Preparing to use the JR pass
Apr 12th, 2007, 08:05 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Preparing to use the JR pass
I am researching trains for my trip to japan in May. I have a jr pass voucher. I am noting train times, names and numbers on the hyperdia site. QUESTION: when you click on a train name for any given intinerary you are given a train NAME and RESERVATION NUMBER for that train. Obviously I cant make reservations from the U.S. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THAT RESERVATION NUMBER AND DO I NEED TO TAKE IT WITH ME.
Thanks
Thanks
Apr 12th, 2007, 10:51 AM
#2
Ignore it. No you don't need to take it with you. I don't know what that number is and have taken dozens of JR trains without knowing it.
It's useful to know the departure time and the train name.
It would be good to know the terminal destination of the train you want to take. Or have a good knowledge of Japanese/JR geography. Or get a printed schedule to refer to.
For example if you are at Shin Osaka and you want to go to Okayama then would you board a shinkansen bound for Hakata or one bound for Tokyo?
But, really, all you need to know is where you are going. Then go up to the ticket window show the pass and tell the JR person where you are going. They will give you the reserved seat tickets. Check the track number and departure time.
If you are given a Kodama shinkansen ticket then you could ask "Hikari?" if there is a Hikari shinkansen that could take you. It might be a later departure but might get you there sooner. The JR people don't always think this through.
If your itinerary includes a local train, unreserved, then you will be (can be) given a ticket that identifies the train.
There is no purpose to the reservation number, not for you anywayk, forget about it.
It's useful to know the departure time and the train name.
It would be good to know the terminal destination of the train you want to take. Or have a good knowledge of Japanese/JR geography. Or get a printed schedule to refer to.
For example if you are at Shin Osaka and you want to go to Okayama then would you board a shinkansen bound for Hakata or one bound for Tokyo?
But, really, all you need to know is where you are going. Then go up to the ticket window show the pass and tell the JR person where you are going. They will give you the reserved seat tickets. Check the track number and departure time.
If you are given a Kodama shinkansen ticket then you could ask "Hikari?" if there is a Hikari shinkansen that could take you. It might be a later departure but might get you there sooner. The JR people don't always think this through.
If your itinerary includes a local train, unreserved, then you will be (can be) given a ticket that identifies the train.
There is no purpose to the reservation number, not for you anywayk, forget about it.
Apr 12th, 2007, 11:38 AM
#3
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 478
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I also found it helpful to write down where I wanted to go and about what time (remember, "military" time, not am/pm)...that was helpful since often the JR agent didn't speak English. Also, if you do not activate the rail pass at the airport or at Tokyo station, be aware you may have to go to two different "agencies" - one, a JR travel agency and then the ticket office. They're not always "full service". Regular ticket offices can't activate your rail pass.
Apr 12th, 2007, 03:47 PM
#4
This is the list of stations where you can get your JR Pass activated:
http://www.japanrailpass.net/eng/en009.html
The list is ordered north to south.
http://www.japanrailpass.net/eng/en009.html
The list is ordered north to south.
Apr 12th, 2007, 03:52 PM
#5
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 5,034
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There is no reservation number for trains that you need to be concerned with. When you reserve seats, you only need your starting point and destination and time of departure.
There are, however, many trains per day that have the same name, so they are numbered so they can be differentiated. You don't need that number for anything other than if you want to identify your train based on the number rather than the depature time.
There are, however, many trains per day that have the same name, so they are numbered so they can be differentiated. You don't need that number for anything other than if you want to identify your train based on the number rather than the depature time.
