RobBright 35 Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 Ok - hopefully this could be the start of a new series of "How to...." on here. After spending tens of, nay, hundreds of thousands of yen on one day tickets, one of my friends helped me out and managed to find me a cheap ticket/pass. The only problem with this is that you must be able to read/speak some Japanese or be with someone who can help you. Normally, there is a helper at hand in the main stations and if you use the view plaza, on occasions they might speak English. To start off with - you need to find a ticket machine for the shinkansens. I have attached some photos to help people initially though. Unfortunately, this ticket can only be found under the Japanese menu - tried in English and this first screen is not there. step 1 - On the Japanese screen, you need to press ãŠãƒˆã‚¯ãªã‚¹ã‚ーãã£ã·. step 2 - next press this button step 3 - next, press this button. After this is, it's quite straight forward, like booking a normal shinkansen ticket, ie date and time you want to leave, then choosing your train carriage number. The only catch is, you DON'T enter a return date. With this ticket, you have 3 days after the date of departure to return, eg if you leave on the 16th, you have to get a train back at the latest on the 19th. All you have to do, is on the day of departure, put your return ticket into the machine, and then again confirm date and time of depature. You can use this for reserved seats too. And if you're unlucky enough to be caught in a blizzard, like what happened to me last year, you can come back same day on it. BUT hopefully that won't happen to you. Hopefully this is clear, but will be happy to answer any questions. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 Nice one! That bottom button says it gets you to Muikamachi as well. Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted January 15, 2009 Author Share Posted January 15, 2009 And considering a one way ticket to muikamachi is 7,000yen or so from tokyo, you can save about 4,000 yen. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 Yes it is a really good deal. Link to post Share on other sites
XilR8 0 Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 This should be a pinned topic. That's great info. Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted January 16, 2009 Author Share Posted January 16, 2009 Cheers Xil - thought I should share it really. Was looking at the pamphlets today and working out the costs, this is so much cheaper and if you stay at one of the lodges listed on the travel too, can get a much cheaper three day stay than through the JR deals Link to post Share on other sites
SnowJapan Admin SnowJapan 178 Posted January 16, 2009 SnowJapan Admin Share Posted January 16, 2009 Thanks for posting that Rob, nice work! Link to post Share on other sites
nippontiger 8 Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 Nice! Can you also get a cheap ticket to Nagano, or is it just the Niigata area? Also, for people doing just a one day trip, dont forget you can buy an even cheaper ticket which includes your lift ticket. You need to get them from the View travel agent in main JR stations, at least the day before you go. Its in the Higaeri (日帰り) brochure. Costs about 11000 for the shinkansen to Yuzawa plus lift ticket. Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted January 16, 2009 Author Share Posted January 16, 2009 Didn't see Nagano on there to be honest - will have another check again to make sure. Think most people know about the one day trip - well those that live in Japan do. Personally, I go for the Kagura option as at that price it's a steal compared to Gala Yuzawa. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 Nice one Rob......like the how to photos as well!! Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted January 17, 2009 Author Share Posted January 17, 2009 Just in case people can't read Japanese Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 Rob, where can you use this ticket to go to? Is it only to Niigata? Or can you go wherever you like? Link to post Share on other sites
tripler 0 Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 nice tek, Rob Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted January 25, 2010 Author Share Posted January 25, 2010 Anywhere between here and muikamachi. There is also one for Nagano, 45,000 for 6 tickets (ie 3 round trips) works out at 15,000 for a round trip. Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted January 25, 2010 Author Share Posted January 25, 2010 and by here I mean Tokyo Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted January 26, 2010 Author Share Posted January 26, 2010 Hey thought I would post this here as saves creating another thread but it will also help you to save money. JR are doing a special campaign called tokudane ã¨ãã 値 whereby if you book a shinkansen ticket in advance, you can save 30%. I can't post pics right now as I don't have a camera handy, and also at work! But you can save a lot of money if you live near Tokyo, Ueno, Omiya or Sendai and if you intend to go away for a trip to: Utsonomiya, Toyama, Fukushima, Sendai, Ichinozeki (sic), Morioka, Hachinohe - on the Tohoku shink. Yamagata on the Yamagata shink Akita on the Akita shink Takasaki, Echigo Yuzawa, Gala yuzawa, Nagaoka (sic) Niigata on the Joetsu or Karuizawa or Nagano on the Nagano shink. One example travelling from Tokyo to Nagano on the 14th will cost you 5,570, saving about 3,000yen just go into the view plaza and ask for these tickets. Of course the tickets are one way only, but the return is the same price. ie Tokyo - Echigo Yuzawa one way on the same date above is 4,540, return 9,080, saving almost 2k on the above ticket! Of course some periods are slightly cheaper/more expensive than others, but not more so than a couple of hundred yen. Let's booking! Link to post Share on other sites
hellyer 216 Posted January 27, 2010 Share Posted January 27, 2010 Excellent info Thanks Rob Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted January 27, 2010 Author Share Posted January 27, 2010 Turns out I got it wrong - have to book online only! Some view plazas have an internet connection there for you to use though. Will let you guys know in about 1 or 2 hours how it all turns out. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted January 27, 2010 Share Posted January 27, 2010 Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted January 29, 2010 Author Share Posted January 29, 2010 So picked up the tickets today - you book them online, and collect them at the local midori no madoguchi. two return two tickets to nagano, leave the 20th, back on the 22nd - 22,000yen. A saving of 9,000yen. Link to post Share on other sites
klingon 10 Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 Wow that's a good saving. Thanks., Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted January 29, 2010 Author Share Posted January 29, 2010 Was surprised myself too. Shame it's just for Jr.East though. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 This is good. Always makes me mad seeing that "shink + lift ticket" from Tokyo that is less than the return the other way round, without the lift ticket! Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 what do you want a lift ticket for in Tokyo? You can ride with the elevator ladies for free. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 You're right. So just the cheaper train ticket please! Link to post Share on other sites
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