Train
Suwa City is located on the JR Chuo Line, providing easy access from Tokyo, Osaka, or Nagoya.
Reserved seating and green cars are available. Tickets should be purchased in advance, but there are often open seats for same-day purchasing.
Reserved seating and green cars are available. Tickets should be purchased in advance, but there are often open seats for same-day purchasing.
Tokyo
Shinjuku Station → Kamisuwa Station (JR Chuo Line - Limited Express Azusa - 2.5 hours)
Nagoya
Nagoya Station → Shiojiri Station (JR Chuo Line - Limited Express Shinano - 2.5 hours)
Shiojori Station → Kamisuwa Station (JR Chuo Line - 20 minutes)
Osaka
Osaka Station → Nagoya Station (Shinkansen - 1 hour)
Nagoya Station → Shiojiri Station (JR Chuo Line - Limited Express Shinano - 2.5 hours)
Shiojori Station → Kamisuwa Station (JR Chuo Line - 20 minutes)
Bus
Bus routes are slightly cheaper and slightly longer in duration when compared with the train routes.
Tokyo
Shinjuku → Chino, Kami-Suwa, Shimo-Suwa, or Okaya Stations (Express bus - 3-4 hours) https://visit-nagano.alpico.co.jp/timetable/suwa-shinjuku/
Osaka
Osaka, Umeda → Okaya, Kami-Suwa or Chino Stations (Express bus – 6-9 hours) https://www.alpico.co.jp/traffic/express/suwa_osaka/
International Airport Access
If you are traveling from overseas, here are simple directions from some main airports to the nearest connection points.
Haneda International Airport
To Shinjuku Station: Tokyo Monorail to Hamamatsucho Station; JR Yamanote Line from Hamamatsucho Station to Shinjuku Station – about 40 minutes
To Shinjuku Station: Keikyu-Kuko Line to Shinagawa Station; JR Yamanote Line from Shinagawa Station to Shinjuku Station – about 70 minutes
Narita International Airport
To Shinjuku Station: JR Narita Express (N’EX) direct to Shinjuku Station – about 90 minutes
From Shinjuku Station To Kami-Suwa Station: JR Limited Express Azusa from Shinjuku Station to Kami-Suwa Station – about 2.5 hours
To Shinjuku Station: Keisei Skyliner to Nippori Station; JR Yamanote Line from Nippori Station to Shinjuku Station – about 70 minutes
Nagoya Chubu Centrair International Airport
To Nagoya Station: Meitetsu μ-SKY Limited Express – about 30 minutes
From Nagoya Station: JR Limited Express “Wide View Shinano” or Chuo Line to Shiojiri Station, then transfer to JR Chuo Line to Kami-Suwa Station – about 2.5 to 3 hours total
Kansai International Airport (Only available in Summer)
To Osaka Station: JR Kansai Airport Rapid Service towards Kyobashi Station – about 65 minutes
Domestic Airport Access
Matsumoto Airport in Nagano offers direct domestic flights to several major cities in Japan.
Osaka (Itami) Airport
Flight time: approximately 60 minutes
Sapporo (New Chitose) Airport
Flight time: approximately 90 minutes
Fukuoka Airport
Flight time: approximately 100 minutes
Kobe Airport
Flight time: approximately 60 minutes
Matsumoto Airport to Suwa City
By Car
40 minutes
By Public Transportation
Limousine Bus (from Matsumoto Airport to Nagano Station) and Train (from Nagano Station to Kami-Suwa Station) – 1.5-2 hours
By Airport Taxi
For the ultimate convenience, there are two companies offering a direct taxi service from Haneda International Airport, Narita Airport and Chubu Centrair International Airport to the Suwa area.
Alpico Taxi Company
from Haneda International Airport and Chubu Centrair International Airport
http://www.alpico.co.jp/taxi/en/airport/
Chuo Taxi Company
from Haneda International Airport and Narita Airport
http://chuotaxi.co.jp/publics/index/10/