Itinerary for my second trip to Japan.

[Steve4031]

Greetings,

This is  my second trip to Japan.  The wonderful people of this forum helped me plan and enjoy my 1st trip.  So I thought I would share my itinerary for trip 2.    I appreciate and enjoy all feed back.  And yes, I want to ride trains ALL DAY!!!

 

Saturday, June 23

Depart Chicago O’Hare. 7:37 p.m.  United 1113

Arrive Houston 10:18 p.m.

 

Marriott Houston/Bush Intercontinental Airport

 

Sunday, June 24th

Depart Houston 10:25 A.M.   United 7

 

Monday, June 25th  Day 1

Arrive Tokyo Narita Terminal 1 2:00 p.m.

Depart Narita terminal 1 3:14 p.m.

 

Arrive Shinjuku 4:39 p.m.

Depart Shinjuku 5:00 p.m. Hotel shuttle

Bus Stop #21 in front of

Keio Department Store)

 

Ar. Hilton Tokyo Shinjuku 5:10 p.m.

 

Tuesday, June 26th Day 2

Dp. Hilton Tokyo Shinjuku 8:12 a.m. Hotel shuttle

 

Arrive Shinjuku 8:20

Depart Shinjuku 8:30  a.m.

 

Arrive Tokyo  8:44 a.m.

Depart Tokyo 9:24 a.m.

 

Arrive Shinjo 12:35 p.m.

Depart Shinjo 1:08 pm

 

Arrive Amarume 1:54 p.m.

Depart Amarume 2:39 p.m.

 

Arrive Niigata 4:36 p.m.

Depart Niigata 4:49 p.m.

 

Arrive Tokyo 7:00 p.m.

Depart Tokyo 7:10 p.m.

 

Arrive Shinjuku 7:24 p.m.

Depart Shinjuku 7:40 p.m. Hotel Shuttle

 

Ar. Hilton Tokyo Shinjuku 8:00 p.m.

 

Wednesday, June 27th Day 3

Dp. Hilton Tokyo Shinjuku 8:12 a.m. Hotel shuttle

 

Arrive Shinjuku 8:20

Depart Shinjuku 8:30  a.m.

 

Arrive Tokyo  8:44 a.m.

Depart Tokyo 9:20 a.m.

 

Arrive Kanazawa 11:54 a.m.
Depart Kanazawa  1:20 p.m.

 

Arrive Osaka 4:04 p.m.

Depart Osaka 4:25 p.m.

 

Arrive Shin-Osaka 4:29 p.m.

Depart Shin-Osaka 4:43 p.m.

 

Arrive Nagoya. 5:34 p.m.

Depart Nagoya 6:00 p.m. Hotel shuttle

 

Arrive Hilton Nagoya 6:15 p.m.

 

Thursday, June 28 Day 4

Depart Hilton Nagoya 7:30 a.m.

 

Arrive Nagoya 7:45 a.m.

Depart Nagoya 8:20 a.m.

 

Arrive Kyoto 9:14 a.m.

Depart Kyoto 9:32 a.m.

 

Arrive Nara 10:19 a.m.  Mission is to feed and pet deer only

Depart Nara 11:47

 

Arrive Osaka 12:38

Depart Osaka 12:45p.m

 

Arrive Shin-Osaka 12:49 p.m.

Depart Shin-0saka 1:15 p.m.

 

Arrive Shirahama 3:41 p.m.

Depart Shirahama 5:26 p.m.

 

 

Arrive Shin-Osaka 7:50 p.m.

Depart Shin-Osaka 8:26 p.m.

 

Arrive Nagoya 9:23 p.m.

 

Hilton Nagoya

Friday, June 29 Day 5

Depart Hilton Nagoya 7 a.m.  Hotel shuttle

 

Arrive Nagoya 7:15 a.m.

Depart Nagoya 7:42 a.m.

 

Arrive Tokyo 9:23 a.m.

Depart Tokyo 9:36 a.m.

 

Arrive Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto 1:58 p.m.

Depart Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto 2:11 p.m.

 

Arrive Sapporo 5:41 p.m.

Depart Sapporo 6:08 p.m.

 

Arrive Hakodate 9:56 p.m.

 

Four Points Sheraton Hakodate. 

 

Saturday,  June 30  Day 6

 

Depart Hakodate 10:05 a.m.

 

Arrive Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto 10:23 a.m..

Depart Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto 10:49 a.m.

 

Arrive Tokyo 3:04 p.m. Early Dinner or snack in Tokyo

Depart Tokyo 5:00 p.m.

 

Arrive Narita Terminal 2  5:53 p.m.

Depart Narita Terminal 2 6:00 p.m. or 6:30 p.m.

 

Arrive Hilton Narita 6:30 p.m or 7:00 p.m.

Sunday,  July 1 Day 7

Depart Narita Hilton 2:20 p.m.

 

Arrive Narita 3:00 p.m.

Depart Narita 5:45 p.m.

 

Arrive Chicago Ohare 3:45 p.m.

[katoftw]

I'd try to add in the Takayama line (Toyama to Nagoya) and Gono, Ou and Uetsu lines (Aomori to Niigata).  No good riding boring Shinkansens in both directions.

[Das Steinkopf]

I second Katoftw's comment, it would be far better to go to Toyama from Kanazawa via Shinkansen and then catch the Hida Wide View down the Takayama Honsen to Nagoya, I have travelled that line and it is one of the most scenic lines to travel, it's a pity that you don't have much time to spend in Kanazawa as the Kenrokuen Gardens are stunning and well worth a visit. With Nara I would suggest that you go and visit Todai-ji, it's really worth it to admire the craftsmanship that went into building such a large structure as well as the statues. The deer there are nothing special as it reeks from the piss and shit they do all over the place, not only that they are rather obnoxious as they try and snatch food from the tourists, there are a number of warnings regarding the deer as people do get injured by them and ocassionally lose a finger due to deers snatching food. If you want to feed deer Miyajima is the place to go, they are much more docile and gentle there, that is probably due to a small population as opposed to Nara where there is quite a large population of them.

Edited April 25, 2018 by Das Steinkopf

[railsquid]

Wot Das Steinkopf says (why it's not "Der" Steinkopf I will never know), but anyway beware the deer in Nara, they'll try and sell you timeshares if you're not careful. And as katoftw says, Shinkansen get boring after a while.

[Steve4031]

I appreciate the advice. I rode the line from Toyama in my first trip. That is why I decided to try the line from Kanazawa to Osaka.  I did not make it clear in my itinerary that this was a limited express train. I am in the process of reworking this. 

 

I will post my next effort with train numbers and classification to avoid confusion. 

 

Thank you.  

[Steve4031]

I think I’ll skip dear feeding and plan that day a little differently.  

 

A second question:  How is the Hakone freepass trip the last week of June?  I am planning to ride the Romance car from Shinjuku since I am staying at the Hilton Shinjuku.  Then I would proceed over the mountain on the rope way and Cable car to the boat ride.  I would ride to the far end of the lake, eat food, and then take the boat back and then go back the way I came.  I have no interest in busses. 

 

I know now June is the rainy season but this might still be a fun trip for a rail enthusiast.  

[Kiha66]

I was in Kyushu for two months during the rainy season back in 2015, I loved riding the trains around in the rain.  Not the most convenient if you have to walk far with bags, but I think Japan looks best in the rain, or in the sun right after a storm.

[Das Steinkopf]

21 hours ago, railsquid said:

Wot Das Steinkopf says (why it's not "Der" Steinkopf I will never know), but anyway beware the deer in Nara, they'll try and sell you timeshares if you're not careful. And as katoftw says, Shinkansen get boring after a while.

 

The reason why I use Das is that is the initials of my name, the whole Steinkopf thing was more of a pisstake (Typical Australian thing to do) from my LEGO AFOL days. I originally went under the moniker of Brickhead but then changed it to Das Steinkopf due my more Germanic tastes when it came to building trains etc, add to that my creation of the mythical state of Legodtenstein which is a pisstake on how LEGO got its name, LEGO is an abbreviation of Leg Godt which is Danish for play well.

[Das Steinkopf]

20 hours ago, Steve4031 said:

I think I’ll skip dear feeding and plan that day a little differently.  

 

A second question:  How is the Hakone freepass trip the last week of June?  I am planning to ride the Romance car from Shinjuku since I am staying at the Hilton Shinjuku.  Then I would proceed over the mountain on the rope way and Cable car to the boat ride.  I would ride to the far end of the lake, eat food, and then take the boat back and then go back the way I came.  I have no interest in busses. 

 

I know now June is the rainy season but this might still be a fun trip for a rail enthusiast.  

 

That trip pretty much constitutes a full day of travel, the Romance Car is well worth a ride and then the trip along the Hakone Tozan is a real treat, after that the cable car from Gora to Souzan and the onto the Hakone Ropeway. I would suggest getting off at Owakudani to get a good view of Mount Fuji as during the rainy season you will probably not get a good view from the lake due to low lying clouds obscuring the view of the peak, also if you are into eggs you can enjoy the world famous Kuro Tamago where the eggs are hard boiled in the hot springs.

Edited April 26, 2018 by Das Steinkopf

[chadbag]

On 4/25/2018 at 10:17 AM, railsquid said:

(why it's not "Der" Steinkopf I will never know)

 

I've been wondering that too...

 

Though this is not my trip, please keep the suggestions coming.  Our next trip is in the summer of 2019 and I am reading everyone else's suggestions to help plan some fun excursions then.

[Steve4031]

Well here is my second go around at this.  I even put in the track numbers and train numbers.  

Please note that I enjoy riding the Shinkansen trains since we have nothing like them in the USA.  This will not be my last trip to Japan either.  

 

Sunday, June 24th

Depart Houston 10:25 A.M.   United 7

 

Monday, June 25th  Day 1

Arrive Tokyo Narita Terminal 1 2:00 p.m.

Depart Tokyo Narita Terminal 1 3:14 p.m.

 

Arrive Tokyo 4:14 p.m.

Depart Tokyo 4:23 p.m.

 

Arrive Shimbashi 4:26 p.m.

 

Conrad Hilton Tokyo

 

Tuesday, June 26th Day 2

 

Depart Tokyo 9:36 a.m. SHINKANSEN HAYABUSA 11

Departure track No.22

 

Arrive Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto 1:58 p.m. 

Arrival Track 12

Depart Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto 2:11 p.m. LTD. EXP SUPER HOKUTO 13

No departure track in Hyperdia

 

Arrive Sapporo 5:41 p.m.

Arrival track 5

Depart Sapporo 6:08 p.m. LTD. EXP SUPER HOKUTO 22

Departure Track 5

 

Arrive Hakodate 9:56 p.m.

 

4 Point Sheratan Hakodate

 

Wednesday, June 27th Day 3

Depart Hakodate 10:05 a.m. LTD. EXP SUPER HOKUTO 7

 

Arrive Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto 10:23 a.m.

No arrival track in Hyperdia

Depart Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto 10:49 a.m. SHINKANSEN HAYABUSA 18

Departure track 11

 

Arrive Tokyo 15:04

Arrival track No.21

 

Depart Tokyo 15:15 LTD. EXP KAIJI 113

Departure Track 2

Arrive Shinjuku 15:28

Arrival Track 10

 

Hilton Shuttle 15:40

From Bus Stop #21 in front of

Keio Department Store)

Hilton Tokyo Shinjuku

Thursday, June 28 Day 4

 

Hakone Free Pass departing from Shinjuku and returning to Shinjuku. 

 

Friday, June 29 Day 5

Dp. Hilton Tokyo Shinjuku 8:12 a.m. Hotel shuttle

 

Arrive Shinjuku 8:20

Depart Shinjuku 8:30  a.m.

 

Arrive Tokyo  8:44 a.m.

Depart Tokyo 11:24 a.m. SHINKANSEN HAKUTAKA 561

Departure Track 20

 

Arrive Kanazawa 14:20

Arrival track No.14

Depart Kanazawa  14:57 LTD. EXP THUNDERBIRD 30

Departure track No.2

 

Arrive Osaka. 17:36   

Arrival track No.3

 

Hilton Osaka

Saturday,  June 30  Day 6

Depart OSAKA 07:24

Departure track No.8  

 Arrive SHIN-OSAKA 07:28

Arrival track No.13  

 

Depart SHIN-OSAKA 07:33 LTD. EXP KUROSHIO 1

Departure track No.11

Arrive Shinju 11:49 AM.

Depart SHINGU 13:26 JR Kisei Line  for KIINAGASHIMA

 

Arrive KIINAGASHIMA 15:07

Depart KIINAGASHIMA 16:20  JR Kisei Line  for TAKI

 

 

Arrive Taki 1728

Depart Taki 1739  JR Kisei Line  for KAMEYAMA

 

Arrive MATSUSAKA 17:48 

Depart MATSUSAKA 17:51 Kintetsu Yamada Line Local for TOBA

 

Arrive UJIYAMADA 18:20

Depart UJIYAMADA 18:21 Kintetsu Toba Line Local for TOBA

           

Arrive TOBA 18:36

Depart TOBA 18:40 Kintetsu Ltd. Exp.

           

Arrive 20:10 KINTETSUNAGOYA

Walk 5 minutes to NAGOYA

 

Depart NAGOYA 21:08 SHINKANSEN HIKARI 529

Departure track No.17  

           

Arrive  SHIN-OSAKA 22:13

Arrival track No.22

 

Depart SHIN-OSAKA 22:27 LTD. EXP THUNDERBIRD 46

Departure track No.17

           

Arrive Osaka   22:31

 

Hilton Osaka

           

Sunday,  July 1 Day 7

Depart Osaka 9:01 a.m.  JR Kyoto Line Local for TAKATSUKI

Departure Track 7

 

Arrive Shin-Osaka 9:05

Arrival Track 14

Depart Shin-Osaka  9:16 a.m. SHINKANSEN HIKARI 514

Departure Track 24

 

Arrive Shinagawa  12:03

No Arrival Track in Hyperdia

 

Depart Shinagawa 12:20 p.m.

No departure track in Hyperdia

 

Arrive Narita Terminal 1 13:27

 

 

Depart Narita 5:45 p.m. United

 

Arrive Chicago Ohare 3:45 p.m.

 

[Steve4031]

Well I keep reworking this thing.  I really cleaned up Saturday the 30th by leaving Shingu a bit earlier.  This is now a circle trip involving Limited Express trains from Osaka to Shingu to Nagoya to Gifu and then back to Osaka.  I think this will be a great day on the rails.  

 

Depart OSAKA 07:24

Departure track No.8  

 Arrive SHIN-OSAKA 07:28

Arrival track No.13  

 

Depart SHIN-OSAKA 07:33 LTD. EXP KUROSHIO 1

Departure track No.11

Arrive Shinju 11:49 AM.

 

Depart SHINGU 12:44 Ltd. Exp. (Wide View) Nanki 6

 

16:10

 Arrive NAGOYA 16:10

Arrival track No.12

Depart NAGOYA 16:48

Departure track No.11

Ltd. Exp. (Wide View) Hida 15

 

Arrive  GIFU 17:07

Depart GIFU 17:43 Ltd. Exp. (Wide View) Hida 36

 

Arrive OSAKA 19:50

Arrival track No.3

[ben_issacs]

Steve 4031.

Gifu used to be a popular place to visit by railfans, it had a city tramway and a nice two route interurban system, all run by Mietetsu.

The interurban cars ran into the city, along the tramtracks, but the narrow streets and increased car traffic caused extreme congestion and delay of services, so the whole system was closed several years ago. 

So, Gifu, for the rail fan, is just another city now.

Regards, 

Bill, 

Melbourne.