Hello all,
Good evening. Our trip to Japan is nearing in the next two months and we are working through out itinerary. We were able to book all of our hotels and travel routes, but need advice/clarification on a few items. Any help appreciated!
1. We arrive into Haneda airport at 1:00 pm local time and will be heading straight to Kusatsu Onsen for two nights. I thought I had the travel routed all out, but our Ryokan stated that there are no buses from Karuizawa at the time we arrive to that town. Could someone offer advice on transit routes and if indeed the bus is running or whether we should route through another closer town via JR train?
1. Step one (1:30 pm) – Arrive in Hadena and then take the JR line to Tokyo Station.
2. Step two (2:00 pm) – Take the 1. Hokuriku Shinkansen (Specifically it seems the one called Tsurugi Shinkansen) from Tokyo to Karuizawa which leaves around the top of each hour.
3. Step three (3:30-4:00 pm) – Take the bus (Seibu Bus or Kusakaru Kotsu) from Karuizawa to Kusatsu Onsen.
4 comments
The second possible route found is the following.
15:10
Departs
UENO
line
Asama 617
15:59
Arrives
TAKASAKI
16:07
Departs
TAKASAKI
line
Ryomo Line
16:17
Arrives
SHIM-MAEBASHI
16:21
Departs
SHIM-MAEBASHI
line
Agatsuma Line
17:35
Arrives
NAGANOHARAKUSATSUGUCHI
From NaganoHarakusatsuguchi station is seems there is a bus that leaves about 5 minutes after we arrive to Kusatsu Onsen. While I’m not sure we could make that, they also have a bus the next hour as well. Does this seem possible?
TSURIGI is the service name, many others also goes to Karuizawa.
Overall your timing is a bit tight for everything, especially if you get delayed at the airport.
I think it’s doable but you may arrive one or two hours later than expected. Arriving at Kusatsu at 4PM when your flight lands at 1PM is incredibly optimistic and I wouldn’t count on it. You might be spending a lot of time trying to buy the right tickets at various stations(UENO, probably), get stressed at the machines and had to join a long time at the manned ticket desks.
The bus ride from Karuizawa to Kusatsu takes 1.5 hours, not 30mins btw. And the last bus seems to depart Karuizawa at 3.30PM
Worst case scenario you would need to get a taxi from Karuizawa much later in the day. I would have stayed a night in Tokyo and travel to Kusatsu very early the morning after.
a. There is no JR line at Haneda, you will need to take Keikyu or Tokyo Monorail to the Yamanote line first.
b. No, the Tsurugi only run between Toyama an Kanazawa. You have to take the Asama. Some Hakutaka also stop by, so you would have to confirm the next one is stopping by.
There is absolutely 0 chance to catch the Shinkansen at Tokyo station at 2pm when you arrive at 1:30! I would be extremely surprised if you even were out of the airport by 2.