Have been trying to use the search function without luck. Anyone know the website for booking non shink trains?
Booking or just looking up times? https://www.eki-net.com/pc/jreast-shinkansen-reservation/English/wb/common/Menu/Menu.aspx also does most non-shinkansen trains. (Some are only on the Japanese Ekinet website though, which is a PITA to use) The really local trains cannot be booked, you just show your rail pass or pay when you get off (coins, so it’s handy to check the charge for your stretch beforehand on Hyperdia) Which trains do you want to book?
According to this overview https://www.eki-net.com/pc/jreast-shinkansen-reservation/English/wb/Common/timetable/index.html the Azusa is on the Chuo line, so they can book it on the English website. Choose No Pass (assuming it’s just the single ticket) and then Chuo line on the next page.
Note that they need to pick Shinjuku as starting station, Tokyo as starting station will give no results for the Azusa 3.
Started a new thread soley for flights (forgot about this one - unsure if belongs here or there): https://www.ski.com.au/xf/threads/domestic-flights-japan.86684/#post-4144190 Moral: Don't fly the orange turd. Not here, not in Japan, not anywhere else
Hi, I am currently in transit at Chengdu airport in China, the internet is pretty ordinary and unable to search for a lot. I only booked my flight at 3pm yesterday, so my research for a late trip out of Narita was not executed. Arrive tonight at 850pm. Chuo is full and I think that all other bus companies last trip is around 830. Does anyone know another route via Oneo or Tokyo station? Bus to mountains from there? Thank you
Do you mean Ueno? Keisei for Ueno or N'EX to Tokyo (fast trains) You are going to struggle to get to the mountains the same night I think
Sorry clearly a little bleary eyed this morning. I am trying to get to Hakuba. This was a very last minute trip, only booked at 3pm yesterday, usually more organised. Thank you.
Sorry, but there is no chance you will make it all the way to Hakuba the night you land. Where in Hakuba are you going? There are multiple resorts and towns that make up the 'Hakuba Valley'. Option 1: Train from Narita to Ueno as quick as you can, then catch a shinkansen to Nagano, stay the night in a hotel near the station, and then bus or train early the next day to Hakuba. Option 2 (and my preferred choice): Stay a night in Tokyo near Shinjuku station, go out and have dinner and a drink and experience Tokyo night life. Then get up early the next day and catch the Asuza Express train (7.30am - only one departure per day) direct from Shinjuku - Hakuba Station. Good luck
The only option (if you get through Narita fast) would be 9.30pm skyliner to Ueno arrives 10.15pm, change trains to Shinjuku 10.26pm arriving at Shinjuku at 10.47pm, highway bus departs Shinjuku at the 11.05pm (last highway bus) to Hakuba. If you missed the 11.05pm bus there is also the last 11.35pm highway bus to Nagano, then first bus from Nagano in the morning. Nah...........Just sleep in Ueno and get the early Shink next morning, or Froffs option 2.
Thanks for those options, I have been unable to use Hypedia so it helps a lot. Option 2 seems like the way to go.
Froffs option 1 wouldn't work as last Shink from Ueno to Nagano is 10.14pm, which you couldn't meet. So option 2, or Shink/bus from Ueno/Nagano/Hakuba next morning.
No worries Here is the first leg Narita - Shinjuku. There are plenty of trains/options so if you don't make these specific ones don't stress: OR
For the Shinjuka - Hakuba leg I'd recommend pre-booking your ticket when you're at Shinjuku station the night before. Only one train: You should be skiing by 1pm
Sadly I can't access Google either from this airport in China. Has anyone heard of the JamJam bus? Had a message from home saying it leaves Tokyo station at 00:20 and arrives at the Lawson in Hakuba.
Correct, it leaves 00:20 from Tokyo Station Yaesu Gate Kajibashi Parking. Usually you can book here: http://willerexpress.com/st/3/en/pc/bus/route/calendar.php?oR=2439001&fR=1439001&sk=13&tk=20 But booking only starts for Saturday, so either they're already booked full for Friday or you can't book online on such a short notice. You might just walk up there, but seeing as they only have 2 seats left for Saturday, and Friday is the start of the weekend, I'd suspect it's fully booked for Friday. Had never heard of it before but it indeed exists: only a few seats available for Saturday: You can book it here: willerexpress.com Scroll down a bit.
It was fully booked for last night. Good for people to know about another option if they arrive after 830pm. Thanks everyone for your help yesterday when in China without a way to research. Found a pretty efficient route today after staying at a Narita airport hotel. 6:10am bus from #32 stop terminal 1 to Tokyo. ¥1500 1 adult, 1 child Shinkansen Tokyo -Nagano 752-arrive 930am ¥10,000 1 adult, 1 child 945 -arrive 11am.Alpico bus to Hakuba Happo One
Hello. is anyone aware of a 5 day JR east pass that is usable over a 14 day period @$242aud? I saw it on the ACPRAIL site linked from hyperdia. We would be using it to catch the Narita express one way and the Shinkansen return to Nagano. We are in Nagano area for 8 days before spending 5 days sightseeing in Tokyo. I guess I am wondering how much you would spend travelling around Tokyo by train per day? I know 'How long is a piece of string'. I was thinking do I get this pass or just do everything with a suica because the difference will be minimal. Any suggestions most welcome
@M_G has done this and says it works well as the connection to the Shinkansen is much easier than in Tokyo. Only problem is that is only goes to Omiya twice a day.
Another discount option for you that I’ve used is the Keisei Skyliner + subway combo http://www.keisei.co.jp/keisei/tetudou/skyliner/us/tickets/subway.php Works well if your accomodation is over near Ueno. Subway also very handy to get around Tokyo.
We have used it for the last 4 trips. We also travel a bit further and have gotten a lot of value out of it. Look up individual costs on hyperdia, then work out if the pass is worth it for you.
The Tohoku version is great value eg. heading to Morioka and back. But the Nagano version if only heading to Nagano and return is pretty marginal so probably not worth the effort.
Thanks for the help everyone. There is a wealth of knowledge kindly shared. It seems the more you know the more you don't! I'm just running through hyperdia looking at the ticket prices and getting a handle on the limitations on each specific JR pass. If we decide to day trip further from Tokyo, a JR pass of some sort is an obvious choice. Locking in a specific itinerary would probably help but..... Guess I'm no longer a lurker.
I'm going to Nozawa Onsen in a few weeks with 5 mates. Is there any car hire companies that will hire a car/van that will seat 6 with ski gear? Is it worth having a hire car in Nozawa Onsen for a week?
You don't need a car if only skiing Nozawa for the week. There is enough to keep you interested for 6 days, especially if there is a bit of fresh snow around. Village is easy to walk around and navigate, if a little hilly.
Thanks mate. the only real reason I would want a car is to visit other nearby resorts on a powder day where Nozawa missed out. I would hate to be stuck at Nozawa with no fresh snow over night and have a resort an hours drive away get 30cm. Is there public transport you can utilise to do this?
Easiest way to do a day trip to another ski resort would be the Nagano Snow Shuttle - Inter Resort service. Buses depart at 7am so plenty of time to make first lifts, can go to Myoko Kogen, Hakbuba, Shiga Kogen and Madaro Kogen
I doubt you need vehicles for your entire trip, but there is a good chance that two smaller cars would work out cheaper and more comfortable for a group of this size than one big one. Assuming the place you're staying in Nozawa has two parking spaces, which may not be a given.
Yeah second this. Even with just 2 NEX rides, and getting a one way shink back to Tokyo from Aomori saves about 10,000 yen on the regular fares. https://www.jreast.co.jp/e/eastpass_n/index.html As discussed though, value might be marginal if you're just going to Nagano and back. Throwing in something like a side trip to Matsumoto makes it worthwhile.
