Getting To & Getting Around (As of April 2024)
Niigata City is located on the northwest coast of Honshu, Japan’s largest island, facing the Japan Sea. The two main ways of reaching the city are by plane into Niigata International Airport, and by train into JR Niigata Station. Direct international flights fly to and from Seoul, Shanghai, and Harbin. Domestic flights fly to and from many major cities, including Tokyo (Narita), Osaka, Kobe, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Okinawa and Sapporo. The JR Joetsu shinkansen (bullet train) can take you from Tokyo Station to JR Niigata Station in about 2 hours.
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International Airline Service
| Coming From | Flights | Flight Time | Carriers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seoul | Three flights weekly (Tue, Thu, Sat) | 1 hr 55 min | KAL, JAL |
| Shanghai | Twice weekly (Wed, Sat) | 3 hr 35 min | CES, JAL |
| Harbin | Four flights weekly (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat) | 3 hr 10 min | CSN |
| Khabarovsk | Summer only | 2 hr 05 min | SYL |
| Vladivostok | Summer only | 1 hr 30 min | SYL |
| Taipei | Twice weekly (Tue, Fri) | 3 hr 30 min | TTW |
Links
Niigata Airport ｜ Korean Air (KAL) ｜ China Eastern Airlines (CES)｜Chinal Southern Airlines (CSN) ｜ Tigerair(TTW) ｜ Japan Airlines (JAL) ｜ All Nippon Airways(ANA) ｜Yakutia Airlines (SYL)
Getting From Niigata Airport to Niigata Station
From Other Points in Japan
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JR Shinkansen (Bullet Train)
- Joetsu Shinkansen
- Tohoku Shinkansen
- Hokuriku Shinkansen
- Tokaido Shinkansen
JR Train Lines
- Yonesaka Line
- Ban-etsu West Line
- Hokuriku Main Line
Expressways
- Yamagata Expressway
- Nihonkai-Tohoku Expressway
- Ban-etsu Expressway
- Kan-etsu Expressway
- Tohoku Expressway
- Kita-Kanto Expressway
- Joban Expressway
- Chuo Expressway
- Joshin-etsu Expressway
- Hokuriku Expressway
- Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway
- Nagano Expressway
- Tomei Expressway
- Meishin Expressway
Ferry
- Otaru – Niigata
- Ryotsu – Niigata
Domestic Air Service
- Sapporo – Niigata
- Okinawa – Niigata
- Fukuoka – Niigata
- Osaka – Niigata
- Nagoya – Niigata
- Narita – Niigata
- Kobe – Niigata
- Sendai – Niigata
Getting to or Getting Around from Tokyo
Perhaps the most convenient way to travel between Tokyo and Niigata is by the “Toki” or “Max Toki” shinkansen (bullet train), on JR East’s Jostsu Shinkansen line. Trains runs approximately 26 times each way on weekdays, and about 26 times on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, with earliest departures just after 6 am, and the final departure between 9 and 10 pm. One-way adult fares start at 10,570 yen. Foreigners visiting for short-term travel may wish to purchase a JR East pass or Japan Rail pass, which offer unlimited free travel on JR train lines. Travel by plane is also available; ANA runs one daily flight between Narita Airport and Niigata Airport. Niigata can also be reached by bus or car via expressway. Nineteen express buses for Niigata leave each day from the terminal just outside the east exit of Tokyo’s Ikebukuro train station.
| From | Route | Approx. Travel Time | Carrier |
|---|---|---|---|
| JR Tokyo Station (Joetsu Shinkansen） | JR Tokyo Stn – Joetsu Shinkansen – JR Niigata Stn | 2 hr | JR East (train) |
| Narita Aiport (Domestic) | Narita Airpot – Niigata Airport | 65 min | ANA (plane) |
| Ikebukuro Station (rapid bus) | Ikebukuro Stn East Exit – Kan-etsu and Hokuriku Expressways – Niigata Station Bus Terminal | 5 hr 20 min | Niigata Kotsu, others (bus) |
Links
East JR (JR East Passes） ｜ Japan Rail Passes ｜ ANA
By Domestic Airline
Planes fly to and from the cities indicated below. The bus ride from Niigata Airport to the center of the city (Niigata Train Station) takes about 25 minutes.
| From | Carrier (flights per day) | Approx. Travel Time |
|---|---|---|
| Sapporo (New Chitose Airport) | ANA (3); JAL (2） | 75 min |
| Sapporo (Okadama Airport) | TOK (2) | 105 min |
| Sendai (Sendai Airport) | TOK (2) | 50 min |
| Narita (Narita Intl. Airport) | ANA（1） | 65 min |
| Nagoya (Chubu Centrair Intl. Airport) | ANA（1） | 60 min |
| Nagoya (Komaki Airport) | FDA (2) | 55 min |
| Osaka（Osaka Intl. Airport） | ANA (4); JAL (4); IBX (2） | 60 min |
| Osaka (Kansai Intl. Airport) | APJ（1） | 85 min |
| Kobe（Kobe Airport） | FDA（1） | 75 min |
| Fukuoka（Fukuoka Airport) | IBX (2); FDA (1) | 90 min |
| Okinawa (Naha Airport)(Oct. to May) | ANA（1） | 2 hr 25 min |
Links
Niigata Airport｜From Niigata Airport to Niigata Station
By Train
The Joetsu Shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo terminates at Niigata. Other shinkasen to and from Niigata run from Kobe, Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, Nagano, Sendai, and other citiies as shown below. Foreigners visiting for short-term travel may wish to purchase a JR East pass or Japan Rail pass, which offer unlimited free travel on JR train lines.
| From | Route | Approx. Travel Time |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo | Tokyo Stn – Joetsu Shinkansen – Niigata Stn | 2 hr (Fastest: 97 min) |
| Aichi (Nagoya) | Nagoya Stn – Tokaido Shinkansen –Tokyo Stn – Joetsu Shinkansen – Niigata Stn | 3 hr 40 min (Shortest route) |
| Osaka | Shin-Osaka Stn – Tokaido Shinkansen – Tokyo Stn – Joetsu Shinkansen – Niigata Stn | 5 hr |
| Akita | Akita Stn – Tokkyu Inaho – Sakata Stn – Tsuruoka Stn – Niigata Stn | 4 hr |
| Yamagata | Sakata Stn –Kaisoku Kirakira Uetsu (special) – Tsuruoka Stn – Murakami Stn – Niigata Stn | 2 hr 20 min |
| Miyagi | Sendai Stn – Tohoku Shinkansen – Omiya Stn – Joetsu Shinkansen – Niigata Stn | 3 hr 30 min |
| Fukushima | Aizuwakamatsu Stn – Kaisoku Agano – Niigata Stn | 2 hr 15 min |
| Aizuwakamatsu Stn – Kaisoku SL Banetsu Monogatari – Niigata Stn | 3 hr 35 min | |
| Nagano | Nagano Stn – Hokuriku Shinkansen – Takasaki Stn – Joetsu Shinkansen – Niigata Stn | 2 hr 30 min |
| Kanazawa | Kanazawa Stn – Tokkyu Hokuetsu – Toyama Stn – Niigata Stn | 3 hr 40 min |
Links
East JR (JR East Passes） ｜ Japan Rail Passes
By Car (via Expressway)
Niigata is served by three major expressways: the Hokuriku, the Ban-etsu, and the Nihonkai-Tohoku.
∗ The distance and time described below are for reference only.
| From | Route | Approx. Travel Time / Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo | Nerima IC – Kan-etsu Expy – Nagaoka JCT – Hokuriku Expy – Niigata West IC | 3 hr 30 min 298 km (185 mi.) |
| Saitama | Tokorozawa IC – Kan-etsu Expy – Nagaoka JCT – Hokuriku Expy – Niigata West IC | 3 hr 20 min 289 km (180 mi.) |
| Urawa IC – Tohoku Expy – Iwafune JCT – Kita-Kanto Expy – Takasaki JCT – Kan-etsu Expy – Nagaoka JCT – Hokuriku Expy – Niigata West IC | 3 hr 40 min 325 km (202 mi.) | |
| Gunma (Takasaki) | Takasaki IC – Kan-etsu Expy – Nagaoka JCT – Hokuriku Expy – Niigata West IC | 2 hr 30 min 211 km (131 mi) |
| Ibaraki | Mito IC – Joban Expy – Iwaki JCT – Ban-etsu Expy – Niigata Central IC | 3 hr 50 min 302 km (188 mi) |
| Tochigi | Utsunomiya IC – Tohoku Expy – Koriyama JCT – Ban-etsu Expy – Niigata Central IC | 3 hr 20 min 259 km (161 mi) |
| Aomori | Aomori IC – Tohoku Expy – Koriyama JCT – Ban-etsu Expy – Niigata Central IC | 7 hr 10 min 601 km (373 mi) |
| Iwate (Morioka) | Morioka IC – Tohoku Expy – Koriyama JCT – Ban-etsu Expy – Niigata Central IC | 5 hr 10 min 434 km (270 mi) |
| Miyagi (Sendai) | Sendai-Miyagi IC – Tohoku Expy – Koriyama JCT – Ban-etsu Expy – Niigata Central IC | 3 hr 20 min 254 km (158 mi) |
| Akita | Akita Central IC – Akita Expy – Kawabe JCT – Nihonkai-Tohoku Expy – Kisakata IC – R7 – Sakata Minato IC – Nihonkai-Tohoku Expy – Atsumi Onsen IC – R7 – Asahi Mahoroba IC – Nihonkai-Tohoku Expy – Niigata Kameda IC | 5 hr 40 min 275 km (171 mi) |
| Yamagata | Yamagata Central IC – Tohoku Central Expy – Fukushima JCT – Tohoku Expy – Koriyama JCT – Ban-etsu Expy – Niigata Central IC | 3 hr 34 min 264 km (164 mi) |
| Yamagata (Sakata) | Sakata IC – Nihonkai-Tohoku Expy – Atsumi Onsen IC – R7 – Asahi Maboroba IC – Nihonkai-Tohoku Expy – Niigata Kameda IC | 3 hr 11 min 154 km (96 mi) |
| Fukushima (Koriyama) | Koriyama IC – Tohoku Expy – Koriyama JCT – Ban-etsu Expy – Niigata Central IC | 2 hr 146 km (91 mi) |
| Fukushima (Aizu) | Aizuwakamatsu IC – Ban-etsu Expy – Niigata Central IC | 1 hr 22 min 96 km (60 mi) |
| Nagano | Nagano IC – Joshin-etsu Expy – Joetsu JCT – Hokuriku Expy – Niigata West IC | 2 hr 20 min 202 km (126 mi) |
| Nagano (Matsumoto) | Matsumoto IC – Nagano Expy – Koshoku JCT – Joshin-etsu Expy – Joetsu JCT – Hokuriku Expy – Niigata West IC | 3 hr 01 min 258 km (160 mi) |
| Toyama | Toyama IC – Hokuriku Expy – Niigata West IC | 2 hr 38 min 239 km (149 mi) |
| Ishiakawa (Kanazawa) | Kanazawa East IC – Hokuriku Expy – Niigata West IC | 3 hr 13 min 293 km (182 mi) |
| Aichi (Nagoya) | Nagaoya IC – Tomei Expy – Komaki JCT – Chuo Expy – Okaya JCT – Nagano Expy – Koshoku JCT – Joshin-etsu Expy – Joetsu JCT – Hokuriku Expy – Niigata West IC | 5 hr 30 min 460 km (286 mi) |
| Osaka | Suita IC – Meishin Expy – Maihara JCT – Hokuriku Expy – Niigata West IC | 6 hr 22 min 583 km (362 mi) |
Links
Drive Plaza (East Nippon Expressway Co.)
By Express Bus
Express buses travel between Niigata and other major cities via expressway.
| From | Route | Buses Per Day | Approx. Travel Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo | Ikebukuro Stn E Exit – Shimo-Ochiai Stn – Nerima Stn – Kawagoe Matoba – Niigata Stn – Bandai City Bus Cntr | 14 | 5 hr 12 min |
| Shinjuku Expway Bus Terminal – Ikebukuro Stn E Exit – Shimo-Ochiai Stn – Nerima Stn – Kawagoe Matoba – Niigata Stn – Bandai City Bus Cntr | 1 | 5 hr 42 min | |
| Shinjuku Expway Bus Terminal – Ikebukuro Stn E Exit –Omiya Stn W Exit – Niigata Stn – Bandai City Bus Cntr – Sado-kisen Ferry Terminal | 2 | 6 hr 10 min | |
| Osaka and Kyoto | Osaka (Hankyu 3-Ban Gai) – Kyoto Stn – Niigata Stn – Bandai City Bus Cntr | 1 | 9 hr 24 min |
| Miyagi (Sendai) | Sendai Stn E Exit – Niigata Stn – Bandai City Bus Cntr | 8 | 4 hr 13 min |
| Yamagata | Yamagata (Yamako Bldg terminal) – Niigata Stn – Bandai City Bus Cntr | 2 | 3 hr 34 min |
| Fukushima（Aizuwakamatsu） | Tsurugajo-Godochosha – Aizuwakamatsu Stn – Niigata Stn – Bandai City Bus Cntr | 4 | 2 hr 1 min |
| Nagano | Gondo – Nagano Stn – Niigata Stn – Bandai City Bus Cntr | 4 | 3 hr 24 min |
| Ishiakawa (Kanazawa) | Kanazawa Stn – Niigata Stn – Bandai City Bus Cntr | 2 | 4 hr 37 min |
| Toyama | Toyama Stn – Niigata Stn – Bandai City Bus Cntr | 2 | 3 hr 45 min |
| Aichi (Nagoya) | Meitetsu Bus Cntr – Niigata Stn – Bandai City Bus Cntr | 2 | 6 hr 59 min |
| Gunma (Takasaki, Maebashi) | Maebashi Bus Cntr – Takasaki Stn East Exit – Niigata Stn – Bandai City Bus Cntr | 2 | 3 hr 55 min |
Links
Bus transfer guide in Niigata city
From Niigata to Sado Island
You can travel between Niigata and Sado Island (Japan’s second largest outlying island, after Okinawa) by car ferry or jetfoil.
| Liner | Route | Approx. Travel Time |
|---|---|---|
| Car Ferry | Port of Niigata (Bandaijima Passenger Terminal) – Ryotsu (Sado Island) | 2 hr 30 min |
| Jetfoil (fast) | —Same as above— | 1 hr 5 min |