tokyo to kyoto
 

I am sorry - I am sure this has been asked a hundred times before. I am planning a train trip from Tokyo to Kyoto. My agent quoted AUD220 plus a booking fee of AUD30. Is this one I can buy on the internet or perhaps when I get to Tokyo? Would it work out cheaper? There are 5 adults and any saving would help. The same goes for Kyoto to Kansai. What is the cheapest way of handling it? Thanks a million.

is this a regular shinkansen fare? There is no need to book beforehand. Save the booking fee and buy tickets direct from JR in Japan. I assume you are just going Tokyo - Kyoto- Kansai airport so a JR pass won't be economical. Staff at major stations in Tokyo and Kyoto usually have enough English to help you.

Even cheaper would be highway bus

You can buy tickets in Tokyo easily. The price for Nozomi shinkansen (fastest) from Tokyo station to Kyoto station is 13,520 yen per person (one way trip). There are discount ticket brokers, but you really need Japanese I think to use them, and the discount is only between 2% and 5% anyway. Easier just to buy at the station.

There are many trains throughout the day. You can check the schedule and price on www.hyperdia.com . The price you pay is the total (fare plus charge). Kyoto to kansai airport is 3490 yen on the Limited Express Haruka (best train, right to the airport, no changing).

There is no reason to use an agent in Australia to buy your tickets for you. Tickets are simple to buy on your own. Your only problem may be getting 5 seats together...if you are flexible and willing to split up a bit, you should be able to get seat reserations without trouble. Tickets can be bought/seats reserved from 30 days in advance, and from any station, so you could get all the tickets you need in one stop. Also, have you considered a JR Pass? Dependingon how much you will use the train, it might save you money, though if the only train trips are Tokyo-Kyoto-Kansai airport, it won't.

Snap!

13520 yen is about $AUD160. Quite a mark up!

Thanks so much for the suggestions! You are marvellous. Now I can sleep without worrying.