Shinkansen from Kyoto to Tokyo
 

Hello

We are a family of four with two teenagers. We are flying into KIX and plan to spend six nights in Kyoto , then take the train to Tokyo where we spend one night before flying home from NRT.

Should we get a JR Pass to facilitate our travels ? We plan to spend our time in Kyoto- our only train travel should be from KIX to Kyoto and from Kyoto to Tokyo. We will also need to get to NRT from our hotel in Tokyo.

Should we reserve our tickets on the Shinkansen from Kyoto to Tokyo ? What is the best way to do this ?

Thank you for your help.

Bonjour Okoshi,

I don't think it's worth it getting a JRpass.

Book your tickets to Tokyo early during your stay in Kyoto, so as to have seats together. You could even do it right away in KIX when you buy your tickets on the Haruka train to Kyoto.

In Tokyo, depending on where you are staying and the time of departure, you might consider going to NRT with the Keisei Skyliner, starting either from Ueno. Both stations have big coin lockers, but the easier way would be to send your luggage ahead to NRT from your hotel in Kyoto and keep only a day pack.

Hi

Based on what I have heard, it is not worth getting a JR pass just for this. My wife and I had a pass for a week and we went to Kyoto, Hiroshima, the world expo in Nagoya etc and the Shinkansen is a great way to get around. I have posted a trip report with some pictures and links on my homepage http://gardkarlsen.com/japan_tokyo.htm . Maybe you guys can find some useful info there :-)

Regards
Gard

Hi- thank you for the advice to purchase tickets at KIX.

We will be at the Palace Hotel in Tokyo- hoping the concierge can advise us about the bags. Can they be sent directly onto the plane from the hotel ?

Gard- enjoyed your trip report. Good advice about the limo instead of train to NRT. Thank you.

okoshi: No, your bags can't be sent directly to the plane from the hotel. What Florence was saying is that she recommends you send your luggage from your hotel in Kyoto to Narita airport, via one of the luggage services, and just keep a minimal amt. w/you for your last night in Tokyo. Your hotel in Kyoto can take care of sending your luggage to Narita via one of the luggag delivery services. That way you will be able to ride the shinkansen unencumbered by luggage (and you won't have to lug your luggage around the stairs at Tokyo station and possibly have to lug it to change to a subway line or however you will go about getting from Tokyo station to your Tokyo hotel). If you send the luggage from Kyoto hotel to Narita then you would pick it up on departure day at the Narita luggage counter of whatever service you use (there are several); then you must go through security check w/your luggage and then check your luggage w/the airline yourself. There is no way around that last step.

okoshi, when are you going. we're doing the same thing, with 2 teens, we're leave in 2 days. kix.kyoto, nozomi to tokyo, and flying back from NRT. you didnt have a problem getting a room for 4? or did u get 2 rooms?

Hello Spunge411

The rooms at Palace Hotel will hold a maximum of 3 beds, so we are going to need 2 rooms. Did you find a quad room in Tokyo ?

EMD

We are going to have a carry-on bag each, and planned to just keep it with us, rather than sending it off to a luggage service. Should we re-consider this ?

It is hard to tell what "small carry on" means to different people these days. If it is truly a small carry on bag you'll probably be fine. Unless you shop in Kyoto...

There is room on the train (overhead and at the end of the car, behind the last row of seats) for small carry on size luggage. Be aware that you'll likely be carrying it up and down stairs in the train stations. This becomes more brutal in the subway stations, esp. in Tokyo (some of them can have stairs that seem to go on forever before you get to the top/bottom).

You are lucky you can limit it to one small carry on each. I like the shopping in Kyoto, esp. the temple market days. I took a carry on size suitcase, but then I also filled up an extra empty 21" carry-on with those purchases in Kyoto. I was very happy to engage the Black Cat luggage service company to haul it back to Tokyo for my departure. But that is me.

we found a quad.. decent rate of $178 per nite. here's the link http://asiacenter.or.jp/

its a great location, but not a fancy shmancy hotel.

when are you going? how old are your teens?

Spunge411

My teens are 14 and 16. We are going in the first week of June.

I wasn't able to find that Quad room described on that site- but the prices for the twins look reasonable.

How do you plan to get from the hotel to NRT, and from the Nozomi station to the hotel ? I would love to hear about your trip .

i think they can accomodate you if you call directly. thats what i did. and they came highly recommended. we'll see i guess.

i'll send you some pics and a report after i get back.
i think either the train or limo bus from toyo to NRT. from tokyo Station to the hotel, we'll take the subway. i will be having the luggage sent ahead from Kyoto. i dont know which service yet. what's your email we can stay in touch. are you in LA?

I am starting to wonder whether we should stay in another locale instead of the Palace Hotel.. Since we only have one night and part of Sat and Sun in Tokyo beforing leaving on a plane, thought the kids might enjoy a high-tech neighborhood to shop around.

I have heard of Akiharabara. Is this near a hotel we might consider staying in ?

Spunge411 thanks - yes please keep me posted with a trip report.

Bonjour Okoshi,

Akihabara is 10 minutes away from Tokyo station on the JR Yamanote loop line or by taxi from the Palace hotel. A taxi for 4 is a real bargain in this case (count around Yen 1000 max.).

An alternative would be to find a place near Shinjuku (lots of entertainment for teenagers and adults alike and direct JR train or shuttle to NRT).

Hi Florence! Long time no see post from you. I leave this Friday w/my daughter for her inaugural trip. We are hoping to find some of those colorful flags you told me about last spring to put up around my garden. Unfortunately we won't make it to Kitano market on the 25th, but are going to Toji on the 21st. And going to Miyako Odori w/another fodorite, etc. Really looking forward to Takamatsu also. Am putting my 21" suitcase inside another empty suitcase, so that I don't have the "florence goes shopping for extra luggage" syndrome in Kyoto after the market day!

Bonjour Emd,

I wish you two a very happy time together.

The flags are called "Tairyouki" (Tie - Ryoo - Kee) or "Tai ryou bata". I hope you'll find many (but leave some for me, I plan to go in July).

In Takamatsu, think of me and my mom when you spot some of the signage and shops names while walking along the shopping galleries (hint: one of them gave us "hysteric" laughters ;-)).

Shinjuku does sound vibrant.

Can you recommend a few hotels that are well-located in Shinjuku ?

okoshi:
In Shinjuku you can try the Keio Plaza Hotel
http://www.keioplaza.com/index.html

Or the Century Hyatt
http://tokyo.century.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/

We have stayed at both of these hotels and both are good 4 star hotels in the heart of the Shinjuku area. The Keio might be a better deal pricewise.
Aloha!

Becasue there are no quads, the Keio Plaza ends up being quite expensive for 2 rooms. Washington Hotel is reasonable on AsiaRooms.

Has anybody used AsiaRooms and been to Washington Hotel ? Sounds like an ordinary business hotel, but thats okay.