Yuzawa Town is especially convenient to reach from central Tokyo - you can be in the town and on the slopes in less than 90 minutes from leaving Tokyo. The three main winter resort regions in the area are central Yuzawa, Naeba and Minamiuonuma.

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The stations on the Joetsu Shinkansen line are as follows

If you prefer to avoid the Shinkansen - and have more time to spare - the local Takasaki line (from Tokyo) and then the Joetsu line (from Takasaki) will take you from the Tokyo area, through Gunma and into Niigata Prefecture and beyond.

Shinjuku Station > Takasaki line > Takasaki
Takasaki > Joetsu line > Echigo Yuzawa Station

The fastest way to get to the Niigata regions by train is by Shinkansen to Tokyo and then from Tokyo to Yuzawa. This can, however, become rather expensive, and so a local train may be preferred. There is an overnight train service that comes from Nagoya into Niigata (using the Hokuriku Line and then the Hokuhoku-sen that goes to Yuzawa).

The Kanetsu Expressway (toll road) runs through Yuzawa.  The journey from Nerima I.C. in northern Tokyo to Yuzawa I.C. is about 176km and in good conditions can take less than two hours.  (Please note that in bad weather conditions and peak times, it can take considerably longer).  The journey takes you north through Saitama and Gunma Prefectures, under the Tanigawa mountain range in northern Gunma and into Yuzawa Town.

If you are planning on visiting the resorts in the Yuzawa Town area and Minamiuonuma, get off the Expressway at Yuzawa I.C.   From the exit, either turn left onto Route 17 towards Kandatsu, Kagura and Naeba or turn right onto Route 17 towards other resorts in Yuzawa and Minamiuonuma.

(If you are planning on visiting Naeba or Kagura you might want to get off the Kanetsu Expressway before then at the Tsukiyono I.C. in Gunma Prefecture.  From there, take Route 17 and head north to Naeba).

If you are planning on visiting the resorts in Mimaniuonuma you can either take Route 17 north through Yuzawa or continue on the Kanetsu Expressway past Yuzawa I.C. and get of either at Shiozawa Ishiuchi I.C. or Muikamachi I.C.

Nerima IC >
KANETSU EXPRESSWAY >
Yuzawa IC
 

The most direct way to get to the Yuzawa region from western Japan is by first getting to Nagano City and then making your way past Nozawa Onsen and then using Route 353 from Tsunan over the mountain into Niigata Prefecture. The journey from Nozawa Onsen to Yuzawa takes about 70 minutes.

The other alternative is to take the Chuo Expressway to Tokyo and then the Kanetsu Expressway to Yuzawa.