Overview
Nagano is the gateway city for passengers heading to the ski resorts known as the 'Japan Alps'.
If you are staying in Nagano, the route to Nozawa Onsen is well established.
The transfer time to Nozawa Onsen is between 1 and 1.5 hours depending on your choice of transfer.
Bus, private taxi transfer, train and self-drive are all possible options for transport from Nagano to Nozawa Onsen.
Train from Nagano to Nozawa Onsen
- Price: Approximately ¥1,000 per person
- Transfer Time: 1 hour
Japan has a world-class network of trains that famously run on-time to the second!
Tickets can be purchased on the day of travel from ticket machines or a sales counter.
The closest Train Station to Nozawa Onsen is called Togari-Nozawa-Onsen and is 12 mins drive from the ski resort.
The train from Nagano Station to Togari-Nozawa-Onsen Station on the JR Iiyama Line is direct and takes 1 hour.
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 from Togari-Nozawa-Onsen 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 Nozawa Onsen 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: Togari-Nozawa-Onsen train station is listed as “TOGARINOZAWA-ONSEN” in this system
Pros
- Fastest transfer option
- Lowest priced option
- Free if you hold a JR Rail Pass
Cons
- Not ideal for passengers with ski / snowboard bags
Bus from Nagano to Nozawa Onsen
- Price: ¥1,500 per person
- Transfer Time: 1hr20
The Alpico Bus company operates a bus service from Nagano Train Station to Nozawa Onsen.
This bus service 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.
Pros
- Well priced
- Direct
- Reasonably fast
Cons
- Not a door-to-door service
Find Out More
Nagano to Nozawa Onsen Taxi
- Price: ¥3,300 to ¥18,000 per person - depending on vehicle type and number of passengers
- Transfer Time: 1 to 1.5 hours
Private Taxi Transfers are the most convenient and fastest option for transfer from Nagano Station to Nozawa Onsen.
On arrival at the train station, the driver will meet you in the station, carry your bags to the vehicle and drop you off at your check-in location in Nozawa Onsen.
On departure, the driver will collect you from your accommodation and drop you off at Nagano Station or your Nagano Hotel.
Private jumbo taxi vehicle transfers must be booked in advance and cannot be arranged at the station as the station's taxi rank only offers local sedan taxis.
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 Nozawa Onsen 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
Driving from Nagano to Nozawa Onsen
- Price: Varies by vehicle type and hire duration
- Transfer Time: 1 to 1.5 hours depending on weather / driving conditions
Nagano has lots of car hire options for those wanting to drive themselves the 1 to 1.5 hours drive from Nagano to Hakuba, with most Car Hire companies located close to the Train Station.
The route 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, 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.
Pros
- Flexibility to do day trips or visit multiple ski resorts
Cons
- Can be challenging driving conditions in the Nagano region – snowy / icy roads & poor visibility are possible
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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.
Nozawa Accommodation
Nozawa has a fantastic mix of hotels and traditional Japanese Ryokans to cater for travellers of all budgets.
All information is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of writing.