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Train Schedule and Information

The best way to get to Matsumoto from Tokyo is by express train. Trains in Japan are called by various names, and the express train to Matsumoto is called the Limited Express "Azusa" or "Super Azusa", and sometimes "Kaiji".

There are basically two lines that you will travel on, the Chuo line out of Shinjuku (in western Tokyo) and the Oito line out of Matsumoto.

I have listed the majority of trains leaving from Shinjuku in the morning.
JR Chuo line

Station

Super
Azusa #3

Kaiji
#101
Azusa
#93
Azusa
#53
Super
Azusa #5

Shinjuku

08:00

08:30
08:33
09:00
10:00

Kofu

Matsumoto

(10:44)

11:38
11:48
11:56
12:30

JR Oito line

Matsumoto
8:47
9:46

11:06

12:04
12:56

(7 Stations)

Toyoshina

(10:56)
11:28

12:26
13:15

Hakuyacho
9:22
10:08

11:31

12:30
13:18

Hotaka

11:00

U-turn on JR Oito line

Hotaka

11:07

Hakuyacho

11:09

Travel Time

3:09

3:59
3:56
3:30
3:18

The easiest train to take is probably Azusa #53, as it leaves Shinjuku at 9:00 AM and arrives at Hakuyacho at 12:30 giving plenty of time to get to the chapel. You may wish to eat an O-bento box lunch on the train before reaching Matsumoto.

Cost: A one-way ticket from Tokyo to Matsumoto is approximately 6,710 yen (reserved) or 6,200 yen (non-reserved). If there are no seats left, you can stand in the aisles. The train line is operated by JR East, and you can use a Japan Rail Pass for this. There are three classes of seat. "Green" (first class), "Reserved", and "Non-reserved". I highly recommend the reserved seats which only cost 500 yen more. There are also discount tickets (kaisu ken) available in packages of 4 one-way tickets, suitable for people travelling in pairs. They cost 18,440 yen (reserved) or 16,760 yen (non-reserved) for a saving of 2,100 yen per ticket.

On Saturday:
If you plan on getting Non-reserved seats, you should expect to be at the train station a full hour before departure to get the slightest chance of a seat. If you get to the station any later, I guarantee that you will stand all the way to Matsumoto.

If you plan on getting a reserved ticket, expect the reserved tickets to be sold out about two weeks before departure. If you need any help obtaining a discount ticket or reserved seat, please let us known in advance.

Special note about the Super Azusa #3 train:

The Super Azusa #3 train which leaves Shinjuku station at 8:00 AM continues past Matsumoto and gets you all the way to Hotaka, which is one station too far. Catching the first train back to Hakuyacho will bring you in by 11:09 AM. Alternatively, taking this train and getting off at Matsumoto will give you some time for having lunch in Matsumoto before coming up to Hakuyacho.

If you are coming from Kansai:

There are also express trains (called "Shinano") to Matsumoto serving the Kansai region (including Kobe, Osaka, and Nagoya). The express train leaves from Nagoya to Matsumoto on approximately an hourly basis, and the travel time to Matsumoto is approximately 2 hours. Almost all of the Shinano trains continue up to Nagano city (site of the Nagano winter olympics), but a couple of trains travel up into Azumino instead. The "Shinano #5", leaving Nagoya station at 8:30 AM continues up beyond Matsumoto towards Hakuba, and arrives in Toyoshina station at 11:13 AM or Hotaka station at 11:18 AM. (See Transportation to Azumino for more information).

Additional train information can be found on the following pages:

http://www.fandrich.net/eric/ceremony_transport.html
http://www.fandrich.net/eric/trains.html
http://www.fandrich.net/eric/narita_express.html
http://www.fandrich.net/eric/transportation.html

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