Hi everyone

A friend just warned me that when the bullet train stops you have 5 minutes to get on. They do not dilly dally (unlike here where a normal train DC-NYC, even Acela, will sit in the station for probably half an hour).

I am having a flashback to a trip to Germany as a young lass where I missed a connection in the middle of NOWHERE and then hilarity ensued including crying.

Any tips? I got the green reserved seat which means business class (don't know seat the tickets will be delivered to my hotel), how do you know where to stand to get on, where your car will be? I assume they mark it very well but given how quickly the trains turnover maybe the signage doesn't come up before it's time to scramble.

I don't want to stand just anywhere because the lines could really bunch up and then i'd have to drag my crap through the cars. Is it really well marked and clear in English, or what do I need to know before I wade in?

I am taking the Nozomi bullet train to Kyoto.

Thank you.

If you have a ticket with seat reservation, your tickets will mention the car nr (and seat nrs). On the platform there are clear markers on the ground that indicate where to cue for which car.

See also here the japan guide site, which has a page explaining it. (Cannot paste the link due to posting constraints)

As I recall the platforms are all very clearly marked as to where you have to stand for your particular seat reservation. All very orderly and efficient. Stand anywhere else and you will likely throw the whole of the Japanese train system into chaos

All the tips you could need at https://www.seat61.com/Japan.htm#Travel_tips

The bullet trains do not stop for 5 minutes. If it is not the train's starting terminus, then it stops for only 1 minute.
If you believe in "5 minutes" and take you time you could very well miss the train.

Finding the track was harder than finding my place on the platform, but everything is marked, and I had no issues when I was there. However, I departed from Shinagawa (coming from Shinjuku), not Tokyo Station, so I can't tell you if it's more confusing there. And if you end up walking through the train, it's not the end of the world. Everyone does it. Just make sure you are in place on the platform a few minutes before you depart. One thing I'd strongly recommend is to send any large luggage ahead using the Takkyubin transfer service. It's not expensive, and you can have your luggage delivered overnight to your hotel in Kyoto. That way you just have to bring a small carry-on bag with you on the train.

Even one minute might be a generous estimate. You need to be in place, with your luggage, when the train pulls in. But as Doug says, you can always walk through the train if you get in the wrong carriage.

Note that getting off also requires you to move fast. There will be an announcement as the train approaches the station. You need to be in line at the door, with your luggage, as the train pulls into the station.

Travel light, or use the luggage forwarding service. You don't want to be trying to load/unload a large suitcase.

The ~2 minutes to board is plenty. Even a 1 minute difference between scheduled arrival/departure could give you almost 2 minutes to board.

If you have any luggage that you can't easily handle then you ought to ship it ahead.

The green cars are easy to identify and are often at the platform entrance. That is, take the escalator up to the platform and the green car will likely be there.

The one thing you need to do: be sure to ask to have your seat reservation tickets to be printed in English.

"The one thing you need to do: be sure to ask to have your seat reservation tickets to be printed in English."

So true! I didn't know that and had to have them reprinted.

"The one thing you need to do: be sure to ask to have your seat reservation tickets to be printed in English."

Well, the tickets you get at the JR office are semi-translated. They label car # and seat # in English and label destination in letters as well as Japanese characters.

And no, you don't have 5 minutes (except at Tokyo Station or Shin-Osaka for your Nozomi), you have 1-2 except at a terminal.

Don't be late. These trains run exactly when they da-n well say they do (unless there's a massive earthquake off the coast, which threw off the schedule for us once by 15 whole minutes).

My last trip I had a local run late, but it was a very local local. Bullet trains are precise.

I had a similar situation a couple of years ago, and here is what I did. When I was on the first train, about 30 minutes before our destination, I found the conductor and showed him my ticket. He showed me which side of the train from which we would be exiting. He then showed me an "information card," that gave the platform number of the next train. He explained to me how to get to the next platform (I believe I may have even printed out a platform map of the station in advance). As we approached the stop, he pointed for me where to go. I had my rolling suitcase with me, but I was able to do a quick transfer to a completely different level and area within a couple of minutes.

There are staff around everywhere, so all you have to do is wave the ticket at them, and they will point you in the right direction. The chances are good that someone would even walk you to your train if you ask. And, I agree with the other posters, just hop on any carriage, and worry about getting to your specific car after you have caught your breath.

I only did the luggage transfer twice on that trip, and only when I made stops on the transfer day. I don't like being without items overnight. To me, it's too stressful to decide what to keep, and what to send ahead. I suppose that, if you are a shopper, you could send your gifts ahead, but that's not me.

I agree with sending luggage ahead if one can do such. But, Flygirl is only going to be in Tokyo for one night, upon arrival, and then off to Kyoto the next day. When I sent my luggage from Kyoto to my hotel in Tokyo, it beat me to the hotel. But, I had to have it down in my Kyoto hotel lobby by latest 5PM to be sent off. This was in summer 2017.

Happy Travels!

I am not sure I understand your confusion. If the schedule says the train leaves at 1201, it leaves at 1201. etc

Hi everyone

Thank you so much. Guenmai is right, this is just two trips - Shinkansen each way, from Tokyo to Kyoto and back. No changes and no others.

I guess it isn't possible to do a dry run because you'd need a ticket to get near the tracks. I'm staying across the street from Tokyo station so i can at least scope out the station. I know it will be large and confusing, maybe I'll plan to be in the station an hour ahead of time to wander around and be ready to pounce on my waiting spot ten minutes early.

I have a 22 inch bag which can be a carry on for international flights with large bins. I *usually* check that one and have a smaller one for carry on. I am going to try to limit myself to that piece of 22" luggage only. It will be one heavy piece though (when full maybe 22-25 pounds if it is just one bag) which is why I usually like to have that one and a smaller one and spread my stuff among both so that neither are heavy. Plus I'd like room to bring stuff home too. I have to figure this out.

If I send my luggage ahead, given that I land Sunday afternoon and take the train Monday, do you mean the luggage would show up on Tuesday? I probably could do that, actually, since if I triage my luggage my small carry on always has the utter essentials. How $ is that service? Can my hotel do it for me? I would prefer the luggage show up on the same day that I do that - both ways - but to not have to carry the bag sounds great.

Thank you again everyone!

I think an hour is overdoing it! Even if you want to pick up something to eat (see the food section in the Travel Tips link).

Did you use the link crellston posted? Here it is again:

https://www.seat61.com/Japan.htm#Travel_tips

There is also exhaustive info on Tokyo station:

https://www.seat61.com/Japan.htm#Tokyo_station

I travel with a 22 inch two wheeler and a day pack. The case usually weighs in at 10-11 kilos - about 22+ lbs. I had no trouble taking them on Japanese trains, but I am used to train travel.

Thank you Thursday, I didn't have a chance yet to look but I will.

I am watching the weather and I arrive in 15 days (Sunday) and so far ten days out looks like it's low-mid 70s as a high and I hope that holds! Slightly cooler in Kyoto.

I anticipate wearing mostly dresses when out and about during the day, easy to pack and comfortable but I'll likely take a pair of jeans and a pair of capris too, with a few tops.

Since I do my laundry in the bathroom sink I never take jeans - they are heavy and they take too long to dry. And I haven't worn dresses in years. I take slacks and tops, with a dressier pair for evening.

I don’t know if it will show, but in the right hand lower corner is the “gate”- on the ground there’s a giant blue square with a white 8 on it. So look at the car there- green car symbol, with an 8 telling you it’s Car 8. There aren’t stairs like some of the Europe trains, it’s very easy to get on and off.

Having trouble with the photo attachment. Anyway, you just look for the platform sign that corresponds with the car number on your ticket. If you aren’t at the gate when it pulls in, do get into the nearest car and just walk down the train.

And be sure to check train number- if you got into the train 5-10 minutes early, there’s a good chance you got on the wrong train!

i didn’t use luggage forwarding and I don’t think I would unless I had kids or elderly people with me, And I needed to help them.

hope that helps!

* Showing up at Tokyo Station an hour before the train departs is a bit much and you're staying at a hotel right at Tokyo Station.

* As for how much the luggage transfer cost, I paid exactly 1,512 yen in August 2017, for one suitcase, and it had to be paid in CASH. That was when I sent my suitcase from the Park Royal Hotel-Kyoto to the Four Seasons-Tokyo. I took my suitcase down to the reception at 4:30PM as it needed to go out by 5:00PM. I just looked this up in my travel journal as I write almost everything down for all of my overseas trips.

Happy Travels!