Nagano Airport Guide｜Access and Convenient Transportation

Nagano Airport and
How to access it

Nagano Prefecture is a popular tourist destination, with beautiful nature in all four seasons, hot springs, and many historical sites.

While it is common to use airports to visit Nagano Prefecture, knowing which airport is most convenient to use to get around Nagano Prefecture will help ensure a smooth trip.

This article details the major airports in Nagano Prefecture and how to access them.

Major Airports in Nagano Prefecture

Nagano Prefecture has several airports that are convenient for both domestic and international access.

This section describes the most used airports in Nagano Prefecture.

Matsumoto Airport (Shinshu Matsumoto Airport)

Matsumoto Airport, located in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture, is the largest airport in the prefecture.

Matsumoto Airport operates mainly domestic flights, with frequent flights from major cities such as Tokyo (Haneda), Osaka (Itami), and Sapporo (Shin-Chitose).

In recent years, some international flights have also been operated, which are also used by foreign tourists.

How to access

From Matsumoto Airport to the city: From Matsumoto Airport to Matsumoto city, it takes about 30 minutes by bus.

It can also be reached by cab, which takes about 20 minutes.

Access from major cities: From Tokyo (Haneda), Matsumoto Airport can be reached in approximately 1 hour by plane or 2 hours and 30 minutes by Shinkansen or limited express train.

The greatest feature of Matsumoto Airport is that the airport offers beautiful views of the Alps.

It is also used as a base for skiing and mountain climbing, attracting many travelers during the winter and spring/summer tourist seasons.

2. Nagano Airport (Shinshu Nagano Airport)

Nagano Airport is located in Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture, Japan.

This airport provides convenient access to Nagano City and surrounding areas.

Nagano Airport is served mainly by domestic flights (to Tokyo) and has a large number of passengers, especially during the winter ski season.

How to access

From Nagano Airport to the City: Nagano Airport is easily accessible to Nagano City by bus or cab.

It takes about 30 minutes by bus to reach the city center.

Access from major cities: From Tokyo (Haneda), Nagano Airport can be reached in about 1 hour by plane or about 1 hour and 30 minutes by Shinkansen bullet train.

Nagano Airport, although small, provides convenient access to skiing, hot spring resorts, and tourist destinations, and is used by many tourists, especially during the winter season.

Other airports in the prefecture
(Saku Airport, Ina Airport)

In addition to Matsumoto and Nagano airports, there are several other regional airports in Nagano Prefecture.

These airports operate a small number of scheduled flights and serve primarily as hubs for travel and tourism within the region.

Saku Airport (Saku City)

Saku Airport is primarily used as a landing and takeoff point for small aircraft, and tourist flights may be operated at certain times of the year.

Ina Airport (Ina City)

Ina Airport is likewise an airport for tourism and regional exchange, with charter and regional flights at certain times of the year.

These airports may be used for interregional access and tourism, although they are less accessible from major domestic cities.

Access to Nagano Prefecture
Transportation from the Airport

Nagano Prefecture is also very conveniently accessible from the airport.

From major airports, you can smoothly travel to sightseeing spots, hot spring resorts, and ski resorts by bus, train, or rental car.

1. by bus

There are many bus routes from major airports in Nagano Prefecture to tourist destinations and urban areas.

Direct buses to the city are available from Matsumoto and Nagano airports, and the fares are relatively reasonable.

Especially during the tourist season, more direct flights to tourist destinations are available for convenient travel.

Bus from Matsumoto Airport

Bus service is available to Matsumoto city and tourist attractions (Kamikochi, Matsumoto Castle, etc.).

Bus from Nagano Airport

Bus routes operate to Nagano City and major tourist destinations in Nagano Prefecture (Hakuba, Togakushi, Shiga Kogen, etc.).

2. by train

Nagano Prefecture is served by the Shinkansen bullet train and limited express trains, and access to nearby tourist attractions is possible by rail from the airport.

From Matsumoto Airport or Nagano Airport, you can head to the nearest station, from where you can smoothly take the Shinkansen or limited express train to the sightseeing spots.

Train from Matsumoto Airport

Matsumoto Station is a stop for the Shinkansen and limited express trains, providing convenient access to Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka.

Railroad from Nagano Airport

Nagano Station is also a Shinkansen stop, providing easy access to Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka.

3. car rental

Nagano Prefecture is vast and dotted with beautiful nature and sightseeing spots, so renting a car is recommended.

You can rent a car around the airport and explore the sights at your leisure.

In particular, access to ski resorts and hot spring resorts will be more convenient.

summary

Nagano Prefecture is a very popular tourist destination, with many beautiful natural and historical sites.

The airport provides access to Nagano Prefecture from all parts of Japan.

There are plenty of transportation options from the airport, including Matsumoto Airport and Nagano Airport, making it easy to get to sightseeing spots, hot spring resorts, and ski resorts.

When planning your trip to Nagano, check airport access and transportation options for a more comfortable and convenient trip.