Hokkaido

[RooFlyer]

standard class is more than acceptable.

is it what you tell your +1?

Also, the app doesn't work overnight in Japan. Some kind of daily maintenance

Not my issue, unfortunately as last time with the NAB card it was during the day. No Amex for me - I forgot to get one before I retired; very bad rookie mistake.

 

[Matt_01]

is it what you tell your +1?

For all of our previous trips to Japan when using a JR pass we have always travelled in the standard class. It was only our most recent trip that on their final Shinkansen journey did I introduce them to Green Class. I may regret this in the coming years

 

[Sprucegoose]

For all of our previous trips to Japan when using a JR pass we have always travelled in the standard class. It was only our most recent trip that on their final Shinkansen journey did I introduce them to Green Class. I may regret this in the coming years

No it gets worse.............

Shinkansen Gran Class: The Ultimate Luxury Car - Japan Rail Pass

The Gran Class is the best first-class train experience in Japan. Find out how to travel on this luxurious bullet train with your Japan Rail Pass!

www.jrailpass.com

 

[Matt_01]

No it gets worse.............

Shinkansen Gran Class: The Ultimate Luxury Car - Japan Rail Pass

The Gran Class is the best first-class train experience in Japan. Find out how to travel on this luxurious bullet train with your Japan Rail Pass!

www.jrailpass.com

I snuck back to Gran Class before one of the trains left and snapped few photos and I just didn't bother to show them the photos until later. Also on the trains we were on there was no meal or drinks service in Gran Class, if there was things may have been different.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Meals can be hit and miss, but when the attendant is there, it is a better experience. They seem to have a floating suspension system and ride to other carriages.

 

[Pushka]

is it what you tell your +1?

Not my issue, unfortunately as last time with the NAB card it was during the day. No Amex for me - I forgot to get one before I retired; very bad rookie mistake.

Ok. Then it's the Visa issue. Known problem on all the Japan Travel FB pages. Just buy when you get there. It should be fine.

 

[Seat0B]

. Also rejected. Twice. I'm getting a complex.

Sorry you’re getting a complex! But don’t take it personally - it’s a very commonly reported problem.

I reckon you should be right to buy the ticket on the day. The trains are VERY frequent, maybe every 30 mins or so, so if one is booked out, the next one is not too long a wait - and there is that fantastic food court to visit along with a department store so the time will pass pleasantly.

Our last 2 trips we took Green class JR passes because we had some long train legs to cover. The 5 before we took standard class. Honestly there is little real difference. Green class has a bit more space and is maybe less crowded, but it’s pretty minimal. For a short ride like Nagoya-Osaka, standard class would be totally fine if you want to save a few $$.

 

[Flyfrequently]

I snuck back to Gran Class before one of the trains left and snapped few photos and I just didn't bother to show them the photos until later. Also on the trains we were on there was no meal or drinks service in Gran Class, if there was things may have been different. View attachment 384250View attachment 384249View attachment 384248View attachment 384251

Looks like EK on rails @Matt_01 - could manage that!

 

[drron]

We travel a lot on shinkansens and usually go standard class. The journeys are usually longer than Nagoya to Osaka route. According to Japan around 4-5pm the shinkansens leave Nagoya for Shin Osaka every 2 to 15 minutes Shouldn't be a problem at all getting a ticket.
Once we went Green Class Tokyo to Kyoto and the carriage was never full -in December last year.

 

[RooFlyer]

Thanks all. Thinking about going Green (which is unusual for me ) as I'll have just have come off a short overnight flight rom SIN, probably little sleep. Will see how I go when I get there. Only other shinkansen will be from Shin-Osaka to Himeji (trying for the third time) and return.

 

[elanshin]

Generally speaking the biggest difference between standard and green iirc is going from a 2-3 configuration to 2-2. The chairs are a tad "nicer" but i honestly can't tell the difference.

As for rejecting foreign cards, its quite common situation. When I asked around years ago with merchants, it's to do with anti-chargeback protection (I don't think Japanese previously used CC anywhere near as much and you can't chargeback debit cards).

 

[Cynicor]

Generally speaking the biggest difference between standard and green iirc is going from a 2-3 configuration to 2-2. The chairs are a tad "nicer" but i honestly can't tell the difference.

As for rejecting foreign cards, its quite common situation. When I asked around years ago with merchants, it's to do with anti-chargeback protection (I don't think Japanese previously used CC anywhere near as much and you can't chargeback debit cards).

You most definitely can chargeback on a debit card.

 

[rbjhan]

Main reason for wanting to use it was to reserve a Green car seat in advance for Nagoya ---> Osaka, having travelled in from the airport mid morning. I guess I'll just go to the ticket office and take my chances, .

Between these two there are Shinkansen every 10 mins or so...I'm not sure what chances you are taking tbh

 

[Seat0B]

as I'll have just have come off a short overnight flight rom SIN, probably little sleep.

Honestly I don't think it will make any difference whether you are Green or standard for this aspect. Both classes have seats that recline - slightly, but neither has enough recline to give you a good sleep. Plus there will be frequent announcements of upcoming stations, advice and warnings about where to put/not put your luggage etc etc that will interrupt your chances for a nap.

Totally up to you of course.

 

[RooFlyer]

I don’t know about android, but on iPhones you can add a Suica to your Apple Pay wallet directly in the wallet app before you even get to Japan, with no other activation required (no third party app required at all). Load it directly with whatever yen you want direct from the wallet app whenever you need

I've just added to my Apple watch - will see how that goes (have nominated it as my transit card).

 

[RooFlyer]

This isn't Hokkaido, but in planning my next trip, I came across this place in the Kirishima National Park in Kuushu.

旅行人山荘・公式ホームページへようこそ

単純泉と硫黄泉、2種類のお湯がお楽しみいただけます。 旅行人山荘敷地は５万坪、恵まれた自然に囲まれています。桜島を正面に雄大な風景が望めます。 Hotel Ryokojin-sansou.We're located on the hill in Kirishima.Can be seen from the all guest room with wonderful views.You can enjoy open-air bath(rotenburo) privately with your family or friends for 45minutes free.

ryokojin.com

If you follow the links to make a reservation: https://www.489pro.com/asp/489/menu.asp?id=46000012&lan=JPN
You'll find pricing per person, per room, minimum 2



Is this type of pricing common? At first I was pretty outraged (wanting to book a room for a single but being asked to pay x 2), but looking at the hotel, and the price, the regular price for the room would be Y24,560, or about $206 - not expensive.

I guess its the simple way to charge for extra people in the room?

Anyway, is the 'per person' system common in Japan? I've never struck it before, anywhere.

 

[rbjhan]

This isn't Hokkaido, but in planning my next trip, I came across this place in the Kirishima National Park in Kuushu.

旅行人山荘・公式ホームページへようこそ

単純泉と硫黄泉、2種類のお湯がお楽しみいただけます。 旅行人山荘敷地は５万坪、恵まれた自然に囲まれています。桜島を正面に雄大な風景が望めます。 Hotel Ryokojin-sansou.We're located on the hill in Kirishima.Can be seen from the all guest room with wonderful views.You can enjoy open-air bath(rotenburo) privately with your family or friends for 45minutes free.

ryokojin.com

If you follow the links to make a reservation: https://www.489pro.com/asp/489/menu.asp?id=46000012&lan=JPN
You'll find pricing per person, per room, minimum 2

View attachment 390696

Is this type of pricing common? At first I was pretty outraged (wanting to book a room for a single but being asked to pay x 2), but looking at the hotel, and the price, the regular price for the room would be Y24,560, or about $206 - not expensive.

I guess its the simple way to charge for extra people in the room?

Anyway, is the 'per person' system common in Japan? I've never struck it before, anywhere.

Very very common.
They don't charge by the room (well they do also but let's simplify matters just say this hotel has only one type of room) but by number of people.
So stick 3 in there you will be paying more!

As you know I travel solo, so I avoid places don't take solo travelers.
And I normally pay less than 2 in the same room. Not 50% less, mind!

 

[RooFlyer]

Thanks. The only time I had this sort of problem in planning my Hokkaido trip was one place only offered 'run of hotel' rooms for a single booking - that is, you got whatever they wanted to give you, on arrival.

In the example I gave, it looks like the per person rate was half the "room rate", so 'paying for two' would be the same as booking the room anywhere else. Is that how you read it?

 

[rbjhan]

Thanks. The only time I had this sort of problem in planning my Hokkaido trip was one place only offered 'run of hotel' rooms for a single booking - that is, you got whatever they wanted to give you, on arrival.

In the example I gave, it looks like the per person rate was half the "room rate", so 'paying for two' would be the same as booking the room anywhere else. Is that how you read it?

No.
They charge by the room type but also by number of guests.

Most likely you will get something like this (random numbers on top of my head), same hotel room (big enough for 3 let's say, not always the case in Japan!)
One person, 20000 Yen.
Two person, 15000 Yen pp, so 30000 total.
Three person, 12000 Yen pp. 36000 total.

Not selecting room type plan is also common, generally that would be the lowest price and if it's available I'll go with that. For one person I see no downside in it.

 

[elanshin]

This isn't Hokkaido, but in planning my next trip, I came across this place in the Kirishima National Park in Kuushu.

旅行人山荘・公式ホームページへようこそ

単純泉と硫黄泉、2種類のお湯がお楽しみいただけます。 旅行人山荘敷地は５万坪、恵まれた自然に囲まれています。桜島を正面に雄大な風景が望めます。 Hotel Ryokojin-sansou.We're located on the hill in Kirishima.Can be seen from the all guest room with wonderful views.You can enjoy open-air bath(rotenburo) privately with your family or friends for 45minutes free.

ryokojin.com

If you follow the links to make a reservation: https://www.489pro.com/asp/489/menu.asp?id=46000012&lan=JPN
You'll find pricing per person, per room, minimum 2

View attachment 390696

Is this type of pricing common? At first I was pretty outraged (wanting to book a room for a single but being asked to pay x 2), but looking at the hotel, and the price, the regular price for the room would be Y24,560, or about $206 - not expensive.

I guess its the simple way to charge for extra people in the room?

Anyway, is the 'per person' system common in Japan? I've never struck it before, anywhere.

Often per person per night is how things are quoted for Japanese hotels. Western brands often still quote by per night for the room. Western aggregates usually also does per room (or adjusted already). Japanese aggregates usually also quote both numbers. Total and per person.

Also don't fall for that number at the start of the booking. That 10780 is a "from" number. If you click in and open the calendar for actual booking you'll see they really don't have that amount. It's usually between 12800ish and 15000ish.