bullet train reservations and tokyo station
 

i have a couple of questions regarding my upcoming trip to Kyoto in about 30 days. i will be taking the shinkansen from Kyoto to Tokyo Station and then the Narita Express on to the airport. is there a web site to purchase one ticket for both these legs of the trip ahead of time?

Also i have read several posts about how confusing the tokyo station is to get from the shinkansen platform to the Narita Express platform. I have printed out a grid of the station showing all the platforms. am i correct that the shinkansen comes in on one level and the Narita Express is a level down from that? Can you walk all the way through from the shinkansen platform to the Narita express platform or is there something that prevents you from doing that?

Many thanks for your information.

Cathy Berg

There used to be a site called world.eki-net.com that allowed you to make advance reservations for the shinkansen and the Narita Express. However, it closed down a year ago, and I believe there is not currently a way to do this.

The Narita Express platform is at least three levels down below the shinkansen. If you are moderately observant, this connection is not really that hard. There are plenty of signs. You will have to go through a ticket barrier to pass between the shinkansen and non-shinkansen parts of the station, but otherwise there are no obstructions.

You'll have to make reservations at a JR ticket office in Japan.
Nothing major happening 30 days from now, as far as I can tell, I don't think you would have any problems making reservations on the trains you want. I would do it when I arrive in Japan at any JR reservation office.

The Narita Express comes into the underground levels of Tokyo Station, while the Shinkansen is on the upper floors, as mentioned, you would have to exit the Shinkansen gates to transfer to the regular JR lines, then make your way downstairs, there are signs to direct you to the NEX platform.

Tokyo station is a busy place, so make sure you have enough time (10-20mins) to transfer between the Shinkansen and Narita Express.

bullet train reservations and tokyo station
 

thanks for your reply. i had already been on that web site and it didn't work.

i would classify myself as more than moderately observant so think i will do fine. i assume when you say you pass through a ticket barrier from shinkansen to non-shinkansen areas that if i have a ticket coming from the shinkansen to the narita express that i should not have any problems.

i will get my reservation/ticket for the trip from kyoto all the way back to the Tokyo airport right after i arrive into Kyoto on a Monday. I depart on Saturday morning back to Tokyo airport. I plan on leaving on either a 9 Am or 10 AM shinkansen (i haven't looked at a timetable to know if those are legitimate departure times) to Tokyo Station and then from what i have read i should allow 30-60 minutes in the Tokyo station before boarding the Narita Express. My flight from Narita back to LAX is at 5:30 so i assume that is more than enough time to check in, etc.

Thanks.

Cathy Berg

bullet train reservations and tokyo station
 

thanks to you, too, railroad tycoon for your logistical information. you have always given me great information when i have previously posted on this board. i don't like to have any surprises in an airport or train station if i can help it so am trying to gather all my facts ahead of time. by knowing ahead of time that the shinkansen is several levels away from the Narita Express, it gives me a comfort level to watch for the signs going downstairs...

Cathy Berg

The world-eki website when it was up only allowed reservation pickups in the JR east service area, so if it were still operational it would not have helped much, since Kyoto is outside the JR East service area.

Shouldn't have any problems, 60 minutes is a long wait though, I don't have schedules in front of me, but I think a 30 minute connection should be enough.

bullet train reservations and tokyo station
 

if i made a reservation on a train and was able to catch an earlier one, do they allow you to go "stand by" if there is space available like the airlines or are you locked in to that specific train time?

Cathy Berg

I believe that reserved tickets are valid in the unreserved cars on other trains. There are no unreserved cars on the Narita Express, but about half of the seats on each shinkansen are unreserved.

If you hold a reserved seat ticket, the reserved seat ticket is for a specific train and you cannot use that reserved seat for an earlier or later train.
If you want to change to a reserved seat for an earlier or later train you would have to change to a new reservation.

However, I think you can use the unreserved section of another Shinkansen in the same or lower class.
(example only). If you have a ticket on a Nozomi Shinkansen but decided to take an earlier Hikari Shinkansen, you can probably sit in the unreserved section of a Hikari Shinkasen to Tokyo, but because the fare ticket is slightly lower for a Hikari Shinkansen than a Nozomi Shinkansen, I do not think you can't ride in a Nozomi with a ticket that is priced for a Hikari Shinkansen.

Thats how I think it works, but I'm not 100% sure.

For the Narita Express, since it is an all reserved train, you would have to change your tickets for a new reservation.

bullet train reservations and Tokyo Station
 

thanks. it is always nice to know these things ahead of time. i don't mind spending a little extra time in the Tokyo station waiting for the Narita Express at a later time. i have read it is a good "people watching" place. and i would rather not be rushed to make my way to the narita express platform. i know it will all work out.

one more question, when i do get to the terminal at Narita for American Airlines (i believe terminal 1 now) should i expect long wait time just to check in for my flight? some of the airports will now allow you to travel internationally and do the self-serve check in (i think you either input your passport # or swipe your passport at the kiosk). DFW is one of those airports but didn't know if that was the case at the international airports yet.

Cathy Berg

Depending on how long you are planning to stay in Japan, you may want to get a Japan Rail Pass.

The price of a 7-day pass is comparable with the price of a return ticket from Narita to Kyoto, and it allows you to take nearly every train in Japan except for Nozomi Shinkansen (so you would have to change trains at Osaka).

OP is making a one way trip, therefor a Japan Railpass would not be economical. Though you are right, if it were a roundtrip within 7 days a JR pass would be good to have.

Kyoto is one station after Shin-Osaka Station in the direction of Tokyo, so no change neccessary.

AA flies into Terminal 2 now.

Other options
 

Here are some other options:

Fly from ITM (Itami - Osaka's old airport) to NRT
Japan Airlines Flight 3006
13:55 Depart ITM
15:10 Arrive NRT Terminal 2

This allows you to purchase the ticket now**, check luggage at ITM all the way through to the USA, and earn a handful of AA miles for the flight. (Maybe only 100 miles or so).

I recommend the "J-Class" seats on JAL flights if available. It's no great discomfort to be in economy class on such a short flight and there isn't very much to differentiate the service in "J-Class"... but the price is cheap. An extra $10 to fly at the front of the plane. Well worth it IMHO.

** You will still need to arrange transportation from Kyoto to Itami Airport when you get to Japan. Depending on where you are staying in Kyoto, this may be a train or bus journey. (Allow one hour for the bus and aim to check-in one hour before departure).

Shinkansen from Kyoto to Shinagawa Station (south side of Tokyo) connect to N'EX
11.46 Depart Kyoto Station (Train = Nozomi 12)
13.59 Arrive Shinagawa Station
14.20 Depart Shinagawa Station (Train = Narita Express 27)
15.25 Arrive NRT Terminal 2

This allows you to change trains at Shinagawa, which is less of a hike than changing at Tokyo. (BUT if you miss the 11.46 train, then you should go all the way through to Tokyo - because Shinagawa has less frequent N'EX service to Narita than Tokyo).

NOTE - If you take an earlier Shinkansen, make sure that it will stop at Shinagawa. Not all Shinkansen trains stop at Shinagawa
(If you find yourself on a train that goes straight through Shinagawa, then you should just go all the way to Tokyo - and change to the N'EX there. No big deal. The conductor might ask you to pay a few yen extra fare ... or he might not, since your N'EX ticket should include the price of travel from Shinagawa to Tokyo... sorry this explanation is getting too complicated).

Shinagawa Station map - http://www.jreast.co.jp/estation/stations/788.html
(I think Shinkansen arrives at platform 21/22/23/24 - N'EX will depart from platform 13)

The above times are based on Feb 25 (Sat) - You should confirm the timetable for your actual travel date when you visit the JR ticket office.


REGARDING CHECK-IN
Many airlines have installed self-check-in terminals at NRT. (All of the Star Alliance and some others). I'd be surprised if AA was any different. Of course, if you fly from ITM, I think that JAL would be able to issue your boarding passes for all of the flights, so you won't need to go visit a check-in desk at NRT.


I think the place that you are most likely to see a queue is at the passport check. (Yes - that's a queue to get out of Japan). It's usually not so bad - but sometimes you will see airline staff helping their passengers to get to the front of the line because their flights are just about to depart.

bullet train reservations and tokyo station
 

thanks so much for all that information. it is nice to have options. my main reason for taking the shinkansen from kyoto to tokyo station is that this will be the only time i visit japan. so a trip on the bullet train is a must. i am more of a beach and sand girl and japan never was on my radar screen to visit; however, my daughter is there for a year living in kyoto and she will be my tour guide and i could not pass up that opportunity to visit. i am glad to know that there is an option to the tokyo station.

many thanks for all your helpful information.

Cathy Berg

railroad tycoon, thanks again for reiterating that AA now comes into Terminal 2 at Narita. That just makes my day since i will be outbound on AA from DFW beginning the trip and connecting to a JAL flight onto Osaka and the thought that i don't have to transfer terminals to do this is fantastic.

Everyone who has posted above is far more experienced than I, but I found this transfer (Narita Express to Shinkansen) very confusing. I was doing it the opposit way than you are and found the lack of signage very frustrating (in English, that is). It took me forever, and lots of small staircases (4-5 steps, but still tricky with wheeled luggage). When I do this again I'll feel more comfortable with at least 30 minutes, maybe more. Perhaps going the other way, the signage for the Narita Express is more visible to a harried traveler.