Travel advice

Hi,
My wife and I will be travelling to Narita airport in mid December. We have booked a room at the Address Nozawa, in Nagano. After a few day at the resort we will be back in Tokyo for a couple of nights (total of 8 days for the whole trip) before returning home via Narita. We will be putting up at the Hotel New Otani in Tokyo.

Being senior citizens and not really familiar with travelling in Japan, we are really hoping for some advice on the most convenient and efficient way to get to Nagano from Narita and back.

a) Is it better to purchase a return ticket from Narita to Tokyo station by Nex or the Kaisei Skyliner?

b) Which train shall we take from Tokyo to Nagano and is it more economical to purchase a return ticket for the whole trip?

c) Would we need to purchase a rail pass for the whole trip?

Thank you.
EC Lee

Check out the relevant sections of the main Japan-guide website; they make it all clear.
Also, use Hyperdia.com to check train times and prices. Buying a return ticket makes sense as you won't have to queue twice. The preference between NEx and Skyliner is mainly down to some slight differences in price and in where they stop, but all you're interested in is which stops connect with the Tokyo to Nagano train, so you probably have options with both trains

check http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/eastpass/index.html

This should get you from Narita to Tokyo, to Nagano and back. However, a return Narita/Tokyo ticket is only Y4,000 and Nagano is Y8,000 each way so single tickets might be about the same cost unless you are doing a lot of local JR taines in Tokyo or adding a day trip somewhere.

Hi all,
Thanks for the advice which is much appreciated. We will be arriving at 7.30 in the morning and is wondering if the train ticket counters (JR east) are open at this time? Also can we purchase the shinkansen tickets to Nozawa at the airport?
Thanks again.