Hakuba Access Guide - Public Transport - Tokyo and Narita Airport to Hakuba

• Quickest Option (Train - Bullet Train (Shinkansen) - Bus)
  Narita Airport - Tokyo Station - Nagano Station - Hakuba
  Cost: 11,780yen per person (Train fare: 10,280yen, Bus fare: 1,500yen)
• Cheapest Option (Bus - Bus)
  Narita Airport - Shinjuku Bus Terminal - Hakuba)
  Cost: 7,700yen (Airport Bus: 3,000yen, Highway Bus 4,700yen)

Quickest Option

1. Take the JR Narita Express from Narita Airport to Tokyo Station.
   On arrival at Narita Airport, go to the JR Station Green window and book a ticket all the way through to Nagano. Note that at the Narita Express is reserved seating only, so you will need a seat assignment. Also note that there are only 1-2 train per hour, and the can be booked out ahead of time leaving you with a 1-2 hour wait at the airport before boarding the train.
   To get on the train you need to put your ticket into the ticket wicket, and walk through. Your ticket will pop up about half way through the wicket and you need to claim it as it is required for the rest of your trip. if you are unsure which tickets to use, place all of them in the machine at once and it will filter them for you. (DO NOT LOSE YOUR TICKET)
   Once on the train it takes 1 hour to get from Narita Airport to Tokyo Station. Arrival at Tokyo station is at the underground platforms, and it is a good 300-400m walk to get up to the bullet train platform above ground.
   
   Links:
   Tokyo Station Map
   Narita Express Timetable

2. Transfer to the Nagano Bullet Train Line to Nagano Station
   To get to the Bullet train line, you need to go through another ticket gate (once again, do not forget to collect your ticket), and then proceed up the escalator to the correct platform. Platform number are displayed in English. If you have a seat assigned you need to get to the correct car number. Trains heading from Tokyo to Nagano have car number 8 at the front and car number 1 at the back.
   If you do not have a seat assignment, then go to cars #1 -#4 as these are non reserved seats and go on a first come basis.
   The Bullet train from Tokyo to Nagano take between 90 minutes and 2 hours depending on the number of stops it makes along the way.
   There is a limited food and beverage service on board.
   
   Links:
   Nagano Station Map (Buses leave from the East Exit Side)
   Nagano Shinkansen (Bullet Train) Timetable

3. Transfer to the Hakuba Express Bus to Hakuba
   On arrival at Nagano, you go up the steps or escalator. (If you want to use the escalator go to the front end of the train and you will find it.)
   There are two ticket gates, one is for passengers transferring to other lines, while the other is the main exit. Put all tickets into the exit wicket and walk through (your tickets are not returned).
   After exiting the ticket gate turn left and walk approximately 100m to a small escalator. Go down the escalator and swing around to your left, and walk down the stairs. The Hakuba bus stop is right at very end. If you do not have a bus ticket, then call in at the souvenir shop next to the stairs and buy a ticket. You can also by a ticket on the bus, but you need small denominations as the buses do not accept 5,000 and 10,000yen notes.
   
   Links:
   Bus Timetable

Notes.
- Staff at the JR Station at Narita speak English very well, and are very helpful.
- Due to the transfer distances, luggage with wheels is strongly recommended.
- Trains do not have checked baggage services, so you need to carry luggage on board. Storage space is very limited especially for odd shaped luggage like skis and snowboards.
- Recommended transfer times for first timers:
  Narita Airport - 30 minutes
  Tokyo Station - 25 minutes
  Nagano Station - 15 minutes
- Note that there are currently no bus connections to Hakuba after 9PM.
- You can purchase the JR train ticket using a Credit card, but not the Bus ticket.
- As you can see from the below timetable, it is currently not possible to arrive in Hakuba if you leave Narita Airport after 1645. For those arriving on evening flights we recommend taking the Hakubus Shuttle

Time Tables (subject to change)

*1 This is the departure time from Narita Airport Terminal 1. It runs via Terminal 2 about 5 minutes later
*2 Arrival at Happo Bus Terminal. Timetable is the 2008-09 winter time table.

Cheapest Option

1. Take an Airport limousine bus from Narita Airport to Shinjuku
   There are frequent buses from Narita Airport to JR Shinjuku Station from 0650 to 2235. During peak hours there are 4-6 buses per hour. The buses run from Terminal 2 to Terminal 1, and then via the highway system to Shinjuku Station. In normal traffic the trip takes about 85 minutes, but this can vary greatly depending on traffic conditions. Buses arrive at bus stop #23 on the west Side of Shinjuku Station. From there you cross the road and go to the Chuo Expressway Bus Terminal.(See map)
   
   Links:
   Bus Timetable

2. Transfer to a Highway bus to Hakuba
   Highway buses are very comfortable and generally have a toilet on board. The trip from Shinjuku to Hakuba takes about 4 hrs 30 mins.
   
   Links:
   Bus Timetable

Notes:
- While buses from Narita Airport to Shinjuku are common, there are only 4-8 buses per day from Shinjuku to Hakuba.
- All seats on the Shinjuku - Hakuba bus are by reservation only. However if you are delayed you will lose your seat if you do not make the connection. In general, it is better to make a reservation on the spot at the Chuo Highway bus terminal, but you do risk the bus being booked out, and it often is in peak periods.