Hokuriku Shinkansen
北陸新幹線Shinkansen1 h 17 min
The Hokuriku Shinkansen carries skiers from Tokyo into the Nagano and Myoko snow country in under two hours. Check the train name before you book, because only the Hakutaka stops at Iiyama for Nozawa Onsen and at Joetsu-Myoko for Myoko and Arai.
Services
| Service | Time | How often | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| KagayakiJR East, JR West | 77 min | – | Kagayaki 503 ran Tokyo to Nagano in 77 minutes, Toyama in 124 and Kanazawa in 144 on 16 October 2026, stopping only at Omiya before Nagano. It passes Iiyama and Joetsu-Myoko without stopping. |
| HakutakaJR East, JR West | 98 min | – | Hakutaka 565 reached Iiyama in 98 minutes on 16 October 2026, and Hakutaka 557 reached Joetsu-Myoko in 111 minutes. This is the train for Nozawa Onsen and Myoko. |
| AsamaJR East | 109 min | – | Asama 603 stopped at every station to Nagano and took 109 minutes on 16 October 2026. |
Fares
- Tokyo to Nagano, reserved seatYahoo! Transit showed ¥8,250 for a quiet-season date, 10 November 2026.¥8,450 (2026), about CAD 76 or USD 53 (October 2026 rates)
- Tokyo to Iiyama, reserved seat¥8,890 (2026), about CAD 80 or USD 56 (October 2026 rates)
- Tokyo to Joetsu-Myoko, reserved seat¥9,660 (2026), about CAD 87 or USD 61 (October 2026 rates)
- Tokyo to Toyama, reserved seat¥13,180 (2026), about CAD 118 or USD 83 (October 2026 rates)
- Tokyo to Kanazawa, reserved seat¥14,600 (2026), about CAD 131 or USD 92 (October 2026 rates)
JR East runs the line from Tokyo as far as Joetsu-Myoko, and JR West takes it on to Kanazawa and Tsuruga. On a Friday in October 2026 the 07:20 Kagayaki pulled into Nagano 77 minutes after leaving Tokyo, with one stop at Omiya. Nagano is where the Alpico express bus leaves for Hakuba. The Asama makes every stop to Nagano and took 109 minutes on the same morning.
For Nozawa Onsen get off at Iiyama, and for Myoko or Arai ride on to Joetsu-Myoko. Hakutaka trains cover Tokyo to Iiyama in about 98 minutes. Joetsu-Myoko took 111 minutes on the fastest Hakutaka we found. The Kagayaki runs through both stations without stopping, so a Kagayaki ticket to Iiyama means changing at Nagano.
Board bags and bike bags ride free on JR East's half of the line, and nobody books a luggage seat. Each passenger can bring two items up to 30 kg, with length, width and height adding to 250 cm or less. Skis and snowboards may run longer if they stand upright in their case. A bike has to be fully inside its bag, wheels and seat included.
Worth knowing
- Look for Hakutaka in the train name when you book Iiyama or Joetsu-Myoko.
- Get to the platform early with a board bag, since JR East's luggage areas fill first come, first served.
- Reserved seats cost a little more on JR's busy dates; Tokyo to Nagano came to ¥8,450 on a regular day in October 2026 and ¥8,250 on a quiet day in November.
Quick answers about Hokuriku Shinkansenよくある質問
How long does the train take from Tokyo to Nagano?
The fastest Kagayaki took 77 minutes in the 2026 timetable, and a reserved seat cost ¥8,450 on a regular-season day.
Which Shinkansen stops at Iiyama for Nozawa Onsen?
The Hakutaka. It took about 98 minutes from Tokyo in October 2026. The Kagayaki passes Iiyama without stopping.
How long does Hokuriku Shinkansen take?
Kagayaki takes about 1 h 17 min.
How much is Hokuriku Shinkansen?
Tokyo to Nagano, reserved seat on Hokuriku Shinkansen costs ¥8,450 (2026), about CAD 76 or USD 53 (October 2026 rates).
Do you need to book Hokuriku Shinkansen ahead?
Hokuriku Shinkansen: Seats go on sale one month ahead.
Can you take a bike on Hokuriku Shinkansen?
Yes. Hokuriku Shinkansen carries bikes in a bike bag (rinko bag).
Can you bring a ski or snowboard bag on Hokuriku Shinkansen?
Yes. Hokuriku Shinkansen carries ski and snowboard bags up to 250 cm, length, width and height added.
In the journal and guides
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