Planes, Trains and Automobiles in Japan - Looking for Guidance
 

I've seen a number of threads recently with recommendations and links to various websites regarding trains, etc. So I thought I'd see what the experts have to say about our situation. Here are my thoughts so far:

1. We have a tentative reservation at the Citadines Shinjuku in Tokyo and have some other options in the works. We will be traveling with several bags so the train will not be ideal. My understanding is that there is a limo bus that can take us from Narita to our hotel or, in the case of the Citadines, to Shinjuku train station where we can get a taxi to the hotel. Any comments?

2. After Tokyo, we are flying to the Noto Airport (NTQ) from Haneda (HND) on ANA where we will rent a car. We will be traveling light as our bags will be forwarded to Kanazawa. Our flight leaves at 10 AM. What is the best way to get to HND from Tokyo?

3. Also, we have not purchased the HND-NTQ flight as I know there are discounts etc. available - what are our options?

4. We will drive from the Noto Peninsula to Kanazawa and drop the rental car off there which should be "interesting". While we will likely have Japanese GPS and Google Maps print outs, does anyone have suggestions for reaching Kanazawa successfully?

5. Our next stop is Yamashiro Onsen (Beniya Mukayu) 25 minutes via JR train. We will forward our bags to Kyoto. Instructions on the ryokan's English website are fairly detailed, so getting to Beniya Mukayu should be no problem.

6. To Kyoto, 1 hr 50 min direct from Yamashiro by JR train. We are staying at the Hyatt Regency. Any suggestions?

7. We'll do a day trip (most likely) to Nara from Kyoto. Is this JR also?

8. From a previous recommendation, we will take MK Taxi to Osaka (ITM) from the Hyatt Regency for our connecting flight to NRT.

9. We have 4 nights Tokyo, 1 night Noto Peninsula, 3 nights Kanazawa, 1 night Yamashiro Onsen, and 5 nights Kyoto. What is the thinking on the Japan Rail Pass - can we get by on a 7-day pass? Are the subway systems in the various cities separate from this?

Thanks in advance for your help.

I love that there are so many of us planning for Japan at the same time. All these threads collectively are providing a treasure trove of information!

2. Getting to HND from Citadines/Shinjuku: Unfortunately, Shinjuku is not well situated for using trains/subway to reach Haneda, as the main access points are at Shinagawa or along the Tokyo Monorail route (other side of town). However, the same limo bus company that you plan to use from Narita also goes to Haneda. The bus stops at a bunch of Shinjuku area hotels, but those hotels are all on the west side of the station and Citadines is on the east, so you'll need to make your way to the station (West entrance) by cab, by subway, or by foot. I wouldn't recommend the subway: plenty of stairs to negotiate, and crowded trains at that hour. You could also take a taxi to Haneda -- I'd guess around 8,000Y to Haneda. For a 10:00 domestic flight, you would be safe arriving at the airport between 9:00 and 9:15.

6. Getting to Hyatt Regency from Kyoto station: There's allegedly a shuttle from the hotel to and from the station, but I couldn't find the blessed thing on my first trip there. There's also a city bus, but you likely don't want to try that with even minimal luggage. Take a taxi for about 1400Y. (Remember: never tip in Japan.)

7. Kyoto <--> Nara by train: You can take the JR train from Kyoto to Nara. However, if you're going to/from Nara Park, it's much more convenient to use the Kintetsu line (which is not covered by the JR pass) to Kintetsu-Nara station, which much closer to the park.

5. "Instructions on the ryokan's English website are fairly detailed, so getting to Beniya Mukayu should be no problem." This is the funniest thing I've read today -- thanks for the chuckle!

Mk taxi in Kyoto and the Hyatt have an agreement. You go to the mk taxi stand - ask in the info center - and the taxi to the Hyatt is free.

Kanazawa is easy. Use the navigation and you'll be fine. Call us before arrival and we will meet you to take you to Kikunoya.

Thanks, Kim.

Craig

1. Yes the limo bus and taxi would be a viable option. Taxi fare from Shinjuku eki to Citadines should be no more than the first drop fare I think now around ¥760 in Tokyo. You can also take the NEx from Narita to Shinjuku station then take that same taxi to Citadines, also easy to do. There are large luggage racks in the back of the NEx train cars with locks if you need, you won't.

2. Take the same taxi to Shinjuku station and take the limo bus to HND. See limo bus schedules on their site. You can also taxi to HND from Citadines. The last time I did that a few years ago the fare was in the area of ¥7,000+ and I paid with a cc.

3. Since you are flying in and out on Star Alliance you can get the ANA Experience Japan fare at ¥10,000 one way. Basically you must get your ticket before arriving into Japan. To save my typing see this site for details.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2364.html

4. Yes, Kim will guide you and you should have the phone number of the rental return store so you can program that into your GPS and it will guide you straight to it. Should be no problem....really. In Japan you must top off your gas tank and keep the receipt to show that you did. I have never dropped a car in a different place than I rented from but I know that when you rent the car the rental company will give you a map with service stations and their locations within 1 kilometer of the return station to fill up gas at. BTW, filling up gas is a treat in Japan as the service aspect is still alive and well there ie wipe windows, check you oil, tire pressures, etc. Don't forget to get a receipt as the rental company will be asking for one.

5. No problem at all if you follow the instructions. Instructions look real easy.

6. Kim answered and its the way to go. If you cannot find the desk just take a taxi out front, the fare will be only the first drop fare or maybe one or two clicks more as the Hyatt is close to the station maybe 1 1/2 kilometers away. We have walked from the Hyatt to the station before(about 20-25 minutes)of course with no baggage ;)

7. Can be JR and you should if you are using your pass(thugh looks like you won't need one). I think Kintetsu also has trains from Kyoto to Nara. Again check with www.hyperdia.com
The JR Nara line has local trains and express trains to Nara IIRC. Try and get on the express trains that will get you there faster as the locals will stop at every station down the line. You can check your schedules at www.hyperdia.com Let us know if you need help interpreting the answers you are given on this site.

8. That is how I plan to leave Kyoto this time except we go to KIX

9. As your itinerary is now I don't see that you need any pass. According to Hyperdia your Tokyo to Kanazawa(I know you mentioned Noto Pen but did not know exactly where) would cost between ¥12,500 and ¥15,570 depending on the route taken. The Kanazawa to Kagaonsen(stop for your ryokan) is between ¥740 and ¥1,780 depending on the train taken with the local costing more but more stops. Only 45 minutes even on the local. Kagaonsen to Kyoto would be ¥6,590 so higher totals only come out to ¥23,940 and the 7-day JR second class pass sells for ¥28,300. You would save in money and the hassle of having to buy your voucher in the States and transferring that into your pass when you get to Japan.

Subways systems in Japan are seperate companies than the JR and other rail systems and have to be paid by themselves. That's where the SUICA and PASMO cards come into play and explained in detail here :)

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2359_002.html

Aloha!

9.1 - You can get "free" subways rides by using the NEx/Suica deal or the Tokyo Metro/Limo bus deals. The NEx/SUICA deal will get you a train ticket into Shinjuku and a ¥2000 pre-paid SUICA card with details explained here:

http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/nex/suica_nex.html

The Limo bus/Tokyo Metro ticket deal is a limo bus ride + a one-day Tokyo Metro(one of the main subway lines in Tokyo city)pass explained in detail here:

http://www.limousinebus.co.jp/discou.../en/index.html

Aloha!

Let me elaborate more on the rental as we just rented twice during our honeymoon.

1. Have phone numbers of all places you need to drive to AND all the places you MAY want to visit. That's the only easy way to input into the system. And double check on the actual phone number. Not for reservations or remote office for the hotel, but the actual one on property.

2. The rental car company may actually give you a short form for the gas station to fill in or stamp. Or the gas station will give you a slip IN ADDITION to just the regular receipt to prove the car is filled up.

3. ANA flies HND-NTQ. I did not check JAL. I searched at fly-ana.com for May 1 and the fare is only $117 (too early to search for Otober) Two daily departures at about 10AM and 3PM. One hour flying time.

At that rate, the *A Pass and Yokoso or Welcome to Japan fares would cost more than $117. Your other option is to spend 6,000 Mileage Plus miles.

9. No JR Pass needed. Flying to Noto means not taking the train from Tokyo to Kanazawa, so subtract that 12,500 from ht's total and you've got about 11,000, maybe less.

Looks like that $117 fare (actually 10,500 yen) is a promotional fare for foreigners called the Experience JAPAN Fare.
http://www.ana.co.jp/wws/us/e/wws_co...experience_jp/

It is hard to see but that webpage says it is for travel between March 31 and June 30. But I see the fare available on March 1! Can't get any fare at fly-ana.com for July 1.

The normal fare is $243. If that new (to me) promotional fare isn't, eventually, offered for your dates then the Star Alliance, other promotional fare, or miles would be options.

HND -NTQ (and other domestic flights) are sold starting 2 months from departure date. The lowest fare is around ¥13,000 per person. You should not pay normal fare...it's not necessary.

I learned a new trick. I figured that you must be looking at a Japanese site and seeing the 12,780 fare.

I've been going to the USA site for ANA at fly-ana.com. There, I see two fare choices: the 10,500 promotional fare (quoted as $117) and the much higher "normal fare". That is it, just the two fares.

The trick, to see more fares, is to go to the website for English speakers residing in Japan: www.ana.co.jp/eng/ There, I see five fares for March 1, ranging from 12,780 to the "normal fare".

For April 2 there are seven fares! Lowest is ¥10,370, a Tabiwari 55 Fare (reserve and purchase between two months and 55 days before deparure). It doesn't seem to be restricted to residents of Japan: https://www.ana.co.jp/wws/japan/e/local/dom/fare/ttw55/

If you go to the dot com site first and then to do co.jp in the same browser session then you might get redirected back to the dot com. Restart your browser and then you can get to the Japan site which shows domestic itin options by default.

OMG, this all seems over the top... i'm glad i have my valet, peter...

our de

our deal is that he will plan a trip to japan for the 4 of us and i will do the same for bali...

bali is easy---hello putu...

I hear valets earn very large tips in Japan.....

No problem, Peter, for Bob: "cost--that is never a problem with this group"

earn large tips for exceptional service...