Getting to Hakuba from Osaka and Nagoya

Option 1 - Try to fly into Tokyo instead

It is much easier to get to Hakuba from Tokyo, than from Osaka or Nagoya. Any savings you make by flying into Nagoya or Osaka may soon be offset but time and travel costs to Hakuba.

Option 2 - Trains (a path less well taken)

From Osaka's Kansai Airport, it will take about 6 hours of train travel plus the time you spend waiting for trains. In general you will not be able to get to Hakuba from Osaka on the same day if your flight arrives after 3PM.

There is one exception and that is the overnight train from Osaka to Niigata via the Japan sea Coast. If you get off at Itoigawa you can catch the local train down to Hakuba.. Here's how it's done...

Depart Osaka 23:27
Depart Shin Osaka 23:32
Depart Kyoto 24:03
Arrive Itoigawa 05:28 (change to JR Oito Line)
Depart Itoigawa 06:04
Arrive Minami Otari 07:23 (change trains)
Depart Minami Otari 07:27
Arrive Hakuba 07:45

A seat will cost about 9,000yen for the whole trip, a sleeper will cost about 14,000yen.

Option 3 - Trains (the standard route)

 The simplest route from Osaka and Nagoya to Hakuba by train is up the Chuo Line from Nagoya.

From  Kansai Airport it is as follows:

Kansai Airport to Shin Osaka Station (Limited Express Haruka) (60 minutes)
Shin Osaka Station to Nagoya Station (Shinkansen Bullet Train) (60 minutes)
Nagoya Station to Matsumoto Station (Limited Express Shinano) (120 minutes)
Matsumoto Station to Shinano Omachi Station (Local Train) (50 minutes)
Shinano Omachi Station to Hakuba Station (Local Train) (35 minutes)

* If you time it right and can get on the 08:00AM train from Nagoya to Matsumoto, you can connect to the "Azusa Express" to Hakuba, saving about 30 minutes.

From Centrair Airport catch the Meitetsu Line into Nagoya and walk across to the JR Nagoya Station then follow the same route as for Osaka