Hi. We are a family of four who will be traveling to Japan over our winter holidays this year, Dec. 20, 2014-Jan. 2, 2015. I have been reading the posts in the forum, but I would still like to have someone look over our itinerary to see if it makes sense and meets the requirements/restrictions of a JRPass (14day), since I speak NO Japanese and figuring it out there could be difficult. Could you take a look at it and let me know what you think?
Several questions:
We will each be traveling with a large rolling duffle for luggage. Will it be hard to store the luggage on the trains during any of this busy traveling season?
Should we have any trouble getting seat reservations for the various trains if we wait to do it when we arrive at Narita and get our passes?
I might consider getting the Green Car passes (First Class), if it would mean we would have an easier time getting seat reservations, and also alleviate any luggage storage difficulties. I don't care so much about the luxury aspect, but want to have our travel be simple and easy and without complication (as much as possible). Do you think it's worth it?
Would Green Card passes mean we could take the Nozomi trains to/from Tokyo to Kyoto? That might be worth it in an of itself.
Can you remind me if the Tokyo-Kyoto and Kyoto-Tokyo trains are covered by the JRPass as long as they are not Nozomi trains? If not, do we need to buy tickets separately? How?
Finally, you will see that I have simplified our itinerary to minimize train transfers when possible, sensing that this might be the best way to avoid problems. Do you see anything else I could do to simplify?
Okay, I think that's it. Here's the plan. Please let me know if you see any problems or things that can be simplified.
Liz
December 21
Arrive Narita Intl, Airport. At airport, trade in JR vouchers for actual passes.
MAKE ALL TRAIN RESERVATIONS FOR TRIP NOW
Train to Tokyo Central Station. Night in hotel near train station.
December 22
Train from Tokyo Central Station to Nagano
#513 Shinkansen Asama
dep. Tokyo 9:52am - arr. Nagano 11:26am
Nagano Electric Railway Ltd. Express (must buy these tickets at Nagano station?)
dep. Nagano 12:08pm - arr. Yudanaka 12:54pm
Stay 2 nights at ryokan in Shibu
December 24
Train from Yudanaka Station to Nagano
Nagano Electric Railway Ltd. Express (must buy these tickets at Nagano station?)
dep. 11:58am - arr. 12:44pm
Train from Nagano to Tokyo Central Station
526 Shinkansen Asama, dep. Nagano 13:10pm - arr. Tokyo 14:56pm
stay 5 nights in Tokyo
December 29
Train from Tokyo Central Station to Kyoto (Central)
469 Shinkansen Hikari
dep Tokyo 11:03am - arr. Kyoto 13:47pm
stay 4 nights in Kyoto, over New Years
January 2
Train from Kyoto Station to Narita Airport
462 Shinkansen Hikari
dep. Kyoto 9:56am - arr. Tokyo Central Station, 12:40pm
27 Narita Express
dep. Tokyo Central Station 13:03pm - arr Narita 14:02pm
Flight leaves Narita Intl. at 6:15pm
