Future Japan Trip Planning

[katoftw]

you looking for something like this?

 

 

its a pain in the rear.  but go to the japanese version of the timetable/train search.  use the auto translate on google/chrome etc.  select your stations.  some stations just dont work when the translator is on, you will get an error message.  so you will need to turn off the translator before hitting the final search button.

 

 

once you got an option/s, pick the "other trains on this section" link.

 

Edited September 7, 2022 by katoftw

[Phantom]

On 9/7/2022 at 3:45 PM, katoftw said:

you looking for something like this?

 

 

its a pain in the rear.  but go to the japanese version of the timetable/train search.  use the auto translate on google/chrome etc.  select your stations.  some stations just dont work when the translator is on, you will get an error message.  so you will need to turn off the translator before hitting the final search button.

 

 

once you got an option/s, pick the "other trains on this section" link.

 

Thanks so much, that's exactly what I was looking for!

One slight difficulty though, if I do Shin-Osaka to Kokura versus shin-Osaka to Hiroshima I get a different number of Kodama services. I'm guessing this only shows the trains between two destinations that happen to stop at both?

Which means if I can figure out all of the stations where trains terminate or originate between Osaka and Hakata I can see all of the trains albeit over a few separate tabs.

 

There is only one Hikari rail star service 😞

 

 

Edited September 9, 2022 by Phantom

[katoftw]

Just do Hakata and Shin-Osaka.

 

Okayama has the most finishers/starters other than the above two stations.

[kuro68000]

If the timetable is too much work you can use Google Maps. It doesn't always come up with the best route, but it's usually decent. You can change the leave/arrive time to a date in the future, and it seems to have all the timetables programmed in.

[Phantom]

On 9/10/2022 at 4:26 AM, katoftw said:

Just do Hakata and Shin-Osaka.

 

Okayama has the most finishers/starters other than the above two stations.

Hiroshima would probably be next most?

 

On 9/10/2022 at 8:34 AM, mojo said:

If the timetable is too much work you can use Google Maps. It doesn't always come up with the best route, but it's usually decent. You can change the leave/arrive time to a date in the future, and it seems to have all the timetables programmed in.

This is for doing a bit of spotting versus riding the train. The JR West website or Google will be plenty to sort out getting a train somewhere.

[Phantom]

I've recently seen one of the posts here on the March timetable changes which if I interpreted it correctly indicates the 700-7000 railstar and 500 series will remain until the 18th of March next year and presumably the E8 won't enter service until then as well. I think November this year is doable for me but an outside chance, that leaves mid-March and mid-May as alternatives. I think May would likely be better than March but runs the risk the railstar and 500 won't be around since it's after March. Any thoughts on May? I'm not sure if N700S replacing trainsets on Tokaido might shift some of the older N700 types to JR West and thus replacing the 700-7000/500.

Also, does JR generally phase in one trainset at a time starting in March or will all E3s be replaced simultaneously in March by the E8? I would like to see the E3 but that is lower priority than the other two for me.

[katoftw]

No announcement have been made on retiring railstar or 500 series shinkansans. So expect them to be around for at least another 2 years minimum.

Edited March 27, 2023 by disturbman
unnecessary quote, answering previous message

[Phantom]

Thanks! That May option might be worth considering, November has the Fall foliage and cooler weather but May might be greener and rainier possibly. Interesting option to consider. If there are some E3 sets around in May I think that would be better than March without a doubt.

 

On a side note, I sort of assumed there were only a few E series sets left on the San'yo but if you're saying 2 years does that mean most of the total 16 remain in operation?

Edited March 27, 2023 by disturbman
unnecessary quote, answering previous message

[JR East]

Just giving you a flavour of Hanami ... Shot in 2016 

 

 

 

Enjoy 2023 Hanami !

 

JM. 

[katoftw]

6 hours ago, Phantom said:

Thanks! That May option might be worth considering, November has the Fall foliage and cooler weather but May might be greener and rainier possibly. Interesting option to consider. If there are some E3 sets around in May I think that would be better than March without a doubt.

 

On a side note, I sort of assumed there were only a few E series sets left on the San'yo but if you're saying 2 years does that mean most of the total 16 remain in operation?

I didn't mention anything about E3 sets. That JRE stuff and I don't really follow them too closely.

[Phantom]

7 hours ago, JR East said:

Just giving you a flavour of Hanami ... Shot in 2016 

 

 

 

Enjoy 2023 Hanami !

 

JM. 

Unfortunately my window in march is about a week or two before this so that's why I'm preferring November

[Phantom]

7 hours ago, katoftw said:

I didn't mention anything about E3 sets. That JRE stuff and I don't really follow them too closely.

Yeah, I figured since you didn't mention it just sort of leaving the question out there in case someone who does know reads it.

[Phantom]

I am revisiting this thread as I am once again looking at a week in March (Hopefully everything works out this time) and a larger trip later this year if I enjoy the one in March. I am trying to plan to see my favorite disappearing trains (Railstar) and I want to see the E3 as well. JR East has a document up until February so far showing what services are E8/E3 https://www.jreast.co.jp/railway/extratrain/2024/winter_tsubasa.pdf and JR central's timetable includes the Sanyo shinkansen. However, both of these only extend to the 28th of February and not the period I am looking at in the first two weeks of March. I was wondering if anyone here knew when they might release that. Additionally, the JR central timetable is quite clear about which services are 500 series, but it is unclear regarding which are railstar (besides the JR west train finder that may not find full trains or I could miss something with search terms). I see that some Kodama are listed as 8 car formations and not 500 series, are those exclusively railstar, or do they have other train sets that also fit that description? (I wish I could have gone in 2023, E3 would have been easier)
 

Edited January 7 by Phantom

[ED75-775]

3 hours ago, Phantom said:

the JR central timetable is quite clear about which services are 500 series, but it is unclear regarding which are railstar

I'm surprised that the JR Central timetable would make any reference to the 500 series as they've never owned any of these trains and they've not been used on the Tokaido Shinkansen since 2010. Same with the 700-7000 series as again they're JR West trains and AFAIK have never run past Shin-Osaka. Perhaps could you share your link to the timetable?

 

In any case and to answer your question, there are four types of eight-car shinkansen on the Sanyo Shinkansen - the 500-7000 series (six sets), 700-7000 (Hikari Rail Star, 18 sets), N700-7000 (19 sets) and N700-8000 (11 sets). The latter two types are used on Mizuho and Sakura services so we won't worry about them. The 500 and Rail Star sets on the other hand are exclusively confined to Kodama service. So if a Kodama service is listed as eight cars, it's one of those two train types.

 

Funny thing, but JR West clearly knows there's enthusiast interest in the 500s as there was an arrival timetable posted for these trains at Hakata Station on my last trip. Plus obviously the timetables for the Hello Kitty Shinkansen are fairly well known - I've travelled on it on both my 2023 and 2024 trips but still want that Holy Grail of a ride on a blue 500; I've now seen a few in service mostly on my 2024 trip but I've not ridden one yet.

 

Alastair

Edited January 7 by ED75-775

[Phantom]

8 hours ago, ED75-775 said:

I'm surprised that the JR Central timetable would make any reference to the 500 series as they've never owned any of these trains and they've not been used on the Tokaido Shinkansen since 2010. Same with the 700-7000 series as again they're JR West trains and AFAIK have never run past Shin-Osaka. Perhaps could you share your link to the timetable?

 

In any case and to answer your question, there are four types of eight-car shinkansen on the Sanyo Shinkansen - the 500-7000 series (six sets), 700-7000 (Hikari Rail Star, 18 sets), N700-7000 (19 sets) and N700-8000 (11 sets). The latter two types are used on Mizuho and Sakura services so we won't worry about them. The 500 and Rail Star sets on the other hand are exclusively confined to Kodama service. So if a Kodama service is listed as eight cars, it's one of those two train types.

 

Funny thing, but JR West clearly knows there's enthusiast interest in the 500s as there was an arrival timetable posted for these trains at Hakata Station on my last trip. Plus obviously the timetables for the Hello Kitty Shinkansen are fairly well known - I've travelled on it on both my 2023 and 2024 trips but still want that Holy Grail of a ride on a blue 500; I've now seen a few in service mostly on my 2024 trip but I've not ridden one yet.

 

Alastair

https://global.jr-central.co.jp/en/info/timetable/

 

Seems to just be a comprehensive timetable of the continuous track from Tokyo to Kagoshima. Ok, thank you. Any Kodama not noted clearly as a 500 is a railstar. I'm curious when the replacements will show up and what they will look like as they said by 2027 the 500 and 700 series should be gone. I'm hoping whatever N700 type they have is painted similar to the railstar or 500.

Only thing I need to figure out is when the March timetable is posted. From what I remember about 2 weeks into March is the timetable change, but I'm not sure about those first two weeks when I would likely be there.

Edited January 7 by Phantom

[Phantom]

I'm seeing various articles from the past for timetables in effect after March 15th, but this makes it unclear what happens between the end of February and then.

[Gunzel]

I’d be tempted to block out a day and have a pass or an unreserved seat ticket and hang out at Shin-Osaka or Hakata to see what turns up. 

[Phantom]

11 hours ago, Gunzel said:

I’d be tempted to block out a day and have a pass or an unreserved seat ticket and hang out at Shin-Osaka or Hakata to see what turns up. 

Somewhere between Hakata and Okayama would probably be ideal. It looks like the a lot of the services with Railstar terminate at Okayama and either operate between there and Hiroshima or Hakata.

[Gunzel]

I think you’re right that Okayama would be a better option than Shin-Osaka. 
 

I don’t know how often if ever they run the services to Hakataminami but it’s worth going down there to have a look as well. 

[Phantom]

Regarding hotels. I see that in the past that Toyoko Inn was discussed in other threads and I didn't see anything overly negative about them (other than stiff beds which shouldn't be a problem for me) and they are pretty much everywhere and near stations, so I was wondering if those Inns are still a good option nowadays. Additionally, what size beds do Japanese hotels/inns typically use? I'm a bit on the taller side.

[Tony Galiani]

We stayed in the Toyoko Inn at Shin-Aomori last year as it was the only hotel I found near the station and it turned out to be a real value.  Less than US$100 for two people including breakfast.  Not as many breakfast options as other hotels we stayed at but plenty for us, including Western options.  I am 6 feet tall and the bed was fine.  Room was really small and basic but not really an issue for us as we were not in it all that much - just overnight to sleep.  Hope this is helpful.

Ciao,

Tony

[Kingmeow]

What Tony said.  In our last trip (3 weeks Oct/Nov), 3 out of the 7 hotels we stayed in were Toyoko Inns.  Not that we were specifically looking for them but for the price/location they floated to the top for those 3 towns.  We have no complaints about them.  Even the beds were fine but we are not tall people.

 

We stayed at other basic Japanese chains for the other 3 towns (1 was Comfort Inn - US chain) and they were similar in size to Toyoko.  We have realized and accepted that basic room sizes for Japanese chains are not big unless you go big in price.  We rather spend the money on other things.  The Toyoko Inns seem to be more modern and newer looking than the other chains we stayed in (e.g., Smile, Villa Fontaine) but all, regardless or chains, were clean and well maintained.

 

I did notice that although all our Toyoko Inns had breakfast, some were much more lavish than others.  No rhyme or reason not could I figure out a price vs. lavishness of breakfast.

[Phantom]

1 hour ago, Kingmeow said:

What Tony said.  In our last trip (3 weeks Oct/Nov), 3 out of the 7 hotels we stayed in were Toyoko Inns.  Not that we were specifically looking for them but for the price/location they floated to the top for those 3 towns.  We have no complaints about them.  Even the beds were fine but we are not tall people.

 

We stayed at other basic Japanese chains for the other 3 towns (1 was Comfort Inn - US chain) and they were similar in size to Toyoko.  We have realized and accepted that basic room sizes for Japanese chains are not big unless you go big in price.  We rather spend the money on other things.  The Toyoko Inns seem to be more modern and newer looking than the other chains we stayed in (e.g., Smile, Villa Fontaine) but all, regardless or chains, were clean and well maintained.

 

I did notice that although all our Toyoko Inns had breakfast, some were much more lavish than others.  No rhyme or reason not could I figure out a price vs. lavishness of breakfast.

Thanks for the info guys. It sounds like they are about exactly what I'm looking for. Somewhere to stay overnight that has breakfast. I don't care about room size, just the bed size really.

 

1 hour ago, Kingmeow said:

I did notice that although all our Toyoko Inns had breakfast, some were much more lavish than others.  No rhyme or reason not could I figure out a price vs. lavishness of breakfast.

How early is their breakfast generally? Was it all the same or did it differ? Would be good to know in advance if I can take advantage of it or if I need to plan to get breakfast elsewhere.

[Kingmeow]

This is from memory but depending on location, breakfast is over at either 9am or 9:30am.  Warning, they are bringing stuff back into the kitchen 15 mins before end of service.

 

Different items at different hotels.  I think it *may* depend on what's more common for the region the hotel is in.

 

The Toyoko Inn at Kawaguchiko actually had two adjoining buildings and they set up two breakfasts, one in each building with one being Japanese style and the other being Western style (more pastries, etc.).  The two buildings interconnect so you don't have to go outside.  One morning I actually tried both sides.  ☺️

[RS18U]

Re hotels and breakfasts.  One thing we noted when booking our rooms for our March/24 trip was the difference in price depending on if you selected the breakfast option or not, and for the most part we figured we could get breakfast cheaper outside the hotel.  We only went with included breakfast a couple of times; the places we stayed at the breakfast option was in the 2,000 - 2,500 yen range/person and we can eat cheaper someplace else.  This was a change from when we visited last in 2018 when almost all the hotels included breakfast.

 

Of course this cheap compared to the 4,400 yen the Royal Park wanted for breakfast in November 😮