Best way to get to Happo, Hakuba

I will take JR shinkansen to Nagano from Tokyo. Is there a faster way than the bus to Happo, Hakuba from Nagano?

. . . the trains in the Alps run north to south, there are no lateral train lines in that area. Bus from Nagano to Hakuba is a straight shot.

Otherwise you have to go south to Matsumoto then north by train, and that is longer.

I think Shinkansen to Nagano and bus to Hakuba is faster than Chuo Line to Matsumoto and train to Hakuba.

There are pretty much three ways to go.

1. Shinkansen from Tokyo - Nagano, bus to Hakuba. Most expensive, shortest time. About 3 hours+, costs about 19,000yen return.

2. Azusa Express from Shinjuku - Matsumoto, local train Matsumoto - Hakuba. 16,140yen return, takes 5 hours. Two or three times a day, the Azusa Express runs ALL THE WAY from Shinjuku - Hakuba. e.g. the 7:30am train takes 4 hours, costs 16,140yen.

3. Highland express bus from from Shinjuku - Hakuba. Least expensive, takes about 4.5 hours, costs 8500yen return. Is the easiest if you have a lot of gear.