How to travel between Yamanouchi and Nagano
By train
Nagaden (Nagano Electric Railways) operates one to two trains per hour between Nagano (underground Nagaden Nagano Station, next to JR Nagano Station) and Yamanouchi (Yudanaka Station). About half of the trains are local (70 minutes, 1130 yen one way, one transfer at Shinshu-Nakano Station along the way) and half are limited express (50 minutes, 1230 yen one way, direct). The trains are not covered by the Japan Rail Pass.
By express bus
Nagaden operates express buses between Nagano (Nagano Station, bus stop number 3 at the East Exit) and Shiga Kogen. There are four buses per day in summer and around ten buses per day in winter. The buses do not stop in central Yudanaka or Shibu Onsen, but they stop at Kanbayashi Onsen-guchi (40 minutes, 1300 yen one way) from where the Jigokudani Monkey Park can be reached. In Shiga Kogen, all buses stop at Hasuike (70 minutes, 1600 yen), and some continue in direction of either Oku Shiga Kogen or Mount Yokoteyama.
Above fees and schedules are subject to change. For the current Yen exchange rate, click here.
Orientation
Yamanouchi is a municipality in northern Nagano Prefecture. Western Yamanouchi is relatively flat and consists of the area's populated areas, including the hot spring resort towns of Yudanaka Onsen and Shibu Onsen. East of those towns, Yamanouchi becomes mountainous and only sparsely populated. This is where the Jigokudani Monkey Park and Shiga Kogen are located.
Trains go only as far as Yudanaka Station. From Yudanaka Station, there are bus lines to Shiga Kogen (about one bus per hour) and Kanbayashi Onsen (also about one bus per hour). Both bus lines stop at Shibu Onsen and then at Kanbayashi Onsen, from where a hiking trail leads to the Jigokudani Monkey Park. Note that buses along the Shiga Kogen line stop at the "Kanbayashi Onsen-guchi" bus stop as opposed to the "Kanbayashi Onsen" bus stop, which is a few steps closer to the trailhead.
Furthermore, Nagaden express buses connect Nagano Station directly with Shiga Kogen (4 buses/day in summer, about 10 buses/day in winter). These buses do not stop in central Yudanaka or Shibu, but they stop at Kanbayashi Onsen-guchi (40 minutes, 1300 yen one way) from where the monkey park can be reached. In Shiga Kogen, all buses stop at Hasuike (70 minutes, 1600 yen), and some continue in direction of either Oku Shiga Kogen or Mount Yokoteyama. Outside of winter, one bus per day continues all the way to Mount Shirane from where a different bus connects to Kusatsu Onsen.
Winter Map of Shiga Kogen:
|
