Trains from Airports to Iiyama

Narita

Catching the train is a common mode of transport to Nagano and then onto Iiyama.

Once you’ve arrived in Narita Airport (the Tokyo international airport) and you have collected your baggage.

Now before we go any further, decide whether you would prefer to have your luggage sent on to Alpha Lodge, as lugging it on & off trains etc can be a bit of a struggle especially if you are traveling on your own. If you decide to send it on, then as you enter the arrival area go to the right and find the Black Cat (Yamato) desk. The address of Alpha Lodge is 1101 – 101 Tarumoto-hei, Myoko shi, Niigata-ken. 

Now that you’ve possibly lightened your load, follow the train signs and purchase your ticket/s at the Narita Express (NEX) counter. You can buy a Shinkansen ticket here all the way to Iiyama from this counter and it is best to get a reserved seat. This will cost you approx 11,300 yen. Make sure that this train stops at Iiyama as some don’t. You can ask for a return if you are returning within a few weeks, but any longer I’m not sure how long the return ticket lasts for, so make sure you check this!

Follow the signs to the Narita express on platform 1, which is further on past ticket counter but on the same side and both escalators go there. On the platform find your car no on the platform concrete. The train will be on time so make sure you are in line to board at the appropriate time. You will need to transfer at Tokyo Central.

From Haneda

Once you exit customs, go right if you want to do the luggage concierge to Madarao by after

Get off at Tokyo and head for the Shinkansen train logo on the train info boards which are everywhere. Follow the logo until you find Shinkansen South 14-23, Generally, platform 23 is for Nagano/Iiyama but it won’t hurt to check at the turn style. The train attendants are very helpful and a lot now speak quite good English

At this point it might pay to grab a Sushi snack or Bento box before you go through, otherwise, you can buy food and drinks on the train, but there’s not much to choose from.

It is manners in Japan to line up behind other passengers, then jump on board find your seat then stow yr luggage ski n boards need to be quickly thrown up on overhead racks along with whatever else you have. Take your seat and enjoy your gourmet meal and perhaps a beer or wine and enjoy your journey to your next adventure with us.

Don’t get off at Nagano please as some have before. Stay in your seat but be ready to get off at the next stop which is Iiyama. Pronounced (Eeyama)

Follow the exit signs, through the exit gates (put all your tickets into the slot if more than one) Keep going around to your right, find the escalator and go down to information and ask for next bus to Madarao, if there has been no pick up arranged. Check out the location guide below for Alpha bus stop and also hit the bus time table link and go for the comminity bus as it is cheaper, but when all ease fails go for the other just 300 yen dearer.

Jump on the Madarao bus, then hop off at the Kogan Hotel or before this the Drop Off Bar or Alpha Lodge. See location map here

For more information:

Location & Access