- From Tokyo
- Via Narita Airport
After your arrival, passport and customs clearance, head downstairs to the basement level JR stations, located in both terminals of the airport. The most convenient train is the Narita Express (N'EX), which leaves roughly every half hour for a 53-minute trip to Tokyo Station. Tickets for the entire trip up to Nagano Station can be purchased here; JR East Passes and Japan Rail Passes can also be exchanged at the JR East Travel Service Centers found in both Terminals 1 and 2. Taxis are available, but will be expensive.
From Haneda Airport Take the Tokyo Monorail to Hamamatsucho Station; transfer to the Keihin Tohoku Line or the Yamanote Line to Tokyo Station. Alternatively, take the Keikyu Airport Line to Shinagawa Station; transfer to the Yamanote Line, Keihin Tohoku Line, Yokosuka Line or Tokaido Line to Tokyo Station. Taxis are also available.
At Tokyo Station, head upstairs for the Hokuriku Shinkansen (the station is always busy, but all lines are well marked—just follow the signs). Hokuriku Shinkansen trains depart from platforms 20 through 23; all trains stop at Nagano Station, so you have many choices. Transfer to the Shinano Railway, Kita-Shinano Line to Myokokoken Station.
- From Osaka
- From Shin-Osaka Station, take the Thunderbird limited express to Tsuruga Station; transfer to the Hokuriku Shinkansen bullet train. The Kagayaki Shinkansen does not stop at Joetsu-Myoko Station, so it’s faster to go to Nagano and transfer to the Shinano Railway, Kita-Shinano Line to Myokokoken Station. For the Hakutaka Shinkansen, travel to Joetsu-Myoko Station; transfer to the Myoko-Haneuma Line local train to Myokokogen Station.
- From Nagoya
- From Nagoya Station, take the Wide View Shinano express train to Nagano Station. Transfer to the Shinano Railway, Kita-Shinano Line to Myokokoken Station.
- From Toyama
- Take the Hokuriku Shinkansen bullet train. The Kagayaki Shinkansen does not stop at Joetsu-Myoko Station, so it’s faster to go to Nagano and transfer to the Shinano Railway, Kita-Shinano Line to Myokokogen Station. For the Hakutaka Shinkansen, travel to Joetsu-Myoko Station; transfer to the Myoko-Haneuma Line local train to Myokokogen Station.