How Do You Get to Shiga Kogen from Tokyo and Nagano?

Published 2026-10-04 · Sources checked 2026-10-04 · Treasure Hunting Co., Ltd.

This guide is for visitors who want to reach Shiga Kogen by train and bus, or by car. It covers the bullet train to Nagano, the express bus up the mountain, how to pay for the bus, the slower route through Yudanaka, and what to know before you drive.

We used the official website of the Shiga Kogen Tourism Association. All pages were read on 2026-10-04. The bus details below are from its spring-to-autumn access page, which it says applies until 4 December 2026. Winter timetables are different.

Where Shiga Kogen is

Shiga Kogen is a mountain area in the center of Joshin'etsu Kogen National Park. It is in the north of Nagano Prefecture, near the borders with Gunma and Niigata. The tourism association says the area stretches from about 1,000 meters up to 2,300 meters at the top of Mt. Iwasuge.

The association says the area is 5 to 10°C cooler than the cities in summer. Pack warm layers in every season.

Step 1: the bullet train to Nagano Station

The Hokuriku Shinkansen runs from Tokyo to Nagano Station. The association's access page gives the trip as about 90 minutes. It also runs from Kanazawa, taking about 65 minutes.

The association calls Nagano Station the gateway to Shiga Kogen. It suggests getting any information or items you need there before you go up the mountain.

Step 2: the express bus from Nagano Station

The association says the express bus is the fastest and easiest way to go from Nagano Station to Shiga Kogen. Leave by the East Exit and go to Bus Stop No. 23.

The ride takes about 70 minutes to the Yamanoeki bus stop in the middle of Shiga Kogen. From there, shuttle buses go to the different areas. There is space for luggage on the express bus.

Some parts of the route only run in certain seasons. The association lists these dates:

• Express buses to Okushiga Kogen run only from 1 July to 31 August, and from 1 November to 4 December.
• Express service between Shiga Kogen and Kusatsu Onsen runs from 23 April to 3 November.

Paying for the bus

The association recommends buying your ticket in advance. You can buy one at the ARUYO Information Center near Bus Stop No. 23. A round-trip ticket bought there has an open return date. It is not sold online.

If you buy only a one-way ticket, you can buy the return at the ticket machine at Yamanoeki, or pay on the bus. These are the payment rules the association gives:

• Bring 1,000 yen notes and coins. The bus does not take 5,000 or 10,000 yen notes, or 1 and 5 yen coins.
• Visa, American Express and JCB cards are accepted. Some contactless payments are accepted too. Accepted cards may differ by bus.
• From 25 May, on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, the express bus is cashless only.
• A ticket does not guarantee a seat. Arrive at the bus stop early.

The other route: train to Yudanaka, then a local bus

You can also take the Nagano Electric Railway from the Zenkoji Exit of Nagano Station to Yudanaka Station. From Yudanaka, a local bus goes up to Shiga Kogen. It stops near the Snow Monkey Park and Shibu Onsen on the way.

The association says this local bus line has different sections, some of which run only in certain months. Check the timetable on its access page before you plan this route.

A direct bus also runs from Iiyama Station on the Hokuriku Shinkansen.

Driving

The access page says most routes from Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka reach Shinshu Nakano Interchange, then follow National Route 292 up the mountain. It gives about 3 hours 30 minutes and 240 kilometers from Tokyo via Nerima Interchange.

The association reminds drivers that Japan drives on the left. Wild animals may appear suddenly, and overtaking on narrow roads is dangerous. In winter, snow tires are a must. For two-wheel-drive cars, chains are also required.

Parking in Shiga Kogen is free. Some areas are reserved only for guests of nearby places to stay, so check the map first. The association says it is not responsible for theft, damage or accidents in these lots.

Getting around once you arrive

The association says local buses inside Shiga Kogen do not run often. There are no taxis waiting in the area, and no ride-hailing services. Check the bus timetable before you set out, and plan your day around it.

What we could not verify, and therefore left out

• Bus fares. The pages we read did not list them in text.
• Winter bus timetables for the 2026 to 2027 season.
• Exact train times between Nagano and Yudanaka.
• When National Route 292 closes for winter in 2026.

Related guides

• When and where can you see the autumn leaves at Shiga Kogen?
• How do you stay safe at Shiga Kogen? Bears, cold, roads and emergency numbers

Sources

All URLs retrieved 2026-10-04.

1. Spring-Autumn Access Information, until 4 December 2026 (Shiga Kogen Tourism Association) — (express bus; stop No. 23; 70 minutes; tickets and payment; seasonal sections; Yudanaka route)
2. Access (Shiga Kogen Tourism Association) — (location; Shinkansen times; Iiyama; driving routes and times)
3. Spring to Autumn: General Information for Green Season (Shiga Kogen Tourism Association) — (elevation; local buses; no taxis; parking; snow tires; driving)
4. Trekking (Shiga Kogen Tourism Association) — (elevation range)