From Tokyo:
By shinkansen via Nagano
Take the JR Nagano Shinkansen from Tokyo to Nagano (100 minutes, 8000 yen) and then an express bus from Nagano to Hakuba (60-90 minutes, 1500-1800 yen), where the bus stops at Hakuba Station and directly at the base of several ski resorts. The Japan Rail Pass covers the shinkansen trip but not the bus journey.
By limited express train via Matsumoto
Take the JR Azusa limited express train from Tokyo's Shinjuku Station to Matsumoto and transfer to a local train on the JR Oito Line to Hakuba. Some Azusa limited express trains run all the way to Hakuba. The one way journey takes about 4 to 4.5 hours and costs around 8000 yen. It is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass.
By direct highway bus
During winter, six bus round trips per day are operated between Tokyo (Shinjuku) and Hakuba, where the buses stop in the village center and at the base of the Goryu and Happoone resorts. The one way journey takes about 4.5 hours and costs 4700 yen. A round trip ticket is available for 8500 yen.
From Nagoya/Kyoto/Osaka:
Take the JR Shinano limited express train from Nagoya to Matsumoto and transfer to a train along the Oito Line to Hakuba. The one way journey takes about 3.5 hours and costs around 7000 yen. It is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass.
How to get from Kyoto to Nagoya
How to get from Osaka to Nagoya
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