Instructions for getting to Hakuba from Tokyo airports by train and bus

This guide is designed to assist you get from Haneda or Narita International airports to theHakuba Valley. Prices, directions and locations are subject to change, so please checkthoroughly before travelling. The trip is from Tokyo Station to Nagano Station by Bullet
train, then from Nagano Station to Hakuba by bus.
Please note that unless travelling early in the day, you will likely get a bus terminating atHakuba’s Happo Information Centre. Upon arrival, ask the staff behind the counter to call
us and we will come and pick you up. (+81 80 3414-0032). It does take us 20 minutes toget to you, so it is preferable to contact us beforehand with your ETA if you can and we’ll
be there to meet you. Also note that buses departing Nagano Station finish around 20:00,
so you’ll need to plan to arrive in time unless you want to spend the night in Nagano
City :) Check the train and bus timetables links below.

From Narita Airport:
At Narita Airport Terminal 1 or 2 (terminal 3 - catch a shuttle to terminal 2), from thearrivals hall, look for and follow the train signs to the station entrance. Buy a ticket fromthe cashier at the entrance for the Narita Express (NEX) to Tokyo Station. The cashierusually speaks English or they will find someone who does. Make sure the cashierunderstands you want to get off at Tokyo Station! Look at your ticket - it will show carriage
number; seat number; departure and arrival times.
Head to the platform.Your carriage will align with the numbers painted on the platform
floor. (There is only one set of platforms at Narita Airport Station). Get off the NEX atTokyo Station. Stations are announced over the PA before arrival and there is an info board
in each carriage in English. The trip takes about 1hr:10min.

Cost: approximately ¥3017 JPY per adult.
If you show your passport the cost is 1500 yen (unless that promotion has finished by thetime you read this).
You are now on the bottom floor of Tokyo station and need to go up two floors via theescalators.You need to find the Bullet Train (Shinkansen). There will be green signs and agreen line to follow. Once you’ve arrived in the Shinkansen area, jump to the instructions
Boarding The Shinkansen (Bullet Train) below.

From Haneda Airport:
Upon entry into the arrivals lounge, look for for and follow the signs to Tokyo Monorail.
Purchase a ticket (approx ¥630) from the counter or vending machine to Tokyo Station(the staff usually speak English and the machines have an button for an English Language
option). Take the monorail heading for Hamamatsucho (takes approx 20 mins). Alight atHamamatsucho and follow the green signs in English for the Yamanote Line. The trains arevery regular, every two or three minutes and you need to get one heading for Tokyo station(will be clearly marked on station platform). Travel time is approx 6 mins. Upon arrival atTokyo Station, you need to find the Bullet Train (Shinkansen). There will be green signs witha icon of a bullet train to follow.

Boarding The Shinkansen (Bullet Train):
The line to Nagano is called the Hokuriku Line and the trains themselves are called theHakutaka, Kagayaki and Asama!
Timetable in English - http://www.eki-net.com/pc/jreast-shinkansen-reservation/english/wb/
common/timetable/e_hokuriku_d/index.html
Purchase you ticket to Nagano Station from the Shinkansen counter. The Nagano-boundShinkansen’s usually depart from platforms 20 ~ 23.Your platform number will be displayedfor your train number on the large LED boards. Again, look at your ticket it will show thetrain name and number, the carriage number, seat number, departure time and arrival time.
Your carriage will align with the numbers on your platform. The LED info boards on theplatform will scroll from Japanese to English every 20 seconds or so. The Shinkansen’s runs
every half hour and will take between 1hr:20min to 1hr:49min to Nagano Station
depending on the service you take. It is very comfortable and very fast.
Cost approximately: ¥7,680 ~ ¥8,000 JPY per adult.

Nagano Station to Hakuba by Alpico Bus:
Alight at Nagano Station. Now leave the platform via the escalators or elevators to theupper floor and exit the main gates, turn left and head for the East Exit. Walk to the end
and go down the stairs or escalators. At the base of the stairs on the ground floor there isa gift shop where you can buy your bus ticket. Some buses terminate at the HappoInformation Centre, some a little further on at Tsugaike, and some even further on atNorikura. Ideally, we would have been in touch with each other by now about how you
were travelling and where we could meet you. However, plans change; mobiles sometime
don’t work abroad - if in any doubt, get a ticket to the Happo Information Centre.
Now walk to the far left bus stop (Bus stop 6) and you will see a sign for Hakuba with atimetable on it. Board the bus when it arrives (your large luggage will be put in storage
underneath the bus), the trip will take about 70 ~ 80 minutes. When you arrive at HappoBus terminal (Happo Info Centre) ask the staff behind the counter to call us and we will
come and pick you up. (+81 80 3414-0032). Alternatively, if we already have plans to pick
you up at Tsugaike or Norikura we will be there.
Bus cost from Nagano Station to the Happo Information Centre is ¥1,800 JPY per adultand ¥2,000 per adult to Tsugaike and Norikura. A book of four tickets can be purchased ata slight discount.
http://www.alpico.co.jp/access/express/nagano_hakuba/

Postscript: Trains in Japan run exactly on time – if your ticket says you train will depart at
11.04 - be assured…it will.