Tokyo to Nozawa Onsen

Overview

Tokyo is the primary gateway in and out of Japan. To the outsider, Tokyo's myriad sights and sounds are as compelling as they are exotic.

The contrast of its preserved past in the Imperial Palace & its gardens, the Asakusa district & Ueno park with its techno future in Akihabara (the electric city) and the neon lights of Shibuya and Shinjuku, make it one of life's glorious contradictions.

The scale and the pace of life can be a little disorientating at first but the buzz quickly gets under the skin. It's a city to return to again and again and experience something new every time.

The transfer time to Nozawa Onsen is between 2.5 and 5.5 hours depending on your choice of transfer.

Train, taxi and self-drive are both possible options for transport from Tokyo to Nozawa Onsen.

Getting Around Tokyo

Getting around Tokyo by rail is usually the quickest and best-priced option regardless of where you are staying in the city.

Taxis in Japan are usually significantly more expensive than taking the train.

The majority of Tokyo transit system is made up of 2x rail networks - the overground state-run Japan Rail (JR) system and the underground metro system.

Taking them together, these networks are one of the most extensive metropolitan rail networks in the world. There is nothing you would want to see in Tokyo that you can't get to by using the network.

In addition, there are a number of privately owned rail lines that have their own lines and stations. These can be useful to take for certain routes but are never the only transit option and are not covered by the JR Rail Pass.

Looking at the maps, the system can be pretty intimidating at first glance but the system is very well run and staff at stations are super helpful.

Tokyo JR Rail Map

Tokyo Metro Map

Bullet Train from Tokyo to Nozawa Onsen

• Price: ¥9,500 per person
• Transfer Time: Approx 2.5 to 3 hours (including waiting time between trains / bus)

Japan has a world-class network of trains that famously run on-time to the second!

The train route from Tokyo to Nozawa Onsen is very fast and direct.

Tickets can be purchased on the day of travel from ticket machines or a sales counter.

What is the closest Train Station to Nozawa Onsen?

Technically, the closest Train Station to Nozawa Onsen is Togari-Nozawa-Onsen (12 mins drive) but Iiyama Station (20 mins drive), which is not quite as close, is a Shinkansen (bullet train) Station and so is better connected.

Tokyo to Nozawa Onsen train route

The route from Tokyo Station takes place in two stages to Togari-Nozawa-Onsen Station or is direct to Iiyama Station:

• Stage 1: Shinkansen Hakutaka: Tokyo Station -> Iiyama Station (1hr45 minutes)
• Stage 2: JR Iiyama Line: Iiyama Station -> Togari-Nozawa-Onsen Station (11 minutes)

Iiyama to Nozawa Onsen

From Iiyama to Nozawa Onsen, you can take the Nozawa Onsen Liner Bus, which drops off at the centrally located Chuo Bus Terminal in Nozawa Onsen or you can book a taxi to meet you off the train.

Alternatively, you can take a local taxi from Iiyama Station to Nozawa Onsen. Please ensure you have your destination written out in Japanese as most taxi drivers in Japan do not speak conversational level English.

Togari-Nozaw-Onsen Station to Nozawa Onsen

If you plan which train you plan to get in advance, most accommodations in Nozawa Onsen will provide a pick up and drop service to / from your accommodation from Togari-Nozawa-Onsen, if you book it with them in advance with a couple of weeks’ notice.

Alternatively, you can take a local taxi.

• Look up winter season train timetables on JR East
  
• Search Japan's train schedules using the Japan Transit Planner.

Note: Togari-Nozawa-Onsen train station is listed as “TOGARINOZAWA-ONSEN” in this system

Tokyo to Nozawa Onsen Taxi

• Price: ¥14,000 to ¥140,000 per person - depending on vehicle type and number of passengers
• Transfer Time: 4 to 5.5 hours - depending on driving conditions and where you are staying in Tokyo

Private Taxi Transfers are the most convenient and fastest option for transfer from Tokyo to Nozawa Onsen with a choice of 8-person or 13-person vehicle sizes offered.

For transfers to Nozawa Onsen, the driver will meet you in your hotel lobby, carry your bags to the vehicle and drop you off at your check in location in Nozawa Onsen.

For transfer from Nozawa Onsen, the driver will collect you from your accommodation and drop you off at your Tokyo hotel. This means no lugging ski bags around the city!

Private jumbo taxi vehicle transfers must be booked in advance.

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Tokyo to Nozawa Onsen Bus

• Price: ¥3,900 to ¥6,400 per person
• Transfer Time: 5.5 hours (including waiting time between buses)

There are no direct bus services from Tokyo to Nozawa Onsen.

However, the Alpico Bus company operates a Tokyo to Nagano Bus and a Nagano to Nozawa Onsen Bus.

If you choose the right bus times, you can get from Tokyo to Nozawa Onsen on the same day with a change of vehicle at Nagano Train Station's bus terminal.

Tokyo to Nagano Bus

• Price: ¥2,400 to ¥4,800 per person
• Transfer Time: 3hr30

This bus service picks up from the Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal in West Tokyo and drops off at three locations in Nagano. Be sure to get off the bus at Nagano Station if you plan to take the Nagano to Nozawa Onsen Bus.

Tickets can be purchased online or from the Alpico ticket office at Shinjuku Bus Terminal or Nagano Station.

There are multiple direct bus departures daily in the winter season

The scheduled transfer time is 3 hour 30 minutes.

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Nagano to Nozawa Onsen Bus

• Price: ¥1,500 per person
• Transfer Time: 1hr20

This bus service picks up from Nagano Station and drops off at the centrally located Chuo Bus Terminal in Nozawa Onsen.

Tickets can be purchased from the Alpico ticket office at Nagano Station or from Nozawa Grand Hotel in Nozawa Onsen.

The timetable can vary each year but at the time of writing, there are two services each day in each direction.

The scheduled transfer time is 1 hour 20 minutes.

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Driving from Tokyo to Nozawa Onsen

• Price: Varies by vehicle type and hire duration
• Transfer Time: 4 to 5.5 hours - depending on driving conditions and where you are staying in Tokyo

Tokyo has lots of car hire options for those wanting to drive themselves from Tokyo to Nozawa Onsen.

The route is pretty straightforward with road signs in English and an excellent road network.

Driving in January and February in the Nagano region 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, hiring a car and driving yourself to Nozawa Onsen opens up the possibility of visiting Nozawa Onsen as part of a larger itinerary vising multiple ski resorts or doing day trips from Nozawa Onsen.

Nozawa Onsen is an old village with narrow windy streets, so we do not recommend driving around Nozawa Onsen village during your stay. Parking at your accommodation in Nozawa Onsen can be a little tricky. Some hotels & apartment buildings may have one or two parking spaces but you will most likely have to pay. There are free car parking options on the outskirts of the village.

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.

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Nozawa 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 Nozawa.

Book now through our Pre-Trip Concierge Service

Available for guests that have booked accommodation with us.

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Nozawa Accommodation

Nozawa has a fantastic mix of hotels and traditional Japanese Ryokans to cater for travellers of all budgets.

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