Sydney2K

Thanks Kappa, that's exactly what I need to be able to make some kind of educated decision. I do understand I'll need to pay extra to utilise the sleeping arrangements, but I'm going to have to stay somewhere anyway to sleep, and with a JR Japan Pass, it's still going to be fairly inexpensive anyway and I'll get where I want to go. I did read though that these sleeper trains are slowly being phased out.

Mr Wonderful, that's an interesting idea. I really have only two trips to make, from Tokyo to Nagasaki/Sasebo and then from there back to the outport of my choice. Problem being that I may have to go back on the 17th July, which according to the information you gave me is not valid for the air pass- but I have something to go on at least.

mrwunrfl

Sydney2K, there is a night train from Tokyo to Shin Osaka that departs at 23:00 and arrives 07:12 when you could then catch a shinkansen to Hakata and a limited express to Sasebo.

The Hayabusa night train departs Tokyo at 18:03 and arrives at Hakata at 10:10 the following morning. You could take a shinkansen from Tokyo to Shin Osaka, connect to another shinkansen and arrive Hiroshima at 23:33. By midnight, you could be in a room at the Granvia Hotel which is adjacent to the shinkansen tracks.

I walked into that hotel without reservations and was quoted a rate of around 12000. I then asked for the JR Pass holder rate and got the room for around 9000.

Sleep 8 hours in a real bed. Catch a shinkansen at 08:45 and arrive at Hakata 15 minutes before the Hayabusa.

Of course, if you actually are interested in taking a night train then the Hayabusa might be the way to go. It takes extra time, doesn't save money, and allows for a fair sleep at best, but to each his/her own. It does have the benefit that you board in Tokyo and when it gets to the end, 16 hours later, you get off. No changing at Shin Osaka or getting the hotel at Hiroshima (there are options to Hiroshima). The Fuji bed train turns at Kokura for Beppu so it doesn't make it to Hakata.

If you fly, you could fly from Tokyo Haneda airport (HND) to/from Nagasaki, Fukuoka, or Saga airports. You can also fly from Fukuoka airport to/from Tokyo Narita airport (NRT) to make international connections. For example, if you are flying Qantas to Japan I am pretty sure you could fly to and/or from Fukuoka via NRT on a JAL connecting flight.

Sydney2K

Mr Wonderful, thanks for the suggestions, I'll give those to my friends for their thoughts. It's good to have as many options as possible.

My trip isn't until July, so there is still some time to plan.

emd

moxie: If I was you and I had the chance, I'd try to meet up w/kuranosuke and mrwunrfl in Takayama. I've met them both (and have met up w/mrwunrfl several times now in different sushi places and Japanese-related events on both U.S. coasts) and I can vouch that they are good guys and great company. I wish I was going to be there too, but it just isn't in the cards this time.
Eileen, emd

KMLoke

moxie,
you can get a pass for use in the Tokyo subway (except for JR lines) you can purchase. This can be purchased in denominations of JPY1, 3 and 5 thousand. It is easier as you do not need to buy tickets for each ride. If the value falls to an amount less than the fare, you only need to top up at a fare adjustment machine before you exit the station. You get to keep the pass as a souvenir after it's used up. There are some ticketing machines which sell passes with nice designs on them.