As the gateway to the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route in Chubu Sangaku National Park and home to many other attractions, Omachi has long been a base for travelers in Central Japan. Conveniently accessible from Nagano and Matsumoto, and nearby destinations including Takase Valley, Daio Wasabi Farm, Hakuba, Azumino, and of course, the Alpine Route itself. On this page you will find the following information:
Located in the Northern Japan Alps, Omachi is a small city best known for its access to the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route and affectionately called “The City of Water.” While the Alpine Route is what usually draws visitors, many overlook the variety of experiences the city itself offers. Taking a break from a busy itinerary, you’ll find plenty of reasons to linger, from sightseeing and hands-on activities to beautiful natural landmarks that make Omachi well worth the visit.
Easily reached from Nagano and Matsumoto, Omachi offers plenty of ways to enjoy the surrounding nature. At the edge of the Northern Japan Alps, the area is ideal for hiking, trekking, and camping, while the nearby Nishina Lakes: Aoki, Nakatsuna, and Kizaki, are perfect for water sports and lakeside relaxation. In winter, Omachi’s onsen town provides a more peaceful alternative to staying inside the ski resorts, with convenient access to the slopes of Hakuba Valley to the north.
To make the most of your visit, it helps to know the basics. Let’s start with the most important detail: where is Omachi?
WHERE IS OMACHI?
Omachi is located less than an hour from both Nagano City (45km) and Matsumoto City (33km), making it an easy and convenient base in the Northern Alps.
While direct train access is limited, travelers can reach Shinano-Omachi Station from Nagano or from Matsumoto to the south and Hakuba to the north.
Buses continue beyond the station to Omachi Onsenkyo and Ogizawa Station, the starting point of the famous Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route in Chubu Sangaku National Park.
Both the town center and Onsenkyo offer a welcoming range of hotels and ryokan, restaurants and cafés, museums, and galleries, making Omachi more than just a stopover. Sitting at an altitude of around 700 meters, the city enjoys cool, refreshing air flowing down from the Northern Japan Alps, a natural escape from the heat and humidity of summer, and an inviting retreat year-round.
In winter, shuttle buses run between Omachi and the world-famous Hakuba ski resorts. This allows visitors to stay in Omachi—where you can avoid the crowds and enjoy excellent hot springs—while easily accessing the ski areas via the shuttle service. With plenty of dining options available as well, Omachi offers a wonderfully comfortable and well-rounded base for your stay.
HOW TO GET TO OMACHI
Shinano-Omachi Station Building
In this section you will find information on how to reach Omachi from the following starting points:
Approaching from Nagano City in the East:
NAGANO CITY – JIGOKUDANI MONKEY PARK – TOKYO – NARITA AIRPORT – HANEDA AIRPORT – KARUIZAWA – KANAZAWA
Approaching from the Matsumoto City in the South:
MATSUMOTO – MATSUMOTO AIRPORT – NAGOYA – NAKASENDO TRAIL – KYOTO & OSAKA – KAMIKOCHI – TAKAYAMA – SHIRAKAWAGO
We endeavor to keep this information as up-to-date as possible and in recognition that most international visitors will be using the train and bus networks to move around Japan, most directions are for using the trains or buses. This information may be subject to change about pricing and route information.
FROM NAGANO CITY / approx. 70 minutes
Nagano City is the starting point for most travelers heading to Omachi from the east. From Nagano Station, you can reach Shinano-Omachi Station by bus, train, or taxi. The Alpico Group bus departs from Bus Stop No.25 outside the East Exit of Nagano Station and takes about 70 minutes to arrive at Shinano-Omachi Station, with an additional 10 minutes to reach the Omachi Onsenkyo. Taxis are also available outside the station’s Zenkoji Exit.
Alpico buses run several times a day and do not require reservations, though they can fill up on a first-come, first-served basis. Keep in mind that this line does not allow re-boarding at Omachi or the Onsenkyo. We will explain later how to continue on to the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route from those points. For now, please refer to the link above for details on how to travel from Nagano Station to either the Shinano-Omachi Station area or the Omachi Onsenkyo area. Do not worry if the online schedule appears seasonal; these services run year-round.
FROM THE JIGOKUDANI MONKEY PARK / approx. 2 hours
To reach the Omachi from the Jigokudani Monkey Park takes time but is relatively straight-forward when done via Nagano Station. From the park, you have the option of: 1. a direct express bus from the park to Nagano Station or 2. a local bus to Yudanaka Station followed by an express train to Nagano Station. Starting from the park, the express bus costs JPY1500 each way and takes 55 minutes to reach Nagano Station. In comparison, taking the local bus from the park to Yudanaka Station followed by the train, takes 15 minutes and costs JPY310 before the limited express service to Nagano takes 45 minutes and costs JPY1290 – a total journey of around 60 to 70 minutes and costing JPY1600. Once at Nagano Station, follow the to reach Omachi from Nagano Station above.
FROM TOKYO / between 4 to 5 hours
Visitors coming from Tokyo can have easy access Omachi via Nagano Station. The Hokuriku Shinkansen line connects Nagano Station with Tokyo Station. Regular services throughout the day make the journey quick and easy, taking between 80 and 110 minutes depending on which service you choose. Once in Nagano, follow the directions to reach Omachi from Nagano Station above.
FROM NARITA AIRPORT / between 5 to 6 hours
For visitors heading to the Alpine Route to stay at Omachi directly From Narita Airport, it will be easiest via Nagano Station and then heading onto Ogizawa Station. Two rapid train services connect Narita Airport to central Tokyo, from where you can use the Hokuriku Shinkansen line to reach Nagano.
- The Narita Express (NEX) runs from Narita to Tokyo Station. It takes 55 minutes to reach Tokyo Station (depending on the service) and costs JPY3070 with trains departing every 30 to 60 minutes. Once at Tokyo Station, follow the directions above to Nagano and then onto Omachi.
2. The Keisei Skyliner runs from Narita to Ueno Station. It takes between 40 to 55 minutes to reach Ueno Station and costs JPY2520 with trains departing every 30 to 40 minutes. Once at Ueno Station, transfer to the Hokuriku Shinkansen bound for Nagano and then follow the directions above from Nagano Station onto Omachi.
FROM HANEDA AIRPORT / between 5 to 6 hours
The Alpine Route area via Omachi can be reached in a multi-step journey from Haneda via 1. using the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Nagano Station, or 2. using the Limited Express Azusa from Shinjuku Station to Matsumoto Station. We recommend making the journey via Nagano Station as its notably quicker. Two train services connect Haneda Airport to central Tokyo, from where you can use the Hokuriku Shinkansen line to reach Nagano.
- The Tokyo Monorail connects the airport to Tokyo Station via Hamamatsucho Station in around 30 minutes. From the airport take the monorail to Hamamatsucho Station (20 min/JPY170) and then switch to the JR Yamanote Line or JR Keihin-Tohoku/Negishi Line Rapid bound for Tokyo Station (5 min/JPY160) – a total journey of around 30-minutes / JPY660 one-way. Once at Tokyo Station, follow the directions above to reach Nagano and then onto Omachi.
2. The Keikyu Railway connects the airport to Tokyo Station via Shinagawa Station. Take the Keikyu Airport bound to Shinagawa Station (approx.11 min/JPY300) and transfer to the Yamanote Line bound for Osaki to reach Tokyo Station – 13 min / JPY170 or a total journey of around 30 min / JPY470. Once at Tokyo Station, follow the directions above onto Nagano and Omachi.
FROM KARUIZAWA / ~2 hours
Karuizawa is one of Japan's most popular mountain resort towns and a stop on the Hokuriku Shinkansen line, making it easy to reach the Alpine Route via Nagano. Take the shinkansen from Karuizawa Station to Nagano Station – 25 min / JPY3210 – and follow the directions above onto Omachi.
FROM KANAZAWA / approx. 3.25 hours
Kanazawa Station is the northern terminus of the Hokuriku Shinkansen line. The easiest way to reach Omachi from Kanazawa is to take the shinkansen to from Kanazawa Station to Itoigawa Station, and make a transfer from the Shinkansen Line to the JR Oito Line to approach Omachi from the north. This option is cheaper than riding all the way to Nagano and takes around 3 hours and 15 minutes total.
FROM MATSUMOTO / approx. 1 hours
One of the most historic and enjoyable cities in Central Japan, Matsumoto is an easy location from where to access Omachi. Take the Oito Line from Matsumoto Station to Shinano-Omachi Station – approximately 60 minutes and JPY680 later and you will be there in no time!
FROM MATSUMOTO AIRPORT / approx. 1.5 hours
For visitors heading into Omachi from Matsumoto Airport, the airport shuttle bus operates to and from Matsumoto Bus Terminal (adjacent to Matsumoto Station). The bus takes around 30 minutes and costs around JPY600. Alternatively, taxis are also available – usually around 25 minutes / JPY4000 – to reach central Matsumoto with rental cars also available. Once in Matsumoto, follow the directions above to reach Omachi.
FROM NAGOYA / approx. 3.5 hours
Nagoya Station and Matsumoto are stops on the Shinano Train Line. Regular services connect the two cities each day. It takes approximately 130 minutes and costs JPY5610 to reach Matsumoto from Nagoya. Use the link above to access the timetable. Once in Matsumoto, follow the directions above to reach Omachi.
FROM THE NAKASENDO TRAIL / between 1 and 2 hours
Visitors to the Nakasendo Trail are likely to use the Limited Express 'Shinano' via either Nakatsugawa Station or Kiso-Fukushima Station. From those stations, it is easy to reach Matsumoto and onward to Omachi: from Nakatsugawa 75 min / JPY3840 and from Kiso-Fukushima 40 min / JPY2190. Use the link above to access the timetable. Once in Matsumoto, follow the directions above to reach Omachi.
FROM KYOTO & OSAKA / between 4.5 to 5 hours
From both Kyoto and Osaka, the easiest way to reach Matsumoto is via Nagoya Station. Both cities are on the Tokaido Shinkansen Line, making Nagoya readily accessible: taking 35 min / JPY5170 from Kyoto Station and 50 min / JPY5940 from Shin-Osaka Station. Once at Nagoya, follow the direction above to reach Matsumoto and onward to Omachi.
FROM KAMIKOCHI / approx. 2.5 hours
There are no direct buses from Kamikochi to Matsumoto. To travel between the two, you can take the bus from Kamikochi Bus Terminal to Shin-Shimashima Station and once there, transfer to the Kamikochi Line bound for Matsumoto Station. The total journey takes around 2 hours and costs JPY2500 per adult and JPY1250 per child. For full details, see the following timetable and fares page. Once in Matsumoto, follow the directions above to reach Omachi.
FROM TAKAYAMA / approx. 3.5 hours
Takayama to Matsumoto is an increasingly popular route for many international visitors. The Nohi Bus company operates multiple services each day, taking approximately 2.5 hours to reach Matsumoto. The bus departs from the Takayama Bus Terminal, located next to Takayama Station. Once in Matsumoto, follow the directions above to reach Omachi.
FROM SHIRAKAWA-GO & GOKAYAMA / approx. 4.5 hours
From the villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama, take the bus onto Takayama Station and follow the directions above. See the following page for information including timetables and fares to and from Takayama. Once in Matsumoto, follow the directions above to reach Omachi.
How to Get to From Omachi to the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route
After spending the night in Omachi, it’s time to explore one of Japan’s premier destinations: the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route. This world-famous route is easily accessible as a stress-free day trip from town.
The Alpico Group operates express buses from Shinano-Omachi Station to Ogizawa Station, stopping at both the Omachi Onsenkyo and Hinatayama Kogen along the way. This makes it simple to enjoy the first half of the route, from Ogizawa through Kurobe Dam to Murodo (home of the Snow Walls), before returning to Omachi as a round-trip excursion.
For those who want the full experience, the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Return Bus “Modo-Route” (Japanese only) departs from Tateyama Station in Toyama Prefecture at around 14:45 and returns to Shinano-Omachi and the Onsenkyo areas via Hakuba. Please refer to the link above for more details about this service.
20 THINGS TO DO IN OMACHI & WHERE TO STAY
While most visitors are drawn to Omachi for its proximity to the Alpine Route, many discover a city rich in crafts, culture, and nature once they arrive. After seeing the dramatic Snow Walls of Tateyama Kurobe, you’ll find that Omachi offers far more than a simple stopover.
Our “20 Things to Do Around Omachi & Where to Stay” page introduces a wide variety of activities and highlights, along with recommendations for accommodation in and around the city. Whether it’s outdoor adventures, traditional culture, or local cuisine, Omachi has plenty to make your trip more than a one-day visit.
CHARTERS AROUND OMACHI
We are proud to offer private tours and transport in and around the Omachi area, and other regional destinations. Our drivers and vehicles are fully certified, allowing us to transport you to and from your preferred destinations in combination with any activity that suits your schedule. All vehicles are well-maintained and in good condition, allowing you to relax and enjoy your ride to wherever you are going.
We can arrange both private tours with an English-speaking guide or a private charter, including a private vehicle and driver but without a guide. We’d love to be part of your adventure in Central Japan and help you discover even more! Please look HERE for more info on private charters and pricing.
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