Any one here done the high speed from Tokyo to Osaka? Got a couple day layover there on either side of my scheduled deadhead, and figured it would be a good time to try it. Any info would be appreciated.

 

I've done it twice and highly recommend it.

1. Put in for a mid-trip deviation with the ACP.

2. Email both NRT and KIX ops (addresses in ALPA calendar). Tell them what you are doing.

3. When you block in at NRT, they will hand you a printed sheet with your dispo that gives you step-by-step instructions on how to do it. They also emailed it to me.

4. When you leave, go out to NRT pax terminal, go to the basement to the JR ticket counter. You can buy tickets for the whole trip (except the Osaka subway). Be sure and get first class. It's still less than bank.

5. Local JR line to Tokyo station. Then the Shinkansen to Shin Osaka. Then the subway to Namba station. Walk to Swisotel.

An awesome way to spend a day - especially when the weather is clear. I brought a book but never touched it - 4 hours spent staring out the window in amazement......

 

Don't mean to hijack this thread, but I did not want to start another slightly similar one. My husband and I are going to Japan for 2 weeks. We will be flying into NRT. This will be our first trip there. I do not read or understand Japanese, but can read some of the Chinese characters. We'd really like to visit Kyoto, Kobe and of course, one day up Mt. Fuji. I'd appreciate any comments or suggestions as to where else we can go and what to do. Thanks.

 

There is so much to do, I really recommend getting a book like Fodors or the like. Try to get a subway/train map in english, they're hard to come by but much easier to use. It's been a while, but I think you can only go all the way on Fuji in July and August.

Have fun, and report back with all the good stuff.

 

You'll get alot of advice here but I'll throw in a little more:

- Narita is a neat little town - very easy for westerners to visit, get around, eat, etc... Probably the biggest airline town in the world.

- Mt Fuji is only hikeable for a few months each year. There's websites on when to go.

- Kyoto's on that high-speed line I was describing, above....

 

All good Info Huck, Remember that your shore pass will have to be made out for the route. Narita Ops will take care of that for you.
fbh

 

Just stay in tokyo and have a few drinks at the Lexington Queen and Seventh - Heaven.

-LAFF

 

Lived there (Tokyo) for six years, generally speaking Tokyo is very english friendly. You should be able to find a Metro Tokyo train/subway map in english. If you are a Palm user there is a palm application called MetrO that will route you on the train/subway with shortest route/fewest transfers etc... PM for details if you cannot find it via google, I think it is freeware stuff, pretty good. You just need to download the database for Tokyo area and install it.

Get a good pocket size English-Japanese dictionary, most good bookstores will have one. It will be worth the $10-15 if you are out on your own and need help. Have your hotel print a "help card" for you to hand a taxi driver, includes kanji directions back to where you need to go, could save your bacon.

Mt Fuji is only climbable (sp) in Aug/Sept, one of the best experiences is climb all night, be there for sunrise, check the wx, don't go if it is cloudy/crappy. Bus will take you to about 4000' then you climb up from there, remember to come down the same trail you go up elst you have a new challenge getting back to your lodging Old Japanese proverb says a wise man climbs Fuji once, a fool climbs it twice......

Bullet train is a great experience Check with your travel agent, as recent as a couple years ago, one could buy a tourist train pass that was good for unlimited JR train usages for a period of time, including the Shinkansen! Worth every penny if you plan on using the Shinkansen. You will still need to pay seperatly (sp) for non-JR line tickets in the Tokyo area. See your travel agent for details. PM me if you cannot find it.

Kyoto is often best done as part of an organized tour, fascinating place.

Good luck, enjoy the trip

 

R U refering to seventh-heaven near Ropungi? That is seventh heaven!

 

Thanks everyone for your comments. I was remiss in not saying when we are going over there - it looks like September, but could be earlier. So we can probably still make it up to Fuji. Meantime, I will be brushing up on my kanji as well as kana; knowing chotto (or is it tashou?) such as shinkansen and ruususokkusu can only get me so far! supashi-bo.