to2leo Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 Entry #1, 2009/10/10, Introduction ~40 days before departure Thank you everyone for all your inputs in my previous thread. I have now booked my flight, got my 7 Days Japan Rail Pass voucher and got the Ghibli Museum pass from JTB. I am hoping to make a journal out of this so that you can share my delights and laugh at my silly mistakes as I ventured to the Land of the Rising Sun the second time. The only difference is, this will be my first solo trip Overseas doing something I always wanted to try...riding, sleeping, eating and playing trains! So here goes... I know I went a little overboard when the polite Japanese ticket agent had kindly e-mailed me the day when I ordered my JR pass. Hello Leo Please be advised that we also sell the air pass for domestic flight in Japan. As you will be taking Air Canada Flight, we can book it at the special fare. It costs approx. $140 for one flight. I think you can use it when going to Nagasaki or Sapporo. Please kindly consider this and let me know if you want to book the domestic flights. Thank you! Eddie At the back of my mind, I know he is probably right. But my goal to Japan this time is purely for trains so I thanked him and started planning my trip. To take full advantage of the 7 Days pass, I need a reliable source for JR timetable which thankfully like DB in Germany, there's Hyperdia. Hyperdia links all public transports together and provide you with an accurate solution to get to your destination. Furthermore, it also gives you 4 other travel options just in case you don't like the first one. They are then organised in the order of journey time, price and # of transfers. Okay that's all for now...tomorrow and in the coming weeks I will post my timetable and more... As always I would love to hear from you! Sources for this entry: http://www.hyperdia.com/ Link to comment
westfalen Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 To take full advantage of the 7 Days pass, I need a reliable source for JR timetable which thankfully like DB in Germany, there's Hyperdia. Hyperdia is pretty good. The first thing I do when I arrive in Japan is buy a current timetable, I just feel naked without one. One advantage about Japan is that unless you're getting up rare track miles on some branchline that only has 3 or 4 trains a day, it's not long till the next train comes along. I've often gone from plan 'A' to plan 'B' to making it up as I go when I see something that looks interesting. You'll find you can get a lot of value from a 7 day pass. I've been toying with the idea of a week in Japan myself if I can get the time off. Link to comment
to2leo Posted October 11, 2009 Author Share Posted October 11, 2009 Thanks for the advice Westfalen. My trip will mostly be on the mainline. The train routes that I am worried about will be the overnight trains. So having Plan B or C is a very good idea. Link to comment
to2leo Posted October 11, 2009 Author Share Posted October 11, 2009 Entry #2, 2009/10/11, Planning for Day 1 and 2 ~39 days before departure. If everything goes according to plan, I will lose a day when I arrived to Japan at 15:05 in Narita on board Air Canada B777-300. I am hoping to start my journey with an overnight train from Tokyo to Hiroshima. 1) NE'X NARITA AIRPORT(17:16) to TOKYO(18:18) Notes: Aiming to leave Narita with luggages and booked overnight trains tickets at the JR office. Since I am going to opposite direction, I hope rush hour will not be that crazy. If everything goes according to plan (a laugh), I can spend about 3 hours in Tokyo before catching my next train. 2) Sunrise Izumo Tokyo (22:00) to Himeji (05:24) -Overnight train from Tokyo -Himeji is famous for the Himeji castle, I hope I can get a glimpse of it. -Thought not sure about the sunrise since the climate chart indicates a 06:30 sunrise. http://www.climate-charts.com/Locations/j/JP47769.php -With the time of arrival, I can imagine myself saying to myself... next time I should just take the Shin and spent a night in Tokyo. 2a) Shinkansen Hikari 485 Narita Airport (17:44) to Himeji (22:54) -stay overnight in Toyoko Inn -wake up early to take pictures of Himeji Castle -jump to 3a) 3) Shinkansen Hikari Railstar 541 Himeji (06:36) to Hiroshima (07:38) -leave luggage and buy breakfast at Toyoko Inn. 3a) Shinkansen Hikari RailStar 491 Himeji (08:01) to Mukainada (09:23) -take sunrise picture of Himeji castle -had hearty breakfast at Toyoko Inn Himeji -head off to Mazda HQ tour -jump to 5) 4) JR Kure Line Hiroshima (09:31) to Mukainada (09:19) -Mazda HQ tour. 5) JR Sanyo Line Mukainada (12:10) to Miyajimaguchi (12:44) -head off to Miyajima via JR ferry to see the iconic Torii gate -some shopping and lunch 6) JR Sanyo Line Miyajimaguchi (15:05) to Hiroshima (15:31) -back to big city to enjoy sights -ride the famous tram As always feel free to comment. I never been to Hiroshima or Himeji so any advice will be greatly appreciated. Link to comment
westfalen Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 Sounds like you are going to have a good time. I stayed for a night in Himeji in 1994, the castle as I recall is up the other end of the main street from the station and is hard to miss. The hotel we stayed at was next to the station and we just walked up the street to the castle. If you get the chance go for a walk up there in the evening too, it is illuminated and looks impressive at night. If you like trams, you'll like Hiroshima. An option for getting to or from Miyajimaguchi is the light rail extension of the tram system, the terminal is near the ferry. A disadvantage I didn't mention about getting a timetable when you arrive is that they are the size of a phone book and entirely in Japanese. Link to comment
bikkuri bahn Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 disadvantage I didn't mention about getting a timetable when you arrive is that they are the size of a phone book Get the "Compass Jikokuhyou", which is a smaller B6 size, but lists all JR lines. http://www.kotsu.co.jp/magazine/jikoku/compass.html Link to comment
westfalen Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 disadvantage I didn't mention about getting a timetable when you arrive is that they are the size of a phone book Get the "Compass Jikokuhyou", which is a smaller B6 size, but lists all JR lines. http://www.kotsu.co.jp/magazine/jikoku/compass.html I've used it on a couple of short visits but I've always felt that there has to be things missing from it compared to the full size version. Link to comment
bikkuri bahn Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 disadvantage I didn't mention about getting a timetable when you arrive is that they are the size of a phone book Get the "Compass Jikokuhyou", which is a smaller B6 size, but lists all JR lines. http://www.kotsu.co.jp/magazine/jikoku/compass.html I've used it on a couple of short visits but I've always felt that there has to be things missing from it compared to the full size version. True, but then again, if you're purchasing the timetable for travel use, you won't use two-thirds (at least) of what is listed in the full-size version (which includes private railway, bus, airline, and shipping schedules, as well as listings of obscure hotels and inns, and pages and pages of fare structures and special offers of limited interest to short-term visitors and JR pass holders). Of course, if you want to buy it at least partly as a souvenir of your trip and as a future reference, the full-size version is the way to go. *historical side note: the "full-size" timetable used to be the (now smaller) B6 size. It was in the late sixties when the format was enlarged to its present phone-book thick B5 size. Link to comment
westfalen Posted October 14, 2009 Share Posted October 14, 2009 disadvantage I didn't mention about getting a timetable when you arrive is that they are the size of a phone book Get the "Compass Jikokuhyou", which is a smaller B6 size, but lists all JR lines. http://www.kotsu.co.jp/magazine/jikoku/compass.html I've used it on a couple of short visits but I've always felt that there has to be things missing from it compared to the full size version. True, but then again, if you're purchasing the timetable for travel use, you won't use two-thirds (at least) of what is listed in the full-size version (which includes private railway, bus, airline, and shipping schedules, as well as listings of obscure hotels and inns, and pages and pages of fare structures and special offers of limited interest to short-term visitors and JR pass holders). Of course, if you want to buy it at least partly as a souvenir of your trip and as a future reference, the full-size version is the way to go. *historical side note: the "full-size" timetable used to be the (now smaller) B6 size. It was in the late sixties when the format was enlarged to its present phone-book thick B5 size. The private railway listings don't seem as comprehensive in the small one, it depends on what sort of trip you're doing. I have on occasion used the smaller one while traveling and bought the larger before leaving, I have a collection of them, they are interesting to browse through if not to lug around in your backpack. Link to comment
to2leo Posted October 25, 2009 Author Share Posted October 25, 2009 Entry #3, 2009/10/25, Planning for Day 3 and 2 ~23 days before departure. Day 3 08:30 HIROSHIMA > SHINKANSEN HIKARI RailStar 545 > HAKATA -run to have a quick glance at Canal City Hakata 10:10 HAKATA > LTD.EXP RELAY TSUBAME 7 > SHINYATSUSHIRO -Take photos of Tsubame 800 series 13:29 SHINYATSUSIRO > LTD.EXP RELAY TSUBAME 8 > TOSU 14:20 TOSU > *LTD.EXP KAMOME 27 > NAGASAKI(NAGASAKI) Day 4 07:30 NAGASAKI(NAGASAKI) > LTD.EXP KAMOME 6 > Hakata > SHINKANSEN HIKARI RailStar 552 > SHINOSAKA -Osaka Castle -Modern Transportation Museum -Hobbista (Amagasaki) Day 5 09:10 SHINOSAKA > JR Kyoto Line > NARA -see deers! 12:09 NARA > JR Nara Line > KYOTO -Temples -Bamboo Forest -Station 18:22 KYOTO > LTD.EXP NIHONKAI Sleeper car > AOMORI > LTD.EXP HAKUCHO > HAKODATE > LTD.EXP SUPER HOKUTO > SAPPORO(JR) -Overnight train -Shiroi Koibito Park -Sapporo Beer Garden -Sapporo Factory -Ramen Yokocho Link to comment
stevenh Posted October 26, 2009 Share Posted October 26, 2009 Day 4: +Denden Town (Poppondetta!) +Denden Town (And then the other dealer across the road) Link to comment
bikkuri bahn Posted October 26, 2009 Share Posted October 26, 2009 When you go to the Sapporo Beer Garden, make sure to take a few minutes to see the 9600 class 2-8-0 steam locomotive (built in 1914, retired 1972) on display in the beer garden grounds (in the back between the beer hall and the shopping mall Ario). Link to comment
to2leo Posted October 26, 2009 Author Share Posted October 26, 2009 Thanks for all the input! I am going to Den Den Town for sure....Also cannot wait for the Sapporo Beer Train! Just need to vent right now!!! Apparently Hyperdia.com just got updated and now I am stuck with the old timetable. What's more, it looks like the new Hyperdia is not as easy to use as the original one! Does anyone know of another online train timetable site? Link to comment
bikkuri bahn Posted October 26, 2009 Share Posted October 26, 2009 I assume you're looking for an English language site. There is this site (jorudan), can't vouch for usefulness, tho: http://www.jorudan.co.jp/english/ Link to comment
bill937ca Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 This might interest you Leo. And when that plane leaves there may be some goodies on it for us. Link to comment
to2leo Posted November 12, 2009 Author Share Posted November 12, 2009 2009/11/24, Day 6 22:00 SAPPORO(JR) 札幌駅 > EXP. HAMANASU はまなす > AOMORI 青森駅 > LTD.EXP TSUGARU 2 つがる > HACHINOHE 八戸駅 > SHINKANSEN HAYATE 2 はやて > OMIYA(SAITAMA) 大宮駅 09:29 2009/11/25, Day 7 JR East Museum OMIYA(SAITAMA) 大宮駅 > SHINKANSEN MaxTANIGAWA 408 > TOKYO 東京駅 > LTD.EXP SUPERVIEW ODORIKO 7 スーパービュー踊り子 > ATAMI 熱海市 Visit Atami beach and resort and get a ride on Superview Odoriko ATAMI 熱海市 > LTD.EXP SUPERVIEW ODORIKO 8 スーパービュー踊り子 > TOKYO 東京駅 > JR Keihin-Tohoku Negishi Line 京浜東北線・根岸線 > AKIHABARA 秋葉原駅 2009/11/26, Day 8 KODENMACHO 小伝馬町駅 > Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line 東京地下鉄日比谷線 > TSUKIJI 築地 Sushi Dai and market TSUKIJISHIJO 築地市場駅 > Toei Oedo Line 都営地下鉄大江戸線 > YOYOGI 代々木駅 > JR Sobu Chuo Line 中央・総武緩行線 > MITAKA 三鷹駅 Ghibli Museum MITAKA 三鷹駅 > JR Sobu Chuo Line 中央・総武緩行線 > HIGASHINAKANO 東中野駅 > Toei Oedo Line 都営地下鉄大江戸線 > OCHIAIMINAMINAGASAKI 落合南長崎駅 Kato Hobby Centre OCHIAIMINAMINAGASAKI 落合南長崎駅 > Toei Oedo Line 都営地下鉄大江戸線 > TOCHOMAE 都庁前 Metropolitan Tokyo City Hall 's observation deck for sunset and night view. Night stroll around Shinjuku Night train ride 2009/11/27, Day 9 Free for all morning Head back to Narita Airport Link to comment
Bernard Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 Leo - It's hard to believe but your trip is less than a week away! :hello: Link to comment
to2leo Posted November 12, 2009 Author Share Posted November 12, 2009 Yeah I cannot wait! I got a brand new Pannasonic ZX3 camera and some Japanese Yen for the occasion. Link to comment
Guest ___ Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 Man, everyone's going to Japan on here Link to comment
to2leo Posted November 13, 2009 Author Share Posted November 13, 2009 Man, everyone's going to Japan on here Well this is the site for Japan fans after all Link to comment
Guest ___ Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 I should have said, "lately". Don't mind me, I'm working 65hr/wk mandatory. I want to say we ran a poll a little over a year ago, and the results were that more than half have never been to Japan, but might be planning to go. The figures were pretty interesting. I'll have to look for it. http://www.jnsforum.com/index.php/topic,1090.0.html Link to comment
to2leo Posted November 18, 2009 Author Share Posted November 18, 2009 Well this is it. Approximately 12 hours before I leave the house, 15 hours before I leave YYZ and 28 hours before I arrive at Japan's NRT. Hope to keep in contact while I am there. Link to comment
Bernard Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 Leo - Have a safe and fun trip!! Oh, and here is my list of trains you can pick up for me...... :grin Enjoy yourself and take lots of photos! Link to comment
disturbman Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 And now he is en route. Have a nice trip leo! Don't bring back too many trains... or send them to me. Enjoy! Link to comment
to2leo Posted November 21, 2009 Author Share Posted November 21, 2009 Sunrise Express was amazing, I got a single sleeping room all by myself with floor to ceiling windows. Kamome just love the design. Did not try E259 Narita yet, maybe on my way to Tokyo. Went crazy during Pochi's used train mega sale at Hakata...spend US420 on 5 trains! 2 sunrise exp, 1 885 series Sonic and 2 Modemo trams. Streetcar ride in Japan was rough and jerks a lot. Okay that's all for now. I promised to post more pictures once I am in Osaka tomorrow. Link to comment
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