How to Get to Shiga Kogen: Train, Bus, Car and Passes

Shiga Kogen has no railway station of its own. You go to Nagano first and then climb the mountain by bus, which makes the route longer in steps than many people expect. The upside is that the Hokuriku Shinkansen links Tokyo and Nagano directly; the downside is that the final bus leg needs the most planning, because frequency and routes shift with the season. This article is about transport only; for sights see the Shiga Kogen destination guide.

The fastest route in breve

1. Take the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Nagano Station
2. Transfer to the Nagano Electric Railway for Yudanaka Station, which takes a little over an hour at most
3. Take the bus from Yudanaka up to Shiga Kogen, roughly 40 to 60 minutes depending on your stop

At certain times there is also a direct bus from the front of Nagano Station up to Shiga Kogen without changing at Yudanaka. That is easier with heavy luggage, but departures are few, so check the timetable in advance.

From Tokyo

From Tokyo or Ueno Station, the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Nagano takes about an hour and a half. With the local train and mountain bus, the whole trip is usually about half a day, a bit over five hours. A morning start gets you there in the afternoon with time to check in; leaving late in the afternoon risks missing the last bus in some seasons. In ski season some companies also run direct buses from Tokyo to Shiga Kogen; check with the operators whether they are on sale.

From Osaka and Kyoto

From Osaka and Kyoto there are two main approaches. One is the Tokaido Shinkansen to Tokyo and then the Hokuriku line to Nagano, which is convenient but long. The other is to go to Nagoya and take the Limited Express Shinano through the Kiso Valley to Nagano, a scenic route that takes longer. Either way, treat it as a full travel day and avoid scheduling anything important on the same day.

From the airports and nearby cities

From Haneda or Narita, go into Tokyo Station first and then take the shinkansen. Getting to Tokyo Station adds an hour or more, so if your flight lands in the late afternoon you may not catch the mountain bus that same day; stay one night in Tokyo first.

Train, bus or rental car

For Thai travellers unused to driving on snow, trains and buses are the safer choice in winter. From summer to early autumn a car is worthwhile for groups who want several stops. You need an international driving permit that is valid in Japan, and you should check conditions with the rental company.

Passes and tickets

The nationwide JR pass covers the shinkansen to Nagano but not the Nagano Electric Railway or the bus up to Shiga Kogen, which are run by separate private companies, so you buy that part separately. There are also regional JR East passes for the Nagano and Niigata area, but names, prices and conditions change, so check JR East before deciding. A pass tends to pay off only when you cover long distances across several cities; for a simple return between Tokyo and Nagano, single tickets may be cheaper.

Luggage and booking

• Some shinkansen services require booking space for oversized luggage; read the operator's conditions
• If you ski, you can often forward bags and gear to your lodging by parcel service; ask whether your accommodation accepts it
• Some lodgings run a shuttle from the bus stop; ask about times and booking in advance

Reserving shinkansen seats ahead is wise around festivals and long holidays. The mountain bus normally does not need a booking, but direct buses with limited seats may. Staying online throughout the trip makes it easier to check departures and weather-related cancellations; an eSIM can be installed before you leave and works as soon as you land in Japan.

Vedi i piani eSIM per il Giappone