stevenh Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 To start with, I think we need a new sub-forum for "Rail in Japan"... there's a lot of topics listed here as "off topic" which indeed aren't... since they relate to rail workings, lines, etc in Japan. I believe this thread should then be shifted into there as well :) Right, the dates are set... I'm off to Japan on the 16th of June until the 18th of July. Here are the day trips I so far intend to take to see as many of the "tiny railways" as I can: From Osaka: -Hikari RailStar 443 (ShinOsaka to Okayama) (6:05AM - 6:55AM) -Marine Liner (Okayama to Kojima) (7:10AM - 7:35AM) -Shiokaze (Kojima to Matsuyama) (7:40AM - 10:10AM) -Shiokaze (Matsuyama to Tadotsu) (10:20AM - 11:20AM) -Nanpu (Tadotsu to Kochi) (11:50AM - 1:40PM) -Shimanto (Kochi to Awaikeda) (3:10PM - 4:20PM) -Tsurugisan (Awaikeda to Tokushima) (4:35PM - 5:50PM) -Uzushio (Tokushima to Takamatsu) (6:25PM - 7:40PM) -Shimanto (Takamatsu to Utazu) (8:25PM - 8:50PM) -Shiokaze (Utazu to Okayama) (8:50PM - 9:30PM) -Hikari RailStar 484 (Okayama to ShinOsaka) (9:55PM - 10:50PM) -Hikari (ShinOsaka to Tokyo) (6:05AM - 9:10AM) -Yamanote Line (Tokyo to Ueno) (9:30AM - 9:40AM) -Super Hitachi (Ueno to Katsuta) (10:00AM - 11:10AM) -Minato Line! Hitachi Depot! (11:20AM - 12:30PM) -Fresh Hitachi (Katsuta to Ishioka) (12:45PM - 1:15PM) -Kashima Line (1:20PM - 2:05PM) -Fresh Hitachi (Ishioka to TSUCHIURA) (2:10PM - 2:25PM) -Joban Line (Tsuchiura to Sanuki) (2:30PM - 2:50PM) -Ryugasaki Line (2:50PM - 3:15PM) -Joban Line (Sanuki to Kashiwa) (3:15PM - 3:35PM) -Fresh Hitachi (Kashiwa to Ueno) (3:45PM - 4:10PM) -Yamanote Line (Ueno to Tokyo) (4:15PM - 4:20PM) -Hikari (Tokyo to Shin Osaka) (5:00PM - 8:00PM) -Hikari (ShinOsaka to Tokyo) (7:10AM - 10:10AM) -MaxYAMABIKO (Tokyo to Oyama) (10:20AM - 11:05AM) -JR Mito Line (Oyama to Shimodate) (11:30AM - 12:00PM) -Mooka Railroad (Shimodate to Motegi) (1:00PM - 2:10PM) -Mooka Railroad (Motegi to Shimodate) (2:15PM - 3:20PM) -JR Mito Line (Shimodate to Oyama) (3:30PM - 4:00PM) -Nasuno (Oyama to Tokyo) (5:00PM - 5:45PM) -Hikari (Tokyo to ShinOsaka) (6:00PM - 9:10PM) -Hikari (ShinOsaka to Tokyo) (6:05AM - 9:10AM) -Tanigawa (Tokyo to Kumagaya) (9:40AM - 10:25AM) -Chichibu Railway (Kumagaya to Mitsumineguchi) (10:30AM - 12:05PM) -Chichibu Railway (Mitsumineguchi to Takekawa) (12:15PM - 1:30PM) -Chichibu Railway (Takekawa to Hanyu) (2:10PM - 2:50PM) -Chichibu Railway (Hanyu to Kumagaya) (3:10PM - 3:35AM) -Takasaki Line (Kumagaya to Ueno) (5:10PM - 6:05PM) -Keihin-Tohoku Negishi Line (Ueno to Shinagawa) (6:10PM - 6:30PM) -Hikari (Shinagawa to Shin Osaka) (6:40PM - 9:30PM) -Hikari (ShinOsaka to Hamamatsu) (6:05AM - 7:45AM) -Tokaido Line (Hamamatsu to Kanaya) (7:50AM - 8:30AM) -Loiter between Kanaya and Shin Kanaya (8:30AM - 11:30AM) -Oigawa SL (Shin Kanaya to Senzu) (11:55AM - 1:15PM) -Oigawa (Not SL) (Senzu to Shin Kanaya) (1:50PM - 3:10PM) -Tokaido Line (Kanaya to Kakegawa) (4:30PM - 4:50PM) -Kodama (Kakegawa to Hamamatsu) (5:10PM - 5:25PM) -Hikari (Hamamatsu to Shin Osaka) (5:35PM - 7:05PM) -Special Rapid Service (ShinOsaka to Takatsuki) (7:00AM - 7:20AM) -Special Rapid Service (Takatsuki to Kyoto) (9:00AM - 9:15AM) -Hashidate (Kyoto to Amanohashidate) (9:20AM - 11:30AM) -Kitakinkitango Miyazu Line (Amanohashidate to Nishimaizuru) (12:05PM - 1:00PM) -Maizuru Line (Nishimaizuru to HigashiMaizuru) (1:25PM - 1:35PM) -Obama Line (Higashimaizuru to Tsuruga) (1:35PM - 3:40PM) -Tsuruga Roundhouse (3:40PM - 5:40PM) -Raicho (Tsuruga to ShinOsaka) (5:40PM - 7:05PM) I'll edit this post as I get more lines to travel on. I also have a huge trip planned from Osaka to Sapporo' date=' Aomori, etc... including: -Twilight Express (Osaka to Sapporo) (12:00PM - 9:55AM) Explore Sapporo / Stay Overnight -Super Hokuto (Sapporo to Hakodate) (10:35AM - 1:50PM) -Super Hakucho (Hakodate to Aomori) (3:40PM - 5:35PM) Explore Aomori / Stay Overnight -Ou Line (Aomori to Kawabe) (6:10AM - 6:45AM) -Gono Line (Kawabe to Goshogawara) (6:50AM - 7:25AM) -Tsugaru Railway (Goshogowara to Kase and Return) (8:15AM - 9:10AM) -Gono Line (Goshogawara to Kawabe) (9:30AM - 10:05AM) -Ou Line (Kawabe to Aomori) (12:00PM - 12:40PM) -Hakucho (Aomori to Noheji) (12:45PM - 1:20PM) -Ominato Line (Noheji to Shimokita) (3:50PM - 7:15PM) -Super Hakucho (Noheji to Aomori) (7:30PM - 8:00PM) whilte in the area: ...niigata... ...Ban'etsu C57 Steam... And then off to Kyushu on the Fuji Express. -Ltd Exp Fuji (Tokyo to Hiroshima) (6:00PM - 5:25AM) -Kodama (Hiroshima to Hakata) (6:00AM - 7:40AM) -Relay Tsubame (Hakata to Kumamoto) (8:20AM - 9:30AM) -ASO 1962 (Kumamoto to Miyaji) (10:10AM - 12:15PM) -Hohi Line (Miyaji to Bungotaketa) (1:10PM - 1:55PM) -Hohi Line (Bungotaketa to Oita) (1:55PM - 3:25PM) -Sonic (Oita to Kokura) (3:35PM - 5:40PM) -Hikari (Kokura to ShinOsaka) (5:20PM - 7:45PM) Am considering Enoden and Hakonen as well. Please tell me other places to get to and ideas on timings... I currently use Hyperdia for estimating travel times: http://www.hyperdia.com/cgi-english/hyperWeb.cgi Link to comment
CaptOblivious Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 Holy crap, lucky git. Are you taking time to do anything else while you're there? Link to comment
Guest ___ Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 Jumpin' Jesus on a pogo stick. I never thoguht I'd ever hear myself say this, but man, That's almost too many trains to ride. Your schedule is a bit tight, so make sure to leave a little time to get a few pictures there, Steven. Link to comment
Martijn Meerts Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 *** JEALOUS *** ;D Link to comment
stevenh Posted February 3, 2009 Author Share Posted February 3, 2009 The first spanner... The 3-Week railpass is currently AUD$1095... wtf. Let us hope that the dollar strengthens... but I wont bring that topic up again :) It is all a little tight... but this isn't Malaysia. (no offence to the KTMB travellers :P) When I was there I booked the express from Butterworth (8:00pm) to KL (6:30am) and then the KL (8:00am) to Singapore (3:30pm) and they warned me at the Butterworth ticket counter that the connection probably wont be made as the train always runs late! I laughed in the face of evil and bought the tix anyway... and the connection was easily made, we arrived at 7:00am into KL. As for Japanese train punctuality... I'm safe.. .I've made sure I'm not travelling on the last Shinkansen and I also have a few friends in Tokyo of which I might base myself from instead of taking so many Hikari Services :) Meanwhile... where are all the other little railways? :) Link to comment
serenityFan Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 Two words: Travel Envy... :D And you could stay in Tokyo overnight on your many Osaka-Tokyo-Osaka trips, or this could be an excuse to spend more time on the Hikari, make that railpass work for you... ;D Link to comment
Bernard Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 Steven - Did you sign up for the TV show "Amazing Race"? That is one highly organized vacation you signed up for are you going with anyone else or solo? Link to comment
Guest ___ Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 The first spanner... The 3-Week railpass is currently AUD$1095... wtf. Let us hope that the dollar strengthens... but I wont bring that topic up again It is all a little tight... but this isn't Malaysia. (no offence to the KTMB travellers :P) When I was there I booked the express from Butterworth (8:00pm) to KL (6:30am) and then the KL (8:00am) to Singapore (3:30pm) and they warned me at the Butterworth ticket counter that the connection probably wont be made as the train always runs late! I laughed in the face of evil and bought the tix anyway... and the connection was easily made, we arrived at 7:00am into KL. As for Japanese train punctuality... I'm safe.. .I've made sure I'm not travelling on the last Shinkansen and I also have a few friends in Tokyo of which I might base myself from instead of taking so many Hikari Services :) Meanwhile... where are all the other little railways? :) KTMB has to be the worst trains I have ever ridden. I only went from JB to Singapore. >:( That aside, looks like you're going to get good use out of that JR Pass. Even with the exchange rate as it is. I'm amazed it has gotten to where it is. I believe it was near an all time record when I went over last year. It is now worse. But it is interesting to note te Japanese are not happy about the rate either. Trade with Japan has really been affected by the rate. Add the current state of the economies where they are only compounds this. Despite that though, looking at the itinerary, you're still taking them for some money on that pass. Link to comment
ChrisV Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 The JR Rail pass is awesome if you plan it properly. I was in Japan in January this year and bought the 7 day pass. It cost AUD400.00 ( travel discount ) and I must have abused that pass for 7 days. I believe I would of done almost AUD800 worth of travelling on all types except the Nozomi services ( doh!). I am not surprised that you can have an itinerary like that whilst in Japan... Have fun!!! :D Link to comment
to2leo Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 Have fun, JR pass also entitles you to some Tokyo subway lines too.... And I thought I was the only one who is obsessed with rail travel :0) Link to comment
Guest ___ Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 Have fun, JR pass also entitles you to some Tokyo subway lines too.... And I thought I was the only one who is obsessed with rail travel :0) I still want to know when's he's going to sleep on this trip :P Link to comment
to2leo Posted April 4, 2009 Share Posted April 4, 2009 :D You don't need to sleep in Japan. The evening rush hour start at 11pm! Work starts at 6am, that's leaving you 5 hours at home to shower eat and watch TV. Link to comment
Bernard Posted April 4, 2009 Share Posted April 4, 2009 Steve - You might need a vacation when you return from this vacation. ;D Link to comment
Guest ___ Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 I'm going out on a limb and risk being flogged, but what the hell, "That's almsot too many trains" :P Link to comment
stevenh Posted April 8, 2009 Author Share Posted April 8, 2009 Just to keep you all updated on this... I've had my trip truncated by work (down to 2.75 weeks) and so half of the trips above wont happen... I'll still end up at Oigawa, on the Twilight Express (and then possibly the Nihon Kai back to Osaka or Cassiopeia to Tokyo) and hopefully also to see the ASO 1962 in Kyushuu. Sad state of affairs really... but we'll see what happens. Link to comment
to2leo Posted May 29, 2009 Share Posted May 29, 2009 2 weeks to go. Hey Shasjinka, You are going to visit some hobby stores too? Definitely check out Tam Tam! http://www.hs-tamtam.jp/modules/tinyd2/index.php?id=1 Link to comment
Bernard Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 Steven - you must be getting excited with the trip only 2 weeks away, sorry to hear the trip was shorten, can't wait to see the photos you take. Link to comment
stevenh Posted May 31, 2009 Author Share Posted May 31, 2009 Yaaaah... even shorter now... but I'll (at least) be travelling on the Twilight Express and then back on the Nihon Kai and also a trip to (and partially around) the base of Mt Fuji from Osaka. Otherwise I'm booked out catching up with friends... there'll always be more time later. Link to comment
stevenh Posted June 15, 2009 Author Share Posted June 15, 2009 Aaaaarrrgh.... I'm being picked up at 2am... to drive 350km in a hire car to the airport for our flight tomorrow morning. I suggested the smart thing, a hotel, but the other guys didn't budge... so sleep in the car, i shall. If anyone wants anything hard to find... not the stuff that you can get anywhere on ebay, then please PM me with a list. Alpine has already thrown in a request and I do intend on attempting to find what he's after, but my time will be limited, so I cannot promise anything. So far my trips will be: 18th jun - osaka - nagoya - shiojiri - kofu - shizuoka - osaka. (this is to take the fujikawa past mt.fuji) 21-22-23 jun - osaka (nihonkai sleeper, twilight was booked) - aomori - hakodate - higashimuroran (twilight express!) - osaka. 25th - oigawa -> tokyo 26th - tokyo - chichibu - tokyo. 27th - tokyo - niigata - aizuwakamatsu! - toyama. ... australia ;) Link to comment
Bernard Posted June 15, 2009 Share Posted June 15, 2009 Steven - have a fun, safe trip and take lots of photos! ;) Link to comment
to2leo Posted June 16, 2009 Share Posted June 16, 2009 My favorite Japanese food are those family run noodle stalls by the train station platform! Also, try not to talk too loud on the train, the Japaneses treasures their quietness. Otherwise, have a fun trip. Please factor in Plan B just in case...though Japan is extremely good with schedule. Link to comment
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