The most up-to-date version of this article (from March 2016) can be found here.

Today I will discuss how you can travel overnight by train from Tokyo to the northern part of Japan, including the island of Hokkaido. This is an extension to my general article about traveling overnight by train in Japan, which I am happy to say is my most popular article to date on this blog.

It seems, from my observations, that there are two very popular ways of traversing this route: you either fly, or you take an overnight train. Believe it or not, despite the fact that the air corridor between Tokyo and northern Japan is among the busiest in the world, many Japanese choose to make the overnight journey by train: You can travel via rail from city center to city center, you don’t have to worry about security or baggage checks, and you can kill two birds with one stone as your journey doubles as lodging.

Of course, it is possible to make an entire day out of traveling to northern Japan by rail. The shinkansen, or bullet train line, is inching its way up at a steady pace. Several months ago, the line was extended north from Hachinohe to Aomori. With two connections, for example, you can leave Tokyo at 9:00 in the morning and arrive in Sapporo by about 6:30 in the evening. But the journey is expensive, and if you’re a tourist, you might want to look for another option. Your goal is to spend as much time as possible exploring the country. While some may claim that you are experiencing the country when riding on the train, for the most part all you do is remain seated.

Overnight train services are an excellent option. There are 2 or 3 nighttime services that run from Tokyo to northern Japan every day, all leaving from Ueno station. Every day the Hokutosei runs to Sapporo, and the Akebono to Aomori, using Japan’s iconic (and aging) “blue car” sleeper units. On alternating days, the more modern (and more expensive) Cassiopeia takes to the Ueno-Sapporo route. What a magical journey, letting the rails lull you to sleep and then waking up, refreshed for your new day and your new surroundings.

The website jprail.com, which I have referenced before, has several excellent articles about the overnight trains in Japan. I highly recommend that you take a look at all of his articles and descriptions.

The overnight trains in Japan vary by cost, but have one significant drawback: they tend to get so popular to the point that you might not be able to book the train that you want. Tickets for these overnight trains can only be purchased inside Japan, and when you land in Japan and attempt to make a reservation, you might not get the type of accomodation you want on the train, or worse, you might not get to ride the train at all.

Case in point: JR East’s Japanese website on their Cassiopeia train lists the availability of accomodations for journeys departing within the next 30 days. Here’s how the reservations looked from that website as of February 17, 9 AM Japan Time:

The dates show when the Cassiopeia runs from Tokyo to Sapporo, and back to Tokyo. The first column of X’s, O’s and Triangles shows availability for trains departing Ueno, and the second column shows trains departing Sapporo.

It’s less than a month before the new Kyushu Shinkansen opens in Japan, which will drastically reduce travel times on the island of Kyushu (one of Japan’s four main islands) and completely link Kyushu to the entire bullet train network. The first segment of this train line opened 7 years ago in southern Kyushu, and the final segment will open on March 12. Reserved seats on high-speed into and around Kyushu have sold like hotcakes for the inaugural runs, which just goes to show you how much the country and the people love their shinkansen.

The new segment opening on March 12 will connect Fukuoka (whose station name is “Hakata”, formerly a separate city which is now one of Fukuoka’s wards) and Yatsushiro, located 130 kilometers to the south. A journey between Fukuoka and Kagoshima (at the southern end of Kyushu), which used to take 4 hours prior to 2004 and is currently just over two hours, will be cut down to as little as 1 hour and 20 minutes.

As announced in an earlier post, foreigners who travel to Japan and use a Japan Rail Pass will be eligible to use Tsubame and Sakura services on the Kyushu Shinkansen, but not Mizuho services which make four daily round-trips during the morning and evening hours.

Here is a list of all of the stations and noted attractions on the Kyushu Shinkansen, compiled from various sources:

Fukuoka (Hakata Station): Fukuoka is the capital of its namesake prefecture. The Tenjin shopping district is not to be missed. Try the area’s famous ramen noodles. At night, stroll along bayside place, or for a more active evening try Nakasu, the city’s red light district. See more on the Fukuoka home page of the Fukuoka Prefectural Tourist Association.

Tosu (Shin-Tosu Station): A short bus or train ride in Tosu brings you to the Tosu Premium Outlets, where you can purchase from famous brands at discounted prices. On the way from Tosu is the Yoshinogari Historical Park, where you can see relics and reconstructions from Japan’s Yayoi period (approx. 300 BC-250 AD).

Kurume: Check out the exhibitions at the Ishibashi Museum of Art . Visit the gardens of Senkoji Temple. Head to the top of Kurume’s city hall building for a free view of the area. See more on the Kurume Association home page.

Chikugo (Chikugo-Funagoya)

Omuta (Shin-Omuta): Originally a coal mining town, Omuta is an industrial city with a science museum and a zoo (japanese website).

Tamana (Shin-Tamana): Located in Kumamoto prefecture, the city has many restaurants specializing in tonkotsu (pork bone broth) ramen.

Kumamoto: Kumamoto is one of Kyushu’s largest and most important cities, its biggest attraction being Kumamoto Castle. Kumamoto Castle ranks alongside Himeji Castle and Matsumoto Castle as one of the three great castles of Japan. The castle’s origins can be traced to the year 1467 when its original fortifications were built. The original castle keep was burned down in the Satsuma Rebellion, but many other original buildings remain to this day. The castle keep was rebuilt in the 1960s, and major renovations to the complex concluded in 2008. More about Kumamoto can be viewed at the website of the Kumamoto Prefectural Tourism Federation.

Yatsushiro (Shin-Yatsushiro): Visit the ruins of an old castle, then climb up a mountain: a total of 777 steps that, when completed, will reward you with a great view of the city. Highway buses connect the Shin-Yatsushiro train station with the resort city of Miyazaki.

Minamata (Shin-Minamata): This city is emerging at the forefront of environmental issues, having suffered an environmental disaster itself.

Izumi

Sendai: This Sendai is not to be confused with the more popular Sendai city, which is located north of Tokyo in Miyagi prefecture.

Kagoshima (Kagoshima-Chuo): A historic city and the capital of Kagoshima prefecture, Kagoshima is known for the looming (and active) Sakurajima volcano, which in the prefecture helps to offer the second-largest number of hot springs sources in all of Japan. Bounds of shopping await in the Tenmonkan shopping district and in the area near the bullet train stop. In the evening savor a tasty meal that only those in Kagoshima can serve up… Kagoshima has their own variety of ramen, tea and wagyu beef! Finish it off with an onsen bath heated from the area’s geothermal activity. More about Kagoshima is on the website of the Kagoshima Prefectural Visitors Bureau.

Looks like we can bring the Japan Rail Pass discussion to a close now… several blogs on the internet, and a reply I received by e-mail from Kintetsu International travel, all appear to be in accord, and so I’ll share the information with you.

As I had earlier speculated, the Mizuho will NOT be valid with the Japan Rail Pass, but the Sakura will be valid. This will make it a slightly longer journey for those pass holders who want to travel between Osaka, Hiroshima and Kyushu Island during the morning and evening hours. During the rest of the day, however, Sakura trains will run over this entire route at intervals of approximately one per hour. Since the Mizuho’s fare structure is similar to that of the Nozomi, you will need to pay the entire fare to use Mizuho trains.

Regarding Hayabusa services, which will run to northern Japan (between Tokyo and Aomori and between Tokyo and Sendai) to initially complement Hayate services: The Japan Rail Pass AND the more regional JR East Rail Pass will cover it, with the exception of its new premium class service called GranClass. GranClass can be equated to a luxurious first class cabin on an airline, with 18 very large seats, a special car attendant, and first-rate meals. If you want to use GranClass and you have a rail pass, you will need to pay the GranClass seating charge AND the limited express charge (the charge normally required to use the Shinkansen).

If you have a version of the pass which is valid in Ordinary (Standard) Class, the Rail Pass will cover the Hayabusa’s ordinary class seats. If you have a Green Car version, the Pass will cover the Hayabusa’s Ordinary AND Green Cars; the Hayabusa will have one Green Car with 55 seats. But to use GranClass, regardless of the type of pass that you have, you’ll have to pay the charges I just noted. So for traveling between Tokyo and Aomori, this amounts to 16,500 yen. My opinion: If you really want to step up in travel class, the best thing to do is just purchase a Green Car version of the Rail Pass. Right now I don’t think it’s worth the expense to travel GranClass, unless you’re very curious to try it out. And remember, the new Hayabusa services will compliment the existing Hayate services that run on that particular bullet train line.

As promised I’ll be writing more about the Kyushu Shinkansen in my next post.

February 5th Update: Please read my most recent Japan Rail Pass-related post for the official decisions regarding the Rail Pass.

I’ve been eagerly awaiting word on how the Japan Rail Pass is going to be affected by the new bullet train services that are starting up next month (See my post from a few days ago). But I’d thought I’d write up a little editorial in regards to two conflicting reports that I have received and seen.

Recently I decided to write a note through Facebook to the Japan National Tourist Organization (JNTO), Japan’s official tourism agency under the umbrella of the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, to ask about the Japan Rail Pass with regards to how the Rail Pass will be valid with the introduction of the Mizuho and Sakura services on the Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen between Osaka, Fukuoka and Kagoshima, as well as the new Hayabusa services that will be introduced on the Tohoku Shinkansen between Tokyo and Aomori (northern Honshu).

Here is how the JNTO replied on their Facebook page, Visit Japan:

“Even after the extension of Tohoku and Kyushu Shinkansen, JR Pass is valid for all the Shinkansen except Nozomi. This means the pass is also valid for Hayate and Hayabusa of Tohoku, and Mizuho and Sakura of Kyushu. However, it is still pending whether or not it is valid for Gran Class (more luxurious than Green Car) of Hayabusa, which will start in March.”

So it does appear that the Rail Pass will be valid on all of these services. Moreover, given the fact that Nozomi trains are restricted, taking the Mizuho trains that run during the morning and evening will offer greater convenience for Rail Pass holders who want to go to Western Japan and Kyushu, right?

NOT SO FAST, says Japan-Guide.com, a very popular website that has become one of the major web resources for researching not just about traveling in Japan, but living in Japan as well. They have had a web page about the Kyushu Shinkansen since mid-December, and when the page was published they were not sure how the Rail Pass would be affected. But on February 3 Japan time, more or less around the same time the JNTO wrote a response to me on Facebook, Japan-Guide.com posted this on their page:

“The Japan Rail Pass will be valid on Sakura trains but invalid on Mizuho trains (like Nozomi trains).”

Wow, two conflicting reports. Of course the final say goes to Japan Railways, which as of this writing has not yet posted anything on the official Japan Rail Pass website. But how embarassing is it going to be for one of these two reputable organizations when they find out that their information was incorrect?

Whatever the final decision is, I hope that all parties get the facts correct for the benefit of all people who want to visit Japan and benefit from the use of the Japan Rail Pass.

And so ends my two cents. 🙂 I’ll share more news when I hear about it!

February 5th Update: Please read my latest post which talks about the official decisions regarding the Japan Rail Pass.

It’s the end of January, and train travel in Japan is reaching another milestone: the opening of the final segment of the Kyushu Shinkansen, which is scheduled to take place on March 12, 2011.

With this comes some new, distinct bullet train services for the busy bullet train corridor linking Osaka with Kagoshima at the southern end of the main Japanese archipelago: the “Mizuho” and the “Sakura”.

I’ve been checking on a regular basis to see how the Japan Rail Pass will be affected by these new services. As you may or may not know, the Japan Rail Pass is good to use for all of Japan’s bullet train services, with the notable exception of “Nozomi” trains. The “Mizuho” has been designated as a Nozomi-type service by Japan Railways; in other words, the “Mizuho” will only make stops at major cities just like the “Nozomi” does. The “Sakura”, meanwhile, is the “Hikari” type, making a few more stops than the “Mizuho” will. There will also be different versions of the “Sakura”, with one running from Osaka to Kagoshima and the other restricted mainly to Kyushu (Fukuoka-Kagoshima).

Japan Railways has not yet made an official announcement regarding the validity of the pass on these new services, although my guess is that this decision has already been made. Some of the Japan travel sites are assuming the pass will be valid on “Sakura” trains but not “Mizuho” trains, just as it is valid on “Hikari” services but not the “Nozomi”. I am hoping that this information will be made available by February 12, which is when reservations for the new “Mizuho” and “Sakura” trains will start to be taken in Japan.

When it is known for sure what the Rail Pass will and will not cover, I will embark on a project to update the Japan Rail Pass connection chart. This will be an ambitious project to say the least, and I can’t guarantee that I’ll have it completed in a timely manner. But I hope that this project, when it is made available, will make it easier for Japan Rail Pass holders to travel quicklyand easily along the Tokyo-Osaka-Fukuoka-Kagoshima bullet train corridor with services that the Rail Pass holders will be permitted to use.

In the meantime, I’ve discovered a few more travel deals, as well as a bit of news for those living in the northeast. China Airlines, the flag airline of the Republic of China (better known as Taiwan) will be rerouting its 3x weekly service from New York’s JFK Airport to Taipei. Currently the plane stops over in Anchorage, Alaska, but starting in late April of this year the plane will make a stop in Osaka, Japan. This will be the first ever nonstop plane service offered to Osaka’s Kansai Airport from the East Coast of the United States. The only problem is, according to the JNTO website, the flight to Osaka will depart from JFK at 2:10 AM, arriving in Osaka at 5:30 AM the next day. The return leaves Osaka at 9:50 PM and lands at JFK at 10 PM the same day. But the good news, in the long term, is that China Airlines will be joining the Skyteam alliance of airlines later this year. When that happens, Skyteam frequent flier members (including Delta Airlines) will be able to earn and redeem miles on China Airlines flights. If you do not mind the redeye departure and arrival times flying westbound to Osaka, this may be a flight option worth considering, especially if your plans mainly focus on western Japan or the Kansai region (i.e. Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Nara).

Some other travel deals and interesting tour packages as of this writing:

JTB Corp. is offering a special “Hanami” guided tour package for foreigners who want to enjoy Japan’s signature cherry blossom season. The package with airfare goes for $1,885+tax from Los Angeles and $2,059+tax from New York, and includes airfare from the US to Tokyo, a three night stay in Tokyo including a full-day guided tour, a one-way bullet train trip to Kyoto, three nights in Kyoto, and airfare from Osaka back to the US. Land packages only are available for $1,180. The prices are per person, double occupancy, and the tour commences with departure from the US on Wednesday, March 23.

Also being offered by JTB is the annual Anime Otaku tour package that coincides with the 2011 Tokyo International Anime Fair. The package includes 5 nights in Tokyo, including two days of Anime-themed guided tours in Akihabara and Nakano, and a one-day pass to the Tokyo International Anime Fair. The tour begins with departure from the US on Tuesday, March 22. With round-trip airfare the package costs $1,585+tax from Los Angeles and $1,745+tax from New York. The land package only goes for $860. The prices are per person, double occupancy.

If you live in Los Angeles, Singapore Airlines Vacations is offering a good deal for trips to Tokyo on its new Airbus A380 plane. The A380 Fabulous Tokyo Package starts as low as $1,249+tax per person, double occupancy, and includes round-trip airfare to Tokyo on the Singapore A380, airport transfers, five nights at the Tokyo Hilton and a half-day sightseeing tour. The package must be purchased by April 15.

You can discover more great tour packages in the land of the rising sun by visitng the websites of the JNTO, IACE Travel and JTB.

You’ll be hearing from me next time with the official word on the Rail Pass and more details about the Kyushu Shinkansen.

The Japan Times, Japan’s leading English-language news publication, has published a very interesting article regarding complaints that International travelers have made about Haneda Airport since its International building opened three months ago. Chief among the complaints: Lack of amenities during the late-night and early-morning hours, including inexpensive public transportation and shuttle buses between Haneda’s three terminals (International, Domestic #1 and Domestic #2).

Haneda Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world, with its main focus being on Domestic (inter-Japan) traffic during daytime hours. Handling over 62 million passengers in 2009, Haneda ranks fifth behind London Heathrow, Chicago O’Hare, Beijing and Atlanta airports in terms of annual passenger traffic. In October of 2010, Haneda opened arrival and departure “slots” to international flights during the off peak hours of 11 PM to 7 AM, along with a fourth runway and a new International passenger terminal.

As I have stated in my earlier blog post, and as the article confirms, there is a problem with transportation and lodging options when arriving at such a late hour, as many of the International flights are now doing. Tokyo Monorail and Keikyu Railway, the two railway operators out of Haneda, run their final trains from the airport at around midnight. This is like most train operators do… the Japanese rail system, with few exceptions, does not operate around the clock. Lines shut down overnight in order to permit track inspections, maintenance and construction. This means after midnight, passengers who want to travel out of Haneda are limited to a limousine bus, which by then is extremely limited and charges a “night surcharge”… you can see it for yourself on this sample page from the Tokyo Airport Limousine website… or to a taxi.

The free shuttle buses connecting Haneda’s terminals also shut down at midnight. According to the Japan Times article one party had to pay 1,300 yen – the equivalent of US $15 – just to travel the short distance between terminals.

If you are interested in visiting Japan one day, of course you should look at the various airfare deals to see what appeals to you. Obviously I don’t have any experience myself using Haneda late at night, but based on my initial feelings and the article posted by the Japan Times, I strongly recommend NOT using Haneda Airport until amenities for late-night travelers (especially late-night International arrivals) are improved. If you want to visit Japan, use Narita Airport, which is a bit farther away from Tokyo but has the continued advantage of reasonable arrivals/departures, and numerous, convenient transit options such as the Skyliner, Narita Express and the new 1000 yen Super Shuttle bus.

Read the entire Japan Times article here: http://search.japantimes.co.jp/mail/nn20110107f1.html

I’d like to take this opportunity to wish you a Merry Christmas! Thanks for visiting my Japan tips blog!

If you are a first time visitor, please take a look through all of my blog entries. I hope the entries can be of assistance to you if you are planning a trip to Japan one day.

Scroll through the entries, and click “Previous Entries” at the bottom of the page to see more. Or if you want to search for specific keywords, use the search bar at the top of the page.

Two of my favorite posts on this blog are: Tokyo to Kyoto for 2,300 yen and my post on traveling overnight by train in Japan.

Enjoy, and thanks again for visiting!

I am happy to post and recommend several videos posted by HIUC students in Japan who are learning English. They give lessons about the Japanese culture. When I saw these videos I was pleased to see that they know a lot of English! I also learned many things that I never knew before when it comes to Japanese culture. For example I did not know that when visiting a Japanese shrine (Shinto religion), you are not supposed to walk under the middle of the torii gate at the entrance… that entrance is reserved for the gods so you have to walk around it. A bad thing because, if I remember correctly, I walked through the middle of several of them when I went to Meiji shrine 😛

My thanks to the HIUC students (I wish I knew what HIUC means!)  for providing such a valuable service to everyone via YouTube. I highly recommend that you view all of their videos so that you can get a better understanding of the culture. Who knows, these all might come into play when you visit Japan one day!

HOW TO BEHAVE AT A JAPANESE SHRINE, presented by Daishiro, Asuka and Tai

JAPANESE LUCKY CHARMS, presented by Ken, Ayaka and Hayami

JINBEI AND YUKATA, presented by Ryo and Natsuko

PRINT CLUB (“Purikura”), presented by Yuya, Hayato and Mei

SUMMER FESTIVALS, presented by Masato and Shoko

JAPANESE RICE, presented by Haruka and Karin

LUNCH BOXES, presented by Mai and Tomomi

POCKET TISSUES, presented by Shin (Nice shirt!) and Rie