5 ESSENTIAL Japan Train Tips You MUST KNOW!
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- Опубликовано: 1 авг 2024
- The VITAL Suica & Japan Trains : 5 ESSENTIAL Tips You MUST KNOW!
A video about how to use Japan Trains and the complicated Japan Train systems! When I first got to Japan, I had no idea how to use the trains. It took almost 6 months to fully understand how to navigate the train stations with no problem. In this video, I summed up the most important lessons I learned to successfully navigate Japan's Train Systems. I hope you find it useful and learn how to easily use the trains when you arrive for vacation in Japan!
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1) Japan Travel Tips 2022
2) Japan Train Station
3) Japan Travel 2022
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0:00 - 0:54 Intro
0:54 - 2:15 Google Maps How To
2:15 - 3:23 Understand Station Exits
3:23 - 4:34 Local Train Pass Tips
4:34 - 6:09 Shinkansen Pass Guide
6:09 - 7:19 Know Train Warnings!
7:19 - 9:04 Reviewing With Example!
#japan #travel #japantravel #traininjapan #japantourism #japan #japantravelguide #traveljapan
I've been avidly watching the full spectrum of Japanese based travel RUclipsrs for at least five years now, and I've added your channel to the mix. I was thinking that there wasn't anything new to add to a video of this type because it's been done some many times before, but I was pleasantly surprised. There was enough original content and practical advice to be useful and the video was a good length. Well done! Good luck with future videos.
Love the kind words thank you! Yea, my focus is to be more about the practical, slightly advanced, things to know, not so much the basics. I am really glad you found it useful, and hope to see you around in future videos :). You should join our discord so you can provide your own advice to any first time travelers!
This is quickly becoming my new favorite Japan channel. All your info is carefully researched and very well presented!
Thank you so much!!!! It warms my heart to see such positive comments like this! I hope to see you in the future :)
In 2019 this is exactly how it worked! It is a perfect system. Thank you
Thank you for dropping by on so many of my videos :).
Thank You so much for this video great info. Your the only one I have ever found that has talked about the sounds of the trains very helpful. Cant wait to visit soon.
Thank you so much for your kind words! Yea, I try to add something in my videos that no one has ever mentioned before so I am glad you noticed. Let me know when you have your trip planned! Would love to hear about it!
Hey Alex,
Greetings from California. I will visit in November for the third time and still find your tips very helpful. You did an excellent job. 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
Thanks so much man. I am glad you still found this video helpful! I can't to hear how your visit to Japan is!
For first time tourists (or occasional tourists) arriving in Tokyo, avoid the major train stations like Tokyo and Ikebukuro Stations as even locals can get confused. You can always ride shinkansens to Shinagawa, Ueno or Shin Yokohama stations; Buying JR Pass is the best way to get around Japan and much cheaper to buy outside Japan. You will get a voucher and exchange for the pass to any JR ticketing offices or Midori no Madoguchi (I suggest Narita or Haneda airports or Shinagawa Station if you want to ride shinkansen right away). Once you have the pass, you can only go through manned gate only. Google maps are sometimes not reliable at all on the fly. Plan ahead in your hotel rooms. IC cards are the best way to carry around and can be used for trains, convenience stores, vending machines, some stores, taxis, buses and restaurants. I do not recommend buying Welcome Suica card (red card) as they are only good for 30 days.
I would caution first timers about activating JR passes..the clock starts at activation, you will have 7, 14 or 21 days inclusive. Avoid activating when you arrive, plan the activation around your activities.
Do not buy JR Pass if your travel is only within metro Tokyo and Yokohama. It’s not worth it.
@@CL-kx5tn Yes sir, do the math.
@@shpeen8835, some first-timers do.
Thanks for adding your helpful tips ! Anything that helps people get around Japan is great to see! You should consider joining the discord. I could use more people like you to help out people who have questions about Japan!
Very helpful thanks
Not a problem! Thank you for the kind words!
Tks for this refresher we went to Osaka b4 pandemic and now off to Tokyo nxt yr keep up the great videos very clear and concise👍🇳🇿
Thanks it's not a problem! Now you have a reference to brush up on as you get around Japan! I've got more like this in store, so make sure to stay tuned :).
Wow this is awesome.. you heard me …very informative..thank you so much
Thank you!!!
Great tips.. Going to be there in December. Need to study up on this.
Great to hear! Join our discord and we will be more than happy to answer any questions you might have ! :)
Great explanation, thank you. I will be traveling to Tokyo soon and couldn’t be happier to learn from your tips. I hope you can also share tips regarding buses. 🙂
I am so glad you found this video useful! :)
I will see if I can do a quick video about buses.
This was very helpful to travelers. You did a great job. ✨👌
Thanks man. I'm doing my best for everyone coming here!
Great video !! We can now travel in japan !
Thank you! And I can now travel to France!
Bruuuuhhhh... you just saved my trip! This is really helpful! Thanks!!!
So glad I could help you !
You've done really good with this video Harb A+ I have learnt so much thanks a lot !!
Thank you very much! I'm always happy to see when I can help people out :).
✈️ 🇯🇵 JAL
your informations are great!!
Thank you Tom! I do these videos to help out . Your kind words only motivates me to do more 😊
Good shit bro, keep up the good work!! 👍🏼
Thanks man! As long as you like it, I will continue to make more! :)
Great videos !!! Keep at it mate.
Thanks so much! Your kind words is what keeps me motivated to make more videos :)
So helpful thank you 😊
Doctor, the Chinese Covid vaccines will _finally_ be recognised by the Japanese authorities when the borders resume on Tue 11 Oct.
Truth be told, no Chinese nor Russian vaccine has ever been ever been approved for local use in Australia. Politics, perceptions and public acceptance matters down here a great deal. Especially with Covid vaccines.
🦘 🇦🇺
Not a problem man! We are still working on that hospital list. We haven't forgotten!
@@harblife thank you we got time and thank you for all the help
As Japan reopens its doors to individual tourists, the number of foreigners using the railroads will also increase. Thank you for introducing this good information.
This is all true! I really appreciate your kind words ❤️. Let me know if i missed something or if you'd like to add something !
WoW what a great video 📷📸📷
Not a problem, Ibrahim my man!
Some great tips there for the first time tourist
Yea for sure! Thanks man!
@@harblife real cool looking train behind you, where would that one take me?
Thanks! Really need this tips. I booked already in June (yeah I know the border was closed 🙈) And coming in Mars for 3 weeks 🎉 So need to practice! - Thanks a lot//Lilly from Norway 🇳🇴
Love it! Glad you found this video helpful :). As long as you review this video plenty, you will have a very good idea how to navigate the train stations when you come here!
0:38 *Mathilde being awesome* 🚈 🇫🇷
Oooh oui !
Haha she is the real star of these videos!
Thank you for your video. You're not wrong about SUICA. It's easy, and makes things fast and convenient. On the one hand, it's very convenient, but...
On the other hand, it's also very easy to lose track of how much you're spending, as a tourist or while traveling, and it's much easier to get lost/make a mistake. With a paper ticket, they won't let you go the wrong way, and if you make a mistake you'll get help. I wouldn't necessarily recommend SUICA for travelers, though it is super convenient for regular commuters.
I know what you mean, but I do still think Suica is a nice way to travel as a tourist. It also helps you blend in and not stand out so much if you want to not look like a tourist. Thanks for your inputs though!
That train station map 😖 thanks for this very useful info on navigation and train use 👍
Yea that thing is a nightmare to use. I don't know why anyone would even think of using the paper tickets still hahaha. And not a problem! I can't wait to share more with you as I get more time :)
@@harblife There are still a few corner cases where the paper tickets are useful. So I'm glad they still have them. They're generally a waste of time though.
As an example, they can help you out when using various passes. If you get a Tokyo Metro pass, many of those lines have thru service to other lines, and they don't bother to tell you how to resolve the myriad of potential payment issues that arise from that. One occasionally useful method is to buy the cheapest ticket for the other line to get into the system so you can use your day pass at the exit gate.
Back in 2017, I had no problems with the trains. Google maps and all of the English used made it pretty easy
Exactly! Google maps is the MVP. They have made it even better now, so it'll be even easier when you come back!
I see lapras and kabuto hahahah butt very cutee!!! And thank you for the train information in japannnn
Lmao there you go! We back at getting more pokemon 😈. Mathilde loves collecting them hahaha. Not a problem man!
Great tips, planning on visiting soon. One thing you could have added is how to identify the different classes. In Europe the train layout is on the information board, so you know which end of the platform to stand for the first class cars. Is it the same there?
I actually have been pondering doing another train video since I have a bigger audience now. I will definitely include that if I make another train vid!
Thanks for the awesome video!
Any chance of seeing a JR Pass vs IC Card comparison video soon? From what I've read online, the former is more worth it if you travel between cities a lot, and the latter is better if you plan to stay in just one area. If you could provide more insight, that would be awesome!
I could do a short about it. I'll look into it and let you know !
JR Pass can be used to any JR train companies, including shinkansen (except Nozomi and Mizuho lines). There are some exceptions like the JR tourist trains, possibly sleeper trains, and most JR express buses. It’s worth the money if you travel the whole Japan, except Okinawa. You can also buy local and regional passes. On the other hand, IC cards are cash card that you can use for train fare not just JR, buy something from vending machines, most convenience stores, most local buses, some taxis and some small stores and restaurants. I won’t recommend buying Welcome Suica card.
The question is wrong. This is not a vs.
EVERYONE should get an IC card.
The question is if you should get anything else besides that.
And that depends on your itinerary.
Usually, yes. JR pass? Maybe. Maybe some day passes. Maybe some regional passes. Maybe bus tickets, or flights. But everyone should get an IC card.
There’s no wrong question. Answers can be either right or wrong. IC cards is a good, or rather best way to keep in handy but there are still several limitations unlike cash. So for me, I will not force everyone especially foreign tourists to have one. I will just recommend it.
@@CL-kx5tn IC card is free. It saves time. Where's the disadvantage?
Thank you so much for the key details, one question I have is in the example when you exited the Yokohama station from main exit, how did you know it was the main exit and which exact exit gates in the main exit side(the sign board showed 2 gates for main exit)? The Google map on your screen did not seem to mention if you had to take the main exit or the south one
Thank you for the info, definitely answers many questions on how to actually get on the right train and figure out the correct route. I’ll get an IC card and also a 7 day JR pass, which will be activated once I travel to other cities like Kyoto, Osaka, Hakone. But for moving around Tokyo, could you make a video about the local passes? I’m not sure if I should buy the Tokyo Metro Pass or just use my suica card as I go along. Will be in Tokyo for about 6 days and will be traveling by train a lot. Thanks!
I can consider it making a video about all the different passes, but they all more or less operate the same. I will say that if you are just traveling around locally, using your IC card is most likely going to be cheaper. It really depends on how frequent you're travelling around.
@@harblife Got it, thanks!
I went to Japan in 2015 for a week. And I learn the train system with google map and their apps to save time and make the most of the trips.
Have a little hiccups when we were there (some problem of miscommunication on ticketing), but yes their train are efficient!
I'm glad you did the proper preparations to make your Japan trip a smooth one! If you have questions , don't hesitate to reach out and ask me anything !
Thanks next Year i go alone 😊
Great! Hope you enjoy your time in Japan! :) Let me know if you have any other travel questions!
I like your content and your videos are very clear in excellent American English. You REALLY need to lose the background music. People think it is more professional, but it is actually just distracting.
Thanks for the feedback, but I am going to keep the music for the time being. It helps smooth out any background noise you might hear.
Love the video! I’m going to Japan in May and am staying in Tokyo. However, we were planning on visiting Kyoto for just a day, so we would travel there in the morning and then come back to Tokyo the same day. Would you recommend just using the suica card for that, or should we purchase a one time ticket?
That would be a pretty expensive shinkansen just for one day. I would recommend staying at least 2-3 days to get your money's worth on all that travel cost.
@@harblife Oh okay I see. Thank you! 😊
Hey great video . I’m going to Japan next month now that border is open and I’m very nervous about the trains shinkansen and etcetc…do you record the jrpass or is better to buy the ticket just when you going thanks keep doing this videos help me a lot
Thanks for stopping by! It depends . You'd really have to travel a ton to make the Jr pass worth it. If you're just staying in one area, it's better to just get a train ticket
This needs to be calculated in advance.
Don't wing it.
And... I'll do the math for you.
But you have to give a basic itinerary. Whether you should buy the pass or not is entirely dependent on your itinerary.
In case I'm using the JRPass and the same train switch from the included JRPass line to another line, how do you pay a head for the part of the trip it's not included? like from ikebukuro station to tokyo teleport station the same train switch from saikyo line (included) to rinkai line (not included), or another example is the FUJI EXCURSION
On the platform signs, to confirm direction. Do they list the next stop or end point of that line? Platform number, time, and next stop or end location?
So time becomes unique identifier?
If realize wrong direction, can jump off next top and go opposite side of same platform?
Thanks
Can you please make a video about the JR Pass? Especially about how to use it on the yamanote line?
I can look into this! Will take me a little bit, but i'll let you know!
All you do is go to the staff at the ticket gate and show the pass to them. If it's like before, the very first time it's used it needs to be stamped. All this will be explained by the staff when you pick up the pass or in the paperwork they give you. People who need to make some fare adjustments or who have wheelchairs, etc, use the same area.
But the longer answer is you don't really use it for Yamanote Line. The JR pass is meant for long distance travel.
It comes out to something like 2000-3000 yen per day, when basic use within Tokyo is about 400-1000 yen per day. The point of the pass is long distance travel.
The pass should be timed to start on your first shinkansen out and end on your last shinkansen.
But of course it's possible to have some time in Tokyo left over on the pass if it doesn't line up properly, and you will probably use it once to get to and from the shinkansen station. And you may find use for it on some of the local trains in other cities as well, though very few of those are JR. Or if you are starting and ending in another city with Tokyo for part of the time in the middle. But in as much as you are able, try to use CHEAPER passes, or just pay as you go, while in cities- the JR pass is priced for travelling between cities.
eg, a 3 week trip to Japan probably only uses a 1 or 2 week rail pass, not a 3 week one.
I have to study this video as i am arriving at narita Airport and needing to get to tokyo
Yes! It will definitely help you out! But try to review a little before you get here! Haha
@@harblife and then i need to head to osaka...how many hours by shinkansen?
I’m going to Japan and your videos are helpful. Can I just use my international data plan in Japan or do I need to get sim card or rent wifi router? Thanks!
International data plan can work -- if you can afford it!
We are planning to go this April for 14 days. We want to go to Osaka & Kyoto. Do you think it's worth it to get a JR pass and a Suica card during our stay or just buy individual Shinkansen tickets as we go? Your channel is very helpful and thank you for all the information.
I would say getting the JR 14 day pass would be the best. You would get the value out of the pass with just one round trip shinkansen ticket.
I appreciate the kind words Paulo! Hope to see you on the channel in the future!
hello again! 😁
i wanna ask about JR Pass.
i know it sounds silly to ask, but..
every Jr pass has different time usage right? there are for 3 days, 5 days, etc...
how do we know when it expired?
is it on the hour when we activate it? for example, we activate it around 10 am so it expires at exact 10 AM 3 days later?
or
it expires on 00:00 by midnight, regardless the time we activate it?
i plan to use JR Pass as efficient as i can so yeah (very detailed itinerary 😅).
thank you so much for your time and another useful tips!
It will start at midnight on the day you put in the form
We will be on a tour, and only need to figure in our free time transportation around various cities, nothing long distance. Is Suica used universally in Japan or are there local versions in different cities? Can we buy one ticket per person upon arrival at Narita and use it in Osaka, for example?
Suica will be good for most part of Japan. And yes, you can simply get a card at the airport from one of the train ticket booths.
If I have a JR pass, will that cover the trip from Tokyo to Yokohoma ?
As long as you take a JR line then yes
Hi, I'm planning on traveling from Osaka to Tokyo with stops along the way. What would be the best option in terms of the JR pass? Your videos have been super helpful!
Depends on how long you are staying in Japan for or how much you will be traveling while in Japan. I would recommend only getting the JR pass for as long as you will be using the shinkansen for. Anything else, you would be better off just using a Suica card to navigate the local trains. Let me know if you have any more questions!
@HarbLife I'll be in Japan for 20 days. Planning on staying in Osaka 6-7 days and plan on taking day trips to Nara and Hiroshima. Then will still in Kyoto for a few days before finishing up my trip in tokyo. Would you suggest getting a jr pass or stick with the ic card? Thanks for the help!
@@MK4lyfe Really tough to say. If you're only going to use the shinkansen just once, it might be better to just grab a suica card for your trip rather than a JR Rail Pass.
@@harblife thanks for the help!
@HarbLife with regards to the ic card, would I need to covert my cash into yen prior to purchasing the card or a credit card would be sufficient? Probably would get the ic card at the nansai Osaka airport. Thanks!
I will be going to Osaka, Kyoto and Nara this Nov. Is Suica card the correct one to purchase for moving around these places?
Yes you can still use suica in other areas. All the same since it's run by JR. It's only the rail passes that are different really.
The card in that area is called ICOCA.
All of the regional cards have been linked and as far as I know, work pretty much everywhere in the country. The last holdout I know of was the Hiroshima Street Cars, joining the network with the others around 2018. There may still be some others off the beaten path.
If you are landing in Osaka, there will be no suica to buy. The card to buy is icoca. It's basically the same.
In practice, there is very little difference. If you actually live there, there are sometimes some point card style benefits, but you have to be a regular user to actually hit any thresholds. The main difference is if you want to turn the card back in to get the money off of it, only the company that offers the card will accept it.
So if you use some travel company or another and they provide you with a suica card, based out of Tokyo region, while you spend all your time in Kansai region, the money is stuck on the card unless you do something fancy, so don't put more than you will definitely spend eventually.
Thank you both for the explanation, most helpful😊
how do you know you've arrived? do they say the station name super loud and clear or is it fast so you might miss it? thank you for the video, it was really helpful :)
Hello Mariya! Yes, they will say the station name, followed by what side the doors will open up. They also post it on little LED signs above the doors. Hope this helped and I am glad you found the video helpful :)
@@harblife Thank you.
Do you recommend JR pass if i will stay in japan for 6 days? I am entering japan via narita airport and exit via kansai airport .Planning to go to mt fuji and kyoto as well.
What does it mean when it says remain on board but the train name changes?
Just means it is becoming a different train line. As long as google maps says to remain onboard, you shouldn't have to worry.
Suica or Shinkansen which one go farther out and versatile
Suica is good all over Japan. Shinkansen is good for long distances.
Hi...Question please...How much would a heavy days travel in Tokyo be using a Sucia card?....roughly..as I know it would depend on routes etc...But say you were really using the transport system to the max..Traveling back and forth across the whole city, and north to south to cover what most tourists would consider the main areas of interest...The idea being the money saved buying a 14 day JR Rail Pass instead of 21 day pass would cover 7 days heavy travel within Tokyo (and the odd trip a little further afield) using a Sucia card without need for the JR Pass...Mind you I believe if I took a quick trip out to say Kyoto and back (same day)..That extra 7 days on the JR Rail pass would have payed for itself.. But only if I took such a trip..other wise the 7 days would be a waste..I hope this makes sense. I find getting my thought process across doesn't always makes sense..hehe!..Anyway..Thank you for the reply it you do.
Would say to get a JR Pass if you plan on using the shinkansen at all. If you don't you will need to spend a decent amount of money on local trains every day to make the pass worth it. They even have a cheaper tokyo pass if you don't plan on traveling far (you can check that on JR East). Let me know if you have more questions!
@@harblife ..Thank You for the reply....I just can't decide on getting a 21days pass or a 14 day as I may only be there for say 18 days..So it's kind of in the middle and 3 days of use may go to waste even if I use the PASS every day...But the thinking could be that if I use it enough in the 18 days..it would have more than payed for itself and so the last 3 days would have been a bonus...My thinking has been to get both the JR PAss and a Suica/Pasmo since the begining of my thoughts of a trip..I feel I should be covered for most things as regards travel..no matter how much I hope to zoom about the place!..hehe! Marking points interest on my maps and there are plenty of them!..Especially in Tokyo. Some are just places I want to get a photo of..to say "I've been there" (to whom god knows!")...But they are spread about the city from near the bay to Kichijoji, Ueno and Gotokuji Temple, down to Saiwai Ward..and everything inbetween!..As many as I can fit in is the hope!...Anway..thanks for the reply...Getting info from those who have the knowledge of these these is very helpful..As most websites don't always answer the questions you have..or are to confusing to folks like to me make sense of.
This is off the topic, but do you know by chance if there are any specific procedures to travel to Korea from Japan (i.e. can't leave Japan and expect free entrance the next week, and so on)? I am planning to go to Japan next year, however I would like to go for a weekend to Seoul from either Aomori or Tokyo.
Also, I was unaware I could use google maps for travel in Japan, the last time I was there I used Hyperdia, which apparently has ceased its online timetables services...
Besides that, for the most part, I usually navigated by ear & sight since I was working in Japan for a while & looking constantly at the cell was annoying, specially if that would distract me for any sights.
Thanks for the good content.
Unless new and bizarre border entry laws have been introduced, you are free to leave Japan for Korea, then re-enter Japan within a short time frame. However, if you are frequently entering Japan in the same calendar year, yet you do not have business, familial or academic connections in Japan, then immigration would take an interest with your travels. Especially if the visits are extended in length. But, this scenario would be true for just about any country as well. Immigration would immediately suspect that you are working in Japan, which a tourist is naturally not allowed to do.
Yup! Google maps is great for Japan. I use it everyday. But S is right. Shouldn't be a problem as long as you keep your vaccine card and paper work on you!
Thanks ! I will keep making content like this to help everyone out!
@@user-kc1tf7zm3bYes, you are right. I believe it might be troublesome if I do not have a working or resident visa & planning to stay longer in Japan.
@@harblife I guess I will download the app on my phone next time I travel there, even though I try no to rely on my cell... Thank you.
@@moramoy1 Look, you can stay as long as the visa allows. Naturally. But, as with any country, if it becomes obvious that you are entering Japan on multiple occasions on the same year, for extended stays, then this would obviously raise questions with immigration. I do not know what the threshold is for immigration for a repeat tourist to be brought under more scrutiny. Looking at a quick Google search, it appears the limit is 180 cumulative days over a 'year'.
3:08 so because the exit you’re looking for is the N. West Passage, and it’s listed *under* the main exit- you’d go right (in this case)?
Exactly. There are tons of sub exits that will be in the area of the big ones they list. As long as you match up the exit with the one showing on google maps, you will be good to go! Thanks for asking, and let me know if you have any other questions!
@@harblife Thanks!
@@s.w.t.m.t.s.u2414
There's actually a fairly major error there.
One that I've often been guilty of too but have tried to do better... but sometimes fail anyway.
The error is he's already at the ticket level.
Google maps told him to go to the north ticket gate and from there the northwest exit, but because he went up from the platform level to the ticket level on the wrong staircase, the ticket gate he's looking for (north) isn't actually available- only the southern and main ticket gates. Sometimes that means the actual exit you're looking for ALSO won't be available and the only way to get to your exit is to go back down to the platform, though that particular station seems to have passageways that allow you to get across with a bit of walking. Not always the case.
You really want to start your search for the exit from the signs on the platform.
@@redfish337 So once you exit the train that’s when you’d want to start looking for your exit?
@@s.w.t.m.t.s.u2414 In some cases you can actually start looking earlier than that. But that's just about speed. There's a big difference between being a little bit slower, and going the wrong way. Please check from the platform level that you're going the right way, as everything isn't always completely connected from the ticket level.
Do you know if I can still use Suica-Cards which I haven`t used in 5 years? I still have them since leaving Japan.
Should still be good if it's intact. My girlfriend has had hers for 7 years and it still works 🙌
The inactivity period is 10 years.
But there's no rush to reset that.
As even once they go inactive, all that happens is you give them the old 10 year inactive card and they transfer the funds over to a new card.
I can’t return my Suica card to get my deposit in JR Narita airport because it was issued in Haneda airport (they only issue Tokyo Monorail Suica). As mentioned some, it’s up to 10 years of inactivity, except Welcome Suica (red card).
I will go Japan for a week on December 2022. So, I want to use Shinkansen unlimited then which tickets good for foreign tourists? Thank you
Ah I see. It really depends on where you go. They have different passes designed for different regions of Japan. Check the JR website I put up in the video, and find the pass that would work for you!
@@harblife actually I will go anywhere , like Nagano, Tokyo, Osaka, Shizuoka, Nagoya,…lol. Sorry that’s a lot.
@@dannynguyen6229, there’s nothing in Nagoya… lol 😂
@@CL-kx5tn my best friend living there with his family lol
Greetings from korea 🇰🇷
I'm planning to buy tickets today to go on lunar new year
Is that a good time to go?
Why is Japan so complicated 😫
The trains and transportation here is cheaper and all in English
When is the lunar new year? hahaha yea man, Japan is great, but all the kanji can get confusing lol. Bro let me know when you're here!
@@jonathansakura At the time of that, most Japanese have finished their winter vacation, so it will not be crowded.
If I am an international tourist and will travel via bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto roundtrip, what is the most cost and time efficient way to go?
Not too sure what you mean by this. If you are talking about the cheapest bullet train tickets , you should go with the non reserved seat tickets. If you're talking about the cheapest way to get around tokyo or Kyoto, use a hotel booking app and get a suica card for the train 👍
@@harblife what I meant is if you are a family of four, what bullet train best option would you take from Tokyo to Kyoto roundtrip (will be staying in Kyoto for 3-4 days then back to Tokyo) in consideration of cost and time? For example, would you take the Hikari compared to the other faster bullet train as time difference (longer by a few mins) is not that different but price is?
@@harblife I also have the pasmo card from three years back. Is that the same as the Suica card you are saying to travel in all trains within per cities?
@@dennischristianchua-unsu2172 Assuming you can't or don't want to put Kansai on one side of your trip and take 1 or 2 flights within the country (eg, fly into Tokyo, immediately fly to Osaka, enjoy, take bus/shinkansen/flight to Tokyo, enjoy, fly home... or reverse....
then you buy a JR pass, and take hikari both ways. Kodama is significantly slower. Nozomi is faster still, but not allowed with JR pass.
If you don't have a JR pass (eg, if you are doing a flight for one leg), then you'd buy Nozomi for speed OR a plat Kodama, for cost. Plat Kodama is a special reserved seat on the slowest shinkansen, but a particular train must be reserved in advance to get the special price.
For reference it's about 135 minutes by Nozomi, 160 minutes by Hikari, each more or less 14000 yen (it's like 500 yen difference to take the faster train... everyone takes the faster train). Platt kodama should be about 10500 yen and take about 220 minutes. Young kids are cheaper.
Pasmo works same as suica. You'll still want one for everyone. Doesn't work for shinkansen. Will work on non-JR in Tokyo and Kyoto, and for whatever days your pass isn't active.
What is the minimum age you need to pay for a train ticket? (I have two kids that are 4 and 1 years old)
Good question . Never thought to ask since I don't have kids myself haha. I'll ask someone at a train station later, and update this comment when I get the answer 👍
They are USUALLY free until they are 6, in which case they are half price through elementary school.
The exact specifics can change company by company though you're probably safe just following the basic JR guideline.
But if you take something like a shinkansen with reserved seats, they won't have a seat there unless you reserve something, which may involve some payment. I don't know the specifics here.
@@redfish337 thank you
Hello how to join the discord? do you have the link?
Hey! Thanks for showing interest in the Discord! I will post the discord link in the description!
@@harblife bro the invite is already invalid, is there an expiration to the link?
How about use “Japan pass trail”?
Not sure what you mean by that. Is that an app?
@@harblife Probably meant to say: JR Pass...maybe you can elaborate more on that on a different video. By the way, I'd wish I was a good speaker like yourself, I can not even do that in Spanish. Are you working in Yokota by chance?
Buy JR Pass outside Japan before you travel. It’s cheaper than buying in Japan.
@@CL-kx5tn would you know the official site to purchase a JR rail pass?
Hay fellow traveler if you have a iPhone you can now have the digital card 😊
This is very true! I just personally like the peace of mind of having the physical card. Thanks for the contribution though!
Besides iphone, you can also use it if you have a felica-enabled smartphone.
can be used.
It’s sooo overwhelming 😅
Haha yes it is a lot to take in! Did you still have any lingering questions?
@@harblife I am planning to get the JR pass and would like to travel from Tokyo to Kyoto to Nara by Shinkansen. I heard that we should reserve seats in advance and we can do that well ahead of our trip. Is it easy as booking it online?
@sokiexo yes I am traveling from Osaka to Nara to Kyoto to Kanazawa to tokyo, and am confused which is the best JR rail pass to purchase?
So I shouldn’t use Apple Maps? 😅
I seldom use Apple Maps. Google Maps for public transport and walking. Waze for driving. With smartphone navigation, Google has always been the gold standard. 🛰
@@user-kc1tf7zm3b it’s just I’ve got so used to Apple Maps and there is transit. I’ll tear both out next month
I've used both. Google Maps is superior in my opinion.
@@pilotdrift05 Google Maps is easily the leading choice as it virtually has 100% of smartphones’ user movement data to draw on. This results with very robust routing instructions. Even when using moving public transport in real time. Apple alone could never meet this sheer scale of data points. From time to time, Google asks me in a survey if there are seats available on the train, if it is air conditioned, and so on.
@@user-kc1tf7zm3b Didnt know Waze was a thing in Japan. Thanks