Driving from Narita Airport to Hakuba via the Kanetsu and Joshinetsu Expressways

Of the two routes for driving from Narita Airport and Tokyo to Hakuba, The Kanetsu -Joshin Etsu route is faster and easier.

The following route is from Narita Airport, but if already in Tokyo it is quite easy to get on this route via the start of the Kanetsu Expressway quite close to central Tokyo.

Using the diagram above and the expressway system in general, there are several abbreviations that will make things easier.:

JCT - Junction - Where 2 expressways meet.
IC - Interchange -Where you can get on and off the expressway system
PA- Parking Area - Basic Rest Area along the expressway system. Generally with toilets and vending machines
SA - Service Area - Same as a Parking Area (PA), but with more facilities. Generally have a few restaurants, Gas service Station and souvenir shops.
ETC  -Electronic Toll Collection - A system installed in cars that allows passage through toll booths and Interchanges without having to stop and pay the person on duty.

There are also 3 different types of toll gate / booth

This is ETC card systems only and the barrier gate will open as soon as as the sensor picks up the cars ETC equipment.

This is the manual system. On enter to the Expressway system, you take a ticket for the machine that records where you entered the system. On exit you hand this card to the toll booth attendant an they tell you how much the charges are.

Both ETC and manual systems are OK. If the sensor picks up a ETC system then the barrier automatically opens. if not, it will issue a ticket.

Route Information

1. The expressway starts right at the Airport, and you can get on the Expressway the Shin Kuko IC.

2. It is only 5 minutes or so before you arrive at the toll gate and Narita Junction. After the toll gate, get in the left had land and follow the signs directing you to "Tokyo", and this will get you onto the Higashi (East) Kanto Expwy.

3. You follow this road for about 45km and along the way it changes from the Higashi Kanto Expwy to the Tokyo Metro Wangan (Bay Shore) Route.

4.  You'll see Tokyo Disneyland to your left, and shortly after this you must transfer onto the the Tokyo Metro Central Circle Route ("Chuo Kanjo Sen"). The signs you want to follow are the ones heading towards "Misato"

5. The Tokyo Metro Central Circle Route is a raised highway that follows the Arakawa river. off to your left you'll see Tokyo Sky Tree, one of the tallest buildings in in the world.

6. Make sure you stay on the Tokyo Metro Central Circle Route at Kosuga JCT. You do this by following the signs to "Tohoku Expwy" as it veers off to the left. (Do not follow the "Misato" signs)

7. At Ekita JCT you need to follow the main lanes (right hand side) and this becomes the Tokyo Metro Kawaguchi Route after Ekita.

8. The next JCT is Kawaguchi JCT, and this can be a little confusing. At first eh signs you want to follow are those that say "Gaikan" and an arrow point to Oizumi and Misato (heading to the left).  Part way down the ramp heading to "Gaikan" the road splits again, and you need to take the left fork heading to "Oizumi", and NOT the right fork heading to "Misato".

9. Once you are on the Gaikan Expwy, then it is about 10km to Oizumi.

10. The Gaikan Expwy stops at Oizumi and you do a look around to your left and get on the Kanetsu Expwy.

11. Once on the Kanetsu Expwy it can be a good time to have a break as the SA along this route are quite good, with Takasaka SA, and Kamisato Sa being good places for  a rest or to change drivers.

12. From Oizumi it is about 75km to Fujioka JCT, where you use the left lane to get onto the Joshin Etsu Expressway.

13. The Joshin Etsu Expy runs all the way to Nagano, with the only JCT being at Koshoku, just before you exit the Expressway System at Nagano IC.  Before Koshoku JCT get in the right hand lane that heads up and over to your right. From there it is about 8km to Nagano IC.

14. Exit at Nagano IC (there are Hakuba signs from this point).

15. After the toll booth there is an intersection with a 7-11 in the far right corner. Turn right at this intersection, and follow the road for about 2KM until the Nagano Minami By-Pass.

16. Turn left onto the Nagano Minami By Pass and follow this road for about 12km. You'll pass through several tunnels, and then there are signs to the Hakuba Toll road.

17. Get in the left hand lane and and the road leads down and under the main road and there are toll booths in front of you. After paying the 200yen toll, follow this road all the way to Hakuba. This road runs right in front of the Panorama Hotel.

18. Once you are in Hakuba, keep going until you see the 7-11 on the left. Keep going straight for 1 more se of lights and you can see the Panorama Hotel on the left.