Getting to Niigata

Posted 30 Dec 2008 - 02:43 by Mark Gardner

Niigata Prefecture is serviced by Shinkansen (Bullet Trains), major road links and also has an international airport, albeit only to a handful of 'local' destinations.

Most people visiting will undoubtedly opt to take the Joetsu Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Nagaoka, a journey of around 2 hours dependent on the type of Shinkansen.

Getting from Narita Airport to Tokyo Station

Most visitors arriving from overseas will land at Tokyo Narita Airport. Tokyo Narita Airport isn't actually in Tokyo, it is in Chiba Prefecture, 60km from downtown Tokyo. The easiest way to get to Tokyo Station, for onward transfer to Niigata, is by using the Narita Express train service. The Narita Express runs every 30 minutes during peak periods and takes under 1 hour to reach Tokyo Station.

It is possible to purchase a ticket from Narita Airport all the way to Nagaoka Station. Most of the ticket staff can speak enough English for the visitor to be able to order appropriate tickets.

On arrival at Tokyo Station the Narita Express arrives at a platform several floors below ground level. Follow the signs for Shinkansen tracks. Once on the main station concourse follow signs for 'Tohoku Shinkansen'. There are signs which switch from Japanese to English that show the correct platform for your particular train. The trains to Nagaoka leave from platforms 20-23.

Those wishing to get to Ojiya will either have to take a local train, taxi or hire a car. Cars can be hired at several locations around Nagaoka Station. Taxis are readily available outside the front of the station. Expect to pay around ¥7000 for a journey to Ojiya. Local trains take 16 minutes to go from Nagaoka to Ojiya, unfortunately they are not particularly frequent. Sometimes the journey time is quicker if you change at Urasa (the Shinkansen stop before Nagaoka) and take the local train from there.

All journeys can be checked using the excellent Hyperdia website.