2024-02-18

Public Transit Access to Ski Resorts in Japan (Last updated 2024/04/14)

I recently went skiing at a number of places in Japan in Honshu and I just wanted to write down some thoughts I had about the ease of public transit and the fastest route to each place. The assumption is that you're starting from Tokyo station. Minor update (2024/04/14): Added Gala Yuzawa.

Hakuba Happo

• Shinkansen: Tokyo → Nagano
  • 1h20m - 1h50m. 8340 jpy
• Bus: Nagano → Hakuba
  • ~1h10m. 2800 jpy
  • Buy tickets at automated vending machine in JR's みどりの窓口 inside Nagano station. Return trip can buy tickets at the Happo Bus Terminal.
  • Lots of space for ski stuff
• Shuttle Bus: Happo Bus Terminal to Lifts
  • ~10min. FREE!
  • Bus is not that regular. Can be very crowded and hard to place stuff.
  • Alternative is to walk ~1km (~15 min). Mostly flat, minor elevation change
• Total cost: 11140 jpy one way
• Earliest arrival time: ~9:30
  • 6:16 departure from Tokyo on Kagayaki 501. Arrive at Nagano at 7:36
  • Take 7:55 bus from Nagano and arrive at Happo at 9:10
  • 15 minute walk, if lucky can take one of the extra shuttle buses [next regularly scheduled bus is 9:30]
• Alternative Route (Bus from Shinjuku. Have not tested)
  • ~7.5 hours. 6400-7800 jpy one way depending on the day of week/date
  • 23:05 departure from Shinjuku, 6:32 arrival at Happo Bus Terminal. First lift at 8:00
  • 7:35 depature from Shinjuku, 12:48 arrival at Happo Bus Terminal
  • Pros: Quite a bit cheaper. Can arrive before first lift
  • Cons: 7.5 hour bus ride at night means probably will be poorly rested. Arrive too early compared to lift start time.

Madarao

• Shinkansen: Tokyo → Iiyama
  • 1h40m - 1h50m. 8780 jpy
• Bus: Iiyama → Madarao
  • ~30m. 700 jpy
  • Buy tickets at automated vending machine inside Iiyama station. Return trip is cash only
  • Lots of space for ski stuff
  • Bus stop is adjacent to lift!
• Total cost: 9480 jpy one way
• Earliest arrival time: ~9:20
  • 6:28 departure from Tokyo on Hakutaka 551. Arrive at Iiyama at 8:16
  • Take 8:50 bus from Iiyama and arrive at Madarao at 9:20

Tazawako

• Shinkansen: Tokyo → Tazawako
  • 2h50m. 16320 jpy
• Bus: Tazawako → Tazawako Ski Resort
  • ~30m. 560 jpy
  • Cash only
  • Limited space for Ski Equipment
  • Going from the Bus Stop to lift requires walking up a fairly steep hill. Took ~5-10 minutes for me and it was exhausting
• Total cost: 16880 jpy one way
• Earliest arrival time: ~10:15
  • 6:32 departure from Tokyo on Komachi 1. Arrive at Tazawako at 9:21
  • Take 9:40 bus from Tazawako and arrive at ski resort at 10:07

Geto

• Shinkansen: Tokyo → Kitakami
  • 2h30-3h. 13610 jpy
• Bus: Kitakami → Geto
  • ~50min. FREE! This means staying at a cheap location in Kitakami is really easy for a 2 day trip.
  • Lots of space for ski stuff
  • Bus stop is adjacent to lift!
• Total cost: 13610 jpy one way
• Earliest arrival time: ~10:00
  • 6:04 departure from Tokyo on Yamabiko 51. Arrive at Kitakami at 8:54
  • Take 9:10 bus from Kitakami and arrive at ski resort at 10:00

Togakushi

• Shinkansen: Tokyo → Nagano
  • 1h20m - 1h50m. 8340 jpy
• Bus: Nagano → Togakushi
  • ~1h20m. 1600 jpy
  • Buy tickets at automated vending machine near bus stop. Return trip is cash only
  • Limited space for Ski Equipment. The return trip in particular had the bus at max capacity as we arrived near Nagano station (this was a weekday). May not be an issue if sending equipment via delivery.
  • Bus stop is adjacent to lift!
• Total cost: 9940 jpy one way
• Earliest arrival time: ~9:50
  • 6:16 departure from Tokyo on Kagayaki 501. Arrive at Nagano at 7:36 (Can take a later train such as 6:28 Hakutaka 551 for a 8:03 arrival in Nagano as well)
  • Take 8:30 bus from Nagano and arrive at ski resort at 9:50

Gala Yuzawa

• Shinkansen: Tokyo → Gala Yuzawa (directly connects to the resort!)
  • 1h11min. 6690 jpy
• Total cost: 6690 jpy one way
• Earliest arrival time: 7:35
  • 6:24 departure from Tokyo on Tanigawa 71
  • Arrive at ski resort at 7:35 (first lift is 8:00)
• Minor notes:
  • Gala Yuzawa is close and convenient enough on the Shinkansen that you can easily make it a day trip. As a foreigner, if you want to go multiple days while returning to Tokyo at night, the Tokyo Wide Pass (15000 jpy) is a very good deal as it's only barely more than 2 one-way tickets (13380 jpy). You can also get a discounted lift ticket this way too.

Thoughts

Just some thoughts about ease of access overall. I felt getting to Geto was extremely convenient and I saved a lot by being able to stay in Kitakami instead of near the ski resort (5k-8k JPY a night instead of 10k-15k). This might make up the difference in cost in Shinkansen transit fare. Madarao's bus fare was also cheaper and more convenient so that might be a reasonable strategy there too, especially since Iiyama is relatively cheap too. Meanwhile, stuff near Nagano Station is not too much cheaper than stuff near the resorts especially if one considers the round trip bus cost. Lastly, Tazawako's uphill climb after the bus stop was truly awful.

Gala Yuzawa is by far the best place for a day trip by Shinkansen. JR East literally brings you right to the resort. No transfers needed. If you manage to snag a JR view travel deal, it can be an insane deal. For example, on weekdays, the price can be as low as 8700 jpy for round trip + lift ticket. On weekdays, the price is closer to 15000 jpy, which is still a good deal for round trip + lift ticket. The downside of this convenience is that it's also quite crowded from Tokyo area visitors.

I might update this in the future. Will likely update the dates too.

Any error corrections or comments can be made by sending me a pull request.

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