Nagaden operates a variety of express bus services to some of Nagano’s most popular destinations including Shiga Kogen Ski Resort and surrounding Joshinetsu Kogen National Park. On this page you will find the following information:
Express bus services operate all year round with an increase in services during winter, to cover peak season. The express bus operates to and from Bus Stop No.23 outside the East Exit of Nagano Station. Tickets are bought directly from the driver once on the bus. For full details regarding how to use Nagaden's express bus services, please refer to our 'Nagaden Express Snow Monkey / Shiga Kogen Express Bus' page.
A one-way journey from Nagano Station to Shiga Kogen (or the reverse journey) costs: JPY2,200 to JPY2,500 per adult depending on which part of the resort you are heading to/from.
Shiga Kogen Express Bus Timetable
From Nagano Station, the bus just over an hour to reach the first stop in Shiga Kogen - Sun Valley - or for services that continue that far, almost two hours to reach Mount Shirane. Shiga Kogen Yamanoeki (Mountain Station) is a stop on all services, making it a convenient point to disembark and board the bus while in Shiga.
The 'Pulse Gondola' will operates from Shiga Kogen Yamanoeki making it the easiest and quickest point to access the resort. The schedules below operate outside of winter with all stated prices the cost of a single adult ticket:
The timetable for Summer 2025 has recently been released. Please find it below.
Nagano Station - Snow Monkey Park - Shiga Kogen - Kusatsu Onsen
Zenkoji Temple Gate 善光寺大門 | Nagano Station East Gate 長野駅東口 | Snow Monkey Park スノーモンキーパーク | Sun Valley サンバレー | Maruike 丸池 | Hasuike (Arrival) 蓮池ひろば (降車) | Shiga Kogen Yamanoeki 志賀高原山の駅 | Hasuike 蓮池ひろば | Happo Onsen 発哺温泉 | Takamagahara 高天ヶ原 | Ichinose 一の瀬 | Ichinose Ski Resorts 一の瀬スキー場 | Prince Hotel West プリンスホテル西館 | Prince Hotel South プリンスホテル南館 | Prince Hotel East プリンスホテル東館 | Okushiga Gondola 奧志賀ゴンドラ前 | Okushiga Kogen Hotel 奧志賀高原ホテル | Kidoike 木戸池 | Hiratoko 平床 | Kumanoyu 熊の湯 | Kumanoyu 熊の湯 | Nozoki のぞき | Shibutoge 渋峠 | Kusatsu Onsen 草津温泉 | |
★ | - | 09:00 | 09:50 | 10:10 | 10:11 | 10:12 | 10:15 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
◇ | - | 10:40 | 11:30 | 11:50 | 11:51 | 11:52 | 11:55 | 11:55 | → | → | → | → | → | → | → | → | → | 12:02 | 12:04 | 12:05 | 12:07 | 12:18 | 12:21 | 13:00 |
★ | - | 12:30 | 13:20 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
△ | - | 13:05 | 13:55 | 14:15 | 14:16 | 14:17 | 14:20 | 14:25 | 14:36 | 14:40 | 14:41 | 14:42 | 14:44 | 14:44 | 14:45 | 14:48 | 14:54 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
◇ | 12:55 | 13:15 | 14:05 | 14:25 | 14:26 | 14:27 | 14:30 | 14:30 | → | → | → | → | → | → | → | → | → | 14:37 | 14:39 | 14:40 | 14:42 | 14:53 | 14:56 | 15:33 |
★ | - | 15:10 | 16:00 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Kusatsu Onsen - Shiga Kogen - Snow Monkey Park - Nagano Station
Kusatsu Onsen 草津温泉 | Shibutoge 渋峠 | Nozoki のぞき | Hotaru Onsen ほたる温泉 | Kumanoyu 熊の湯 | Hiratoko 平床 | Kidoike 木戸池 | Okushiga Kogen Hotel 奧志賀高原ホテル | Okushiga Gondola 奧志賀ゴンドラ前 | Prince Hotel East プリンスホテル東館 | Prince Hotel South プリンスホテル南館 | Prince Hotel West プリンスホテル西館 | Ichinose Ski Resorts 一の瀬スキー場 | Ichinose 一の瀬 | Takamagahara 高天ヶ原 | Happo Onsen 発哺温泉 | Hasuike (Arrival) 蓮池ひろば (降車) | Shiga Kogen Yamanoeki 志賀高原山の駅 | Hasuike 蓮池ひろば | Maruike 丸池 | Sun Valley サンバレー | Snow Monkey Park スノーモンキーパーク | Nagano Station East Gate 長野駅東口 | Zenkoji Temple Gate 善光寺大門 | |
★ | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 10:20 | 11:15 | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 10:30 | 10:30 | 10:31 | 10:32 | 10:46 | 11:46 | - | |
★ | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 13:30 | 14:25 | - |
◇ | 14:00 | 14:37 | 14:40 | 14:52 | 14:54 | 14:55 | 14:56 | → | → | → | → | → | → | → | → | → | 15:04 | 15:04 | 15:04 | 15:05 | 15:06 | 15:20 | 16:20 | 16:40 |
★ | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 16:30 | 17:25 | - |
△ | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 16:30 | 16:35 | 16:39 | 16:40 | 16:41 | 16:43 | 16:44 | 16:46 | 16:51 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:01 | 17:02 | 17:16 | 18:16 | - |
◇ | 16:50 | 17:27 | 17:30 | 17:42 | 17:44 | 17:45 | 17:46 | → | → | → | → | → | → | → | → | → | 17:54 | 17:54 | 17:54 | 17:55 | 17:56 | 18:10 | 19:10 | - |
△ Service to Okushiga Kogen operates from July 19 to August 31 and from October 1 to December 5, 2025.
◇ The service between Zenkoji-Daimon and Nagano Station East Exit, and between Hotaru Onsen and Kusatsu Onsen, operates from April 23 to November 3, 2025.
★ On May 3–6 and on Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays from May 25 onward, buses will operate as cashless payment only. Cash is not accepted on board.
If you plan to pay by cash, please purchase your ticket in advance at a ticket machine near the JR "Midori no Madoguchi" ticket counter.
The timetable for Winter 2024-2025 was as follows. Please use it as a reference for what next year's timings may be.
Nagano Station - Snow Monkey Park - Shiga Kogen
Nagano Station East Gate 長野駅東口 | Snow Monkey Park スノーモンキーパーク | Sun Valley サンバレー | Maruike 丸池 | Hasuike 蓮池ひろば | Shiga Kogen Yamanoeki 志賀高原山の駅 | Happo Onsen 発哺温泉 | Takamagahara 高天ヶ原 | Ichinose 一の瀬 | Ichinose Ski Resorts 一の瀬スキー場 | Prince Hotel West プリンスホテル西館 | Prince Hotel South プリンスホテル南館 | Prince Hotel East プリンスホテル東館 | Okushiga Gondola 奧志賀ゴンドラ前 | Okushiga Kogen Hotel 奧志賀高原ホテル | Kidoike 木戸池 | Hiratoko 平床 | Kumanoyu 熊の湯 | Hotaru Onsen ほたる温泉 |
8:15 | 9:00 | 9:29 | 9:31 | 9:32 | 9:35 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
8:50 | 9:35 | 10:04 | 10:06 | 10:07 | 10:10 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
9:10 | 9:57 | 10:26 | 10:28 | 10:29 | 10:32 | → | 10:42 | 10:44 | 10:45 | 10:46 | 10:48 | 10:50 | 10:57 | 11:07 | - | - | - | - |
10:10 | 11:00 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
10:20 | 11:07 | 11:36 | 11:38 | 11:39 | 11:42 | 11:55 | 12:02 | 12:04 | 12:05 | 12:06 | 12:08 | 12:10 | 12:17 | 12:27 | - | - | - | - |
11:15 | 12:02 | 12:31 | 12:33 | 12:34 | 12:37 | → | 12:47 | 12:49 | 12:50 | 12:51 | 12:53 | 12:55 | 13:02 | 13:12 | - | - | - | - |
12:20 | 13:05 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
13:05 | 13:52 | 14:21 | 14:23 | 14:24 | 14:27 | → | → | → | → | → | → | → | → | → | 14:35 | 14:37 | 14:40 | 14:42 |
13:10 | 13:57 | 14:26 | 14:28 | 14:29 | 14:32 | → | 14:42 | 14:44 | 14:45 | 14:46 | 14:48 | 14:50 | 14:57 | 15:07 | - | - | - | - |
14:30 | 15:17 | 14:46 | 15:48 | 15:49 | 15:52 | 16:05 | 16:12 | 16:14 | 16:15 | 16:16 | 16:18 | 16:20 | 16:27 | 16:37 | - | - | - | - |
15:20 | 16:05 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
17:25 | 18:12 | 18:41 | 18:43 | 18:44 | 18:47 | DNS | 18:57 | 18:59 | 19:00 | 19:01 | 19:03 | 19:05 | 19:12 | 19:22 | - | - | - | - |
21:00 | → | 22:05 | 22:07 | 22:08 | 22:10 | 22:23 | 22:30 | 22:32 | 22:33 | 22:34 | 22:36 | 22:38 | 22:45 | 22:55 | - | - | - | - |
Shiga Kogen - Snow Monkey Park - Nagano Station
Hotaru Onsen ほたる温泉 | Kumanoyu 熊の湯 | Hiratoko 平床 | Kidoike 木戸池 | Okushiga Kogen Hotel 奧志賀高原ホテル | Okushiga Gondola 奧志賀ゴンドラ前 | Prince Hotel East プリンスホテル東館 | Prince Hotel South プリンスホテル南館 | Prince Hotel West プリンスホテル西館 | Ichinose Ski Resorts 一の瀬スキー場 | Ichinose 一の瀬 | Takamagahara 高天ヶ原 | Happo Onsen 発哺温泉 | Shiga Kogen Yamanoeki 志賀高原山の駅 | Hasuike 蓮池ひろば | Maruike 丸池 | Sun Valley サンバレー | Snow Monkey Park スノーモンキーパーク | Nagano Station East Gate 長野駅東口 |
- | - | - | - | 07:45 | 07:50 | 07:55 | 07:56 | 07:57 | 08:00 | 08:02 | 08:04 | → | 08:25 | 08:25 | 08:26 | 08:32 | 08:50 | 09:45 |
- | - | - | - | 09:40 | 09:45 | 09:50 | 09:51 | 09:52 | 09:55 | 09:57 | 09:59 | 10:06 | 10:30 | 10:30 | 10:31 | 10:32 | 10:55 | 11:50 |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 10:30 | 10:30 | 10:31 | 10:32 | 10:55 | 11:50 |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 11:15 | 12:10 |
- | - | - | - | 11:40 | 11:45 | 11:50 | 11:51 | 11:52 | 11:55 | 11:57 | 11:59 | → | 12:20 | 12;20 | 12:21 | 12:22 | 12:45 | 13:40 |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 14:00 | 14:55 |
- | - | - | - | 13:20 | 13:25 | 13:30 | 13:31 | 13:32 | 13:35 | 13:37 | 13:39 | → | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:01 | 14:02 | 14:25 | 15:20 |
- | - | - | - | 14:45 | 14:50 | 14:55 | 14:56 | 14:57 | 15:00 | 15:02 | 15:04 | → | 15:25 | 15:25 | 15:26 | 15:27 | 15:50 | 16:45 |
15:05 | 15:06 | 15:07 | 15:10 | → | → | → | → | → | → | → | → | → | 15:25 | 15:25 | 15:26 | 15:27 | 15:50 | 16:45 |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 16:40 | 17:35 |
- | - | - | - | 16:00 | 16:05 | 16:10 | 16:11 | 16:12 | 16:15 | 16:17 | 16:19 | → | 16:40 | 16:40 | 16:41 | 16:42 | 17:05 | 18:00 |
- | - | - | - | 17:20 | 17:25 | 17:30 | 17:31 | 17:32 | 17:35 | 17:37 | 17:39 | → | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:01 | 18:02 | 18:25 | 19:20 |
It is important to note that there are additional pick-up and drop-off points at roadside stops between Nagano Station and the monkey park. These are of little use to international visitors so have not been listed on the schedules above.
Ticketing & Travel Passes
Tickets are bought directly from the driver once on the bus therefore no advanced booking is required. Please note, the Snow Monkey Pass does not cover bus services to and from Shiga Kogen. Adult prices are listed in the schedules above. Payment must be made with cash.
Shiga Kogen Ski Resort: Everything You Need to Know
Located around 45km to the east of Nagano City, Shiga Kogen is Japan’s largest and highest ski resort, boasting an unmatched expanse of interconnected terrain and Nagano’s longest ski season. All the ski fields of Shiga Kogen are covered by an all-mountain pass and best enjoyed on a multi-day visit. Shiga’s ski fields lie between 1340 and 2307 metres and as such, are notably higher than any other resort in the region and ideally-suited to beginner and intermediate skiers and snowboarders. For a complete run-down of what’s on offer in Shiga, see our ‘Shiga Kogen Ski Resort’ page.
Book With Us! Accommodation & Ski Packages in Shiga
Based in Nagano and operating all year round, we are a registered travel agent, tour and charter operator offering a full-suite of winter services including ski/snowboard packages, accommodation, lift passes, private charters and a range of tours including both group and private options covering Shiga Kogen. Accommodation is dotted across the resort’s expansive 600ha of terrain with the nearby hot spring villages of Kanbayashi Onsen, Shibu Onsen and Yudanaka Onsen offering a great alternative for visitors wanting to enjoy Japan’s ‘onsen’ culture – PLAN & BOOK IN SHIGA NOW!