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Hi I was hoping someone could give me some advice regarding trains in Japan please. Myself, wife and two teenage daughters are going to be travelling Tokyo -> Kyoto, and, a few days later, Kyoto -> Hiroshima -> Fukuoka in early August. What’s the best way of booking these tickets? And should we buy the journeys separately or one of the passes? I think I might’ve also read somewhere that you need to book specific tickets if you’ve got large luggage (which will we have)? Many thanks in advance.
Check here: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2019.html
If you search on Google maps it will give you the price of the train. Unfortunately rail passes are not good anymore as they were before.
This will tell you all the detail, should you so wish it.
The cost of a five day JR Kansai Hiroshima area pass is less than the cost of a return ticket from Kyoto to Hiroshima.
17k JPY per adult
It’s absolutely a no brainer.https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/pass/kansai_hiroshima/
Buy your Tokyo to Kyoto tickets separately from that pass. Think it’s like £75 per adult one-way.
Also, consider sending your luggage out before you travel.
Your Tokyo hotel can arrange this for you.
I think we paid something like (the Japanese equivalent of) ten quid per large suitcase from Osaka to Tokyo. Have to send it latest by the morning of the day before you travel. Will save you a load of hassle trying to trundle those cases around the public transport systems at both ends.And if you book 30 days in advance, they do offer some discounts booking direct with JR. These seem pretty nominal in economy but in green class it allows you to travel for about the same as economy, at least that was the case as I’ve just booked Osaka to Mishima. Note on the very fastest trains the discounts in green class didn’t seem to apply – full fare only.
Side note, the user experience on the JR website is atrocious (https://shinkansen2.jr-central.co.jp/RSV_P/smart_index.htm) with repeated log in requests being made, and incase you’re looking for the Shinkansen app on the UK app store, it doesn’t exist….
Oh, and once you do set up a profile, don’t forget anything. Re-registering demands a unique email address and a unique credit card number. I can see why a lot of people find convenience in buying over Klook.
The cost of a five day JR Kansai Hiroshima area pass is less than the cost of a return ticket from Kyoto to Hiroshima.
17k JPY per adult
It’s absolutely a no brainer.https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/pass/kansai_hiroshima/
Buy your Tokyo to Kyoto tickets separately from that pass. Think it’s like £75 per adult one-way.
To clarify, we’re not doing a return to Hiroshima, we’re doing Kyoto to Hiroshima to Fukuoka one-way.
Thanks for the advice all 👍
To clarify, we’re not doing a return to Hiroshima, we’re doing Kyoto to Hiroshima to Fukuoka one-way.
Still do check the prices against the rail pass. The cheapest one way from Kyoto to Hiroshima is about £55. The 5 day pass is £90, so if you’re planning to do any trips – Miyajima or Nara etc – then the 5 day area pass might still be a deal.
Not sure if you’ve planned it yet, but have a look at staying on Miyajima rather than in Hiroshima. It’s lovely in the evening when they day trippers have left and you can visit Hiroshima in the daytime from the island.
I find Smart Ex website extremely user friendly compared to other Japanese sites. It’s very easy to use and there are no issues unless you don’t know how to read the instructions or try to use the website from 11:30pm to 5:30am Japan time, but the system will tell you that.
In August there is no need to pre-book anything as very few travel to Kyoto/Hiroshima/Fukuoka in extreme heat. Just buy Suica/Pasmo on arrival (non-tourist ones are again readily available) and then register on the website and book everything. The difference between booking well in advance vs a few days before is maybe £10-15 per person.
Not sure if you’ve planned it yet, but have a look at staying on Miyajima rather than in Hiroshima. It’s lovely in the evening when they day trippers have left and you can visit Hiroshima in the daytime from the island.
+1
This is exactly what we did.
Had a wonderful evening having the island mostly to ourselves (and the deer).I find Smart Ex website extremely user friendly compared to other Japanese sites.
Booking the ticket was the comparatively easy bit. I then wasted a good while trying to find out how to add the QR code to my iPhone wallet (you can’t unless you live in one of 8 countries) then having to go through some crazy revalidation process when I wanted to do something else. Plus the unique e-mail/credit card combo – that’s just weird.
Toyota car hire – a bit more clunky than say Avis, but way easier than Smart Ex
The Dai-Ichi hotel website – again, cumbersome but still usable.
Tabelog seems very clear & Pocket Concierge was slick as well, so I’m hoping I don’t have to get into the darker corners that you describe…
Also, don’t forget to read the Japan Master Thread:
https://www.headforpoints.com/forums/topic/japan-help-please/@The real Swiss Tony You would have known that QR code is not available if you read the instructions and also it’s pretty obvious in which countries the app is available as the flags are right under download button! Have been there since day one.
Pocket Concierge is run by Amex so not a Japanese website per se.
Tabelog for me is totally cluncky and very difficult to use especially when restaurants present multiple options. They also ask too many questions. No wonder they had to launch ChatGpt plugin to help users navigate better…
In August there is no need to pre-book anything as very few travel to Kyoto/Hiroshima/Fukuoka in extreme heat. Just buy Suica/Pasmo on arrival (non-tourist ones are again readily available) and then register on the website and book everything. The difference between booking well in advance vs a few days before is maybe £10-15 per person.
Yes……plenty of seats are available but a family of four with luggage? Particularly if you want to travel at a decent time of day and all want to sit together….
Not sure if you’ve planned it yet, but have a look at staying on Miyajima rather than in Hiroshima. It’s lovely in the evening when they day trippers have left and you can visit Hiroshima in the daytime from the island.
Yes….with hand luggage but lugging large suitcases on and off the boat in August will not be that pleasant…..you’d want to arrange to leave your luggage somewhere in the city….
@Kwab yes, as I said plenty of seats available at any point of the day in August. It’s so hot and humid in August that people don’t travel much. It’s not peak season apart from one weekend around Obon (13-16 August this year).
Yes, fully aware of the weather and August pax loads………Plenty of seats….yes……but they are a family of four with large luggage…. Why would you not advise them to just book the back row in advance? Job done, one less hassle on the day!
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I advise anyone not carry any luggage on trains in Japan, especially so if you are a family of four. There are plenty of efficient and reliable luggage delivery options that you really don’t have to subject yourself to stations which are not designed for passengers with large suitcases.
If you watch all the Japanese, they travel very lightly. This is because they send everything via delivery services.
It’s also question of money and time. 1000 yen per large suitcase to put it in the last row or 2500-3000 yen delivered door to door between the stations. No hassle, no need to arrive at the station earlier, etc and your bags waiting for you at the other end.
Lockers should also be considered.
We made good use of them at Hiroshima station when stopping off on our trip from Osaka to MiyajimaLockers – maximum storage is usually 48-72 hours. There other options too – ecbo cloak app is good for this. Some hotels offer storage for free for up to two weeks before check-in / after check-out.
Lots of fabulous advice as always on here. Very much appreciated thank you 👍
I find Smart Ex website extremely user friendly compared to other Japanese sites. It’s very easy to use and there are no issues unless you don’t know how to read the instructions or try to use the website from 11:30pm to 5:30am Japan time, but the system will tell you that.
In August there is no need to pre-book anything as very few travel to Kyoto/Hiroshima/Fukuoka in extreme heat. Just buy Suica/Pasmo on arrival (non-tourist ones are again readily available) and then register on the website and book everything. The difference between booking well in advance vs a few days before is maybe £10-15 per person.
We’re travelling as a family of four. Can I load tickets for 4 people onto a single Suica or do I need to buy four separate?
@Olly no, each passenger has to have to have their own but you can purchase all from single Smart Ex account.
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