04 AM (not daily). In other cases you will need to take a train to Matsumoto and from there change to a local train to Hakuba. Trains bound for Matsumoto depart from Shinjuku station approximately every 30 minutes. Timetable: https://www.eki-net.com/pc/jreast-shinkansen-reservation/English/wb/common/timetable/e_lex_chuo_d/index.html
Local Matsumoto-Hakuba trains are not very frequent, so we recommend checking the timetable in advance. With most trains you will need to change at Shinano-Omachi station, but some of them go straight to Hakuba.
Train search: http://www.hyperdia.com/en/
