There is only one direct train a day from Shinjuku to Hakuba the Azusa 5 it departs at 08:00am and arrives in Hakuba 11:40am. EVERYDAY it is fully booked. You MUST book your ticket in advance if you would like a seat. Even the day before it is usually sold out. The latest ticket I have been able to reserve was 3 days before so I recommend booking that ticket as early as possible. You can book online at eki net and then using your reservation QR code received by email, pick up your paper ticket up at the station.
You need a paper ticket to leave the station at Hakuba. They do not have IC card facilities. (However, if you do forget you will need to go to the ticket window and ask the staff to help you.)
The train is always fully booked between Hachioji and Koji. After Kojij a lot of seats will open up. You can sit in any seat displaying a red lamp. Before that you will need to stand in the connection compartments between trains. Shinjuku to Koji is an hour and a half so be prepared to stand for at least that long. It is worth looking for a red lamp to begin with as you might get to sit for 30 minutes before arriving at Hachioji.
The ticket costs ¥8,050 in Summer. The price GOES UP in Winter to ¥10,780
Bus, again once a day from Shinjuku bus terminal to Hakuba departing at 07:35 and arriving at 12:48 costing ¥5,800 on the Willer bus website and ¥6,100 on Highway bus website
If these direct options don’t work with your schedule you will have to take some transfers.
Fastest route
Shinjuku to Omiya local train
Omiya to Nagano bullet train
Nagano to Hakuba bus Schedule here
Average time takes 3hrs 15mins
Average price ¥10,140
Cheapest All train option
Shinjuku to Matsumoto Limited express train Schedule here
Matsumoto to Shinano-Ōmachi local train
Shinano-Ōmachi Station to Hakuba local train
Average time takes 4hrs 45mins
Average prices ¥8,050
Cheapest route
Shinjuku to Matsumoto bus Schedule here
Matsumoto to Shinano-Ōmachi Station local train
Shinano-Ōmachi Station to Hakuba local train
Average time takes 6hrs
Average price ¥5,670
The latest you can set off from Shinjuku is about 18:00
Winter season starts from December 7th be prepared for the departure times to change and the prices to go up!
Next we will talk about night buses which run in the winter season too.
