Tokyo Station help (time require for transit)
 

I have been working on a trip toward end of the year but getting those overnight sleepers from Osaka or Tokyo to Hokkaido really seems like mission impossible from my research...
So as a back up plan... I will start in Beppu, thinking getting the Green Class ticket cos there is so much traveling involved if I fail to get on the overnighters from Ueno.. Don't really want to waste time in Tokyo as I personally don't fancy the city...

LTD. EXP SONIC 4
BEPPU 05:31
KOKURA 06:48

SHINKANSEN SAKURA 540
KOKURA 07:17
SHIN-OSAKA 09:44

SHINKANSEN HIKARI 516
SHIN-OSAKA 10:16
TOKYO 13:10 Track 15

SHINKANSEN HAYABUSA 21
TOKYO 13:20 Track 21
SHIN-AOMORI 16:43

LTD. EXP SUPER HAKUCHO 21
SHIN-AOMORI 16:53
HAKODATE 19:08

Can anyone confirm with me that 10min is enough to change to platform at Tokyo (with 1 hand carry trolly) as last time and only time I been there it seems quite a big station...
As the Shin-Aomori station change over, there is no need to change platforms?
Thanks in advance as always.

Should be fine in Tokyo, the Shinkansen platforms are located together; would only make me mildly anxious;)

Cheers Hubbabridge

Mental log
Walk out of Shinkansen 30 second
Walk/find a way down stairs 2 mins
Walk/find correct platform 2 mins
Rampage up the correct platform 1.30 mins
Grab a cam to take photo of self and inbound train 1 min
Dragging self and luggage on Shinkansen 1 min
Telling myself that was close shave 2 mins

Now have to sell this idea with other travelers in the party. 2 months:D

Hyperdia seems to think that a 10-minute Shinkansen-Shinkansen connection at Tokyo Station is valid, so I'd go with that.

Just don't dawdle. That connection would make me nervous but I think it can be done if you hurry.

Your train from Shin Osaka runs on the Tokaido Shinkansen　（platforms 14-19)
Your train to Shin Aomori runs on the Tohoku Shinkansen (platforms 20-23)

Now ... These two lines are managed by different companies, so you need to go through the transfer ticket gate. Follow the signs that indicate transfers to the Tohoku, Yamagata, Akita, Joetsu Shinkansen. It's a very quick transfer.

(If you do make a mistake and end up exiting the Shinkansen area just walk around to the Tohoku, Yamagata, Akita, Joetsu Shinkansen and enter there).

Thanks guys... sounds like even experience bunch will be nervous, guess better to be safe then sorry.
As my folks can't run... hyperdia doesn't like this arrangement. Always spitting out transit at Hachinohe.
So make 1 hour layover at Tokyo and 1 hour 20min at Shini-Aomori would be safe bet plus it is lunch and dinner time for the transit.

SHINKANSEN HAYABUSA 23
TOKYO 14:20
SHIN-AOMORI 17:29

LTD. EXP SUPER HAKUCHO 25
SHIN-AOMORI 18:53
HAKODATE 20:56

Next question is decent station food! Shin-Aomori seem to have good food waiting, my quick look at Tokyo seems to be all Bento boxes food.

I love trains in Japan, but that is one heck of a lot of train travel for one day. NO thoughts as to flying, say with an ANA Experience Japan fare? It would be cheaper than train travel (if you are buying tickets as opposed to JR pass)

Here is my traveling plan... ended like this.. Places to go to visit already fixed
From Beppu to Hakodate will be just as demanding as doing red eyes. :D
My folks also asked me to same why not fly, my answer seems to be... why pay when you don't have to. :rolleyes:

Kansai Wide Pass
Saturday 15 Katsuura 勝浦市
Sunday 16 Katsuura 勝浦市
Monday 17 Osaka 大阪
Tuesday 18 Osaka 岡山

No Pass
Wednesday 19 Osaka

JR Green Pass 7 Days
Thursday 20 Fukuoka 福岡
Friday 21 Beppu 別府
Saturday 22 Beppu 別府
Sunday 23 Hakodate 函館
Monday 24 Hakodate 函館
Tuesday 25 Noboribetsu 登別
Wednesday 26 Sapporo 札幌市

Sapporo-Otaru Welcome Pass
Thursday 27 Sapporo 小樽市

No Pass
Friday 28 Sapporo 札幌市
Saturday 29 Sapporo Depart

Hyperdia also thinks you can transfer from Seibu to Marunouchi line in 4min at Ikebukuro, and from Toyoko to Shonan-Shinjuku Line in 11min at Musashi Kosugi. Those are really minimum transfer times for folks who know their way around and assume you don't get lost or need elevators, etc. So I would not just assume that Hyperdia's connection times will work for everyone, especially if it's a big station and you're not used to the station or if you've got luggage.

That said, I think 10min will work for the OP's transfer.

If I could visualise the Tokyo Station map then I think I have that confidence to do it without problem, the map its just hopeless.
Personal travel at this station equate to 1 and found myself walking quite a bit of distance from where all the food were sold.

I think it is a wise choice to change your trains to give a more comfortable connection.

On the other hand, that is a LONG day on trains. If at all possible, I'd suggest stealing a day from your itinerary somewhere to build in an overnight stop somewhere along the way. I have been on almost every mile of your proposed route but never all in one day. I get cramps in my legs just thinking about it. If you are traveling with older folks, they would undoubtedly appreciate a break to stretch out along the way. I know i would.

In truth I think it is mentally draining to do all at one go...
My folks... rather spend the night at Hakodate then Tokyo... We live in HK so Tokyo is too much like in a way (busy city/loads of people) ...
If JR pass allow us to use Nozumi train then it will looks a lot less taxing on the body... If I was traveling by myself I will assure you I would have no problem at all.
My folks can do HKG-JFK so I am sure they will be fine... but I think breaking the Tokyo down an extra hour allow comfort if we become lost in station.
As long as there is

1. Food and drinks to buy
2. Power plug on Shinkansen
3. Decent turn around time to look for platforms
4. Internet

Should keep the party happy.;)
I am sure the ticketing officer thinks I am nuts and really want to milk in the JR pass to the bone.

No - you can't use the Nozomi with the JR pass.

There are lots of food options at Tokyo Station. Ranging from sit down restaurants (some clustered in "food courts" like Ramen Street - http://www.seriouseats.com/2012/05/n...okurinsha.html) to places that sell bento boxes (for example http://www.timeout.jp/en/tokyo/venue/23174).

FWIW - Tokyo Station is very BIG. And it can be difficult to get from "here" to "there" - especially if you/your folks need to find elevators (it can be hard for people to handle luggage on escalators). So I would have a "Plan A" in terms of food before I got there - what you want to do. Also a "Plan B" (some places can have pretty long lines at various times of day). Robyn

You are not going to save money by doing this.

You are essentially traveling Kyushu to Hakodate for the cost of a 7 day JR pass. In green car it appears to cost nearly USD 400 per person. Traveling around Hokkaido is not going to cost you very much by train and I would strongly suggest driving on Hokkaido.

I suggest flying to Hakodate (or Chitose) and getting a rental car or taking trains on Hokkaido.