Hints for first time visitors to Japan
#181
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Pacific Wonderland
Programs: ʙᴏɴᴠo̱ʏ Au, IHG Au, HH Dia, Nexus, Pilot FlyingJ Preferred
Posts: 5,336
ahhh. Got it. I had gotten mixed up between the IC card and the JR pass. Thank you. Sounds like the reloadable IC card and the Shinkansen tickets are all that I would need. I assume there is no need to buy a IC card in advance, right? Also- you mentioned if Shinkansen plans change. If my times for travel change after purchased, can Shinkansen ticket dates/times be changed for a small fee?
For the Shinkansen, unless you're traveling during a peak travel period like Golden Week and even then, there's no need to purchase tickets in advance. There's enough frequency that it's best to purchase just before departure unless you have very firm plans. Give yourself maybe a little time prior if you want to walk around the station and pick up a meal or two for the trip.
(*) there's a small deposit when issuing the IC card. When/where you get a refund of the card may influence which IC card to get. Or keep it as souvenir or for reuse on a future trip.
#182
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Delta PM/MM, Marriott TE, IHG Platinum
Posts: 481
Correct, just buy the IC card at the station when you first use the local train/subway(*).
For the Shinkansen, unless you're traveling during a peak travel period like Golden Week and even then, there's no need to purchase tickets in advance. There's enough frequency that it's best to purchase just before departure unless you have very firm plans. Give yourself maybe a little time prior if you want to walk around the station and pick up a meal or two for the trip.
(*) there's a small deposit when issuing the IC card. When/where you get a refund of the card may influence which IC card to get. Or keep it as souvenir or for reuse on a future trip.
For the Shinkansen, unless you're traveling during a peak travel period like Golden Week and even then, there's no need to purchase tickets in advance. There's enough frequency that it's best to purchase just before departure unless you have very firm plans. Give yourself maybe a little time prior if you want to walk around the station and pick up a meal or two for the trip.
(*) there's a small deposit when issuing the IC card. When/where you get a refund of the card may influence which IC card to get. Or keep it as souvenir or for reuse on a future trip.
#183
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Pacific Wonderland
Programs: ʙᴏɴᴠo̱ʏ Au, IHG Au, HH Dia, Nexus, Pilot FlyingJ Preferred
Posts: 5,336
got it! You answered my other question on whether there was food available on the bullet train or whether we could bring food on. I have a decent size frame so I may spring for the Green section so as to get a little more room. Good call on not buying so far in advance!
#184
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota,USA
Programs: UA, NW
Posts: 3,752
I can't think of any way in which you would use these commuter trains enough in the course of normal sightseeing to justify the cost of a 7-day JR Pass. Instead, invest in a Suica smart card, which is good not only on JR trains but also on any other form of public transit that you are likely to use. When your card starts running out of value (the remaining value is printed on the back of the card after you put it through the automated turnstile), you can add more money at machines in train and metro stations. If you have used an Oyster card in London, it's a similar concept.
#185
Suspended
Join Date: May 2019
Location: https://t.me/pump_upp
Posts: 5
Wow. I think this thread will be a long reading list for me tonight. Thanks for the suggestions, folks. I'm planning to visit Japan with my family on early October. Hopefully this thread will help me.
#186
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: YYJ
Posts: 111
Thanks for this thread, very helpful. I just have a few questions so I can make sure I have my understanding correct:
- If we will be in Tokyo for 7 days and using the train as our primary mode of transport then its we need is a seven day JR Pass, correct?
- If we are looking to do a 24 or 48 hour trip to Kyoto and we wanted to take the Shinkansen (Nozomi Line) then we should book that separately as it is not covered by the JR Pass, correct?
- Must the Shinkansen tickets be purchased each way? I did not notice a Round trip option?
- With the JR Pass and the Shinkansen tickets to Kyoto, should that pretty much cover our needs for train and high speed rail transport while in Tokyo and Kyoto, respectively?
Depending on your planned usage pattern you can also get the Tokyo Subway Pass.
#187
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Kobe/Osaka
Programs: Delta
Posts: 1,587
There is also a discount round trip ticket between Tokyo and Kyoto for tourists only. Not a pass, so only good for the shinkansen.
https://www.japanican.com/en/tour/detail/PAS1J02031MKC/
https://www.japanican.com/en/tour/detail/PAS1J02031MKC/
#188
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Delta PM/MM, Marriott TE, IHG Platinum
Posts: 481
Are you dead set on the Nozomi? If not, the JR pass will pay for itself if you take the Hikari to Kyoto and use the Yamanote line (and/or any of the other JR lines) around Tokyo a few times only. Depends on where you are staying and where you are planning to go really. That is even more true if you decide to take any last-minute day-trips using JR lines. Then you can use the IC card to go where the JR pass is not useful or convenient.
Depending on your planned usage pattern you can also get the Tokyo Subway Pass.
Depending on your planned usage pattern you can also get the Tokyo Subway Pass.
#189
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota,USA
Programs: UA, NW
Posts: 3,752
Are you dead set on the Nozomi? If not, the JR pass will pay for itself if you take the Hikari to Kyoto and use the Yamanote line (and/or any of the other JR lines) around Tokyo a few times only. Depends on where you are staying and where you are planning to go really. That is even more true if you decide to take any last-minute day-trips using JR lines. Then you can use the IC card to go where the JR pass is not useful or convenient.
The other advantage of the Nozomi is for people traveling west beyond Kyoto. You can go all the way from Tokyo to Fukuoka/Hakata on the Nozomi without changing trains, but taking the Hikari requires a change or two.
The JR Pass does facilitate impulsive trips out of Tokyo. If you decide one morning that you feel like going to Kamakura or Nikko (two popular tourist destinations) or even Nagano or Sendai, you can.
#190
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,304
The Tokaido Shinkansen Tokyo - Kyoto Nozomi (fastest) might also have a little more availability and frequency especially with unreserved seat. Tokyo 2020 is likely to bring a good bit of tourists coming in who will purchase JR passes. Hotel rates are currently high in Tokyo so people might be commuting in from cities further away (don't forget Japanese people might do the same). Could get to be a standing room only situation with Shinkansen valid with the National JR Pass and quite a long line to pick up a JR Pass. The discount ticket from JR Tokai might be the way to go since you have firm plans in Tokyo and it allows Nozomi.
Some of the venues are not within Tokyo (Miyagi and Sapporo!) and others are not on JR or Toei/Metro lines.
https://www.jrailpass.com/blog/tokyo...lympics/venues scroll to stations
There's also regional passes from Tokyo including some from non-JR lines which might be more convenient depending on where you might start in Tokyo. Some JR East Regional passes do allow for the fastest Shinkansen and allows usage for 5 non-consecutive days, 14 day validity, if you want to head for cooler weather and/or some of the Northern venues.
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2357.html
https://www.jreast.co.jp/e/eastpass_n/index.html
https://www.jreast.co.jp/e/eastpass_t/
Regional Passes don't cover the "direct" route between Tokyo and Osaka though the Hokuriku Arch Pass via Kanazawa would get you between those cities more slowly (or quickly if you're planning to go to stations on the Hokuriku Shinkansen line). Leaving this here for others who might do this route.
Hokuriku Arch Pass
Some of the venues are not within Tokyo (Miyagi and Sapporo!) and others are not on JR or Toei/Metro lines.
https://www.jrailpass.com/blog/tokyo...lympics/venues scroll to stations
There's also regional passes from Tokyo including some from non-JR lines which might be more convenient depending on where you might start in Tokyo. Some JR East Regional passes do allow for the fastest Shinkansen and allows usage for 5 non-consecutive days, 14 day validity, if you want to head for cooler weather and/or some of the Northern venues.
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2357.html
https://www.jreast.co.jp/e/eastpass_n/index.html
https://www.jreast.co.jp/e/eastpass_t/
Regional Passes don't cover the "direct" route between Tokyo and Osaka though the Hokuriku Arch Pass via Kanazawa would get you between those cities more slowly (or quickly if you're planning to go to stations on the Hokuriku Shinkansen line). Leaving this here for others who might do this route.
Hokuriku Arch Pass
#191
Join Date: Aug 2007
Programs: QF LTG:
Posts: 1,859
Totally impulsive and a great way to get even more value from these amazing passes.
#192
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota,USA
Programs: UA, NW
Posts: 3,752
it also facilitates impulsive trips into Tokyo. Last time I was in Japan (May/June 2017) I was in Kyoto having met up with another frequent flyer. The next days weather was going to be wet and miserable but nice in Tokyo. Both of us had JR Passes so a day trip to Tokyo was organised. A nice trip, lunch and walk around in the sunshine made for a great day.
#193
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,333
I've been to Tokyo numerous times, but I will be making a quick visit with someone who has never been to Japan (and will probably not return). Where is the best place to go in Tokyo for a quick and easy feel of old Edo? I went to Kawagoe on my last trip, but that is a bit out of the way for this visit. I would imagine there must be something in Asakusa, but my only memory of that neighborhood is the Hozomon Gate and Senso-ji. I was mainly just looking for something like an alley with authentic-looking wooden buildings, similar to what you would find in Gion or Kawagoe. I do not really want to go too far out of the way, but anything within a quick walk of a JR Yamanote station or near Hozomon would be fine.
In all my nearly annual trips to Tokyo, I usually stick to the modern and more lively parts of town, and I do not recall anything historically interesting beyond the shrines. I am fully aware that almost all of it has been lost to development and the endless fires since the Edo period, but I was hoping there was at least one faithful recreation.
In all my nearly annual trips to Tokyo, I usually stick to the modern and more lively parts of town, and I do not recall anything historically interesting beyond the shrines. I am fully aware that almost all of it has been lost to development and the endless fires since the Edo period, but I was hoping there was at least one faithful recreation.
#194
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Central California
Programs: Former UA Premex, now dirt
Posts: 6,531
Not really in walking distance but a short cab ride, you might like the Shitamachi Museum in Ueno.
https://www.japanvisitor.com/japan-c...tamachi-museum
https://www.japanvisitor.com/japan-c...tamachi-museum
Last edited by abmj-jr; Nov 26, 2019 at 12:33 pm
#195
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: London
Posts: 18,406
Not really in walking distance but a short cab ride, you might like the Shitamaki Museum in Ueno.
https://www.japanvisitor.com/japan-c...tamachi-museum
https://www.japanvisitor.com/japan-c...tamachi-museum
I do like the Shitamachi Museum, but, for me, the Fukagawa Museum is in another league, and particularly so if you luck out with an English speaking volunteer guide there.
A friend of my daughter’s will be in Tokyo at the same time as us next Spring and I overheard LapKid discuss the place (extremely interactive) and how excited she was to introduce the museum to her.
There are a couple of restaurants just in front that serve traditional Asari clam dishes and the gorgeous Kiyosumi gardens are around the corner.
For me, it’s peak Edo.
https://tokyocheapo.com/entertainmen...eys-old-tokyo/