NRT-KIX Train...
 

Does anyone have any info on taking the train from NRT-KIX? Legality (Shore Pass), cost, time schedules, etc.? I'm considering deviating instead of taking the ground transportation to HND and the O'dark 30 flight.

Thanks in advance.

I did it, and would do it again in a heartbeat, here's the info that NRT ops sent me when I asked about it:

Here is the information about the bullet train which is called "Shinkansen".

It takes about 4 to 4.5 hours from NRT to OSA by the train and costs about 17,000 JPY.
If you takes the trains to OSA, you need to exchange trains several times.
When you takes the bullet train, you will see Mt. Fuji through the window of the train if weather
is fine.

1) Hilton Hotel - NRT airport Terminal 1 or 2/Hotel bus or taxi
2) NRT airport Terminal 1 or 2-JR Tokyo Station/JR Narita Express (Express train)
3) JR Tokyo Station - JR Shin Osaka Station/JR Shinkansen (Bullet train)
4) JR Shin Osaka Station - Subway Namba Station/Subway Midosuji-line(Fare 270JPY)
5) Subway Namba Station - Swissotel Nankai Osaka/by foot
*Swissotel Nankai Osaka is located just above the subway Namba station.

You can purchase the ticket at the JR counter at NRT airport for all the way to JR Shin Osaka
station.

If you make a decision to deviate, please let us know in advance.

Thank you and best regards,
Nami/NRT OPS


If you get a first class tix(green seat is what they call it, I think) the cost was about $190, which was about $15 above the accepted fare. If you let NRT ops know, they will give you a shore pass that is legal for the train ride. Total time, left the Hilton around 0730, and got to the Swisshotel around 1230. Not too sure about the schedules, but they seem to always run on time, and are pretty frequent. Just google "Shinkansen", and there is a website that gives the times. All signs are in english, so that isn't a problem, but there are two minor things, no alert call, your on your own to get there, and the exit for the Swisshotel at Namba is either 4 or 5, I went out the wrong one and was about 4 blocks from the hotel. Bring a book and enjoy!

I've done it twice. I loved it. I brought a book but could not stop staring out of the window.

Email both NRT and KIX stations so they know what you're doing.

I have done it too. Really fun. Let NRT ops know ahead of time so they can make your shore pass legal.

I can confirm all the above (just did it), but here's some more info.

1. Important notes: be sure you E-mail both NRT and KIX ops prior to doing this. Be sure to put in for the mid-trip deviation in VIPS and cancel your tickets at least 60 hours out (the new automated system requires this even though it's not in the contract under mid-trip deviations). Also, be sure to go to the Expense report page and get approval for ground transportation above $100 (I asked for $199). If the exchange rate gets worse, you might have to go to your ACP for approval of ground transport above $200.

2. The free hotel bus runs every 15-20 minutes to the Terminals. Take the hotel bus to Narita Terminal 1. Go all the way down to the B1 level, where you can buy the tickets using the company card at the ticket counter (they speak english). Ask the lady for a (D) seat or window seat on the right of the Shinkansen train for the view of Fuji. Highly recommend you pony up for the first class, non-smoking ticket, which runs 22,680 yen total (Narita-Osaka), versus 16,950 yen for coach. The first class was about $192 at 118 yen to the $. Accepted fare was $184.

3. The Shinkansen bullet trains run every 15-20 minutes from Tokyo to Osaka and you should not need to make a reservation prior to showing up at Narita. Take one of the Nozomi express trains to avoid a lot of intermediate stops. The link to the Shinkansen train schedules is: http://www.japanrail.com/pdf/Timetable1-west.pdf

4. All the signs telling you where to go at every point of the trip were in english, and there were security and train people around who spoke english. The one exception was at the Shin-Osaka station where the subway ticket machine was only in Kanji(?). But there were only three choices for prices: 230, 270, and 320 yen. The one you need is the 270 yen one. Once you get on the Midosuji subway line at Shin-Osaka (stop #13 on the subway line), it is seven stops to Namba station (Stop #20 on the line). You should defintely go to exit #4- it takes you right to the Swissotel.

5. Overall, great scenery, and beats the devil out of the taxi ride to Haneda, sitting for 3 hours, riding coach with 300 of your closest friends, and then the hour plus taxi ride from KIX to the Swissotel.

Updated 30 December 2008

Just did the train ride from Narita to Osaka. Much nicer than doing the DH airline thing. Takes a little bit longer but far less stressful and riding on the train is much nicer than riding in a car.

The cost for a Green Ticket from Terminal 1 to Shin-Osaka was 21,390 Yen (Roughly $237.15 in Dec. 30 08 exchange rate). Accepted fare was $242. The subway from Shin-Osaka to Numba Station is now 270 Yen. Therefore the total cost was 21660 Yen ($240.14), still less than the accepted fare.

The weather was great so it was a great view of Fuji. Definetely ask for the D seat as earlier stated. Seats are comfy and the Green Seat cars have plugs in the armrest for your laptop or cell phone. Make sure you bring a 3:2 plug if your plug is a 3 pronger. The N700 runs are non-smoking as I believe the Greeen Cars are also. The Nozomi is definetely the way to go as it makes very few stops.

To me, even if it is more than the accepted fare, this is a very nice, relaxed and unheadache causing excursion to Osaka from Narita. I highly recommend it.