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Truly the Cheapest Price?

sabledragonrook
sabledragonrook
over 9 years ago
18 responses

Hello! So I'm heading from Hikone to Fukuoka and back on Nov 23. However, I'm finding that the shinkansen tickets are about $160 each way. Is this truly the cheapest I can get them (unreserved)?

I'm trying to save money, and honestly although my experiences with overnight buses in the past haven't been bad, I'd rather avoid one. I've been trying to figure if I can take local trains part of the way and then pick up the shinkansen to save some money.

Any tips for chipping away at that $160? If I could just get it down to like $120 each way I'd be happy.

avatar
Daniel-san
18830 posts
over 9 years ago
Expert

Hi there,

Shinkansen tickets unfortunately are always pricey. Tickets with a discount up to 10 percent discount may be purchased via Kaiju Corners. It is hard to find something better. Traveling partly by local train is not a cost saving option either, I checked Hikone - Hiroshima by local train (¥ 7,340) and Hiroshima - Hakata by Shinkansen ¥ 8,940, which is more than doing the whole trip by Shinkansen ¥ 15,870. Japan is a strange country for sure!

I guess an alternative would be to look at domestic airline. Peach Air sometimes has flights for less than 2,000yen.

Hope this helps,
Daniel

sabledragonrook
sabledragonrook
18 posts
over 9 years ago

I considered Peach, but my flights are going to be around $70-$80 each, plus getting to the airports, which ends up being about the same.

Do you perchance have any idea where I might find a kaiju corner near Hikone? I've never seen one, but then again I've never looked. Is there a website where they list their locations?

avatar
Daniel-san
18830 posts
over 9 years ago
Expert

Hi again!

No not that I know of, I saw several in Kyoto and have encountered them in the countryside as well. I have never been to Hikone though (worth a visit?). I did a random Google maps search and found one just outside of Hikone station.

Here is the link https://www.google.com/maps/@35.2725169,136.2627304,3a,90y,9.47h,78.87t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sgWnGtSORvy-84cjvVppNUQ!2e0

It is the shop with blue yellow sign, on the right side of the barber shop.

An other is further down the street, also on the right side.
https://www.google.com/maps/@35.2727415,136.2619441,3a,85.6y,17.9h,82.71t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s8Ri0NQPpbjZZysb47SJyYA!2e0

sabledragonrook
sabledragonrook
18 posts
over 9 years ago

OH! Well jeeze, I go past that every day almost. Thanks! :)

Hikone is definitely worth a visit for Lake Biwa and Hikonejo (if you're into castles) as well as the garden next to the castle. And also lots of traditional Japanese stuff on Castle Road and Bell Road. Nice and homey.

avatar
Daniel-san
18830 posts
over 9 years ago
Expert

Thats one of the nice things about Japan, all these small things to discover!

Sounds good, got it penned down for my next trip in the area!

sabledragonrook
sabledragonrook
18 posts
over 9 years ago

Especially if you can come for the ゆるキャラ festival (which just happened a little while ago) -- that's a great time to be in Hikone! :D

Toraneko
Toraneko
1303 posts
about 9 years ago

Hikone is one of my favorite places..


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