For a Tokyo–Nagano return trip only,
the JR EAST PASS costs about ¥90,000 more.
Tokyo to Nagano takes about 1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 50 minutes on the Hokuriku Shinkansen. For 6 (4 adults + 2 elementary-school children) in reserved seats, it is ¥42,240 one way and ¥84,480 return. The JR EAST PASS for visitors to Japan is ¥35,000 per adult for 5 days, so using it for the return trip only costs 6 people ¥90,520 more (calculated from regular-season fares as of October 2026).
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Fares for 6Tokyo–Nagano on the Hokuriku Shinkansen: ¥8,450 per adult in a reserved seat
In short: adults pay ¥8,450 in a reserved seat and elementary-school children (6–11) ¥4,220 (regular season).
The prices in this article assume a family of 6: a couple, 2 children (elementary-school age) and 2 grandparents. Grandparents pay the adult fare too.
| Party | One way (reserved) | Return (reserved) | Return (non-reserved) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 (4 adults + 1 child) | ¥38,020 | ¥76,040 | ¥71,280 |
| 6 (4 adults + 2 children) | ¥42,240 | ¥84,480 | ¥79,200 |
| 7 (4 adults + 3 children) | ¥46,460 | ¥92,920 | ¥87,120 |
Each extra child adds ¥8,440 to the return trip in reserved seats.
- A reserved seat from Tokyo to Nagano is the base fare ¥4,180 + the reserved limited-express charge ¥4,270 = ¥8,450. For elementary-school children, the fare and the charge are each halved and rounded down, giving ¥4,220.
- A non-reserved seat is ¥7,920 per adult (¥3,960 per elementary-school child). But the Kagayaki has no non-reserved seats.
- The reserved-seat charge goes up by ¥200–400 at busy times and down by ¥200 at quiet times.
- You can also board at Ueno or Omiya (Ueno–Nagano ¥8,240, Omiya–Nagano ¥6,690, both adult reserved seats).
- There are discount tickets too, such as the "Shinkansen e-Ticket" on JR East's Ekinet, which is ¥200 cheaper for a reserved seat.
For a return trip only, the JR EAST PASS costs about ¥90,000 more
In short: the pass for 6 is ¥175,000, which is ¥90,520 more than the Tokyo–Nagano return trip (¥84,480).
What the chart does not show: whether you also travel elsewhere on JR within the 5 days. If you do, the fares for those rides count on the pass's side.
- The JR EAST PASS is a pass for visitors to Japan. Since 14 March 2026 it has been a single pass with no regions to choose.
- 5 consecutive days: adult ¥35,000, child ¥17,500 (10 consecutive days: adult ¥50,000, child ¥25,000).
- It covers JR East shinkansen, limited express and local trains, plus some partner lines such as the Tokyo Monorail. The Hokuriku Shinkansen is covered as far as Joetsumyoko (Nagano is within range); the Tokaido Shinkansen is not covered.
- The old "Nagano, Niigata area" pass is no longer sold. Travel sites sometimes still show old prices, so check the price again before you buy.
The pass pays on one condition: whether you also travel elsewhere on JR within the 5 days
In short: for one adult, the return trip is ¥16,900 and the pass is ¥35,000. It only pays for itself once you ride about ¥18,100 more of JR within the same 5 days.
How much more JR East travel one adult needs within the same 5 days, on top of the Tokyo–Nagano return trip (¥16,900 in reserved seats), for the pass (¥35,000) to pay for itself.
For a child, the return trip is ¥8,440 against a ¥17,500 pass, a difference of ¥9,060 (as of October 2026, regular season).
- For a 5-day route such as Tokyo → Nagano → (another direction on a JR East shinkansen) → Tokyo, it is worth doing the sums.
- If part of your trip from the airport is also covered by the pass, it becomes easier to make it pay (the Tokyo Monorail from Haneda is covered; note that the 5 days count from the day you start using it).
- If you spend a few days in Nagano and simply go back to Tokyo, tickets are cheaper.
- The Nagano Electric Railway to Jigokudani and Yudanaka is not JR. We found no information saying the pass covers it, so plan to pay its fare separately.
If you also travel elsewhere on JR within 5 days
The JR EAST PASS is for visitors to Japan. For a Tokyo–Nagano return trip only, tickets are cheaper.
Check the price and how to collect the pass on the booking screen. Plan on the Nagano Electric Railway not being covered by the pass.
Coming from the airport, head to Tokyo Station first
In short: the Hokuriku Shinkansen stops at Tokyo, Ueno and Omiya, not at Shinagawa. From Haneda or Narita, first go to Tokyo Station.
| From | How to get to Tokyo Station |
|---|---|
| Haneda Airport | Tokyo Monorail to Hamamatsucho, then change to the JR Yamanote Line for Tokyo Station. If you take the Keikyu Line to Shinagawa instead, you still need to change there to JR for Tokyo Station |
| Narita Airport | Narita Express to Tokyo Station |
| Nagoya or Kansai | There is also a route from Nagoya to Nagano on the "Shinano" limited express. It runs on JR Central lines, so the JR EAST PASS alone does not cover the whole journey |
- This article covers the route from Tokyo. We have not checked fares or journey times from Nagoya or Kansai.
- If you go on to Nagano on the day you land, there are 2 changes from Haneda. For 6 with a lot of luggage, a night in Tokyo before heading on makes it easier.
3 tips for riding as 6: seats, luggage and choosing the train
In short: book reserved seats to sit together as 6, the luggage areas need no booking, and non-reserved seats are only on trains other than the Kagayaki.
1. Seats JR East information
All seats on the Kagayaki are reserved. To sit together as 6, book reserved seats early. Non-reserved seats are first come, first served, so you may not be able to sit together.
2. Trains JR East information
Journey times: Kagayaki 1 h 17 min to 1 h 27 min, Hakutaka 1 h 25 min to 1 h 38 min, Asama 1 h 37 min to 1 h 49 min. The fare is the same on all of them.
3. Luggage JR East information
The Hokuriku Shinkansen has no bookable "seats with an oversized baggage area", and the luggage areas on board can be used without booking. But some trains have no luggage area, and there may not be room for 6 large suitcases.
- For the booking rules on the Tokaido Shinkansen and other lines, see shinkansen rules for large luggage (the Hokuriku Shinkansen is not part of the booking system).
From Nagano Station to Zenko-ji and stays in Gondo: ¥210 per adult on the Nagano Electric Railway
In short: for a stay in Gondo, take the Nagano Electric Railway to Gondo Station (adult ¥210). In the daytime, the "Gururin-go" loop bus is another option.
- Nagano Electric Railway, Nagano–Gondo: adult ¥210 (the minimum fare). To Kirihara Station: adult ¥240.
- The Gururin-go is a loop bus from stop 4 at Nagano Station via Gondo and Zenkoji Daimon. Adults ¥190, elementary-school children ¥100, so ¥960 for 6. The first bus from Nagano Station is at 10:00 and the last at 17:30, every 30 minutes.
- If you arrive at night, the Gururin-go has finished, so take the Nagano Electric Railway or walk (about 15 minutes to Gondo).
- Places near Nagano Station where 6 can share one room are in a family of 6 in a whole-house rental near Nagano Station.
- For the snow monkeys at Jigokudani, take the Nagano Electric Railway to Yudanaka (Nagano–Yudanaka adult ¥1,660). For fares for 6 and how to walk there in winter, see a day at Jigokudani Monkey Park from Nagano Station with a big family.
Honest caveats
These are things we have not been able to verify, so we do not assert them.
We did not check fares and pass prices against the official originals
JR East's official website could not be read from our setup, so we checked Hokuriku Shinkansen fares on a fare comparison site, and pass prices and coverage by matching news reports. Check JR East's official website before you buy.
Fares and times from Haneda or Narita to Tokyo Station are not given
We only give the route and changes. Check fares and times on a route planner.
Nagano Electric Railway child fares are not given
We only checked adult fares on the Nagano Electric Railway fare table.
We have not confirmed from official information that the pass does not cover the Nagano Electric Railway
We found no information saying the pass covers it, so we have written it as not covered.
Child-fare categories
Child-fare categories are defined differently by each operator, and the official sites do not always state them. In this article we write only what we could confirm, and leave out anything we could not confirm. Always check how ages and headcounts are counted when you book.
Tokyo to Nagano travel: FAQ
Can we get to Jigokudani on the JR EAST PASS?
Assume you cannot. The Nagano Electric Railway towards Jigokudani is not JR, and we found no information saying the pass covers it. Nagano–Yudanaka is ¥1,660 per adult.
Can the 6 of us sit together?
If you book reserved seats for all 6 early, it is easier to sit together. Non-reserved seats are first come, first served, so 6 may not be able to sit together. The Kagayaki has no non-reserved seats.
Do we need to book space for large suitcases?
Not on the Hokuriku Shinkansen. There are no bookable seats with luggage space, and the luggage areas on board can be used without booking. But some trains have no luggage area.
How much are children's fares?
Elementary-school children (6–11) pay half the adult fare: ¥4,220 for a reserved seat from Tokyo to Nagano (a little less than half the adult fare because of how it is rounded). The JR EAST PASS for a child is ¥17,500 for 5 days.
For a return trip only, buy tickets at the station or on Ekinet
For a Tokyo–Nagano return trip only, tickets are about ¥90,000 cheaper for 6 than the pass. If you also travel elsewhere on JR within 5 days, compare the pass too.
Check the price and how to collect the pass on the booking screen. Plan on the Nagano Electric Railway not being covered by the pass.
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