![From the Airport to Shiga Kogen and the Ichinose Area. The Complete First-Timer’s Access Guide to Shiga Kogen [Access Info]](https://www.ichinose.gr.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/japan_image_03.jpg)
At 1,700 meters above sea level, the Ichinose area of Shiga Kogen has air that’s cool and clear even in summer, and the moment you step onto the boardwalk, the scent of the marsh changes. As someone who has spent many summers here, I want people visiting Japan for the first time to taste that coolness the instant they arrive, and the beauty of the nature, just as it is. But to be honest, getting here is a little complicated. The shinkansen to Nagano is easy enough, yet many people get confused by the buses and transfers beyond it.
This guide lays out, step by step and on a single page, how to get from Narita, Haneda, Kansai, and Chubu airports to Ichinose. Travel times, fares, payment methods, and even the points where visitors from abroad tend to stumble. It’ll carry you, without getting lost, to the entrance of the cool highland.
First, Aim for “Nagano Station”
No matter which airport you come from, the relay point of the trip is Nagano Station. There are broadly two ways to get this far.
From the Tokyo side (Narita and Haneda), transfer to the Hokuriku Shinkansen at Tokyo Station and head to Nagano. From the Nagoya and Kansai side (Chubu and Kansai airports), transfer to the limited express “Shinano” at Nagoya Station and head to Nagano.
Once you reach Nagano Station, you climb the mountain from there to Shiga Kogen and Ichinose by bus. In other words, it’s easiest to think of the trip in three steps: “airport → Nagano Station → Ichinose.”
Step 1: From the Airport to Nagano Station
| Departure Airport | Route | Time (approx.) | Approx. Fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haneda Airport | Airport → Tokyo Station (about 30 min by monorail/Keikyu) → Hokuriku Shinkansen to Nagano | About 2 hr 30 min | Shinkansen approx. 8,340 yen (reserved seat, regular season) + airport access approx. 700 yen |
| Narita Airport | Airport → Tokyo Station (about 60 min by Narita Express, etc.) → Hokuriku Shinkansen to Nagano | About 3 to 3.5 hr | Shinkansen approx. 8,340 yen + airport access approx. 3,000 yen |
| Chubu Centrair International Airport | Meitetsu to Nagoya Station (about 28 to 40 min) → limited express Shinano to Nagano | About 3.5 to 4 hr | Shinano approx. 7,460 yen + Meitetsu approx. 1,250 yen |
| Kansai International Airport | Limited express Haruka to Shin-Osaka (about 50 min) → Tokaido Shinkansen to Nagoya (about 50 min) → limited express Shinano to Nagano | About 5 hr | Many transfers. Roughly around 15,000 yen |
A few notes.
Tokyo to Nagano is about 80 to 90 minutes on the Hokuriku Shinkansen. With the fastest train, the “Kagayaki,” it’s 1 hour 17 minutes, the most straightforward leg in all of Japan. From Haneda and Narita, first aim for Tokyo Station or Ueno Station. When you want to keep costs down, the “Hakutaka” and “Asama,” which have non-reserved seats, are 7,810 yen one-way.
Nagoya to Nagano is about 2 hours 50 minutes to 3 hours on the limited express “Shinano.” The fare and reserved-seat limited express charge together come to about 7,460 yen. From Chubu Centrair International Airport, the basic approach is to head to Nagoya Station via Meitetsu.
From Kansai Airport there are many transfers and it takes time. If time is your priority, there’s also the option of flying from Kansai Airport to Tokyo (Haneda) and taking the shinkansen from there. Choose to suit your itinerary.
Highway buses are another option. Overnight and daytime highway buses run connecting Tokyo with Nagano, and Osaka and Kyoto with Nagano and Yudanaka. If low cost is your priority, these are worth considering too.
Step 2: From Nagano Station to Ichinose
This is the most important part this time. By public transport, there are two ways.
Plan 1: Express Bus (Fast and Easy)
At the East Exit of JR Nagano Station, board the “Shiga Kogen-bound” express bus from bus stop No. 23. It’s about 70 minutes to the “Yama-no-Eki” bus terminal, the gateway to Shiga Kogen. No reservation is needed; you board in the order you line up.
The fare from Nagano Station to Ichinose is 2,800 yen. The direct service toward Ichinose and Okushiga in summer runs during a set period, which in 2026 is July 1 to August 31 (and November 1 to December 4). On the timetable, the Okushiga Kogen-bound bus leaving the Nagano Station East Exit at 13:05 runs directly to Ichinose, arriving there around 14:39.
One important note. There are few buses running directly to Ichinose, and depending on the time of day you’ll transfer at “Yama-no-Eki” to a local bus within Shiga Kogen (the Okushiga Kogen Line). Before you decide on your arrival time, be sure to check the latest timetable for direct services and connections (the link to the official PDF is at the end).
Plan 2: Train + Local Bus (For the Leisurely, or to Combine with the Snow Monkeys)
From Nagano Electric Railway’s Nagano Station, take a Yudanaka-bound train and reach Yudanaka Station in as little as 40 minutes. If you ride the limited express, you’ll need a separate limited express ticket. From Yudanaka Station, a local bus to Shiga Kogen takes about 30 minutes to reach Yama-no-Eki.
This route suits people who want to combine their trip with the Snow Monkeys of Jigokudani (the Monkey Park) or Shibu Onsen. Note that there are no taxi companies within Shiga Kogen. You can use a taxi from Yudanaka Station, so it’s reassuring to keep that in mind for when you have a lot of luggage.
Step 3: How to Navigate the Nagano Station Bus Stops
Once you exit the shinkansen ticket gate, head to the East Exit. The bus stop is No. 23.
If you plan to pay in cash, we recommend buying your ticket in advance at the Nagaden Bus information counter “Aruyo,” near the escalator on the first floor of the East Exit. You can buy round-trip tickets here, too. On some days, mainly weekends and holidays, “cashless-payment-only” buses run, and cash can’t be used on board those. Buying in advance means peace of mind on any bus.
You can pay on board as well, but advance purchase is recommended to make getting off smoother. There are no online ticket sales.
For Those Coming by Car
If you’re renting a car, the nearest interchange is Shinshu-Nakano on the Joshin-etsu Expressway. From here it’s about 40 minutes to Ichinose via Shiga Kogen.
Since it’s mountain-road driving, give yourself plenty of time. The weather can change suddenly even in summer. Also, there are periods when road restrictions are in place around Shiga Kogen (for example, Prefectural Route 502, the Okushiga Koen Sakae Line, in most years). Check the latest restriction information before you set off. If you come in winter, winter tires or chains are essential.
On Payment, Tickets, and Reservations
Some practical notes so you won’t be stuck once you’re here.
If you’ll be moving around within Shiga Kogen by local bus, Nagaden Bus’s “Shiga Kogen ALL DAY Ticket” is handy. For 1,000 yen, adults get unlimited rides for a day on the local and express buses within Shiga Kogen. It’s especially effective on days you’re moving between bases while hiking. It’s sold at the Yudanaka office, the “Aruyo” counter at the East Exit of Nagano Station, Kuma-no-Yu Hotel, Takamagahara Hotel, and on board the buses, among other places.
Inns are generally reservation-based. At small mountain inns, payment may be cash only. If you’re unsure whether cards are accepted, checking when you book will set your mind at ease.
Five Things Visitors from Abroad Tend to Stumble On
- There are few direct buses to Ichinose. Before deciding on your arrival time, check the timetable for whether it’s a direct service or a transfer.
- The mountains are cool. At 1,700 meters, Ichinose calls for a jacket even on summer mornings and evenings.
- Keep a little cash on hand. Small inns and shops may be cash only. For the bus, advance purchase is reassuring.
- Look up the last bus time first. Services drop off sharply from the evening on.
- There are places with weak signal. You may lose reception in valleys and on mountain trails. Download maps in advance.
Once You Arrive
Get off the bus at Yama-no-Eki and transfer to a bus within Shiga Kogen, or ride the direct bus, and on to Ichinose. You’ll notice the green outside the window growing deeper and the air turning cool. That clear coolness the moment you step off at the bus stop. Once you’re standing there, you’ll surely understand the reason for the long journey.
List of Links (by Purpose)
| Purpose | Site / Contact | URL |
|---|---|---|
| Route and time search | NAVITIME for Japan Travel | https://japantravel.navitime.com/en/ |
| Route and map | Google Maps | https://maps.google.com/ |
| Sh |