Trains of Japan - A Review Thread

[VPS]

I probably don't need this , but off to search my local library!

Edit, and I found it! New book incoming!

Of course you need it - how on earth are you going to keep AFF up to date with everything if you don't. In fact we probably should help you buy it

 

[rbjhan]

Of course you need it - how on earth are you going to keep AFF up to date with everything if you don't. In fact we probably should help you buy it

Well I already booked another special one for my Feb trip

 

[CaptJCool]

Christmas gift !

 

[trendwhore]

Also forgot about this but recently went to train museum in Kyoto and can thoroughly recommend if you're in the area.. and there were hardly any tourists!

 

[frodo]

Shimakaze (Kintetsu)

One round trip per day from Osaka/Kyoto/Nagoya to Ise-shima.
View attachment 363395


The 1st row seats are extremely popular and difficult to book. Well I guess row 3 is okay too

I recently caught the shimakaze and did not manage to get front row seats (a task which was made even more difficult by booking the train towards Ise shrine during the new year period).

The reservation system was a bit of a mess as it was showing all seats as empty during seat selection, but after I entered in my card details, it would error out saying that the seat was already reserved. I tried a few different seats and the same error happened - eventually I got sick of doing that and just let the system auto-assign a seat for me.

Similar to the shimakaze is the hinotori from kintetsu, although this is more of a commuter train than a tourist train, a luxury alternative to the shinkansen.

The hinotori runs between Kintetsu-Nagoya and Osaka-Namba with departures every 30 min (peak) and 60 min (off peak) and takes around 2 hours. By comparison, the shinkansen from Nagoya to Shin-Osaka takes 50 minutes.

This time, I did manage to get the front row

 

[rbjhan]

I recently caught the shimakaze and did not manage to get front row seats (a task which was made even more difficult by booking the train towards Ise shrine during the new year period).

The reservation system was a bit of a mess as it was showing all seats as empty during seat selection, but after I entered in my card details, it would error out saying that the seat was already reserved. I tried a few different seats and the same error happened - eventually I got sick of doing that and just let the system auto-assign a seat for me.

Similar to the shimakaze is the hinotori from kintetsu, although this is more of a commuter train than a tourist train, a luxury alternative to the shinkansen.

The hinotori runs between Kintetsu-Nagoya and Osaka-Namba with departures every 30 min (peak) and 60 min (off peak) and takes around 2 hours. By comparison, the shinkansen from Nagoya to Shin-Osaka takes 50 minutes.

This time, I did manage to get the front row

View attachment 425005View attachment 425006View attachment 425007

Interesting, when I booked it certainly was very easy and I encountered no problems re seat selection.
In terms of difficulty, well nothing beats JR Kyushu

I knew about the Hinotori (Sun bird) but couldn't justify the time difference....also not a fan of Namba! My preferred station in Osaka is Umeda...

 

[rbjhan]

Kyoto Tango Railway

Akamatsu






This train goes from Amanohashidate to Nishi Maizuru.






In terms of the train ride it was fine.
However dealing with the company was not pleasant, not to mention the security risks.
Do not recommend.

 

[rbjhan]

Ah I wish we could go back and edit old posts...

Add a few pictures of the Airport Express Haruka.

 

[frodo]

Did you buy a hello kitty ICOCA to go along with the haruka?

 

[rbjhan]

Did you buy a hello kitty ICOCA to go along with the haruka?

As a matter of fact I do have one such ICOCA!
Bought 10+ years ago ha ha, have been using it ever since.

 

[rugbyskier]

For those who miss Hyperdia for planning train travel in Japan, there's another website which has all the features that Hyperdia had. It's called Japan Transit Planner and has basic functions for free, the enhanced functions are a paid login but I've found the basic functions are good enough for most travel planning.

 

[rbjhan]

For those who miss Hyperdia for planning train travel in Japan, there's another website which has all the features that Hyperdia had. It's called Japan Transit Planner and has basic functions for free, the enhanced functions are a paid login but I've found the basic functions are good enough for most travel planning.

Sigh I miss Hyperdia.
But Google Maps is actually quite good in Japan.

 

[Hvr]

Also forgot about this but recently went to train museum in Kyoto and can thoroughly recommend if you're in the area.. and there were hardly any tourists!

I went to the museum last week and loved it. Book the driving simulator early, for 100yen it's worth it.

 

[rbjhan]

View attachment 436951View attachment 436952

I went to the museum last week and loved it. Book the driving simulator early, for 100yen it's worth it.

I had planned to go since my hotel was so close.....literally a few mins walk!
But alas, snow got in the way!

 

[trendwhore]

I had planned to go since my hotel was so close.....literally a few mins walk!
But alas, snow got in the way!

Always next time

Speaking of Hello Kitty, by absolute chance recently I ended up on the Hello Kitty shinkansen. It's smaller than the usual ones so felt a little cramped but was kind of cool I guess. Got a Hello Kitty cookie

Hello Kitty Shinkansen: The Cutest Bullet Train (2025 Update) | JRailPass

The Hello Kitty-themed bullet train is included with the JR Pass! Check its route, 2025 timetable and adorable features and ride the cutest Shinkansen!

www.jrailpass.com

 

[rbjhan]

Always next time

Speaking of Hello Kitty, by absolute chance recently I ended up on the Hello Kitty shinkansen. It's smaller than the usual ones so felt a little cramped but was kind of cool I guess. Got a Hello Kitty cookie

Hello Kitty Shinkansen: The Cutest Bullet Train (2025 Update) | JRailPass

The Hello Kitty-themed bullet train is included with the JR Pass! Check its route, 2025 timetable and adorable features and ride the cutest Shinkansen!

www.jrailpass.com

Oooh nice, pictures?

 

[rbjhan]

Here it is! My ICOCA

Note: Japanese have only 5 vowels, this is "ee-coca".

 

[drron]

Although I loved Hyperpedia after I got used to the Japan travel planner (Jorudan) I found it excellent. I preferred their off line maps over Google maps.

 

[trendwhore]

Oooh nice, pictures?

Sadly not of my own but this pretty much sums it up - Introducing the Hello Kitty Shinkansen, Japan’s Cutest High-Speed Train

 

[Quickstatus]

are the plain wooden bento boxes supposed to be recycled

So train station bento boxes are recommended?. I mean train station food in AUS is not that good but this is recommended in JPN?