- 8 Aug 2005
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Next week, I'm heading back to Japan for just under a month. This is shortest trip I've taken there so far (hey, if you're going to fly 10+ hours, might as well make it count!). Since my trips in the past have been largely unplanned and quite long, I never bothered with the rail passes... but now I'm thinking it might be worth it.
For the first week or so I'll be in Tokyo, but afterwards I'll be hitting up Tohoku, possibly Hokkaido , Nagoya, Okayama, Hiroshima and Shikoku. It's still largely unplanned but I'm pretty sure I'm going to most or at least some of these places, and possibly even go check out Kyushu since I still haven't been to Nagasaki.
I'd hate to feel rushed, like I "need" to use the pass to get the most out of it, but I'm on a limited schedule anyways, and at $440 US, if I ride the shinkansen more than four or five times over the course of three weeks it's pretty much paid for itself. I also see that it even covers the ferry to Miyajima, which a nice bonus.
My questions are:
1) is there any reason not to get one for the trip I've described?
2) do I need to specify the use period when I purchase the pass, or just the duration and from the time it's first stamped? It looks like they're just asking for duration
3) Does the pass cover a jiyuuseki/free-seating ticket for the shinkansen? Do I just show my pass at the gate or do I need to go to the counter and acquire tickets. And if I wanted, would I be able to upgrade to a reserved seat for an additional fee?
4) is there a particular site or service that you'd recommend, I see a few out there.
5) I'm also considering renting a wifi hotspot this time, and some of the sites that offer the rail pass also have hotspots for airport pickup (about $120 for the 24 days I'll be there). I'll probably be using this extensively for my phone and laptop, which is why I'm considering this instead of a SIM card with a data cap... any thoughts on that or does that sound like a solid plan?
6) lastly, are there any spots I definitely should visit that aren't on my list, or places/venues in those locations I should check out? I'm cool with "off the beaten path."
7) Anyone along the way and wants to meet up for a meal or a beer? I'd be game.
For the first week or so I'll be in Tokyo, but afterwards I'll be hitting up Tohoku, possibly Hokkaido , Nagoya, Okayama, Hiroshima and Shikoku. It's still largely unplanned but I'm pretty sure I'm going to most or at least some of these places, and possibly even go check out Kyushu since I still haven't been to Nagasaki.
I'd hate to feel rushed, like I "need" to use the pass to get the most out of it, but I'm on a limited schedule anyways, and at $440 US, if I ride the shinkansen more than four or five times over the course of three weeks it's pretty much paid for itself. I also see that it even covers the ferry to Miyajima, which a nice bonus.
My questions are:
1) is there any reason not to get one for the trip I've described?
2) do I need to specify the use period when I purchase the pass, or just the duration and from the time it's first stamped? It looks like they're just asking for duration
3) Does the pass cover a jiyuuseki/free-seating ticket for the shinkansen? Do I just show my pass at the gate or do I need to go to the counter and acquire tickets. And if I wanted, would I be able to upgrade to a reserved seat for an additional fee?
4) is there a particular site or service that you'd recommend, I see a few out there.
5) I'm also considering renting a wifi hotspot this time, and some of the sites that offer the rail pass also have hotspots for airport pickup (about $120 for the 24 days I'll be there). I'll probably be using this extensively for my phone and laptop, which is why I'm considering this instead of a SIM card with a data cap... any thoughts on that or does that sound like a solid plan?
6) lastly, are there any spots I definitely should visit that aren't on my list, or places/venues in those locations I should check out? I'm cool with "off the beaten path."
7) Anyone along the way and wants to meet up for a meal or a beer? I'd be game.