Nagano is connected to Tokyo by the Hokuriku Shinkansen, which runs from Tokyo Station to Nagano Station in around 80 minutes on the fastest Kagayaki services. This replaced the older Nagano Shinkansen line built for the 1998 Olympics. From Osaka or Kyoto, the most convenient route is via Tokyo or via Nagoya with a change to limited express trains, taking around 3 to 4 hours total.
By road, Nagano is about 220 kilometres from Tokyo. Highway buses connect Tokyo's Shinjuku Bus Terminal to Nagano in roughly 3.5 to 4 hours depending on traffic, and the fare is considerably cheaper than the shinkansen. Several overnight services run from Tokyo and Osaka. Nagano has no commercial airport — the nearest is Matsumoto Airport to the southwest, which has seasonal services from Sapporo, Fukuoka, and Naha, but for most international visitors the shinkansen from Tokyo is the practical choice.