How to travel from Nikko to Sakata, Japan

The distance between Nikko and Sakata is around 376km (234 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 3h 55m.

6 routes found

We've found 6 different ways to get from Nikko to Sakata by train, bus, car and plane. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

👋 Also check out SakataNikko if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
train
+
plane
+

Train and Plane

Take the train to Kita-Senju then fly from Tokyo Haneda (HND) to Shonai (SYO).

  • Duration3h 55m
  • Flight time1hr
  • Typical cost
    ¥22,315($165)
Operated by

Multiple operators

2
3 x train
+

Train

Take the train to Utsunomiya then Shinjo and then to Sakata(Yamagata).

  • Duration4h 30m
  • Departs5 times a day
  • Typical cost
    ¥11,500($84)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

3
train
+
train
+
bus
+

Train to Utsunomiya, bus

Take the train to Utsunomiya and then to Yamagata then take the bus to Sakata Shoko BT.

  • Duration5h 20m
  • Departs5 times a day
  • Typical cost
    ¥12,045($88)
Operated by

Multiple operators

2 similiar routes

We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.

4
car
+

Drive

Drive to Sakata.

  • Duration4h 35m
  • Distance376km (234 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Nikko and Sakata

There are several options for getting from Nikko to Sakata by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the train and then take the bus which costs around ¥11,365 ($83) and will take around 5h 55m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 3h 55m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately ¥22,315 ($165).

The distance between Nikko and Sakata is around 376km (234 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 244km (152 miles)

It takes around 4h 30m to get from Nikko and Sakata by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 4h 35m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Nikko to Sakata is to take the train and then fly which takes around 3h 55m and will set you back approx ¥22,315 ($165).

The cheapest way to travel between Nikko and Sakata, if you exclude driving, is to take the train and then take the bus which will typically cost around ¥11,365 ($83) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Nikko and Sakata. It typically takes around 4h 30m and departs 5 times a day.

There are no direct train services that runs from Nikko to Sakata. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Utsunomiya and Shinjo. These services run 5 times a day and will take a minimum of 4h 30m.

Japan Railways (JR) and Japan Railways Shinkansen run train services between Nikko and Sakata. Trains depart 5 times a day and will take around 4h 30m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.

Bus travel

Sorry, looks like there is no bus service that runs between Nikko and Sakata. We recommend that you take the train to Kita-Senju then fly from Tokyo Haneda (HND) to Shonai (SYO). instead which will take 3h 55m.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Nikko to Sakata. We recommend that you take the train to Kita-Senju then fly from Tokyo Haneda (HND) to Shonai (SYO). instead which will take 3h 55m.

The closest major airport to Sakata is Yamagata Airport (GAJ) (GAJ) which is approximately 73km (45 miles) from Sakata. Akita Airport (AXT) (AXT) and Narita International Airport (NRT) (NRT) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.

Drive yourself

Yes it is possible to drive from Nikko and Sakata. The distance is around 376km (234 miles) by road and it will take around 4h 35m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Nikko to Sakata is to take the train which takes, on average, 4h 30m and will usually cost around ¥11,500 ($84).

How do I get from Nikko to Sakata

Compare travel optionsbetween Nikko and Sakata

Transport options from Nikko to Sakata
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train and Plane
3h 55m
¥22,315($165)
4 times a day540km (335 miles)
Train
4h 30m
¥11,500($84)
5 times a day390km (243 miles)
Train to Utsunomiya, bus + 2 similar
5h 20m
¥12,045($88)
5 times a day409km (254 miles)
Train and Bus5h 35m
¥11,910($87)
hourly426km (265 miles)
Train to Utsunomiya, bus5h 55m
¥11,365($83)
every 3 hours450km (279 miles)
Drive
4h 35m
¥5,475($40)
on demand376km (234 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Nikko and Sakata

Bus companies

Train operators

Airlines

Airports near Sakata

The following major airports near Sakata offer regular flights to various popular destinations within Japan and internationally.

GAJ
Yamagata Airport (GAJ)
Domestic Airport
Distance
73km (45 miles) from Sakata
AXT
Akita Airport (AXT)
Domestic Airport
Distance
84km (52 miles) from Sakata
NRT
Narita International Airport (NRT)
International Airport
Distance
353km (219 miles) from Sakata