Sunday 15 December 2013

Bonus for using JR Pass - Return Leg from Sapporo

The return trip from Sapporo to Tokyo would have cost me ¥29,480 without the JR pass and that is already more than the amount I have paid for the 7-Day pass!

Day 6 – 4 Nov. 2013 (Sapporo to Tokyo)
From
To
By
Cost
Time Taken
Remarks
Sapporo
Hakodate
Ltd. Express
¥8,080
211min
Taken
Hakodate
Shin-Aomori
Ltd. Express
¥4,830
130min
Taken
Shin-Aomori
Tokyo
Shinkansen
¥16,570
206min
Taken

Shin-Aomori

Omiya

Shinkansen

¥15,670

192min


Omiya
Nagano
Shinkansen
¥5,780
73min


Omiya
Niigata
Shinkansen
¥9,570
98min



Instead of going to Tokyo, I could have chosen to switch at Omiya (Saitama) Station for Shinkansen  Asama to go to Nagano or Shinkansen Toki to go to Niigata. Both places are famous for their mountains, ski and hot spring resorts - best for nature lovers. I must make it a point to visit either one or both of these places in my next visit to Japan.


Day 7 – 5 Nov. 2013 (Tokyo to Osaka)
From
To
By
Cost
Time Taken
Remarks
Tokyo
Shin-Osaka
Shinkansen
¥13,240
177min.
Taken
Shin-Osaka
Nishinomiya
JR Train
¥290
19min.
Taken


Day 8 – 6 Nov. 2013 (Osaka)
From
To
By
Cost
Time Taken
Remarks
Nishinomiya
Osaka
JR Train
¥290
15min.
Taken
Osaka
Nishinomiya
JR Train
¥290
19min.
Taken




The total cost of all the train trips taken during these 7 days (Day 2 to 8) would have been ¥88,490 but I paid only ¥28,300.












Thursday 5 December 2013

Dollars (Yen) and sense of using the JR Pass to travel around Japan

The following tabulation on the train fares and time taken allows you to consider and plan the various options to explore Japan. Use "Hyperdia" to check and select the train to & fro the place of your interest.

Day 1 – 30 Oct. 2013 (Arrival in Japan)
From
To
By
Cost
Time Taken
Remarks
Kansai Airport
Ibaraki-Osaka
Airport Limo
¥2000
70min.
Taken


JR Train
¥2430
59min.



Nankai AE
¥1270
73min








Day 2 – 31 Oct. 2013 (Osaka)
From
To
By
Cost
Time Taken
Remarks
Ibaraki-Osaka
Takatsuki
JR Train
¥170
5min.
Taken
Takatsuki
Osaka
JR Train
¥250
23min.
Taken
Osaka
Ibaraki-Osaka
JR Train
¥210
14min
Taken







Day 3 – 1 Nov. 2013 (Osaka - Sapporo)
From
To
By
Cost
Time Taken
Remarks
Ibaraki-Osaka
Shin-Osaka
JR Train
¥210
8min.
Taken
Shin-Osaka
Tokyo
Shinkansen
¥13,240
190min.
Taken
Tokyo
Shin-Aomori
Shinkansen
¥16,370
208min
Taken
Shin-Aomori
Hakodate
Ltd. Express
¥4,830
141min.
Taken
Hakodate
Sapporo
Ltd. Express
¥8,080
245min
Taken







Day 4 – 2 Nov. 2013 (Sapporo)
From
To
By
Cost
Time Taken
Remarks
Sapporo
JR Soen
JR Train
¥160
3min.
Taken
JR Soen
Sapporo
JR Train
¥160
2min.
Taken
Sapporo
Wakkanai
Ltd. Express
¥9,660
299min

Wakkanai
Sapporo
Ltd. Express
¥9,660
299min

Sapporo
Abashiri
Ltd. Express
¥9,130
325min

Abashiri
Sapporo
Ltd. Express
¥9,130
320min

Sapporo
Sunagawa
Ltd. Express
¥2,510
52min

Sunagawa
Sapporo
Ltd. Express
¥2,510
52min

Sapporo
Otaru
JR Train
¥620
46min

Otaru
Sapporo
JR Train
¥620
46min

Sapporo
Toya (Muroran)
Ltd. Express
¥3150
117min

Toya
Sapporo
Ltd. Express
¥3150
117min








Day 5 – 3 Nov. 2013 (Sapporo)
From
To
By
Cost
Time Taken
Remarks
Odori
Sakaemachi
Subway
¥280
12min.
Taken
Sakaemachi
Odori
Subway
¥280
12min.
Taken













As it was Sunday, I spent a good ½ day at the church, Canaan Praise Church of Sapporo before doing the last minute shopping.

*Many options to see Hokkaido are available above without having to pay for the train fares.
**To check any of the suggested area, just highlight with the mouse and right-click, selecting Google-search and you will get a comprehensive guide of the available attractions before deciding where to go. I'll definitely visit Otaru and Lake Toya on my next visit to Hokkaido.
I effectively started using the JR Pass on Day 3 and would have incurred a hefty amount if not for the pass:
Cost of 7-Day JR Pass= ¥28,300 (S$358.00)
Cost of 1st leg to Sapporo= ¥43,050 (S$531.00)

Sunday 1 December 2013

Interesting observations about the Japanese

On the shinkansen with fully reserved seats:


From Sendai to Tokyo, those without reserved seat have to stand or sit beside the doors for 102 mins. This gentleman in his business suit stood & nap for close to an hour as the bullet train raced along the track, occasionally swaying left or right around gentle bends.

The other man in more comfortable jeans just sat down and snored away.

The doors of the shinkansen would not pop open when in motion as I could hear the sound of a heavy metal bar dropping across the doorway. These men could snooze safely.


On the Limited Express to Sapporo with both reserved and free seatings:
                         





 The train after leaving Hakodate Station - with seats to spare.



Along the way, many after office crowds boarded the train bound for Sapporo and many have to stand. When we were closer to Sapporo at about 2000hrs, those who got on the train reeked of alcohol.

Important Note for travelling between Shin-Aomori and Sapporo Station


 

If you are taking the train that will arrive at Hakodate from Shin-Aomori at 1701hrs after which you have to switch to next train to Sapporo at 1711hrs, you will not have time to get out of the station to buy your food! The pictures showed clearly that all bento shops on the platform were closed! To make matters worse, there was no sale of food and drinks on board the Super Hokuto to Sapporo.

Therefore, remember to buy your food & drinks from Shin-Aomori Station or on board the train before arrival at Hakodate. Well, I settled with the rice crackers and plain water that I had in my back-pack.

Common sight on board subway trains in Japan:





Many would be looking at their hand-phones, listening to something with ear-pieces, staring blankly or just dozing off.





Safer location for the Gasoline dispenser:


The staff must have done their risk assessment. At least no chance to be rammed by a runaway car and exploding into flame!

Blessing the Japanese people:


My attention was caught by this tree of red leaves 紅葉 which I thought was maple leaves もみじ。

I approached this ojisan who was sweeping the fallen leaves and he told me that this tree has very hard wood and is used for making stoves in Japanese households of old.

I thanked him and blessed him, "Kami sama no shuku fuku ga arimasu youni" 神様の祝福が有りますように and his face lit up。There is power in God's blessing and like all people, they welcome blessing. Let's not be stingy with our blessings!