EN한국어繁中

Tokyo to Nagano by Shinkansen (2026): Price, Time and How to Book

Tokyo to Nagano is a short Hokuriku Shinkansen ride: 1 hour 17 minutes on the fastest Kagayaki, about 1 hour 22 on most. Kagayaki is all reserved; Hakutaka and Asama are a little slower and have non-reserved cars.

A reserved seat costs less than Tokyo–Kanazawa (about ¥14,600), because Nagano is on the way. For a return, no rail pass pays off. We read JR East's timetables and pass pages on 6 November 2026.

JR East's site won't take your card? Klook sells Tokyo–Nagano tickets in your currency. Compare the price with JR East's own site first.
Tokyo–Nagano tickets on Klook ↗
By How to Book Japan Editorial TeamLast checked Nov 7, 2026

Some links on this page are affiliate links. JR East's own site sells the same tickets.

The answer in one box
Fastest train
Kagayaki, 1h17 fastest · about 1h22 typicalKagayaki 503: Tokyo 07:20 → Nagano 08:37.
Price
Fare + Shinkansen express feeBase fares rose on 14 March 2026; express fees did not. JR-EAST Train Reservation shows the exact total when you search.
Seats
Kagayaki all reserved · Hakutaka and Asama have non-reserved cars
On sale
10:00 Japan time, one month before
Where to book
JR-EAST Train ReservationsmartEX does not sell this line.
Rail pass?
Not for a returnA return costs less than one Tokyo–Kanazawa return (about ¥29,200), well under the ¥35,000 JR EAST PASS.

Kagayaki, Hakutaka or Asama: which train?

Fastest

Kagayaki

1h17 to 1h30 to Nagano in the November 2026 timetable, then on to Toyama, Kanazawa and Tsuruga. All cars reserved.

Most stops

Hakutaka

1h25 to 1h39 to Nagano. Some cars are non-reserved, so you can board without a seat booking.

Ends at Nagano

Asama

1h32 to 1h50, stopping at Karuizawa and Sakudaira. Non-reserved cars too.

JR East's Tokyo Station timetable for November 2026 weekdays lists 28 Kagayaki, 21 Hakutaka and 27 Asama departures, but many are marked as not running every day. Check that your train runs on your date when you search.

How far in advance should I book?

Seats open at 10:00 Japan time, one month before. If Kagayaki is full, a Hakutaka or Asama non-reserved car is a fallback, but a seat there is not guaranteed.

In ski season and at New Year, Golden Week and Obon, book on the first day. Busy seasons →

How do I book Tokyo to Nagano online?

  1. Open JR-EAST Train Reservation and sign up. JR East's English site, open to people abroad. Eki-net guide →
  2. Search Tokyo → Nagano. Kagayaki shows as all-reserved; Hakutaka and Asama show non-reserved too.
  3. Pick a seat and pay. Skis and big suitcases go in the luggage area if there is space. No luggage booking exists on this line.
  4. Collect the ticket or link a Suica. Collect paper tickets at a reserved-seat ticket machine, or link the e-ticket to a Suica and tap through the gate. Suica →
    A Japan eSIM keeps maps and bus times working in the mountains.
    Japan eSIM on Klook ↗
What we checked on 6 November 2026

JR East's English timetables for November 2026 (Tokyo Station, Hokuriku Shinkansen, weekdays): to Nagano, Kagayaki 1h17–1h30, Hakutaka 1h25–1h39, Asama 1h32–1h50.

Train pages list Kagayaki as "All cars reserved seats" and Hakutaka and Asama as "Ordinary car with some reserved seats".

JR East's fare revision pamphlet (14 March 2026): the 221–240 km trunk-line fare is ¥4,180 after the change. Express fees were not revised. Read from an archived copy.

JR East's English FAQ: no designated seats for oversized luggage on the Hokuriku Shinkansen; luggage can be stored free if there is space.

Does any rail pass pay off for Nagano?

Not for Tokyo–Nagano and back. A pass only helps if Nagano is one stop on a longer trip.

Tokyo ⇄ Nagano return
Under ¥29,200Less than a Tokyo–Kanazawa return (about ¥14,600 each way), since Nagano is on the way.
JR EAST PASS
¥35,000, 5 daysWorth it if you add Niigata, Sendai or further north.
Hokuriku Arch Pass
¥35,000, 7 daysTokyo–Tsuruga on the Hokuriku Shinkansen. Worth comparing if Nagano is a stop on a longer Tokyo–Kanazawa–Kyoto route.
JR TOKYO Wide Pass
¥16,000, 3 daysCovers the Hokuriku Shinkansen only as far as Sakudaira. You can ride on to Nagano with a separate ticket for Sakudaira–Nagano.
JR Pass (whole Japan)
¥50,000, 7 daysKagayaki is covered with no extra ticket.
Hokuriku Arch Pass →JR EAST PASS →JR Pass calculator →

Is there a cheaper way to Nagano?

By road

Highway bus

Highway buses also run from Tokyo to Nagano. Check times and fares with the bus company before you choose.

Buses in Japan →
No booking

Hakutaka or Asama non-reserved

No seat booking: board and take any free seat in a non-reserved car. A seat is not guaranteed.

Paid fallback

Agency ticket

If JR East's site rejects your card, an agency sells the same train. Compare its price with JR East's site.

Tokyo–Nagano on Klook ↗
Affiliate link

What if…?

…I miss my Kagayaki?

With a regular ticket you can take a non-reserved seat on a later train the same day, which means a Hakutaka or Asama, or change to a standing place on a later Kagayaki (JR East's rule for all-reserved trains). Discount e-tickets have their own change rules, so read them before you buy.

…I carry skis or a snowboard?

No booking is needed on JR East lines. Use the luggage area or the space behind the last row if there is space. Big luggage on the Shinkansen →

…JR East's site rejects my card?

Try another card, or buy at a station machine in Japan.

Tokyo–Nagano on Klook ↗

From Nagano: where next?

On the way

Karuizawa

A stop on the same line, good as a day trip from Tokyo.

Karuizawa day trip →
Onward

Kanazawa

Kagayaki continues to Kanazawa.

Tokyo to Kanazawa →
Snow

A snow day from Tokyo

Ski and snow options within a day of Tokyo.

Snow day trips →

For the snow monkeys at Jigokudani, take the Nagano Electric Railway limited express to Yudanaka (about 38 min) and a bus (about 15 min), or the express bus for Shiga Kogen (about 41 min), then walk about 35 min. These are not JR services, so JR passes do not cover them.

Booking it in one line

Book a Kagayaki on JR-EAST Train Reservation from 10:00 Japan time a month ahead, or walk on to a Hakutaka or Asama non-reserved car. Buy a pass only if Nagano is part of a longer loop.

How to book any Shinkansen →Tokyo–Nagano tickets on Klook ↗

Agency links are affiliate links. Compare their prices with JR East's own site.