Day 1: How to go from Tokyo to Kyoto (Japan)

After a 9 hours flight, we finally landed at Narita Airport!

KONICHAWA!

WATASHI Veronica.

If you bought a JR pass, the first thing you should do:
Use your Exchange order and change for your JR pass! (More details on JR pass here)

You will be able to activate your Japan Rail Pass at the JR travel centers located at the airport.
 I changed mine at the airport, cause I am being using my JR pass and head towards Kyoto!

Other JR travel centres located here. Please note that exchange offices may have different opening times! (:

Note: The exchange date does not have to be the starting date of your JR pass. You can choose your starting date when you exchange your voucher, that date cannot exceed 30 days after the exchange.

Plan your schedule well and do not waste your JR pass!

Where to change?
I touch down at T2. So i went to the T2 branch to exchange my pass! Just follow signs to go to take the train. The JR East Travel Service center is located just beside the train gantry.

Click here for directions

The queue can get v long. Cause almost everyone exchange their pass here!

Tip: While you or your friends are queuing to exchange for your JR pass, there is a convenience store near the JR centre. Buy some food and to eat on the train! You can heat up the food and there is a wide range of food available.

This also applies when you leave Japan. The bento selection is very limited after you cross the immigration. I suggest you buy food from this convenience store first before check in. HAHA.
Because, we didnt have time to buy more food when we leave japan. We thought convenience stores are available after we cross immigration. ROFL.

While the rest queue to exchange our JR pass, we took a selfie!


I was bored and went to play with their vending machines. There are lots of vending machines in Japan. And they serve hot drinks! YAY.
I dont like cold drinks at all.

Here's my pick. Hot corn soup.


After you get your JR pass, rmb that you have to walk to the sides and show your pass to the officer. You do not use the automatic ticket gates as your tickets will not be accepted.

You only use automatic gates if you are buying single trip tickets. (:


All the Narita Express trains go to the Tokyo station.
If you are gg to the Tokyo station, you can take the next available train.

If you are gg to Kyoto, I suggest you to go to Shinagawa station to take your bullet train instead of going to Tokyo station. This is also recommended by the staff as well.

Rmb to ask the staff arrange your Shinkansen ride from Shinagawa station to Kyoto as well.


Shinagawa station is much much easier to navigate. Tokyo station is crazily big and it is very likely that you will get lost in the human jungle maze. ROFL. Dont risk getting lost in Japan. You will miss the train.

Inititally, we are supposed to change trains at Tokyo station. (Rmb, all JR lines can use hyperdia to check the timings)

XX did find the details on how to go. But its looks super complicated. I shall not type it here.

Shinagawa station is much more simpler. (From the map, it looks like you can go Shibuya from Shinagawa too!)


After you get your JR pass, follow the signs!
Wherever you are gg, be it to Tokyo station or Shinagawa station, you will need to take this train from this platform.


Here's our ticket: How to read this?
Your ticket is valid on 18 October 2014.
The train was come at 12.22.
You should go to Car 2 and your seat number is 4A.


Tally the details with the board:
The first train goes to Airport Terminal 1.

You are taking the second train.
Narita Express, Time: 12.22 pm. 

Don take the wrong train. Trains are highly punctual in Japan. Look at the clock. You will not be wrong.


Walk towards your car number and wait for your train!
But this is not the train that you are taking. 

Let me show you what does Narita express looks like. It will look more modern. HAHA.


The seats are black in colour.


Its about a one hour train ride from Airport to Shinagawa.
Sit down, chill, relax and enjoy the journey outside.






Seats in Japan are super cool. You can turn the seats around and sit tgt with your friends.


Just press this.


Weather in Japan during October is HOT in the day.
Yes, very hot.

ROFL.
Maybe its 25 degrees. ROFL. Don ask me how on earth my XX can tahan wearing the pullover still.




Spot the Tokyo Skytree!
 

Ma chiam taking an aeroplane. HAHAHA.


After you reach Shinagawa station, follow the "SHINKANSEN" icon signs. The icon in blue.


You will head up an escalator. Follow blue icon.


It will take another 2.5 hours from Shinagawa station to Kyoto.

PLS BUY FOOD. MUST BUY FOOD.
LOL. Bento sets are easily available at the stations. Just buy from any store. All will taste nice. ROFL. I have tried so many, and they didnt fail me.

Once you have purchased your food, look at your ticket again.

Here's our ticket: How to read this?
Your ticket is valid on 18 October 2014.
The train was come at 13.40.
You should go to Car 15 and your seat number is 15A.

You are taking HIKARI 515


Go to platform 23/24. Osaka direction is towards Kyoto.


I am taking the  HIKARI 515 train.
Look at the clock. Its 1.38pm and my train is coming at 1.40pm. (tell me why i am still taking this photo!!!)

I run for my life towards my car number. (My shoes even dropped out. OMG) ROFL. I swear i burnt 5 calories during the 100m run.

Trains in Japan are super duper punctual.

If you cant make it to your car number, just enter any door and walk towards your seat. The train will leave by 1.40pm. I am not kidding. LOL.

In any case, you are covered under the JR pass even if you really miss your train. Go to the counter and book the next available train.

I managed to board the train (thankfully).




FOOD!!!! SO PRETTY!
About 10 dollars each.




I reached a conclusion that Japan is really v clean. HAHA.






Till the next post!

Things to know about Japan.

GOGO Japan!


I shall begin to start on my Japan Trip before i finish up my Bali and Bangkok travelogue.
HAHA.

I didnt plan for the Japan trip at all, all these information were gathered from the hardwork of my friends, and the notes i took along the way. (:


Well, everyone knows Japan is expensive.  We tried our best to minimise expenditures.
Our trip will cover Tokyo, Kyoto, Hakone and Nikko! And obviously, to cramped all these areas in a 8 days 7 nights trip is insane.

I mean, just look at this timetable. Our day start as early as 5am in Japan. (That is 4am in Singapore. Holy)


Things to note before gg Japan:

WIFI: In the current society, no one cant survive without WIFI. Regardless what you use it for; Be it to update social media or whatapps friends and family. Its not just about staying connected to the world.

Internet access is crucial in your Japan trip. While you can choose to tap on wifi (if available), you need to use google maps on the go and access hyperdia v often to check train timings etc. Trying to search for WIFI can be frustrating in times of need.

We got ours from Y5Buddy!

It is a pocket Wi-fi device that is available for rental in different countries in Asia. The coverage is super good and the signal is always strong. Its not expensive and super easy to use!

STAY CONNECTED.


Accommodation: We book via Airbnb as this is a much cheaper alternative than hotels! We have a big grp of 5, its not easy to find a big room to accommodate all of us anyway.

We need an apartment so that we can be together. It so much more fun! An apartment also means we can easily heat up food and have more variety of food for breakfast.


Flights: $600. Sigh. I took budget flights to Tokyo at $600, cause i went over the Deepavali week to save one day of leave.  ROFL. My friend fly to Tokyo via SQ for about $600+ during June holidays. (kill me). My dates are specific and not flexible for this Japan trip. I can only say, wait for good deals!

Food: We didnt try to save on food. LOL. But our schedules were so packed, we had to resort to buying bento set from trains stations ($10)/convenience stores ($6). Its super nice nonetheless.
Ramen restaurant is not expensive either! You are able to get a bowl of super nice ramen at $10.

My food is chio.


Cost breakdown: Here is our breakdown of the trip. Those in Yellow boxes are covered under the JR pass.

All in all, you will need at least $1700 to tour Japan. Including admission fees, accommodation, flights and a one week JR pass.

My food, souvenirs, snacks for friends and family, skin care cost about $900. Perhaps if you dont buy nonsense, its about $500. HAHA. It really depends on you.

Everything you need to know about JR pass!

If you go and research about Japan, one of the common words you will see is "JR railway PASS". (JR= Japan Railway)

Please read their website for more information: http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/pass/index.html

Let me show you some light and some of the questions that you may ask.


What's JR railway pass? 

JR pass covers you JR trains (slower, normal trains) and JR Shinkansen (except “NOZOMI” trains).

It allows you to take unlimited train/ferry/bus rides that are operated by JR Group railways.

Simpler terms:
Shinkansen = Bullet train = Covered by JR pass = No extra cost needed when you travel in Japan.

Do you need to buy a JR pass?

1. Do you land at the Narita Airport and will be travelling to Tokyo directly? (The airport is far from the Tokyo main station. You will need to take a ride to get into town.)

2. Does your itinerary includes Kyoto? (Its a 2 hours journey from Tokyo via the Shinkansen)

Supposed the answer to both questions is "YES", and you will be making a round trip,
YOU NEED TO BUY A JR PASS. 

The reason is simple, you will save more money with the JR pass.

Side remark:
- Most tourists will buy the 1 week JR pass. If you are able to squeeze your itinerary to include Hiroshima as well, your JR pass is super worth it. The ferry ride to Miyajima from Hiroshima is also covered by the JR pass.

- Days trips to Nikko from Tokyo are covered under the JR pass as well.

How much is the JR pass?

There are two types of Japan Rail Pass:
Green – for superior class (first class train)
Ordinary – for coach class cars (This is very good alr!Very comfortable!)

Price as of 29 October 2014.

Remark:
- The above are yen (¥) prices for a Japan Rail Pass Exchange Order, the actual cost in local currency are calculated at the time the Exchange Order is issued.
(eg. if you buy in Singapore, you pay in SGD. JTB will convert the price in yen to SGD)
- Child prices for children apply from age 6 to and including age 11.

Why should you buy a JR pass if you are gg Kyoto?

Let me calculate for you.

One way ticket JR N’EX (Narita Express from Narita International Airport into Tokyo) is ¥1500.(there is a promotion for tourist now)

JR N’EX (Narita Express from Tokyo to Narita International Airport) is ¥3020.

Normal Shinkansen (bullet train) ticket from Tokyo to Kyoto is ¥13,600
Round trip fare is Y27,200.

Total price: ¥31,720

An ordinary one-week pass is ¥29,110.

Tadah!
The calculation showed that you have make savings alr!

Note:
JR pass does not cover the NOZOMI trains (Fastest class of bullet train). However, you are able to take the Hikari shinkansen. There is minimal speed difference between these trains. Perhaps a few minutes difference for the trip between Tokyo and Kyoto.

Who can buy the JR pass?
- Foreign tourist visiting Japan from abroad for sight-seeing, under the entry status of “Temporary Visitor”.
- Japanese national living in a foreign country,
 a. who is qualified to live permanently in that country, or
 b. who is married to a non-Japanese residing in a country other than Japan.

Who cannot buy the JR pass?
- Japan residents
- People on longer-term visas (eg. work visas, student visas and permanent residence visas)

When to buy the JR pass?
Buy the JR pass maximum 3 months before the date you wish to start your pass. You choose a starting date for your Japan Rail Pass.

When start the JR pass?
If you are gg to Tokyo, Kyoto and Hiroshima, make sure you pass is able to cover you for your bullet trains. It can be a little rush to visit 3 districts within a week. I would suggest that you start/end your JR pass earlier and buy single trips ticket from Airport to Tokyo station (vice versa) instead.

Thats what i did. My JR pass did not cover for the JR ride back to the airport from Tokyo station.

Shinkansen bullets trains are expensive. Make sure you are able to make round trips back!!!

You touch down in Japan on Monday. You can choose to start your JR pass on Wednesday. Supposed you purchased a 7 days JR pass and have a 9 days itinerary, then you are not covered under the JR pass for 2 days.

Where to buy JR pass?
JR pass is not sold in Japan. Its meant for tourists (thats why!)
You must buy it before you come to Japan.

You can buy yours at any authorized Japan Rail Pass sales agents.
I bought mine at the Japan Tourist Board (JTB), located Ion Orchard #B4-29 , Singapore.

What happens after you buy the JR pass?

You will see this.

Don be shocked.
This is called a Exchange Order.
It will allow you to exchange for the Japan Railway Pass in Japan. Visit a Japan Rail Pass exchange office to turn in the Exchange Order together with your passport to receive your Japan Rail Pass.

Note: You will have to exchange for the JR pass in Japan in 3 months after your purchase.

Other things to note:
http://www.hyperdia.com/

If you take the JR railways, this website is important. It will show you all the timings that the trains will arrive at the station.

- How long the journey will take.
- What is the fastest route.
- Which lane/section the train will depart. This is especially important when you go to major stations like Tokyo station. It is very easy to get lost.

I will illustrate on this ltr.

I hope you see some light now.