By train
Niigata is the terminus of the Joetsu Shinkansen line to Tokyo. The fastest trains take just over 2 hours and cost �10,270 one-way. The Shinkansen is also a fast and cost-effective way to access Niigata from Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe (5 hours and about �22,000 each way, with a change of trains in Tokyo).
A cheaper way to reach Niigata from Tokyo is to take the Moonlight Echigo from Shinjuku, which makes a 6-hour run leaving Tokyo at night and arriving in Niigata very early in the morning. The train costs �5,910 each way, but is more popular during Seishun 18 Ticket seasons when the price can be as low as �2,000.
The Hokuetsu limited express runs from Toyama and Kanazawa five times a day (3.5 hours, �8,280 one way from Kanazawa).
Trains to and from the north are fewer and farther between. The most convenient service is the Inaho limited express to Akita, which runs three times a day (4 hours, �7,020 one way). Local trains also run up and down the Japan Sea coast, but only run every two hours or so toward the northern part of the prefecture.
By plane
Niigata Airport handles international Korea (Seoul daily on Korean Air), China (Shanghai three times weekly on China Eastern, Harbin four times weekly on China Southern), and Guam (twice weekly on Continental). There are also frequent domestic flights from Osaka(Itami Airport) (�25,100 one way), Sapporo (�28,700 one way), Nagoya(Chubu Airport), Fukuoka (�31,700 one way), and Sado.
Shuttle buses run on a regular schedule from the JR Niigata South Exit directly to airport approximately every 30 minutes (25 minutes, �400 one way).
By bus
Niigata Kotsu runs highway buses to Ikebukuro Station in Tokyo (5.5 hours, �5,250 one way), Nagoya (7.5 hours, �7,800 one way), Sendai (3.8 hours, �4,500 one way), and overnight to Osaka and Kyoto (8 hours, �8,450 each way), as well as to a number of other cities.
Bandai City Bus
