November 22 Nagano Earthquake Update

Last updated: December 31, 2014

Northern Nagano Prefecture was hit by a strong earthquake in the evening of November 22, 2014, injuring several dozen people and damaging a few buildings around the village of Hakuba. Tourist facilities in Hakuba, however, did not suffer damage, ski resorts opened normally for the winter season, and public transportation to and around the town normalized within a couple of weeks. There is no reason to avoid the town this winter.

Impact on train transportation

• Normal service was resumed along the entire JR Oito Line on December 7.
• All other train lines, including the JR Nagano Shinkansen, other JR lines, the Shinano Railway and the Nagaden Railway were not affected by the earthquake and are running normally.

Impact on other transportation

• Buses between Nagano and Hakuba resumed service on November 25.
• Buses between Nagano and Shinano-Omachi resumed service on November 24.
• Highway buses between Tokyo and Hakuba have been running normally since the day after the earthquake.
• Other bus lines are also running normally.
• Transportation along the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpen Route was not affected by the earthquake.
• All major roads have been re-opened as of December 10. See map of minor roads still closed.

Impact on ski resorts in Hakuba

• No major damage has been reported. The resorts opened as usual.