We are planning on having a three day stopover in Tokyo arriving April 22, 2006 and departing April 25, 2006 on our way to China. We would like to take the bullet train to Kyoto and spend three nights there and then return back to Narita.

Here are my questions:

Where do I find the bullet train schedule for 2006?

Do any bullet trains depart Narita?

If I have to make a connection in Toyoko is it difficult? (We speak no Japanese)

Any suggestions on where to book a reservation for a hotel room in Kyoto. I look at Expedia and Hotels.com and most hotels are showing no availability?

Thanks so much,

MB

It's too early for April, 2006 bookings. If you have a place you know you want to stay, you could make a direct booking if you wanted to book this early.

To take the shinkansen from Narita to Kyoto, you'll have to change trains at least once. You can use hyperdia.com to check train schedules ...the schedule doesn't change much month to month, so don't worry that you can't put in your dates.

The trains are pretty easy to use, so you shouldn't have trouble that way, but be aware that lots of luggage might present trouble as storage space is limited in the trains, not to mention that stations have more stairs than escalators (elevators are generally reserved for handicapped use, require and attentdant be called, and aren't easy to find), and escalators generally only run in the up direction. Best to travel light.

I would store your luggage at the airport and just take a carry on bag. You will have to take the train to Tokyo (takes about an hour) and switch to the kyoto train. Give yourself about 25 minutes to make the switch -- it will take less time but this gives you "confusion" time. It will be very difficult with all your luggage.

Depending on when you arrive, you may not have to go al the way to Tokyo Station to switch to go to Kyoto. The easiest way (depending on timing of when you are leaving Narita) is to take Narita Express to Shinagawa station (check your map- this station is southwest of Narita) and then on to Kyoto. Shinagawa is a much smaller station and easier to navigate than Tokyo Station-- depending on your timing. So check out the Shinagawa connections on to Kyoto and see if that works out better for you.

BTW, Shinkansen trains are so frequent that you really don't need to know the schedule. There are trains between Tokyo and Kyoto every few minutes - it's really amazing.

What you should know is that there are three types of Shinkansen trains. Nozomi, Hikari and Kodama on the Sanyo line between Tokyo and Kyoto. The faster trains cost extra, but are more frequent. Time for Tokyo to Kyoto is around 2:19 for the faster Nozomi, and 2:45 for the slower ones which make more stops.

Thanks for the information.

Given this new information, I have more questions. We need a round trip from Narita to Kyoto.

Is a rail pass a good idea or should we purchase point to point tickets?

Do you need to reserve a seat?

How do you get the tickets?

Where do I get the tickets and do I receive them before I leave for Japan?

Thanks so much,

MB

Most of the answers to your train questions are probably on the website http://www.japanrail.com- they have the rates for individual tickets and for the rail pass, so you can figure out which would be better for you.

If you're only going to Kyoto and back to Tokyo, a rail pass is not cost effective. Just buy round trip tickets. The Hikari is very nice and quite a bit cheaper than the Nozomi. It's not worth the extra money for the Nozomi to save 20 minutes, unless it is the only train that will fit your schedule.

It's 33,260 yen roundtrip Narita Airport - Kyoto on the Narita Express and Nozomi shinkansen. The JR Pass costs 28,300 yen. It's the Tokaido line between Tokyo and Kyoto.

As mrwunrfl mentioned, you save money by getting the JR pass which must be "paid for" outside Japan. You really don't obtain the pass itself, you get an "exchange order" which you bring to a JR ticket office in Japan, spend about 15min to fill out yet another form, show you passport, then finally get a JR Pass, which looks like a booklet slight larger than a paperback.

Narita-Tokyo train, Narita express, is meant to be taken by air travellers and have seats at last minutes and accomodates luggages well. You need to make a reservation.

Tokyo-Kyoto shinkansen reservation shouldn't be a problem, provided you do this at Narita airport even though the Hikari trains allowed by JR pass run less frequently than Nozomi trains not covered by the pass. Reservations are harder to find during late afternoon rush hours.

Connection at Tokyo station, well signed, but it is a large station nevertheless. Shinkansen and Narita express tracks are at two opposite end of the station.