Overview
An authentic Japanese ski town with uncrowded slopes, Myoko is powder and park heaven, combining modern facilities and true Japanese charm.
The transfer time to Hakuba is 2 to 5 hours depending on your choice of transfer.
Combining a trip to Hakuba with a few days in Nozawa Onsen or Myoko or both are popular options.
Bus, private taxi transfer, train and self-drive are all possible options for transport from Myoko to Hakuba.
Myoko to Hakuba Taxi
- Price: ¥7,500 to ¥60,000 per person - depending on the number of passengers
- Transfer Time: 2 to 2.5 hours
Private Taxi Transfers are the most convenient and fastest option for transfer between Myoko and Hakuba and must be booked in advance.
This door-to-door transfer option is the most flexible and convenient option, allowing you to not lose a day on the slopes when transferring from Myoko to Hakuba.
Vehicles are jumbo sized, can take ski and snowboard bags and up to 8x people.
Tip
- You can book a stop-off at a supermarket to buy groceries for an additional charge. If you are staying in self-catering accommodation in Hakuba and plan to cook some of your own meals, this can be really useful.
Pros
- Available 24 hours a day
- Most convenient
- Faster than bus services
Cons
- More expensive than other options
Myoko to Hakuba Bus via Nagano Station
- Price: ¥5,000 to ¥6,500 per person - depending on where you are staying in Hakuba and whether drop off at accommodation is provided
- Transfer Time: 3.5 to 4 hours (including 30 mins waiting time)
Taking the bus from Myoko to Hakuba is another popular method of travel.
A change of vehicle is required at Nagano Station.
Bus services pick up from Myoko Akakura village bus stop and have multiple drop off locations throughout the Hakuba Valley.
The transfer time varies between 3.5 and 4 hours depending on road and weather conditions and where you are heading to in Hakuba.
If you let your accommodation provider know which bus you have booked, most will meet you at your drop off location and take you to your accommodation for check.
Similarly for departure from Hakuba to Myoko, if you let your accommodation provider know which bus you have booked with sufficient notice, most will pick you up from your accommodation and drop you off at the bus pick up location in plenty of time.
Pros
- Well priced
Cons
- Not a door-to-door service for most services
- Change of vehicle required at Nagano Station
Train from Myoko to Hakuba
- Price: Approximately ¥5,000 per person
- Transfer Time: Up to 5 hours (including waiting time between trains)
Japan has a world-class network of trains that famously run on time to the second!
However, the rail route from Myoko to Hakuba is indirect, requires multiple changes of train and has the longest total transfer time.
Technically, the closest Train Station to Myoko is Myoko Kogen (10 mins drive) but Joetsumyoko Station (30-40 mins drive), which is not quite as close, is a Shinkansen (bullet train) Station and so is better connected.
The route takes place in three stages from Myoko Kogen Station or four stages from Joetsumyoko Station:
- Stage 1: Echigo TOKImeki Railway Myoko Haneuma Line*: Myoko Kogen Station -> Joetsumyoko Station (36 minutes)
- Stage 2: Shinkansen Hakutaka: Joetsumyoko Station -> Itoigawa Station (13 minutes)
- Stage 3: JR Oita Line: Itoigawa Station -> Minami Otari Station (56 minutes)
- Stage 4: JR Oita Line: Minami Otari Station -> Hakuba Station (20 minutes)
* The Echigo TOKImeki Railway Myoko Haneuma Line is a private railway line and JR Passes are not valid on this service
Tickets can be purchased on the day of travel from ticket machines or a sales counter.
What is the closest Train Station in Hakuba?
The closest station to your accommodation depends on where you are staying in the Hakuba Valley:
- Kamishiro Station for Goryu village
- Hakuba Station for Echoland area, Happo One village or Wadano village
- Shinano-Moriue Station for Iwatake village
- Hakuba Oike Station for Tsugaike village
- Chikuni Station for Norikura
- Minami Otari Station for Cortina
Hakuba Transport Map
If you plan which train you plan to get in advance, most accommodations in Hakuba will provide a pick up and drop service to / from your accommodation, if you book it with them in advance with a couple of weeks’ notice.
Alternatively, you can take a local taxi from Hakuba Station. Please ensure you have your destination written out in Japanese as most taxi drivers in Japan do not speak conversational level English.
Japan Rail Pass: For guests visiting Hakuba as part of a longer itinerary of travel elsewhere in Japan, either side of their ski experience, a Japan Rail Pass can be a fantastic investment, allowing unlimited train travel on most Japan Rail trains, for periods of 7, 14 or 21 days to suit your travel schedule.
- Look up winter season train timetables on JR East
- Search Japan's train schedules using the Japan Transit Planner.
Note: Myoko Kogen train station is listed as “MYOKO-KOGEN” in this system
Pros
- Free if you hold a JR Rail Pass
Cons
- A little complex if not familiar with trains in Japan
- Not ideal for passengers with ski / snowboard bags
- Longest transfer time
- Indirect - 4x changes of train required
Driving from Myoko to Hakuba
- Price: Varies by vehicle type and hire duration
- Transfer Time: 2 to 2.5 hours
Myoko ski resort does not have any car hire options in the vicinity. So, if you are planning on visiting Myoko before Hakuba and would like to drive the 2 to 2.5 hours drive to Hakuba, you can hire a car from Iiyama, Nagano, Tokyo, Tokyo Narita Airport or Tokyo Haneda Airport.
The route from Myoko to Hakuba is pretty straightforward with road signs in English but driving in January and February can be a little tricky for those without experience of driving in challenging winter conditions. Snow & ice covered roads are possible and visibility can be poor when snow is falling.
If you are comfortable driving in these conditions, having a vehicle opens up the possibility of exploring all of the ski resorts that the Hakuba Valley has to offer or venturing to off-the-beaten-path Onsen hot springs in the area.
If you like the sound of this but prefer not to drive on your arrival and departure days, you can hire a car in Hakuba. This is becoming increasingly popular, so book as early as you can.
Larger 7 or 8-seater vehicles, such as Toyota Hi-Ace or Mistubishi Delica, are available to book in advance and can easily transport ski and snowboard bags.
Hire vehicles are four-wheel drive, come with winter tyres fitted (so no snow chains required) and English language GPS can be booked.
All drivers must bring their own national driver's license and a valid International Drivers Permit to legally drive in Japan. Car hire companies will not hand over the keys without these documents.
Pros
- Flexibility to ski wherever you like in the Hakuba Valley and visit Hakuba different villages.
Cons
- Can be challenging driving conditions – snowy / icy roads & poor visibility are possible
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Hakuba Transfers
Whether you are coming from Tokyo or one of the other Ski Resorts in the Nagano area, there are numerous options for the transfer to Hakuba.
Book now through our Pre-Trip Concierge Service
Available for guests that have booked accommodation with us.
Getting Around Hakuba
Whether you prefer to jump on a shuttle bus, book a taxi or hire a car and drive yourself, there are plenty of options to get around the Hakuba Valley.
Hakuba Accommodation
The Hakuba Valley is spread out and offers a wide range of accommodation options from luxury 5-star hotels, self contained apartments and houses to pensions, lodges and cabins.
Myoko Ski Resort
A traditionally Japanese ski town with uncrowded slopes, Myoko is powder and park heaven, combining modern facilities and true Japanese charm. Myoko is a well kept secret and a powder gem.
Myoko Accommodation
Myoko Kogen is made up of several resorts each with their own base area: Akakura Kanko, Akakura Onsen, Ikenotaira and Suginohara.
Akakura Onsen base area has the most facilities, restaurants, bars and accomodation options.
It is here that all of our accommodation options can be found.
All information is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of writing