Nagaden Shiga Kogen Express Bus Timetable

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:

Please feel free to click on the images below to increase their display size.

The timetable for Summer (April-December) 2025 is as follows.

Blue text: The service to Okushiga Kogen operates from July 19 to August 31 and from October 1 to December 5, 2025.

Red text: The service between Zenko-ji Temple Daimon and Nagano Station East Exit, and between Hotaru Onsen and Kusatsu Onsen operates from April 23 to November 3, 2025.

From Nagano to Shiga Kogen

From Shiga Kogen to Nagano

Only two services a day departs from Kusatsu Onsen and runs through Shiga Kogen to Nagano Station.

It is also important to note that there sometimes additional pick-up and drop-off points at roadside stops between Nagano Station and the Snow Monkey Park. These are of little use to international visitors so have not been listed on the schedules above.

The timetable for Winter 2024-2025 is shown below.
Please use it as a reference for what next year's timings may be.

From Nagano to Shiga Kogen

From Shiga Kogen to Nagano

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!