dukkar

Hi:

I will be traveling from Shinjuku to Kamamkura in the morning, and then in the late afternoon, from Kamakura to Kyoto. I will be using my JR Pass (green seats).

My Shinjuku to Kamamkura trip is as follows.
Shinjuku to Yokohama (on JR Shonan-Shinjuku Line Via Tokaido Line), and Yokohama to Kamakura (on JR Yokosuka Line). As per Hyperdia, both the lines have green seats so my questions are:

1. If I know the timing for my connection in Yokohama, can I make reservations for the green seats for both the lines at Shinjuku?
2. What happens if I miss my connection in Yokohama? Is there a penalty or can I make new green seat reservation at Yokohama to go from Yokohama to Kamakura?
3. Can I make green seat reservations in Shinjuku for my evening trip from Kamakura to Kyoto?
4. Are there Resevation Offices (Midori-no madoguchi) to make reservations at all stations or only big ones? Do they all understand and speak English?
5. My Kamakura to Kyoto trip is Kamakura->Yokohama (on JR Yokosuka Line), Yokohama->Shin-Yokohama (on JR Yokohama Line Rapid), Shin-Yokohama->Kyoto (on SHINKANSEN HIKARI 481). Only the first (JR Yokosuka Line) and the third (SHINKANSEN HIKARI 481) lines have green seats, but can I still make green seat reservations for SHINKANSEN HIKARI 481 at Kamakura?
6. For Yokohama->Shin-Yokohama (on JR Yokohama Line Rapid), since there are no green seats, do I just sit in any seat and show the JR Pass to the train conductor or do I need to get anything at the Resevation Office?

Thanks,
D

hawaiiantraveler

1. The ticket agent will see your first class pass(green) and make your reservations in green cars when those cars are available on the lines you will be traveling without even asking. When green cars are not available on certain shinkansen you will still be made seat reservations in 2nd class cars.
2. No penalty except the penalty of taking the next train and having to hassle with getting seat reservations for that train(s) you missed. Just don't be late!!!
3. Yes, or the easier way is to make all your reservations the day you turn your voucher into an actual JR Pass.
4. Mostly the big stations. ...read this
http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/ticket/index.html
English speakers are mostly found in the bigger stations although most, even the smaller ones will have one somewhere.....
5. Yes, see my answer #1
6. No, you make a seat res for another seat or you can sit in the unreserved seat car but much better to have a seat reservation. Again see answer#1 and thread I left you on #4.

Aloha!

dukkar

This is very very very very helpful! Thanks a lot.

DonTopaz

It is a good idea to write down the reservations that you want before going to the reservations office, including the date, origin/destination, train number, and time, for example:

May 5 Shinagawa Shin-Osaka Hikari 507 9:40 12:30
May 5 Shin-Osaka Hiroshima Sakura 557 12.59 14.28

That'll help the agent a lot, and it makes it easy to check that you've got what you want.

hawaiiantraveler

Great idea DT!

What I usually do is print out the schedule I want for a specific train trip off of the hyperdia dot com site then circle the one I want and show to the ticket attendant.

5/5 = Go go in Japanese....always a good advertising phrase I hear in Japan all the time....Go go five five

5/5 is also Boys Day in Japan....funny you should pick that date or maybe it was intentional.....

Aloha!

mrwunrfl

6. There are no reserved seats on that train. There will not be a conductor.

hawaiiantraveler

6. yes mrw is correct. Gomen nasai,I didn't read correctly the first time. When at the Yokohama Station platforms just look up at the boards for the next incoming train going towards Shin yoko or the train number you had gotten on hyperdia beforehand and get on. The train information boards are right above the platform you will be standing on waiting for the train. You show your JR Pass as you enter the platform to the JR person adjacent to the entry gate. It is a short twenty minute or so ride and no reservations or seat reservations are required on this train.

Aloha!