Travel: Japan - General

[EatNonStop]

Can someone advise if it is necessary to buy a reserve seat (on top of the basic fare) for the following Hokkaido trains during my travel period? I am wondering if the train will be packed (is there a way to check and find out more info) else can save significantly on the reserve seat amt. Is it peak season in Hokkaido in my travel period? When is Japan school holidays start? I have 2A & 2C, trying to see if we able not to pay extra on reserve seats yet able to have seats together.


I am thinking to take the following trains :
15-Dec (Tues)\tKutchan to Hakodate via Ltd Exp Hokuto 12
18-Dec (Fri)\tHakodate to Sapporo via Ltd Exp Hokuto 5
21-Dec (Mon)\tSapporo to Asahikawa via Ltd Exp Super Kamui5
22-Dec (Tues)\tSapporo to Chitose airport via JR Rapid Airport70

Also, any idea when is Asahiyama Zoo Dec train schedule released?

Thanks in advance for responding to my queries

[dimitri_can]

EatNonStop:

Can someone advise if it is necessary to buy a reserve seat (on top of the basic fare) for the following Hokkaido trains during my travel period? I am wondering if the train will be packed (is there a way to check and find out more info) else can save significantly on the reserve seat amt. Is it peak season in Hokkaido in my travel period? When is Japan school holidays start? I have 2A & 2C, trying to see if we able not to pay extra on reserve seats yet able to have seats together.


I am thinking to take the following trains :
15-Dec (Tues)\tKutchan to Hakodate via Ltd Exp Hokuto 12
18-Dec (Fri)\tHakodate to Sapporo via Ltd Exp Hokuto 5
21-Dec (Mon)\tSapporo to Asahikawa via Ltd Exp Super Kamui5
22-Dec (Tues)\tSapporo to Chitose airport via JR Rapid Airport70

Also, any idea when is Asahiyama Zoo Dec train schedule released?

Thanks in advance for responding to my queries

Can u include the timing for your trains? A bit lazy to check. Thanks.

[EatNonStop]

15-Dec (Tues)\tKutchan to Hakodate via Ltd Exp Hokuto 12, dep time 1515 arr 1818

18-Dec (Fri)\tHakodate to Sapporo via Ltd Exp Hokuto 5, dep 1036, arr 1417
21-Dec (Mon)\tSapporo to Asahikawa via Ltd Exp Super Kamui5, dep 0825, arrv 0950
22-Dec (Tues)\tSapporo to Chitose airport via JR Rapid Airport70, dep 0706, arrv 0746

Thanks

[dimitri_can]

EatNonStop:

15-Dec (Tues)\tKutchan to Hakodate via Ltd Exp Hokuto 12, dep time 1515 arr 1818

18-Dec (Fri)\tHakodate to Sapporo via Ltd Exp Hokuto 5, dep 1036, arr 1417
21-Dec (Mon)\tSapporo to Asahikawa via Ltd Exp Super Kamui5, dep 0825, arrv 0950
22-Dec (Tues)\tSapporo to Chitose airport via JR Rapid Airport70, dep 0706, arrv 0746

Thanks

Based on experience, following are my predictions.

15-Dec (Tues)\tKutchan to Hakodate via Ltd Exp Hokuto 12, dep time 1515 arr 1818
->OK. Long ride, so if you can get reserved seats will be better.

18-Dec (Fri)\tHakodate to Sapporo via Ltd Exp Hokuto 5, dep 1036, arr 1417
->Maybe a bit packed. cos Holiday coming

21-Dec (Mon)\tSapporo to Asahikawa via Ltd Exp Super Kamui5, dep 0825, arrv 0950
->Better to get. Holiday on 23-Dec

22-Dec (Tues)\tSapporo to Chitose airport via JR Rapid Airport70, dep 0706, arrv 0746
->OK. 45 mins to airport only.

Why don't you arrange like this?

Sapporo->Hakodate->Kutchan->Asahikawa->Sapporo

I think you will save more time on travelling.

[EatNonStop]

dimitri_can:

EatNonStop:

15-Dec (Tues)\tKutchan to Hakodate via Ltd Exp Hokuto 12, dep time 1515 arr 1818

18-Dec (Fri)\tHakodate to Sapporo via Ltd Exp Hokuto 5, dep 1036, arr 1417
21-Dec (Mon)\tSapporo to Asahikawa via Ltd Exp Super Kamui5, dep 0825, arrv 0950
22-Dec (Tues)\tSapporo to Chitose airport via JR Rapid Airport70, dep 0706, arrv 0746

Thanks

Based on experience, following are my predictions.

15-Dec (Tues)\tKutchan to Hakodate via Ltd Exp Hokuto 12, dep time 1515 arr 1818
->OK. Long ride, so if you can get reserved seats will be better.

18-Dec (Fri)\tHakodate to Sapporo via Ltd Exp Hokuto 5, dep 1036, arr 1417
->Maybe a bit packed. cos Holiday coming

21-Dec (Mon)\tSapporo to Asahikawa via Ltd Exp Super Kamui5, dep 0825, arrv 0950
->Better to get. Holiday on 23-Dec

22-Dec (Tues)\tSapporo to Chitose airport via JR Rapid Airport70, dep 0706, arrv 0746
->OK. 45 mins to airport only.

Why don't you arrange like this?

Sapporo->Hakodate->Kutchan->Asahikawa->Sapporo

I think you will save more time on travelling.

Thanks

If i were to get Fexible 4 days JR pass, does the pass entitle for reserve seats as well?

[dimitri_can]

EatNonStop:

Thanks
If i were to get Fexible 4 days JR pass, does the pass entitle for reserve seats as well?

Yes.
See http://www2.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/eng ... ail03.html

[hercules]

When in Japan, must eat cream puff and pudding, any cream puff and pudding that are MADE IN JAPAN.


Don't know why they can make so nice cream puff and pudding. I buy from anywhere at whatever prices also taste so good.

This cream puff (big) for 65 yen (about $0.80) from supermarket (7-eleven selling for around 110 yen). Small one is 35 yen.

http://i60.tinypic.com/4qljjd.jpg\">

This creamy yummy mango pudding is 100 yen (about $1.20) for 3 cups:

http://i57.tinypic.com/egej3m.jpg\">

If not because of weight control, I can have all these as a meal. Cheap and good. Go try while there!

[hercules]

It's apple and persimmon season now. So cheap and good (this is the main 'shopping' I have while in Japan):


http://i61.tinypic.com/2ia2wkh.png\">

For those who fancy raw fish, prices are so reasonable in restaurants (not high end ones):

http://i62.tinypic.com/28wkpwm.png\">

[dimitri_can]

Btw, for those 1st time travellers to Japan, do ensure you at least have $100 SGD kept aside, in case of any emergencies. Also good to ensure your card can withdraw money overseas.

[mamamia359]

Hi Dimitri,


My rough itinerary so far looks like this:
Day 1 - Yokohama (Cup Noodles Museum, Chinatown)
Day 2 - Maybe Ueno?
Day 3 - Disneyland/DisneySea
Day 4 - Disneyland/DisneySea (maybe)
Day 5 - Nothing planned yet
Day 6 - Harajuku/Yoyogi Park
Day 7 - Hakone, Mount Fuji, Gotemba
Day 8 - Maybe Tokyo Dome City?

Is the above feasible?

Based on the above, do I need to get the 7 days JR Pass?

Thanks for your help!