Practical Travel
How to Get to the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route from Tokyo (Ogizawa Station)
By Dynamic Japan Travel Editorial Team—Supervised by P-HAM Co., Ltd. (Licensed Travel Agency, Aichi No. 3-1590)
Updated 27 August 2026Editorial policy
Contents
How to Get to the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route from Tokyo
The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route is a mountain sightseeing route that carries you across the Northern Japan Alps by a relay of cable cars, ropeways and buses. Coming from Tokyo, the basic plan is to head for Ogizawa, the gateway on the Nagano Prefecture side.
This guide walks you through the main route from Tokyo Station to Ogizawa step by step, transfer at Nagano Station included. The aim is that you will know exactly which way to walk once you step off the train at Nagano to find your bus.
The Route at a Glance
Tokyo Station →（Hokuriku Shinkansen, approx. 1 hr 40 min）→ Nagano Station →（Alpico Kotsu express bus, approx. 1 hr 45 min）→ Ogizawa
Actual time on board adds up to about 3 hours 25 minutes. Once you factor in the transfer at Nagano Station, allow roughly 4 hours and you will not have to rush.
- Take either the Kagayaki or the Hakutaka Shinkansen.
- The bus from Nagano Station leaves from the station's East Exit (the opposite side of the station from the Shinkansen ticket gates).
- Once you reach Ogizawa, you are at the Nagano-side entrance to the Alpine Route.
Step 1: Tokyo Station to Nagano Station on the Hokuriku Shinkansen
From Tokyo Station, board the Hokuriku Shinkansen Kagayaki or Hakutaka and get off at Nagano Station. The ride takes about 1 hour 40 minutes.
How to buy Shinkansen tickets — ticket machines, staffed windows, online reservations and when to use which — is covered in detail in our separate guide How to Buy Shinkansen Tickets.
Step 2: Changing to the Bus at Nagano Station
The transfer at Nagano Station is straightforward if you follow these steps in order.
1. Exit the Shinkansen ticket gates
When you arrive at Nagano Station, go out through the Shinkansen ticket gates.
2. Follow the signs toward the East Exit
Once through the gates, look up at the overhead signs, find the one marked East Exit and head that way.
Bus tickets can be bought on the day at the terminal's ticket window or from the vending machines (cash and transit IC cards are both accepted). Buses can sell out at busy times, such as weekends during the autumn foliage season, so booking in advance through the official website is the safer bet.
3. Find the bus stop (Platform 25)
Out at the East Exit, look for Platform 25. This is where the express buses for Ogizawa depart.
4. Buy your ticket
Buy a ticket to Ogizawa at the ticket machine or the ticket window near the bus stop.
5. Board the bus
With your ticket in hand, board the express bus bound for Ogizawa.
Step 3: Nagano Station to Ogizawa on the Alpico Kotsu Express Bus
From the East Exit of Nagano Station to Ogizawa takes about 1 hour 45 minutes on the Alpico Kotsu express bus.
- Paying: The surest way is to buy your ticket at a machine or window at Nagano Station. Before you travel, check the Alpico Kotsu official website for the latest information on whether anything other than cash — IC transit cards or advance online purchase — can be used.
- Reservations: Buses can sell out in busy periods such as the autumn foliage season. If you are visiting at a busy time, we recommend checking the official website for advance reservation or advance purchase options before you set out.
Alternative Route 1: From Shinjuku via Shinano-Omachi on the Limited Express Azusa
Another option is to take the Limited Express Azusa on the Chuo Main Line from Shinjuku Station and travel via Shinano-Omachi Station. From Shinano-Omachi Station, a bus takes you on to Ogizawa.
Azusa services do not all run to the same destination, so check in advance whether there is a train that runs directly to Shinano-Omachi or whether you will need to change on the way. For riding the Azusa, see our separate guide How to Ride the Limited Express Azusa.
Alternative Route 2: Entering from the Toyama Side
To enter the Alpine Route from the Toyama Prefecture side, take the Toyama Chiho Railway from Toyama Station to the last stop, Tateyama Station. Tateyama Station is the gateway on the Toyama side.
Since the Hokuriku Shinkansen runs all the way to Toyama Station, a Tokyo → Toyama → Tateyama Station approach works too. Which side you enter from should follow your plan: whether you are crossing the Alpine Route end to end or making a round trip.
How Far Does the Japan Rail Pass Get You?
This is a point where expectations and reality often part ways, so let us be clear about it up front.
- Hokuriku Shinkansen (Tokyo–Nagano): covered by the Japan Rail Pass.
- The Alpico Kotsu bus between Nagano Station and Ogizawa: not covered. You need a separate bus ticket.
- The Alpine Route itself (everything beyond Ogizawa): not covered. You buy a separate ticket for crossing the route or for a round trip.
In other words, the Japan Rail Pass covers you only as far as Nagano Station. For the basics of the pass, see How to Use the Japan Rail Pass; for tickets on the Alpine Route itself, see Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route Tickets.
The Whole Route Closes in Winter
The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route closes completely from December until mid-April. During this period you cannot enter the route even if you travel all the way to Ogizawa. Plan your visit to fall within the operating season (the exact opening and closing dates change from year to year, so check the official announcements).
