We get into Osaka Web 28th Feb at 8pm and would like to know the best way to get out to Nozawa.

Open to whatever option is the best. What is the quickest way?

I fly out from Osaka at 9.20pm later on the next week and would like to get as much riding in on the last day. What is the best way to get back?

http://grace.hyperdia.com/cgi-english/hyperWeb.cgi

this is your best friend for looking at this.

Incorporates flights and shinkansens into it as well - prices vary from 7,000 yen up to 30,000yen and journey times from 12 hours to 6 hours

leaving 28th Feb

Route Departure time/Platform Arrival time/Platform Total sum Required time Distance Number of
transfers
The first OSAKA(23:00) 9 KAMISAKAI(09:52) ¥16320 10hours 52min 559.2 km 5times
The second OSAKA(22:22) 10 KAMISAKAI(11:12) ¥22460 12hours 50min 820.7 km 2times
The third OSAKA(21:47) 7 KAMISAKAI(12:17) ¥12370 14hours 30min 559.2 km 7times
The fourth OSAKA(21:00) 9 KAMISAKAI(13:44) ¥7670 16hours 44min 483.1 km 7times
The fifth OSAKA(21:00) 9 KAMISAKAI(17:23) ¥8760 20hours 23min 559.2 km 6times


leaving 29th
Route Departure time/Platform Arrival time/Platform Total sum Required time Distance Number of
transfers
The first OSAKA(07:45) 7 KAMISAKAI(13:44) ¥12200 5hours 59min 483.1 km 4times
The second OSAKA(07:16) 8 KAMISAKAI(13:44) ¥20440 6hours 28min 820.7 km 4times
The third OSAKA(06:39) 7 KAMISAKAI(13:44) ¥12200 7hours 05min 483.1 km 4times
The fourth OSAKA(06:13) 7 KAMISAKAI(13:44) ¥20440 7hours 31min 820.7 km 4times
The fifth OSAKA(07:10) 7 KAMISAKAI(14:49) ¥20800 7hours 39min 833.3 km 4times

sorry about the layout but you get the idea

Thanks for that site. We have a similar site here in Sydney that I use all the time.

Too be honest I didnt realise it was that far!

Any ideas where to lookup bus information?

sammy tours have good deals. this is info for return bus tix from osaka to nozawa with lift tix included for 1-3 days.
they also have buses going to heaps of other resorts too in nagano and gifu.
good luck with the japanese.

have you tried odakyu tours?

they do a lot from the kanto area - never tried them myself.

I seem to be having problems finding contact details of Sammy Tours and Odakyu Tours. Googling doesnt come up with much.

Can someone point me in the right direction?

We leave this Wed 27th and still have not been able to find a good option to get from Osaka (Kansai) to Nozawa Onsen in any reasonable time.

Our flight arrives at 8pm on Wed 27th Feb.

If anyone has any suggestions that gets us there before 10am I would love to hear them!

On the way back it is worse!

I have to get back for a 9.20pm flight and it looks like I have to leave at 11am!!!!!

Surely there is a better way?

The answer to this is dont bother trying. Snow rocked. Transfers sucked.

Suggest if you want to grab a cheap flight to Osaka on Jetstar to go hit the snow that you incorporate a day around Osaka, Kyoto or Nagoya as well.

Third trip to Japan, definately the shortest but possibly the best.