Train - Hiroshima to Kudamatsu

[Nikorasu85]

Well... I am going to need to ride the train from Hiroshima (airport- the big one, HIJ - not HIW) To Kudamatsu city... I know nothing about trains in japan...
:?
I may end up just going from HIJ to HIW.. cause a friend may be able to pick me up there... depending...

Can anyone offer advice, or information on how to use the trains there...

I don't know route, or even how to get tickets...

also how late do trains operate in japan??

Thanks in advance... without this forum... I probably wouldn't even be able to go to Japan...

 

[chinablueyes18]

www.japan-guide.com has some great info on trains. Another good choice is JNTO which can provide you with phone numbers to get more train information.

 

[Nikorasu85]

hehe, interesting... I'll look through those ^_^

I'm soo worried that I'm just not gonna be able to comunicate to anyone... and I'll end up lost somewhere XD

 

[chinablueyes18]

There is a free travellers' phrase book you can get from JNTO. It has all the typical questions one might ask.

 

[Nikorasu85]

oh? that might be good...
well... I know a little japanese...(had a class) and I have Japanese for dumbies XD

 

[Genius]

hehe, sorry that im not going to be of any real help but i learned that in order to catch the train you have to just push your way throught the mass of people trying to get on in front of you.

oh for buying your ticket you may want to bring a small map or purchase one in order to show people where you want to go. most people will help you if you ask them.

 

[budd]

ttp://www.jref.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8619&highlight=train

 

[shiroma]

Can anyone offer advice, or information on how to use the trains there...

One transfer:

Airport - (shuttle bus) → Hiroshima station - (JR train) → Kudamatsu station
Frequent bus services, they call it "limousine bus." About 50min to Hiroshima station, ﾂ･1300. See this this this and this pages for schedule details.
Check out the Westbound train schedule (Sunday/holiday version,) take the orange ones in the table called City Liner. All City Liner trains except the 8:00am one stop at Kudamatsu station. Some green ones, Tsukin Liner running during peak hours, stop at Kudamatsu too, namely 6:00pm, 7:30pm, 8:00pm and 9:00pm ones. About 100min, ﾂ･1890. Click the schedule to check 下松 row for the arrival time, (1) on the right column at Hiroshima means Track 1. Almost all of black ones terminate at Iwakuni to end up waiting for the next City Liner there. Red ones are sleeper trains from Tokyo.
It takes longer than other choices but the easiest, as well as watching local life on the local train is a part of fun.

Airport - (commuter bus) → Shiraichi station - (JR train) → Kudamatsu station
Shiraichi is closer to the airport than Hiroshima (15min bus and about 120min train rides,) but much less frequent services, not recommended.

Two Transfers:

Airport - (shuttle bus) → Hiroshima station - (Shinkansen) → Tokuyama station - (train/bus) → Kudamatsu station
First going to Tokuyama then back to Kudamatsu. Saving about an hour but ﾂ･2190 extra for Shinkansen reserved seat. This is the Shinkansen timetable: choosing Kodama (blue) is the safest bet while some Nozomi (orange) and Hikari Rail Star (red) stop at Tokuyama too.
There are three ways to reach Kudamatsu from Tokuyama station: Eastbound JR train (Sunday/holiday ver,) or Kudamatsu city local bus North/South routes. All JR local trains stop at Kudamatsu (it's the second stop) 8min ride. About 25min in the bus.

Airport - (shuttle bus) → Hiroshima Bus Center - (highway bus) → Tokuyama station - (train/bus) → Kudamatsu station
Frequent services to the Bus Center, about 50min, ﾂ･1300 (schedule.)
The bus ride to Tokuyama is about 100min, ﾂ･1800 (schedule here and here.) Extra time with no saving.

Terminal maps:
Hiroshima Airport ground transportation
Hiroshima station
Hiroshima Bus Center
Tokuyama station
Kudamatsu downtown

 

[Nikorasu85]

WOW omg ^___^ thank you sooo much!! this is extreamly usefull!!

dude! awesome!

i am soo worried about this trip... and so little time left!

my plain arives at 8:30pm-8:45pm (I think) if its on schedual... so I'm assuming theres not much I can do at that point at night?

 

[Nikorasu85]

hmmm... ok, well i have another question.... how do I go about getting tickets for the train ride.... and how much money should I get exchanged (at the airport??) into Yen so i can do all this? (I am assuming I can exchange money easilly at Tokyo NRT airport when I get there at 3:10pm, but I don't know... it seems that the exchange at Hiroshima is closed at 3:00pm and doesn't open until 9:00am >_<)
I already know that I'll probably either take the one transfer route to Kudamatsu... or I might just take the train to Hiroshima Nishii so I can get picked up there.... though I'd prefer to ride the train all the way there... hehe

one more problem... I dont have anywhere to go once I arrive at the airport (at about 8:45pm)... until the morning, when I can finally get on the train...
>__< so what can I do? where can I wait until morning?

 

[shiroma]

one more problem... I dont have anywhere to go once I arrive at the airport (at about 8:45pm)... until the morning, when I can finally get on the train...
>__< so what can I do? where can I wait until morning?

Staying in a hotel near Hiroshima station and taking a morning train is probably the best choice, since the last bus for the station leaves the airport at 9:40pm. This is the hotel list, the closest to the station is Hotel Granvia Hiroshima. Or Hiroshima Airport Hotel might be a good choice too.