The Limited Express Shinano for Nagano and Matsumoto

The Limited Express Shinano is a service operated by JR Central that runs between Nagoya Station and Nagano Station. Formerly marketed as the “Wide View Shinano”, the train has large windows that offer broad views of the surrounding countryside.

The name “Shinano” comes from the historical province that corresponded roughly to present-day Nagano Prefecture. In the current published weekday timetable, trains depart hourly from 07:00 through 16:00, followed by services at 17:40, 18:40 and 19:40. Ordinary-car travel on the Shinano is covered by the Japan Rail Pass. At Nagoya Station, the service is scheduled to depart from Platform 10, but passengers should confirm the platform on the station departure board.

Key Destinations

The Limited Express Shinano stops at the following stations. Stations in brackets are not served by all trains.

Nagoya – [Kanayama] – Chikusa – Tajimi – [Ena] – Nakatsugawa – [Nagiso] – [Agematsu] – Kiso-Fukushima – Shiojiri – Matsumoto – [Akashina] – [Hijiri-Kogen] – Shinonoi – Nagano

Below are the key destinations on this route. The total fares and times are examples for one adult using an ordinary reserved seat on the 07:00 Shinano 1, searched for 15-Jul-2026. Fares and times vary by train, date, season and seat type.

Passengers without a qualifying rail pass need both a basic fare ticket and a limited express ticket. JR Central operates the Shinano with all seats reserved during specified peak periods.

Kiso-Fukushima Station

Kiso-Fukushima is in Kiso Town and is a gateway to the picturesque Kiso Valley and the popular Nakasendo hiking trail. The Nakasendo, which means “central mountain way”, is a historic highway between Kyoto and Edo, now Tokyo. The section of the route that runs through the Kiso Valley is particularly scenic, with well-preserved post towns, forests, mountain views and traditional ryokan inns in which to rest along the way.

Shiojiri Station

Within the city bounds of Shiojiri is the historic post town of Narai-juku, an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings. Its streets retain traditional townhouses, many with forms dating from the late Edo period.

Matsumoto Station

Matsumoto is Nagano Prefecture’s second largest city and is known for Matsumoto Castle, a designated National Treasure and one of only 12 surviving original castle keeps in the country. Other historic sites include the Meiji-era Former Kaichi School, also a National Treasure and now a museum; the well-preserved merchant buildings of the Nakamachi Dori area; and the wooden former courthouse at Matsumoto City Historical Village, or Rekishi no Sato, which dates from 1908.

From Matsumoto, the mountain trails of Kamikochi are generally accessible from mid-April to mid-November. The most frequent route takes around 1 hour and 40 minutes by train to Shin-Shimashima and a reserved bus, while a limited direct bus from Matsumoto takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Nagano Station

Nagano City’s most popular attraction is Zenkoji Temple, known for its large Sanmon and Niomon gates. Nagano is also a jumping-off point for the Japanese Alps and the popular ski resorts of Hakuba, Shiga Kogen and Nozawa Onsen, which is also known for its hot springs.

Other nearby attractions include the town of Obuse, where famed ukiyo-e artist Katsushika Hokusai spent time and produced work during his later years, and the snow monkeys at Jigokudani Wild Snow Monkey Park in Yamanouchi. The park can be reached by direct bus from Nagano to the Snow Monkey Park stop, followed by a walk, or by train to Yudanaka Station and then a local bus and walk.

Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved. Last updated 15-Jul-2026.