Resort Shirakami Question

[TestudoToTetsudo]

Does anyone know what the chances are of the Resort Shirakami selling out?  Is it possible to still get space reserved for a group of 4 on the day of departure, if one does not want to commit to a travel date until the weather forecast for Juniko is known?

 

This would be midweek in May, after the cherry blossoms and Golden Week, before the summer holidays.

 

Cooking up what should make for a nice Japan itinerary I hope to post here soon, just trying to build in some redundancies for my family's travel plan!

[bikkuri bahn]

If it's midweek, probably it's likely you can get seats, as long as there are no tour groups filling them up.  Seats can be reserved starting one month in advance, so it's still too early to find out the booking trend.  You can check the seat availabilty on the JR Cyber Station website (Japanese language only) starting from that date.

[TestudoToTetsudo]

Thanks Bikkuri Bahn!  I'll be posting the current draft of my fuller itinerary in just a bit...still in pencil, but with hotel bookings and flights done and approval of the family I am going with.

[Jensen]

Went on it in Nov 2013 from Akita - Juniko - Hirosaki

It was on a Monday from Akita - Juniko in mid afternoon there were less then 10 passenger including myself.

I stop at Juniko to walk around the lake and catch the last Resort train (around 4 pm) and there were less then 10 people.

However on a Saturaday on the same week while in Hirosaki, I saw train nearly if not full.

Try to go on the blue train is the latest one.

Edited March 29, 2015 by Jensen

[Jensen]

Try book the compartment seat, its really nice! 

I might be back on it later this year if my holiday in confirmed.  :)

 

Edited March 29, 2015 by Jensen

[JR 500系]

The resort Shirakami just got revitalised!

 

http://tetsudo-shimbun.com/headline/entry-365.html   (in Japanese only)

 

I like this colour scheme!

[cteno4]

Nice trees!

 

Jeff

[TestudoToTetsudo]

Heading up to Juniko tomorrow. Looks like some rain, but it should end before we arrive into Juniko.

 

On the Inaho now approaching Sakamachi, taking the back route to Akita from Tokyo.

 

Thanks everyone for the advice!

[Jensen]

Hope you has a nice trip, was the train busy?

[TestudoToTetsudo]

Hope you has a nice trip, was the train busy?

 

No, the train was EMPTY.

 

I actually got to ride it two days in a row, Goshogawara-Akita on one day with the blue trainset and an Akita-Juniko round trip with the green trainset.

 

First day Dad and I were moved from seats into a private compartment by the conductor as the train was so empty.  Maybe about 10 passengers on board along the coast.

 

Second day there were maybe 40-50 on board, plus a few dozen who rode the short stretch Akitashirakami-Juniko.

 

Great ride.  Scenic ride.

[Jensen]

No, the train was EMPTY.

 

 

 

Haha, similar to my last trip. I planning to go for another ride as an alternative to going to Tokyo from Hirosaki. 

I hope its empty too and the compartment was really nice!

[JR 500系]

Really taking an interest in the Gono line and Resort Shirakami now, especially since the pre-ordering of Kato started.. Here's a front view video which I feel was REALLY.... Gono line!

 

 

The way how the sea and land meet is really nice...