These Trailblazer guides ...are a godsend for independent travelers.
- Travel & Leisure
Japan by Rail
by: Ramsey Zarifeh
UPDATES
Ramsey Zarifeh's website is Japan By Rail.
Updated information (May 2011)
The temporary suspension of sale of the JR East Pass and JR East Pass Special has been lifted so both are available again.
For the latest information regarding JR East's operating schedule visit web http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/customer_support/infoline.html
and for information about which lines are operating visit web
http://traininfo.jreast.co.jp/train_info/e/tohoku.aspx
Updated information (April 2011)
The Narita Express is now operating though not to full capacity. From 29th April all the shinkansen lines in the JR East region will operate their full routes though the number of services will be slightly reduced and journey times may take longer. One Hayabusa service a day will operate in each direction between Tokyo and Aomori and one between Tokyo and Sendai.
Updated information (March 2011)
Due to the devastating earthquake and tsunami on 11th March, and the subsequent problems at Fukushima Nuclear Power Station, train services in the area are either suspended or subject to a limited service. The Narita Express is suspended but local trains are operating between Narita Airport and Tokyo station. There is a special schedule on the Tohoku shinkansen between Tokyo and Nasushiobara and also between Morioka and Shin-Aomori, and on the Akita shinkansen between Morioka and Akita.
Sale of the JR East Pass has also been temporarily suspended.
Check the JR East website (web www.jreast.co.jp/e/) for the latest information..
Updated information (February 2011)
Tohoku Route Guide (p280)
The brand-new E5 series shinkansen (Hayabusa) starts service from Tokyo to ShinAomori on 5th March. The train's top speed is 300kph and the journey time from Tokyo to ShinAomori on this train will eventually only be 3 hours 10 minutes. The train will also have a new class of travel - the Gran class. JR East passes will be valid on the Hayabusa but not for Gran class. At the moment there is one service a day in the morning and one in the evening.
Updated information (December 2010)
p296 Tohoku Route Guide
The shinkansen extension from Hachinohe to Shin-Aomori is now open. The journey from Tokyo to Shin-Aomori now takes as little as 3 hours 20 minutes.
In addition to the new station in Aomori (Shin-Aomori) there is one other at Shichinohe-Towada.
For further details see http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/aomori/index.html
Updated information (August 2010)
p281 Tohoku Route Guide
Omiya
The John Lennon Museum (http://www.taisei.co.jp/museum/index_e.html) is closing on 30th September 2010.
Updated information (July 2010)
p105 Tokyo Arrival and departure
JR East has introduced a round-trip Suica and N'EX card in addition to the original card. The round-trip card means it is possible to go by NE'X from Narita to the Tokyo metropolitan area and back again without having to buy another N'EX ticket.
Updated information (May 2010)
Practical information for the visitor
pp50-1 Arriving in Japan
Tokyo Narita Airport
Queues to exchange your rail-pass exchange order for the actual pass can be very long at busy times of the year such as March/April and October/November. At these times staff will only book your onward travel for that day. If you are not planning to use your rail pass immediately it may be better to exchange it at another time.
p57 Budget hotel chains
Toyoko Inn The charge to become an International Toyoko Inn Club Member is now ¥1500. However, if you are planning a reasonable number of nights in this recommended chain and may also return to Japan it is still worth becoming a member.
Tokyo
Practical information
p106 Tourist information
The Tokyo Tourist Information Center (tel 03-5321-3077, www.tourism.metro.tokyo.jp/english；daily 9.30am-6.30pm), on the ground floor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, has a large number of leaflets regarding all aspects of life in Tokyo and staff who can help with queries; the Japanese Prefectural Tourism Promotion Corner (daily 9.30am-6.30pm), on the first floor, also has a number of brochures which may be of use in planning your trip but the person at the counter may not speak much English. Since the lift stops at the first floor on the way down from the 45th floor it is easiest to visit these centres after admiring the view.
The main tourist information centre already mentioned in the text is operated by JNTO and has information about Tokyo as well as other parts of Japan, particularly the most popular tourist destinations.
Central Honshu – route guide
p128
Shin Yokohama
The tourist information centre (daily 10am-6pm) is opposite the East exit from the shinkansen tracks on the North Exit side of the station. There are both cash (¥300-600) and card (Suica/Plasmo) coin lockers around the station.
Atami
There is now a tourist information centre (daily 9am-5pm) on the station concourse next to a branch of Doutor. The centre has discount vouchers (worth ¥200) for MOA Museum of Art as well as maps for the area and the staff can advise on accommodation.
p142
Naoetsu The Peace Memorial Museum has closed but the park (Heiwakinnenkoen) is still there. There is now a tourist information centre (Apr-Oct daily 9.30am-5.30pm, Nov-Mar 10am-4/4.30pm) outside the north exit of the station – take the escalator down to street level and walk straight ahead. The office is on the right just after a soba/udon bar; the staff do not speak English but will be able to give you a map of Naoetsu.
Kansai – city guides
p216 Kyoto
Tourist information
The Kyoto City Tourist Information Office (daily 8.30am-7pm) is now on the 2nd floor north–south pedestrian walkway. There are 13 desks, most of which have English-speaking staff, but at peak times there can still be quite a queue at each counter. The staff sell the bus/subway passes and are able to provide an accommodation list and may book same-day accommodation but usually ask you to go to a travel agency (see also below). They also have a large number of brochures – some are on display but most you will need to ask for – and there are computer terminals where you can plan your route to the main temples/sights.
The Kyoto Prefecture International Center (tel 075-342 5000; same days/hours) no longer has tourist information but can still book same-day accommodation with places registered in the Welcome Inn group. They now have BBC on the tv and internet access is ¥100 for 15 minutes.
p218 Where to stay Station area
The owner of Tour Club and Budget Inn has opened a Capsule Ryokan (www.capsule-ryokan-kyoto.com; ¥3990/7980 S/TW, ¥3500 capsule bed in dorm). Everyone who visits Kyoto should consider a night in one of the en suite rooms. They may be compact but they are very well designed and have the most amazing monsoon-style showers. There is also a dormitory with capsule accommodation – each capsule has its own mini tv – and lockable storage. Everything has been thought about at the Capsule Ryokan and if it is not in the room you are almost definitely able to borrow what you need from the boxes in the ground floor seating area. This area also has a sink, microwave oven and small fridge so it is possible to prepare simple meals – or buy something outside and eat at the table.
Budget Inn no longer has any dormitory accommodation, nor does it offer cycle rental though the staff can recommend a place nearby. The rooms now are triples (¥10,980), quads (¥12,980) and a quintuple (¥14,980).
p231 Koya san The combination ticket is now ¥1500.
Western Honshu – route guide
p237 Side trip to Kurashiki
Tivoli Park has closed - it is now being developed into a shopping mall and park.
Western Honshu – city guides
Okayama
p261 Where to stay The International Center (see p260) no longer provides accommodation.
Kyushu – route guide
p387 Miyazaki Des McAllister has informed us that Taku-chan has closed. Also that the tourist office now closes at 6pm.
New immigration rules
As already happens in the United States, in 2007 Japan introduced compulsory fingerprinting of foreigners entering the country. The new procedures, which take less than a minute when you reach the airport immigration counter on arrival, involve electronic scanning of both index fingers as well as the taking of a digital photograph of your face. Diplomats and children under 16 are exempt from the procedure. Resident foreigners as well as visitors are fingerprinted and photographed every time they re-enter the country. Japan's Immigration Bureau has put together a video explaining the background to the new measures: see Japanese Immigration Bureau.
