This was posted 1 year 12 days ago, and might be an out-dated deal.

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JR East 1-Day Kyun Rail Weekday Pass (2 Rides on Shinkansen, Unlimited on JR & non-JR lines) ¥10000 Yen (~A$106.22) @ JR East

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JR East 1-Day Kyun Rail Weekday Pass (2 Rides on Shinkansen, Unlimited on JR & non-JR lines) ¥10000 Yen (~A$106.22) @ JR East
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Clear on 10/12/2023 - 18:58 jreast.co.jp (1561 clicks)
Last edited 11/12/2023 - 17:34 by 1 other user

Since the national JR Rail Pass has risen in price by about 65% it's no longer worth getting for a lot of travelers, however JR East have decided to release a one day pass for the Kanto, Tohoku and eastern Hokuriku regions of Japan allowing up to 2 rides on the Shinkansen (bullet train) and unlimited rides on a number of JR and non-JR lines that connect to the JR east network.

The Kyun Pass will be available on the JR East Ekinet booking site from January 14 to February 29 2024 and can only be used on weekdays from February 14 to March 14, 2024.

This pass is not for the the Kansai region, so Osaka is not covered.

Below are a number of round-trip fares from Tokyo with their normal full price to demonstrate how easily you can get your money back with any of these rides. Even a one-way ride to most of these destinations is worth it.

  • Tokyo-Aomori: ¥35340 Yen (~A$375.40)
  • Tokyo-Sendai: ¥22820 Yen (~A$242.41)
  • Tokyo-Kanazawa: ¥27700 Yen (~A$294.24) Edit: Likely not included. See bottom of deal.
  • Tokyo-Nagano: ¥15620 Yen (~A$165.92)
  • Tokyo-Niigata: ¥20460 Yen (~A$217.34)
  • Tokyo-Morioka: ¥30020 Yen (~A$318.89)

Having recently visited the Tohoku region myself including Fukushima, Sendai, Yamagata and Aomori I can highly recommend the area. There's a lot of hidden gems and it's not swamped with tourists (yet) unlike Kyoto.

Other Information:

You can reserve two seats in advance for the day that you'll be using it. Non-JR lines that connect to JR East include Aoimori Railway, IGR Iwate Ginga Railway, Sanriku Tetsudo, Hokuetsu Express and Echigo Tokimeki Railway (between Naoetsu and Arai Stations).

The Kyun Pass will also give discounts (TBA) at the New Days convience stores and selected rental car agencies found at JR stations.

The pass cannot be used on the Hokkaido Shinkansen (Shin-Aomori - Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto).

Cannot be used on the Hokkaido Shinkansen (between Shin-Aomori and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto) and the Hokuriku Shinkansen (between Joetsu-Myoko and Kanazawa).

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closed Comments

  • Kammi on 10/12/2023 - 19:06

    Whats the normal way to get to Osaka from Tokyo is it still bullet train? I went a while ago and used the bullet train (3day pass iirc)

    • Clear on 10/12/2023 - 19:10
      +1

      Yeah Tokyo to Shin-Osaka is normally bullet train. Without any of the passes the full fare each way is ¥14520 (~A$154.24) and takes nearly 2.5 hours.

      Alternatively you can fly there (roughly 90 minutes) or take an 8 hour bus that'll cost around $35-85.

      • jar-unit on 10/12/2023 - 19:35

        Travelling to Japan in early May with our 3 kids to go to Disneyland and explore Japan. We are flying in to Tokyo. We were thinking to visit Osaka as well. So with the Kyun pass we can get to Osaka? Which areas would you recommend for family based on your experience? TIA!

        • Clear on 10/12/2023 - 19:43
          +5

          Osaka is in the Kansai region operated by JR West so the Kyun pass won't get you there. If you weren't getting the JR Pass then you could get the JR Kansai Wide Area Pass that includes Shinkansen, while the JR Kansai Area Pass includes local only. I haven't used either Kansai pass before, as I use the full JR Pass (due to a lot of travel).

          I don't know Osaka as well as I know other regions. Umeda is close to a major train station and a number of underground malls/good food, while Namba Station is close to Dotonbori where all the tourists go. Someone else around here can probably chip in.

          I highly recommend visiting the subreddits JapanTravelTips for advice and JapanTravel for itinerary advice.

        • shane23 on 10/12/2023 - 20:14
          -2

          maybe we can share the pass send me some details

        • Turd on 10/12/2023 - 22:04
          +2

          Universal studios is good to go to at Osaka

          So is Osaka aquarium

          Both good for kids.

          Osaka sky tower also good

          • jar-unit on 12/12/2023 - 08:22

            @Turd: Thanks for the suggestions, we had Universal Studios on the cards but will add aquarium to the list as well!

        • reubenb87 on 10/12/2023 - 22:29
          +1

          We just went to Osaka including 1 day trip to Nara (highly recommend) and also Hiroshima and Tokyo. We also have 3 kids but took my in laws to help as they are young. We were lucky to get the jr pass before the increase and used it to get around, it is a bit of a struggle, you really need to minimise luggage!

          • jar-unit on 12/12/2023 - 08:24

            @reubenb87: Exactly the same as us, in laws are coming to help with the kids. Did you find the JR pass worth it? We werent sure and didnt buy before the price rise so are looking at our options at the moment

        • bob19 on 11/12/2023 - 01:27
          +5

          I would rather choose Kyoto as the base than Osaka. Kyoto is much more interesting than Osaka as have lots of beautiful temples + Iwatayama Monkey Park.
          Then you could take one or two day trips to Osaka (as required). It takes only half an hour by train.
          You can also go to Nara from Kyoto for a day. Nara is a beautiful old town with many temples and deers walking around.

          • jar-unit on 12/12/2023 - 08:25

            @bob19: Awesome advice, will take it on board for sure when booking in the accommodation

        • npnp on 11/12/2023 - 09:23
          +4

          We did Japan in April with 2 kids and had a blast but we were lucky to have JR pass (before price hike). Cheapest way to get to Osaka is overnight bus (it's cheapest and plus you're saving one night hotel as well) but can't comment how good the experience for a family. Second cheapest is flying but will it worth the hassle and time in airports? Flight itself takes about an hour but whole experience will take about 5 hrs I'd say (also take into account getting in and out from airports). Best (but most expensive) way is Shinkansen and it's fantastic. Now that JR price is increased I'm not sure whether I'd take that path again.. In country side we rented cars, they are super cheap and driving experience was great.. But in busy towns, I'd avoid that due to narrow roads and traffic. Perhaps renting a car for few days and driving would be a good affordable option as well since you're travelling with the family.. Best thing about travelling in cars is that you can stop wherever and whenever (we did quite a lot of that during our countryside driving..). Despite the HUGE crowd, we thoroughly enjoyed Universal studios in Osaka (plan, plan and plan ahead for this attraction , if you are not the sort of guy who plans ahead, then don't do it) and personally think Osaka is heaps better for a family with kids in comparison to Kyoto.

          • jar-unit on 12/12/2023 - 08:27

            @npnp: Thanks for the advice. What did you mean by planning ahead or don't do it? What did you have to plan so much about it?

            • npnp on 12/12/2023 - 08:56
              +3

              @jar-unit: That's exactly what I thought when others advised me the same (what's there to plan for a theme park right?). Both Universal studios and Disneyland theme parks in Japan are fully packed most of the days and especially in weekends. You need to do a thorough research on when to do which activity otherwise you will be running around stuck in massively long ques only ended up doing just a few rides and not having to do your 'must do' rides.. Believe me when I say, do your research thoroughly, I can't stress that enough (give you an example, the park opens at 9 AM, but if you want to do as many as signature rides as possible, you must go there at 7.30 and que at the entrance. As soon as gates are opened people literally run like mad cows lol. We went and qued since 7.30 and that paid us big time, by 10 AM we ended up doing 4x rides and those rides had 1 hr plus wait times after 11 AM same day. Whoever came later in the day either had to do only a couple of attractions or miss out on them altogether).

        • integriti on 11/12/2023 - 11:09
          +2

          Wife and I were in Japan just last month, and we've already booked another trip in May. Japan is awesome :)

          Here's a good video that could a good intro. It's a 7 day itinerary (due to it fitting within the 7 day JR Pass), but 10 days is probably better to enjoy the trip more.

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LC0GYkdjG1w

          He has separate deep-dive videos for Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto which have pretty good in-depth tips for each city, especially for first timers.

        • sydboy007 on 11/12/2023 - 16:39

          https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/hokuriku-arch-pass…

          IS the affordable option but will take longer to get there.

      • spaceflight on 10/12/2023 - 20:07
        +1

        Alternatively you can fly there (roughly 90 minutes)

        Plus about an hour from Osaka to the airport
        At least an hour at the airport
        About an hour from the airport to Tokyo

        Or the Shinkansen leaves from the city centres and you don't need to be there more than 5 minutes early

        • Clear on 10/12/2023 - 20:07
          +3

          Exactly my point. Shinkansen is the way to go.

          • spaceflight on 10/12/2023 - 20:09
            -1

            @Clear: I wasn't sure as your post reads as though flying is faster. 90 minutes versus 2.5 hours

            • Clear on 10/12/2023 - 20:16

              @spaceflight: You've taken the second paragraph and missed the first one where I replied to Kammi with "Yeah". Shinkansen is the normal way.

              All the other time required to get to and transit through an airport is common sense. Unless you've never flown before.

          • pakkapie on 10/12/2023 - 21:04

            @Clear: Rotating seats too.

    • Davo1111 on 10/12/2023 - 19:37
      +1

      Currently in japan. You take the bullet train for $150 AUD. At this time of the year you can just rock up and get a ticket with no issues.

      I took the metro to Shinagawa (ic card) (or Tokyo station). The ticket desk was inside the station. They tagged me out (when I bought the ticket), and I just inserted the paper ticket to get on the bullet train gates

      • Kammi on 10/12/2023 - 19:49

        $150 one way pp?

        • Davo1111 on 10/12/2023 - 19:54
          +1

          Yes.

          Flying was less when I checked. BUT you have to account for getting to/from airport and checked baggage.

          If you're super cheap, you can take the overnight bus.

          Somewhere in the middle is taking the overnight sleeper train or taking a luxury bus. Tbh evaluating the options we decided to have a proper night sleep in tokyo and just pay the $150 for the bullet train.

          You can save like $10 if you book a month in advance, we decided not to worry in case we got stuck on the metro and missed it. I think it's there's a $10 saving too if you take the slower 4hr(?) all-stations train.

          • tborsje on 10/12/2023 - 20:06
            +4

            @Davo1111: Another option if you are in a group of two or more people is the Hayatoku-Family KODAMA 3 ticket, which gets you reserved seats on the Kodama Shinkansen for 10,080￥ or around $105aud. But you need to book at least three days in advance using the Smart-Ex app:

            https://smart-ex.jp/en/product/hayatoku/exkodama_family/

          • GS9891 on 10/12/2023 - 23:04

            @Davo1111:

            Somewhere in the middle is taking the overnight sleeper train

            Unfortunately since 2016 the Sunrise Seto/Izumo are the only regularly scheduled night trains still running (not counting $10,000/pp stuff like the Shikishima/other cruise trains that aren't really about transport), and without a JR Pass they cost slightly more than the Shinkansen actually for the base nobinobi carpet "seat" class.

            Plus they literally only go between Takamatsu/Izumo <-> Tokyo (with other stops along the way often being at interesting hours…). A fun experience if you happen to want to go to those destinations, but reserving a seat is a Herculean task unless you snipe them at 10 AM one month before the moment they go on sale.

            • Davo1111 on 10/12/2023 - 23:43

              @GS9891: Yeah, it would have been an experience but I just couldn't justify it. Few showers, there isn't really a saving vs a hotel too. Also it's 6-7 hrs to osaka, so isn't really a full night sleep.

              If I wanted to go to izumo, it might be more viable

              • GS9891 on 10/12/2023 - 23:57

                @Davo1111:

                Few showers, there isn't really a saving vs a hotel too

                If you have a JR Pass, the nobinobi seats are free at least. As for the shower cards though, yeah you need to be lined up 20~ mins before the train pulls onto the platform at its starting station or game over. But if you do that, usually no issue.

                The only real challenge is actually reserving it again, but with the new online reservation system for JR passes sold by JR direct, it makes sniping them one month out at 10 AM JST doable (managed to booked four tickets over the past fortnight actually for an upcoming trip, two for Dec 29 and 31 (Izumo), and two for Jan 4 and 6 (Takamatsu), being the insane New Years period though I could see them all get booked out with 1 - 3 minutes, crazy stuff).

    • motlking on 10/12/2023 - 19:39

      I always fly as personally find it cheaper and better.

      • Davo1111 on 10/12/2023 - 19:49
        +2

        It is cheaper for a base fare, but can be more expensive in the long term. Checked baggage + train to/from airport.

      • Kammi on 10/12/2023 - 19:50

        I was wanting to melb > osaka > tokyo > melb
        but flights were like double..

        • Clear on 10/12/2023 - 19:53

          Flying from city to city within Japan can be quite cheap. From from Australia to anywhere other than Tokyo can be expensive as you've learned.

        • Davo1111 on 10/12/2023 - 19:57
          +2

          Book a flight from Tokyo (on the same day as you land) and go straight to Osaka. Your flight will be cheaper than the bullet train, and you won't have to pay the fare to travel to Tokyo city and back.

          • valuer on 10/12/2023 - 20:39
            +1

            @Davo1111: Yes this would be a good option for anyone who is not traveling further than the main two areas and can't find a value fare in and out of separate cities.

          • Kammi on 11/12/2023 - 11:54

            @Davo1111: Thanks Davo, will look into it!

    • nightelves on 10/12/2023 - 22:11
      -1

      Nah Qantas points flying JAL for 10k points and no tax.

    • dsesaz on 11/12/2023 - 11:48

      You can also take the night bus (夜行バス). It’s way much cheaper (~A$20-80 from cheapest to most luxury one) than 新幹線 and convenient than flight (get on and off the bus at or around 梅田/京都駅/秋葉原/東京駅 etc.).

  • lachlantula on 10/12/2023 - 19:24
    +1

    thanks for the detailed writeup!

  • VW-29 on 10/12/2023 - 19:28
    +1

    Last time I used my qantas FF points and flew via JAL. Was only 10k worth of points, worth looking into if you have qantas FF

    • Clear on 10/12/2023 - 19:29
      +2

      Worth checking ANA too if you're a Virgin Velocity member as they've just partnered up.

      • WhyAmICommenting on 10/12/2023 - 20:29

        Ooh, thanks for this!

      • nightelves on 10/12/2023 - 22:12

        More expensive with ANA I think. Unless you hve United Miles.

        • hugamuga on 11/12/2023 - 01:12
          +1

          Had a look at velocity/ANA it seems similar to me. 10k points +$8 taxes

          • nightelves on 11/12/2023 - 10:08

            @hugamuga: Velocity points is more valuable plus Qantas is easier to earn points.

            • hugamuga on 11/12/2023 - 12:31
              +1

              @nightelves: Personally I find velocity points much easier to earn, especially with flights. The credit card offers are also pretty similar as far as I am aware.

              But yeah velocity points are also much more useful as award availablity is better.

    • 1bargain on 10/12/2023 - 20:59

      How much do you pay for taxes and fuel?

      • tborsje on 10/12/2023 - 21:26
        +1

        For Qantas points, free. There are zero taxes/fees.

        It's a really good use of points. Great availability too.

        • nightelves on 10/12/2023 - 22:13

          Precisely! Used Qantas points for Haneda to Sapporo and literally no tax.

          • 1bargain on 10/12/2023 - 22:27
            +1

            @nightelves: Wow! So only 10K one way? That’s great. I have five people to work on accumulating the points and I’m trying to collect Velocity/Krisflyer for business for everyone and it seems so hard.

            I might just accumulate 100k Qantas points through credit card sign up and that will cover everyone. I’m so new to this and have a lot of Flybuys as well but I’ve read business class with Krisflyer is the best way to use points. I didn’t realise Qantas is good too.

            • buckster on 11/12/2023 - 07:48

              @1bargain: Outside of the cheap inter-japan flights with JAL, Qantas isn't really good for much else when it comes to international travel.

              JAL is fair but of the 3 flights we had with them recently, all were between 30mins-3 hours delayed,

              • franknet on 11/12/2023 - 10:41

                @buckster: Anyone rememeber what is the baggage allowance for these 10k domestic tickets?
                Is it the normal 20kg?

                • buckster on 11/12/2023 - 11:42
                  +1

                  @franknet: 20kg domestic checked, and 10kg for carry-on

  • Pcoder on 10/12/2023 - 19:33

    Nozomi/Mizuho bullet trains.

    JR East have never run these services, they actually run the faster Hayabusa/Hayate services that are actually the fastest in Japan at 320km/h. You have always been able to access these services with the JR pass.

    • Clear on 10/12/2023 - 19:34
      +1

      I look forward to riding the Chuo Shinkansen one day.

      • Pcoder on 10/12/2023 - 20:01

        It's actually very likely in a few years you will be able to, depending on whether Shizuoka Prefecture dispute is resolved soon (It's only a few Kms of tunnelling needed). They have been doing heaps of works, including a major underground platforms at Shinagawa.

  • TheObserver on 10/12/2023 - 19:33
    +1

    Kyun desu~

    • cd-v on 10/12/2023 - 19:34
      +1

      Aw yeah, my boyfriend is a pilot.

  • Worf on 10/12/2023 - 20:21

    Thanks OP.
    I’m finding it difficult to understand all the different options…

    Do you need to book a specific time for the train, or is it a flexible ticket where you can catch what ever train you want on the day? I’m looking to book single tickets (Tokyo/NRT airport to iiyama station)… and then another one way ticket (back to Tokyo) a week later.

  • Hugh G Rection on 10/12/2023 - 20:30

    i can't read anything

    • Clear on 10/12/2023 - 21:47

      Are you using IE? Any modern browser auto translates.

    • seug123 on 11/12/2023 - 10:56

      check adblock settings too

  • dumdum2 on 10/12/2023 - 20:35
    +8

    Good to see Japan is still making these passes ever more complicated, true national pasttime

    • Clear on 10/12/2023 - 22:09
      +1

      On a plus side if you have the regular JR pass you can scan the QR code on your ticket at the machines and reserve your seats for free. If you want the cheap Nozomi/Mizuho that'll require a trip to the ticket office and we all know how slow they mash the keys in front of their giant CRT monitors.

    • belongsinforums on 10/12/2023 - 21:24
      +8

      This is a troll right?

    • cashless on 10/12/2023 - 21:26
      +4

      You can go on a train or bus anywhere in Victoria for no more than $10 a day

      At about 30 to 50kmh

      How much would you spend & how long would you travel if you went from Mel to Syd? 10 bucks? 1/2 an hour?
      No, I didn’t think so.

      • BluebirdV on 12/12/2023 - 13:56

        100 km/hr on long sections of regional track, e.g, Swan Hill to Bendigo, Albury to edge of Melbourne, etc.

    • tborsje on 10/12/2023 - 21:41
      +6

      Just to set expectations: if Australia ever ends up building a high speed (>250km/h) train network, do not expect a ticket to cost $10 a day hahaha.

      Japan has many trains which can take you reasonably far on $10, but the shinkansen is not one of them. The physical rail is a network completely separate from the general 'slow' existing one; as well as the platforms, trains, drivers, support staff etc. They are completely grade separated the road network on the ground. Not cheap stuff!

    • cd-v on 10/12/2023 - 23:18
      +2

      bruh, tell me where I can buy an interstate train ticket from Melb to Perth for $10?

    • zzzsianzzz on 11/12/2023 - 00:45

      did you ever leave Victoria or Australia?
      $10 for bullet train price?
      Australia has no bullet train. lol..
      find a country for $10 bullet train ticket legitimate? ;)

    • syswong on 11/12/2023 - 06:40
      +1

      I think Australian do not realise how cheap they get for local and reginal traveling.

      Use Sydney as example, $50 is all you pay a week which equal to ¥700 a day, that gets you traveling on converge bounded by Newcastle, Blue mountains and Kiana (may be even further), quite a big area and also include ferries and buses. Compare to Tokyo, a ticket from Shinagawa to Shinjuku cost ¥210!!

      Australia has no bullet train so we can only compare that to XPS, Sydney to Melbourne compare to Tokyo to Aomori is a good comparison both just over 8 hours drive and about 1000K apart.

      XPS Sydney to Melbourne $120 takes 11 hours
      Tokyo to Aomori $180 takes 3 hours.

      Also interesting to look at flying:
      Sydney to Melbourne $200
      Tokyo to Aomori $63

      As expected, interstate transport is just……EXPENSIVE in Australia!! Unfortunately, we just have so much land and we live so far apart (compare to Japan) means it is that difficult for transport system to reach critical capacity. ON the other hand population density so high in Japan that they can offer cheaper long distance transport and for different budget level as well.

      I don't think there will ever be a bullet train case for Sydney and Melbourne. Sure it will be expensive to build and hence will cost an arm and leg to travel on. People will end up keep flying.

      • buckster on 11/12/2023 - 11:51

        Agreed.

        A better example for what people run into here would be say Osaka to Kyoto. 55km, about an hour drive over there
        580¥ so ~$6. For a 24min trip, because what's the point of a Shinkansen for such a short distance.

        Try e.g. Melbourne to Geelong to compare, Vline, ~70km, ~$5 80!minutes.

        Almost a quarter of the time, and for similar price. No way is the transport there a rip-off like what the other numpty trolled about

        • syswong on 11/12/2023 - 17:41

          I do think he has a point. Many of us are spoil by JR Pass before. To many locals Shinkansen is really expensive. Now we have to feel the pain too.

          Your Melbourne and my XPT example also highlighted a fundamental technical issue here and that is the quality of the track. Japan has two advantage over Australia, first their citizens are very use to train travelling so their rail company can make money and in turn improve the system. Second is their steel quality. Japanese are well know for their steel forging technique. This quality is transfer on to their tracks when they build their train network.. They can have less track upgrades and run faster trains than most other country in the world. Any one who traveles on rapid trains in Japan will agree with that.

  • tako on 10/12/2023 - 23:40

    Lol what are the chances, I happen to need to travel from Aomori to Tokyo on the 16th. Great timing!

    • helpme on 15/12/2023 - 13:48
      +1

      The Kyun Pass will be available on the JR East Ekinet booking site(eki-net.com) from January 14 to February 29 2024 and can only be used on weekdays from February 14 to March 14, 2024

      • syswong on 15/12/2023 - 14:21

        REALLY!! So no Saturday and Sunday travel? Well this sucks……

        • helpme on 15/12/2023 - 16:35

          Dunno, just copying from the thing

  • trencky on 11/12/2023 - 00:16

    Does anyone have advice for traveling within Hokkaido? I'm planning to travel Niseko - Sapporo - Furano in Feb.

  • manhinli on 11/12/2023 - 00:29
    +4

    Probably two things to note:

    Sales for the pass start no earlier than one month prior and no later than 14 days prior to the intended day of travel:

    ※ご利用期間開始日の１か月前から14日前までの発売となります。

    The Kyun Pass excludes the Hokkaido Shinkansen between Shin-Aomori and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto (as noted in the OP) but also excludes the section of the Hokuriku Shinkansen between Jōetsumyōkō and Kanazawa:

    ※北海道新幹線（新青森～新函館北斗間）、北陸新幹線（上越妙高～金沢間）はご利用いただけません。

    This means that the potential savings listed in the OP for a trip between Tokyo and Kanazawa isn't able to be validly used as an example.

  • Ventak on 11/12/2023 - 01:23

    Sounds great for day trips from Tokyo into Tohoku - even doing two of them. If doing a longer Tohoku trip though (e.g. going all the way up with stops along the way or all the way down if say flying up to Hokkaido first), then look into the JR East Pass/JR East South Hokkaido Pass instead.

    In my mind, I'd use it for primarily Sendai/Niigata day trips (maybe Morioka), as I think any further like Aomori and you're doing closer to 5/6 hours on the Shinkansen, and not really spending that much time at the destination. Though I suppose even a one way trip to Aomori and then another of these on the way back and the value's still there regardless.

  • Chewee on 11/12/2023 - 03:20

    This looks good, will be in Japan the whole of Feb and planning to do Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka but can't seem to make the website work coz getting the error "There is an error in entering the boarding station" :|

    • Clear on 11/12/2023 - 06:16

      Kyoto and Osaka aren in the Kansai region. This won't be any good to you.

      • Chewee on 11/12/2023 - 08:59

        Oh, thanks for that.
        It s seems tokyo to Kanazawa is included also if I check that place out, but cant see the fare still with the same error showing up.

        • Clear on 11/12/2023 - 11:43

          It looks like that may be excluded from the pass.

          Cannot be used on the Hokkaido Shinkansen (between Shin-Aomori and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto) and the Hokuriku Shinkansen (between Joetsu-Myoko and Kanazawa).

  • jingsu6688 on 11/12/2023 - 08:37
    +1

    If you can have access to Chinese taobao, there are many Chinese travel agents do Shinkansen tickets 40% off all the time. Not for everyone, because you have to read and write in Chinese, they only issue tickets a day earlier or even less, there are specific machines to print these tickets, anyway, I always use them, very reliable. It is like travelling in Thai. Whatever bookings you made, it looks like they will never turn up, but they always do and give you a wonderful time.

  • theguyrules on 11/12/2023 - 12:03

    Do we recommend booking Shinkansen in advance to get the seats with luggage storage behind them? We are packing now, and while our one bag isn't considered oversized, it's right on the limit and would be a hassle anyway
    We are doing Airbnbs so can't easily use luggage transfer service.

    • Clear on 11/12/2023 - 12:06

      Yeah definitely. When I was over there I booked everything a day or a day or a few days in advance. The morning Shinkansen rides will be booked up quickly by all the traveling salarymen.

      • theguyrules on 11/12/2023 - 13:32

        I was considering even booking them now, the online booking system seems pretty straightforward.
        It's our first time without a JR Pass so we don't have to do it that way.

        • Clear on 11/12/2023 - 13:45

          Oh yeah without a pass that's even easier. Certainly worth doing it now then. Perhaps even green class if it's a longer trip.

          What cities are you going to?

          • theguyrules on 11/12/2023 - 16:44

            @Clear: We are doing Tokyo -> Nagoya -> Kyoto -> Osaka -> Tokyo.

            • syswong on 11/12/2023 - 17:57
              +1

              @theguyrules: BTW Japan is quite safe, no one will steal your luggage. My friend left a whole bag of camera gear on train (All Leica stuff with a 0.95 lens cost 20k in it) nothing missing and pick up the bag at his next station next day, lucky it was not spotted by PRC or it will be gone.

              If you never been to Japan I suggest you try to cancel Nagoya and focus on Tokyo and Kyoto. The only attraction worth going is the Rail museum. On the other hand Kyoto has endless attractions. I ‘ve been three times and still not covered everything.

              • theguyrules on 11/12/2023 - 18:39

                @syswong: Yeah we have been to Tokyo and Kyoto twice before, so keen to try something different. Nagoya is only 3 days too.

              • Ventak on 11/12/2023 - 19:13
                +2

                @syswong: Quite a few people would want to go to Nagoya now for Ghibli Park as well.

                • syswong on 11/12/2023 - 19:35

                  @Ventak: For die hard Hayao Miyazak fans may be, or family with kids. I've been to the museum and that is good enough for me.

                  Honesty I can't see myself going anywhere near Nagoya unless I am going to Shikoku island.

                  • Clear on 12/12/2023 - 01:21

                    @syswong:

                    Honesty I can't see myself going anywhere near Nagoya unless I am going to Shikoku island.

                    Agreed. Last time I opted to go further south to Himeji, Okayama and Kurashiki. Himeji and Kurashiki and good for a day trip.

                    • theguyrules on 12/12/2023 - 09:55

                      @Clear: We looked a couple of nights ago at changing our time in Nagoya, but as its less than 2 weeks away, no suitable Airbnbs are available elsewhere, so we'll make the most of exploring a new city, even if its not busy.
                      We're travelling with a 65 year old and a 2.5 year old so slow is good anyway.

  • cerealsmok3r on 11/12/2023 - 14:22

    Damn I fly out before then and will have to pay full price for Shinkansen

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