Captain Tsubasa 0 Posted December 20, 2006 Share Posted December 20, 2006 Hi guys. First time post from a long time lurker (and big fan of the site). I'm in Japan over New Year and I'm thinking of heading up to Hakuba/Shiga Kogen for a couple of days from Shizuoka. 'Er indoors reckons the shinkansen into and out of Tokyo could be pretty packed on Jan 2nd. Anyone got any experience of this? (I've searched the forums but can't find anything on this subject) Cheers. Link to post Share on other sites
Kumapix 0 Posted December 20, 2006 Share Posted December 20, 2006 yeah, it should be packed. Have fun carrying your gear! Link to post Share on other sites
torihada 2 Posted December 20, 2006 Share Posted December 20, 2006 I'd book your tickets sooner rather than later. Link to post Share on other sites
torihada 2 Posted December 20, 2006 Share Posted December 20, 2006 As JR East says; Caution: Please note that during crowded periods you cannot be guaranteed a seat on a specific train. The periods when seat reservations are particularly difficult to secure are as follows: December 28 to January 6 The New Year holiday period is the most popular travel time for Japanese people, for vacations and returns to hometown areas. Link to post Share on other sites
BagOfCrisps 24 Posted December 20, 2006 Share Posted December 20, 2006 You can't guarantee seats on an evening train, never mind New Year. Don't they pack them in at over 200% capatity or something? Link to post Share on other sites
torihada 2 Posted December 20, 2006 Share Posted December 20, 2006 On the commuter trains, but not for shinkansen? Mrs T always laughs at London commuters complaining about overcrowding. She says if she can get a foot on the train then she can get on. Which is fine if you're a wee Japanese lady, but us western lardarses....mmmmm. Link to post Share on other sites
Captain Tsubasa 0 Posted December 21, 2006 Author Share Posted December 21, 2006 Thanks. The missus was right then. Think I'll try a coach package instead. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted December 21, 2006 Share Posted December 21, 2006 Or you might re-think you landing city given the recent snow fiasco. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted December 21, 2006 Share Posted December 21, 2006 Use a hard suitcase - so that you can sit down on it as a makeshift chair on the shinkansen. It comes in useful! Link to post Share on other sites
where's the snow? 0 Posted December 22, 2006 Share Posted December 22, 2006 Hard suitcases do come in handy. Shinks in early morning and evenings are always full in my experience. I hate battling for a seat - in some ways I'd rather be sitting on my suitcase near the doors. Link to post Share on other sites
r45 4 Posted December 22, 2006 Share Posted December 22, 2006 I remember in obon sometimes inner cities are really quiet (well, relatively) because lots of people have gone back home. Does that not happen ny as well? Link to post Share on other sites
skidaisuki 0 Posted December 22, 2006 Share Posted December 22, 2006 Try booking the shink and see - you may still be OK. If the worst comes to the worst, you will stand for 90 minutes between Tokyo and Nagano. The alternative's to take the Azusa direct to Hakuba from Shinjuku. Not as fast (takes 4 hours) but it does mean that there's no need to hang around for a bus at Nagano. If you are going to Shiga, Nagano is basically the route. Don't even THINK about driving Link to post Share on other sites
LiquidX 0 Posted December 22, 2006 Share Posted December 22, 2006 Captain, 2 seasons ago I left Tokyo on the shink on the morning of Jan 2nd. Went on the first train of the day. It was busy - but I got a seat. Best to get on at Tokyo rather than Ueno for the best chance of a seat. Link to post Share on other sites
Captain Tsubasa 0 Posted December 23, 2006 Author Share Posted December 23, 2006 Thanks for the advice. It's put me in a dilemma on whether to get a J-rail pass or not. If I do, I could get the shink and decide where to go nearer the day. And it's free to reserve a seat with the pass. I won't have much gear - only my big boots. Or I could get a coach tour that I've used before. The pick-up's not too far from the in-laws' house - it's just a pain sleeping on the coach. And it will probably be lot cheaper. I only get to come out to Japan about once a year and in between eating lots of nice food and visiting family it doesn't leave much time for boarding. Anyway - let's just hope it snows! Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted December 23, 2006 Share Posted December 23, 2006 and let's hope the fog clears Link to post Share on other sites
torihada 2 Posted December 23, 2006 Share Posted December 23, 2006 I have recently used the jr east 4 day flexible pass; you get four days travel which you can use at any time (You don't have to use the 4 days consecutively) Once you start using the pass on that day you have unlimited travel for that day. For me in the past my main trips were 3 weeks apart and a three week JR pass was too much, the 4 day pass was great. Flexible 4 day pass: 20,000 yen jr east prices Only downside is if you're travelling with Jap national they can't buy one, even if they reside in UK (unlike JR pass). (Obviously I don't know where your inlaws are so East pass may be no good, but if you're in Tokyo it might be worth considering.) I got mine from Gendai: Gendai in the past and if you don't use it you can get a percentage of your money back upon your return. Maybe its time to introduce your Jap side of the family to the beauties of skiing/boarding Hope you manage to get some boarding. And by Chroist I hope it starts snowing soon. Link to post Share on other sites
torihada 2 Posted December 23, 2006 Share Posted December 23, 2006 sorry CT I re-read your post and you're in Shizuoka. I think that's still in JR East area, but I could be wrong. Link to post Share on other sites
Captain Tsubasa 0 Posted December 24, 2006 Author Share Posted December 24, 2006 Thanks Torihada will check that out. The missus does like skiing but doesn't like the cold...! Link to post Share on other sites
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