Kyoto to Tokyo: cheaper alternative to shinkansen
May 17, 2019, 5:05 pm
#16
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: Watergate
Posts: 94
When I searched Hyperdia I found that the three Tōkaidō Shinkansen services (Nozomi, Hikari and Kodama) are all the same price. We still prefer the shinkansen and it is the fastest and simplest, we were just suprised at the price and wanted advice on alternativers.
Do the train ticket offices accept Mastercard? Japan is a cash, rather than credit/debit card, dominant country.
Thanks
Do the train ticket offices accept Mastercard? Japan is a cash, rather than credit/debit card, dominant country.
Thanks
Japan being cashless is more or less untrue. Really small shops or rural places will use it, sure, but in Tokyo and Kyoto you could probably use your card to do every single thing you want. I carried 20-30k yen with me as backup cash but I ended up using only a few thousand.
May 17, 2019, 5:27 pm
#17
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 7,875
There are kiosks you can buy shinkansen tickets (and all JR tickets) from. They have an English option, and they take all credit cards.
Japan being cashless is more or less untrue. Really small shops or rural places will use it, sure, but in Tokyo and Kyoto you could probably use your card to do every single thing you want. I carried 20-30k yen with me as backup cash but I ended up using only a few thousand.
Japan being cashless is more or less untrue. Really small shops or rural places will use it, sure, but in Tokyo and Kyoto you could probably use your card to do every single thing you want. I carried 20-30k yen with me as backup cash but I ended up using only a few thousand.
May 17, 2019, 5:58 pm
#18
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 264
ANA's Experience Japan Fare is about half the price of a bullet train 7,500 (about $70) yen from Tokyo to KIX (Itami or Kansai) which are easy to get to from Kyoto. I would book one of those
https://www.ana.co.jp/en/es/promotio...experience_jp/
https://www.ana.co.jp/en/es/promotio...experience_jp/
May 18, 2019, 12:56 am
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: London
Posts: 18,398
May 18, 2019, 1:07 am
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: London
Posts: 18,398
@siw
Seriously, ask your friends, family, colleagues if they have Tesco Club currency/points they can give or sell you
Your guide to the Executive Club, attaining status and earning Avios | 2019 edition
Post #9
Basically, you need £22.50 in Tesco Clubcard vouchers to make up the 4,500 miles required for a Kanto-Kansai flight. And then a couple of quid for the taxes & fees.
Seriously, ask your friends, family, colleagues if they have Tesco Club currency/points they can give or sell you
Your guide to the Executive Club, attaining status and earning Avios | 2019 edition
Post #9
Basically, you need £22.50 in Tesco Clubcard vouchers to make up the 4,500 miles required for a Kanto-Kansai flight. And then a couple of quid for the taxes & fees.
May 18, 2019, 2:46 am
#21
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Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: PVG, FRA, SEA, HEL
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Japan being cashless is more or less untrue. Really small shops or rural places will use it, sure, but in Tokyo and Kyoto you could probably use your card to do every single thing you wan
With foreign credit cards - you really have a problem getting them accepted in stores and ATMs.
May 18, 2019, 3:30 am
#22
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: SE England
Programs: AF-KL Platinum, ALL Platinum
Posts: 755
On a slightly different topic, which I hope you can advise me.
We fly into KIX and will take the Limited Express Haruka train operated by JR West directly to Kyoto. I am a little confused as to the best ticket to buy. Either a Haruka one-way ticket each. Or there is an Icoca & Haruke set (https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/icoca-haruka/). Should I buy two of these on our arrival at KIX so that the Icoca card gives us local train access in Kyoto? We are staying near Kyoto train station but will need to use trains to Arashiyama, Inari etc. I think the Icoca Card is like an Oyster Card we have here in London. We will then take the Platt Kodama from Kyoto to Tokyo, pre-purchase two tickets the day before. For travelling around Tokyo can we use the Icoca Card or can we only use the Sucia card (https://www.jreast.co.jp/e/pass/suica.html#suicaMap)? Or just by local (e.g. Yamanote line) train tickets as we need them? We fly out of NRT so the Access Narita bus (THE ACCESS NARITA) from Tokyo station is our best option.
Thanks
We fly into KIX and will take the Limited Express Haruka train operated by JR West directly to Kyoto. I am a little confused as to the best ticket to buy. Either a Haruka one-way ticket each. Or there is an Icoca & Haruke set (https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/icoca-haruka/). Should I buy two of these on our arrival at KIX so that the Icoca card gives us local train access in Kyoto? We are staying near Kyoto train station but will need to use trains to Arashiyama, Inari etc. I think the Icoca Card is like an Oyster Card we have here in London. We will then take the Platt Kodama from Kyoto to Tokyo, pre-purchase two tickets the day before. For travelling around Tokyo can we use the Icoca Card or can we only use the Sucia card (https://www.jreast.co.jp/e/pass/suica.html#suicaMap)? Or just by local (e.g. Yamanote line) train tickets as we need them? We fly out of NRT so the Access Narita bus (THE ACCESS NARITA) from Tokyo station is our best option.
Thanks
May 18, 2019, 3:34 am
#23
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: SE England
Programs: AF-KL Platinum, ALL Platinum
Posts: 755
@siw
Seriously, ask your friends, family, colleagues if they have Tesco Club currency/points they can give or sell you
Your guide to the Executive Club, attaining status and earning Avios | 2019 edition
Post #9
Basically, you need £22.50 in Tesco Clubcard vouchers to make up the 4,500 miles required for a Kanto-Kansai flight. And then a couple of quid for the taxes & fees.
Seriously, ask your friends, family, colleagues if they have Tesco Club currency/points they can give or sell you
Your guide to the Executive Club, attaining status and earning Avios | 2019 edition
Post #9
Basically, you need £22.50 in Tesco Clubcard vouchers to make up the 4,500 miles required for a Kanto-Kansai flight. And then a couple of quid for the taxes & fees.
May 18, 2019, 3:41 am
#24
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Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Falkirk, Scotland,VS Red, BA Gold, HH Diamond,UK Amex Plat
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Posts: 17,907
Hi,
If you have avios then you will need to use the BAEC account.
You could buy any miles needed.
Regards
TBS
If you have avios then you will need to use the BAEC account.
You could buy any miles needed.
Regards
TBS
May 18, 2019, 4:51 am
#25
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: MEL
Posts: 2,441
On a slightly different topic, which I hope you can advise me.
We fly into KIX and will take the Limited Express Haruka train operated by JR West directly to Kyoto. I am a little confused as to the best ticket to buy. Either a Haruka one-way ticket each. Or there is an Icoca & Haruke set (https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/icoca-haruka/). Should I buy two of these on our arrival at KIX so that the Icoca card gives us local train access in Kyoto?
We fly into KIX and will take the Limited Express Haruka train operated by JR West directly to Kyoto. I am a little confused as to the best ticket to buy. Either a Haruka one-way ticket each. Or there is an Icoca & Haruke set (https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/icoca-haruka/). Should I buy two of these on our arrival at KIX so that the Icoca card gives us local train access in Kyoto?
The ICOCA + Haruka package gives you a discounted Haruka ticket, so it’s worthwhile if you need an ICOCA (i.e., you don’t have an iPhone and/or want the discounted Haruka ticket) though it’s a non-reserved seat (which is usually not an issue). Note that there are cheaper, though slower, trains from KIX to Kyoto.
May 18, 2019, 5:07 am
#27
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: MEL
Posts: 2,441
May 18, 2019, 7:25 am
#28
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Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: London
Posts: 18,398
https://www.britishairways.com/trave...club/_gf/en_gb
Means that the 1,500 AVIOS you need would cost £31
I’m sure there is a way to get them more cheaply (and some trick to get the other 40Avios you’d be missing). But you’d be best off asking in the BA Executive Club forum. It’s about £7.50 worth of Tesco Clubcard vouchers that you are short on, I’d bet someone you know has them.
May 18, 2019, 1:28 pm
#30
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,304
Yes, for long distance train tickets. For commuter train tickets, no. But again, for commuter trains I always use ticket machine and pay cash. Ticket machine for commuter trains do not accept credit card. Never stood in line at manned ticket window to purchase 200 yen ticket from Shinjuku to Shinagawa using credit card...
It is possible.@siw you can also get a discounted 1,600 JPY o/w Haruka ticket from Klook and exchange the voucher at non-JR counter "Limon" at arrivals https://www.klook.com/en-US/activity...tickets-osaka/ The Haruka only departs a couple times per hour and KIX JR office can have a longer line which may cause you to miss the best timed train. I try to avoid airport JR ticket offices on arrival for the sake of efficiency but some people feel they are easier to find & interact with (staff deals mostly with JR pass & tourists).
Klook also offer a bus option with voucher exchange from HIS https://www.klook.com/en-US/activity...ransfer-kyoto/ or you could book on arrival directly for 71 yen more Kyoto Station/Kyoto city/Highway Kyotanabe | Time table/Fares | [Official] Kansai International Airport Limousine Bus/ Time Table/ Bus Stop/ Fare/ Route List (Kansai Airport Transportation Enterprise) . Kate's office or ticket vending machine would probably be faster.