Japan Questions

Giny wrote:
Dear Gene,

In November it is extremely busy, as it is the best season to sea the
fall-colours.
I am not sure about the countryside, but most hotels (cheap to
expensive) in
Kyoto are already now VERY full.
I would definitly book ahead, if you go to the countryside, you might
try
youthhostels.
Nice,cheap hotels and ryokan in the cities like Kyoto however HAVE to
be
booked now.
I think you are already a bit late.
You might try the website of hte JNTO www.jnto.go.jp

You might have info that I don't, but fall season is from now for about
the next two or three weeks. I've been to Japan in November and it's as
uncrowded as you can get. Actually, October is not crowded either,
though on weekends most tourist spots are (predictably enough).

I have done last minute travel in the busiest seasons (New Years and
Golden Week) and had absolutely no problems finding a place to stay.
Sure you might not be in the best ryokan in Kyoto, but stay in Osaka,
or Kobe, or Himeji and you're fine.

John W.

"_Gene T. _" wrote on Sun 03 Oct
2004 12:42:27a

Thanks everyone!
Another question.
Japan Rail Pass doesn't include "Nozomi" trains. But when I look at
http://www.hyperdia.com/cgi-english/ I can't find any other trains
between Tokyo and Hiroshima. I am not sure how can Itravel between
those cities.

Because of the cutbacks to non-Nozomi services, you may have to vary your
desired departure time to get close enough to one that Hyperdia will find
for you. Also, Hyperdia only returns 5 results at a time, which might
demote some less direct connections. I can look up a paper timetable I
have, if you'd like examples of actual possible connections (my timetable
dates from about March this year so it should take into account the most
recent cutbacks).

It might also be better to search for a two-stage trip e.g. Toyko-
ShinOsaka-Hiroshima. Dunno, though, as I've never tried to do this trip
stright thoush, myself (although I know people who *did* do it back in
April 2003).

--
Chris
Concatenate for email: mrgazpacho @ hotmail . com

"_Gene T. _" wrote on Sun 03 Oct
2004 12:42:27a

Thanks everyone!
Another question.
Japan Rail Pass doesn't include "Nozomi" trains. But when I look at
http://www.hyperdia.com/cgi-english/ I can't find any other trains
between Tokyo and Hiroshima. I am not sure how can Itravel between
those cities.

Because of the cutbacks to non-Nozomi services, you may have to vary your
desired departure time to get close enough to one that Hyperdia will find
for you. Also, Hyperdia only returns 5 results at a time, which might
demote some less direct connections. I can look up a paper timetable I
have, if you'd like examples of actual possible connections (my timetable
dates from about March this year so it should take into account the most
recent cutbacks).

It might also be better to search for a two-stage trip e.g. Toyko-
ShinOsaka-Hiroshima. Dunno, though, as I've never tried to do this trip
stright thoush, myself (although I know people who *did* do it back in
April 2003).

--
Chris
Concatenate for email: mrgazpacho @ hotmail . com

Thanks everyone!
Another question.
Japan Rail Pass doesn't include "Nozomi" trains. But when I look at
http://www.hyperdia.com/cgi-english/ I can't find any other trains between
Tokyo and Hiroshima. I am not sure how can Itravel between those cities.

_Gene T. _ wrote:

Thanks everyone!
Another question.
Japan Rail Pass doesn't include "Nozomi" trains. But when I look at
http://www.hyperdia.com/cgi-english/ I can't find any other trains between
Tokyo and Hiroshima. I am not sure how can Itravel between those cities.

The hyperdia site only covers some of the train services. It is easy to
travel between Tokyo and Hiroshima using any of the kodama or hikari
trains. You *may* have to change trains once - but the information will
be bilingual and easy to understand.

Regards Declan
http://www.yamasa.org

_Gene T. _ wrote:

Thanks everyone!
Another question.
Japan Rail Pass doesn't include "Nozomi" trains. But when I look at
http://www.hyperdia.com/cgi-english/ I can't find any other trains between
Tokyo and Hiroshima. I am not sure how can Itravel between those cities.

The hyperdia site only covers some of the train services. It is easy to
travel between Tokyo and Hiroshima using any of the kodama or hikari
trains. You *may* have to change trains once - but the information will
be bilingual and easy to understand.

Regards Declan
http://www.yamasa.org

_Gene T. _ wrote:

Thanks everyone!
Another question.
Japan Rail Pass doesn't include "Nozomi" trains. But when I look at
http://www.hyperdia.com/cgi-english/ I can't find any other trains between
Tokyo and Hiroshima. I am not sure how can Itravel between those cities.

The hyperdia site only covers some of the train services. It is easy to
travel between Tokyo and Hiroshima using any of the kodama or hikari
trains. You *may* have to change trains once - but the information will
be bilingual and easy to understand.

Regards Declan
http://www.yamasa.org

Another question.
Japan Rail Pass doesn't include "Nozomi" trains. But when I look at
http://www.hyperdia.com/cgi-english/ I can't find any other trains
between Tokyo and Hiroshima. I am not sure how can Itravel between
those cities.

It might also be better to search for a two-stage trip e.g. Toyko-
ShinOsaka-Hiroshima. Dunno, though, as I've never tried to do this trip
stright thoush, myself (although I know people who *did* do it back in
April 2003).

Right. You'll usually change Hikari trains at Shin-Osaka.
In the area from Shin-Osaka to Hiroshima, "Hikari RailStar" trains are
very comfortable, on which you get virtually first-class seat by economy
class fare.

================================================== ======================
(Mr.) IIJIMA Hiromitsu,
aka Delmonta http://www.ht.sakura.ne.jp/~delmonta/

Well, may be I should ask a more direct question. I will have to catch a
5:45 flight from Narita. Can I get to the airport from Hiroshima in one day?
I would be glad to ride the fastest and greatest of "Bullet trains", but it
looks like that Rail Pass will not give me even a partial credit for the
cost of the ticket.
Gene

Well, may be I should ask a more direct question. I will have to catch a
5:45 flight from Narita. Can I get to the airport from Hiroshima in one day?

Yes, definitely you can.

I would be glad to ride the fastest and greatest of "Bullet trains"

The trains available for your schedule a

(a) Spend two hours at the Airport
Hikari #352 "RailStar": Hiroshima 9:55 - 11:28 Shin-Osaka
Hikari #310 : Shin-Osaka 11:43 - 14:43 Tokyo
Narita Express #29 : Tokyo 15:03 - 15:57 Narita Airport

(b) Lunch-at-Shin-Osaka plan
Hikari #272 : Shin-Osaka 12:20 - 15:10 Tokyo
Narita Express #31: Tokyo 15:33 - 16:28 Narita Airport

Note: There is no good approach from Hiroshima to Hikari #272.
Take Hikari #352 above and spend an hour at Shin-Osaka.

(c) Lunch-in-the-train plan
Hikari #356 : Hiroshima 11:00 - 12:34 Shin-Osaka
Hikari #312 : Shin-Osaka 12:43 - 15:43 Tokyo
Narita Express #33: Tokyo 16:03 - 16:57 Narita Airport

You'll take about 10 minutes at Tokyo station for transfer from a Shinkansen
track to a Narita Line track, while in Shin-Osaka you'll take only two or
three minutes between Shinkansen trains.

================================================== ======================
(Mr.) IIJIMA Hiromitsu,
aka Delmonta http://www.ht.sakura.ne.jp/~delmonta/