FROM TOKYO, NARITA AIRPORT – Highly recommended

From Narita Airport follow the rail signs to the Narita Express Train Station which is located in the basement below the airport. You can purchase reserve seat tickets for the journey from the JR office.

Take the Narita Express train to Tokyo Central Station – just over 1 hour. (approx ¥3,300)

Then take the Nagano Bullet Train (Shinkansen) to Nagano – approx 1 ½ - 2 hours. (¥7,500) The bullet trains leave Tokyo Station for Nagano every twenty minutes from 6:24am through to 10:04pm.

When you arrive in Nagano station, take the east exit and turn left and head down the stairs to the bus terminal for the "Alpico" bus to Hakuba Happo Bus Terminal (1 stop after Hakuba Station). The bus to Hakuba leaves from bus stop #6 and buses run every hour with the last bus departing Nagano 8:20pm – 9:20pm Friday nights. (¥1,500). See timetable

->Hint: For overseas travellers it is worth looking at purchasing a JR East pass. There are several options available however the flexible four day pass allows for four separate days travel on JR East lines - perfect for those wanting to visit Tokyo and the ski fields. See JR East web site for further information

->Hint: Why drag your luggage around from the Airport, or around the crowded cities? We recommend having your luggage and skiing gear sent via the “black cat” courier service direct from the airport to Altitude – it’s quick, reliable and easy to do. Just look for the “black cat” counter at the airport leave your luggage there and it will delivered to our door! The turnaround time to and from all Airports is 48 hours and from most major cities in Honshu (Japan's main island) is only 24 hours.

FROM NAGOYA

Train - 4 ½ hours

Take the "Shinano" limited express to Matsumoto. The "Shinano" leaves Nagoya every hour on the hour from 8:00am till 7:00pm, there is an early Nagoya departure 7:10am – (2 hours to Matsumoto).Change at Matsumoto for the Super Azusa limited express train to Hakuba (Note - there is only 1 "Super Azusas" a day that heads all the way to Hakuba. It departs Matsumoto at 10:27am). Alternatively from Matsumoto you can catch the local "Oito line" to Hakuba – this may require a transfer at Shinano-Omachi station. Check exact train times and fares

FROM OSAKA

Shinkansen Bullet Train - 6 ½ hours

Take the super express "Shinkansen" from Shin-Osaka to Nagoya. Then transfer to the "Shinano" limited express train to Matsumoto where you can get on the "Azusa" or local "Oito line" to Hakuba.

For more details from Nagoya to Hakuba please see the "From Nagoya" section