Getting to Niigata
Niigata Area Transportation Map
Get to Niigata Prefecture in as little as 1 hour and 20 minutes from Tokyo! The major access routes are the following two Shinkansen routes from Tokyo via Takasaki. It is possible to access Niigata Prefecture quickly from Tokyo and the Kanto area: it takes 50 minutes from Tokyo to Takasaki and then 30 minutes from Takasaki to Echigo Yuzawa or 1 hour from Takasaki to Joetsu Myoko.
● Joetsu Shinkansen: Tokyo → Echigo Yuzawa / Niigata
● Hokuriku Shinkansen: Tokyo → Joetsu Myoko / Itoigawa
It is convenient to take an airplane that lands in Niigata Airport if you are visiting from Nagoya or Osaka. There are also direct flights from neighboring countries to Niigata Airport.
For those used to driving in Japan, how about taking a drive around Niigata Prefecture? There are many fascinating areas unique to Niigata that are hard to reach with public transportation, such as hidden hot springs deep in the mountains, stunning rural landscapes, breathtaking sunset spots and hole-in-the-wall sushi bars.
With the freedom of driving yourself on a road trip, you can see up-close how people in Niigata live their daily lives, and immerse yourself in the charms of Niigata’s bountiful nature. You can enjoy the experience of driving itself along beautiful scenic routes. Driving around Niigata will be one of the highlights of your trip to Japan.
When using the expressway, be sure to check if there are any discount services available to you, and check Japanese traffic rules.
Expressway Routes / Toll Calculator / Traffic Rules (E-Nexco Drive Plaza)