[The 8000 yen day trip, Tokyo to Niigata]

Sorry for the delay. I am in Niseko right now, and with the awesome conditions we have had here the last couple of days, getting online was the last of my concerns!

 

Yes, I do mean the link that XilR8 has posted. I bought the one for Kagura. There is an option to have it sent by post but then, naturally, you need to decide when you want to go some time in advance. I like watching the weather forecast and make up my mind two days in advance. One day would be even better but the ticket doesn't allow that.

[The 8000 yen day trip, Tokyo to Niigata]

We are clearly talking about different offerings. For the 8000 yen ticket, you do need to go to the special counter, on the same day. The Eki-Net website was a bit confusing about that - even a Japanese friend of mine wasn't too sure what to make of it. So I went one day early just to be told that they only hand them out on the same day.

[Softbank in Niseko]

I know that a couple of years ago, Softbank was unreliable to non-existent on Niseko mountains. Has that changed? And if still unreliable, wich provider is better up there? AU or DoCoMo?

[The 8000 yen day trip, Tokyo to Niigata]

I haven't seen this posted here so I thought I should share. JR East's Eki-Net website, under the Tours section has a subsection called "Internet Only Plans" (インターãƒãƒƒãƒˆé™å®š). You can get a Shinkansen return ticket plus one-day lift ticket for various locations, for example Kagura, for 8000 yen. The return ticket is for non-reserved seats only, so is probably more useful on weekdays than on weekends. You will need to be able to read and write Japanese for this. The tickets can only be picked up on the day of your departure at a special booth next to the View Plaza in Tokyo station, near the Yaesu central entrance. They open at 5:30 am I think. I did this a couple of weeks ago, got the bus from Echigo Yuzawa to Mitsumata which costs another 500 yen one-way with luggage. My cheapest day trip yet!