The way to Hokkaido from Tokyo part 1

Hokkaido boasts its magnificent nature, tasty seafood and product and heartwarming people. Good seasons to visit there are late spring, whole summer and early autumn. The winter there is very harsh, though the Sapporo Snow Festival is very popular.

1) By train ( Honestly not recommended unless you have the JR Pass.)



a) Connections from Tokyo to Sapporo



Larger table


b) Connections from Sapporo to Tokyo



Larger table

Legend:
Hayate: Tohoku Shinkansen Hayate ( All seats are reserved on this train.)
S.Hakucho, or Hakucho: Limited express Super Hakucho, or Hakucho
Tsugaru: Limited express Tsugaru
S.Hokuto, or Hokuto: Limited express Super Hokuto, or Hokuto
Cassiopeia: Overnight sleeper limited express Cassiopeia ( This train caters to only two persons travelling together.)
Hokutosei: Overnight sleeper limited express Hokutosei
Hamanasu: Overnight express Hamanasu with sleeper carriages attached.


c) Prices

(1) Combination of Hayate, Hakucho and Hokuto in reserved seats

From Tokyo to	Full fare	Japan Rail Pass holders
Hakodate	18,750 yen	Free
Sapporo	22,78o yen	Free

Four bedded B class open compartment on Hamanasu and Hokutosei trains.

(2) Combination of Hayate, Tsugaru and Hamanasu

From Tokyo to	Full fare	Japan Rail Pass holders	Remarks
Hakodate in reserved seats	19,020	Free	Including the carpeted car compartment on Hamanasu
Sapporo in reserved seats	21,650 yen	Free	Including the carpeted car compartment on Hamanasu
Sapporo in reserved seats and berth	27,700 yen	7,560 yen	Sleeper berth on Hamanasu

Guidance of accommodation om Hamanasu ( photo images):

Photos provided by JR Hokkaido

- Sleeper berth: Upper left image in the link.
- Carpeted car semi compartment: Upper right image in the link
- Reserved seat called 'Dream Car': Lower left image in the link

(3) Travelling on Cassiopeia ( The entire train is designed for two persons travelling together.)

From Ueno to	Full fare	JR Pass holders	Remarks
Hakodate on Suite	42,370 yen	31,340yen	Prices are per person
Hakodate on Twin	30,230 yen	19,200yen	Prices are per person
Sapporo on Suite	44,460 yen	31,340yen	Prices are per person
Sapporo on Twin	32,320 yen	19,200yen	Prices are per person

Cassiopeia Suite images / The compartment is equipped with toilet, washing basin and shower.
Cassiopeia Twin images / The compartment is equipped with toilet and washing basin.
Images of Dining Car and Lounge Car

(4) Travelling on Hokutosei

From Ueno to	Full fare	JR Pass holders	Remarks
Sapporo in Royal	36,150 yen	23,030 yen	--
Sapporo in Twin Deluxe	32,320 yen	19,200 yen	Per person
Sapporo in Solo	25,270 yen	12,150 yen	--
Sapporo in Duet	25,270 yen	12,150 yen	Per person

Link to interior images provided by JR East

First photo: Outer image of the train
Second one: Compartment in Royal / Equipped with shower, toilet and wash basin.
Third one: Compartment in Twin Deluxe
Fourth one: Compartment in Duet
Fifth one: Compartment in Solo

The prices in the open compartment sleeper berth ( image above in this page) are same as in Solo.

(4) Discount unlimited travel ticket in Hokkaido with a return trip from Tokyo, named 'Gururi Hokkaido Kippu' or 'Unlimited travel ticket throughout Hokkaido'

This ticket entitles you to travel in the Solo or the open compartment berth on Hokutosei without surcharge, or the Shinkansen and limited express trains to get to Hokkaido from Tokyo. The open compartment berth on Hamanasu is also allowed to use.
Once you are in Hokkaido, you can use this ticket like the JR Pass.

Prices from Tokyo:
45,200 yen ( between July and September)
35,700 yen ( other months than above)

Blackout periods:
27 April to 6 May, 11 August to 20 August and 28 December to 6 January

Validity: 5 days, however if you take the Hokutosei on the 5th day from Sapporo, the ticket is valid until the final stop, Ueno on the 6th day.

Notice in Japanese

(5) Hokkaido and East Japan Pass, valid only on local, rapid trains and in the non-reserved section of the express Hamanasu.

Price: 10,000 yen
Validity: 5 days on local and rapid trains, non-reserved seat in Hamanasu in JR East, Hokkaido, Hokuetsu Kyuko Line, Aoimori Line and IGR Line

Sales periods:
Summer: 27 June to 11 September 2008
Winter: 23 November 2008 to 21 January 2009

Travel periods:
Summer: 11 July to 15 September 2008
Winter: 28 November 2008 to 25 January 2009

Connection search:
Hyperdia
I'd show model connections sometime.

Access to Takayama

Takayama is a small charming plaza famous for its well-preserved quarter with Edo-style streets, surrounded by mountains.
This time I feature access info to Takayama from various places in Japan.





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Index on this page ( Links to each item )

A-1) From Tokyo by Shinkansen Hikari (Nozomi) and limited express Wideview Hida via Nagoya

A-2) Connecting trains list from Western Japan (until Nagoya, in conjunction with Hida trains)

A-3) To Tokyo by limited express Wideview Hida and Shinkansen Hikari via Nagoya

A-4) Connecting trains list to Western Japan (from Nagoya, in conjunction with Hida trains)

A-5) Full fare chart (Hikari or Kodama in reserved seats)

B-1) Shinjuku (Tokyo) -- Takayama bus service

B-2) Osaka -- Takayama bus service

B-3) Nagoya -- Takayama bus service

B-4) Matsumoto -- Takayama bus service

C) Access to Shirakawago/Kanazawa from Takayama



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A) By train


1) From Tokyo by Shinkansen Hikari (Nozomi) and limited express Wideview Hida via Nagoya. Basically the Japan Rail Pass applicable all the way.

Tokaido Shinkansen					Limited express Hida			--
Tokyo	Shinagawa	Odawara	train#	Nagoya arr	Nagoya dep	train#	Takayama	Remarks
--	6:00	--	N99	7:29	7:43	Hida1	10:04	JR pass inapplicable on N99
6:26	6:34	7:04	H501	8:21	8:43	3	10:52	--
7:33	7:40	8:09	H503	9:21	9:43	5	12:13	--
8:33	8:40	--	H505	10:21	10:48	7	13:07	--
9:33	9:40	10:09	H507	11:21	11:48	9	14:16	--
10:33	10:40	--	H509	12:21	12:48	11	15:17	--
12:33	12:40	--	H513	14:21	14:48	13	17:08	--
13:33	13:40	14:09	H515	15:21	15:48	15	18:20	--
15:33	15:40	16:09	H519	17:21	17:48	17	20:15	--
17:33	17:40	18:09	H523	19:21	19:43	19	22:07	--

Train names:
N; Shinkansen Nozomi
H; Shinkansen Hikari
Hida; limited express Wideview Hida

In order to take Nozomi99, you need to pay the full fare even if you have a JR pass.
Shinagawa to Nagoya: 10,780 yen in a reserved seat

Schedules at Tokyo, Shinagawa and Odawara: departures
Schedules at Takayama: arrivals




2) Connecting trains list from Western Japan (until Nagoya, in conjunction with Hida trains)

Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen									Ltd Exp. Hida
Hakata	HIJ	OKJ	train#	Himeji	S.OSA	Kyoto	train#	NGO arr	NGO dep	Takayama
--	--	--	--	--	6:27	6:42	H506	7:32	7:43	10:04
--	--	6:03	H460	6:36	7:13	7:29	->	8:21	8:43	10:52
--	--	--	--	Osaka 7:59 (8:02)*1	8:03(07)*1	8:31(34)*1	Hida25	--	--	12:13*2
--	6:22	7:33	H540	7:54/7:59	8:40	8:56	H464	9:32	9:43	12:13
6:04	7:14	7:59	H542	8:23/8:59	9:40	9:56	H466	10:32	10:48	13:07
7:04 (H544)	8:14 (H544)	8:57(H544) /9:26	H468	9:59	10:40	10:56	->	11:32	11:48	14:16
8:37	9:48	10:30	H548	10:51/10:59	11:40	11:56	H470	12:32	12:48	15:17
10:37	11:48	12:30	H556	12:51/12:59	13:40	13:56	H474	14:32	14:48	17:08
11:37	12:48	13:30	H560	13:51/13:59	14:40	14:56	H476	15:32	15:48	18:20
13:35	14:48	15:33	H564	15:51/15:59	16:40	16:56	H480	17:32	17:48	20:15
15:04	16:15	16:58	H568	passage	17:44/18:40	18:56	H484	19:32	19:43	22:07

*1: ( ) stands for departures on weekends.
*2: Hida25 runs from Osaka to Takayama directly.

Legend:
HIJ; Hiroshima
OKJ; Okayama
S.OSA; Shin-Osaka
NGO; Nagoya
H; Shinkansen Hikari
/; arrival/departure ( Transfer possible on the same platform at Himeji )

All schedules are departures except for ones at Takayama and Himeji(arrivals).




3) To Tokyo by limited express Wideview Hida and Shinkansen Hikari via Nagoya. The Japan Rail Pass is applicble on all the trains below.

Limited express Hida			Tokaido Shinkansen					--
Takayama	train#	Nagoya arr	Nagoya dep	train#	Odawara	Shinagawa	Tokyo	Remarks
6:50	Hida2	9:13	9:22	H462	10:35	11:03	11:10	--
8:07	Hida4	10:32	11:22	H512	12:35	13:03	13:10	--
9:37	Hida6	12:01	12:22	H514	--	14:03	14:10	--
11:35	Hida8	14:01	14:22	H518	--	16:03	16:10	--
12:43	Hida10	15:01	15:22	H520	16:35	17:03	17:10	--
13:38	Hida12	16:01	16:22	H522	--	18:03	18:10	--
14:40	Hida14	17:01	17:22	H524	18:35	19:03	19:10	--
15:36	Hida16	18:01	18:22	H526	--	20:03	20:10	--
16:43	Hida18	19:01	19:22	H528	20:35	21:03	21:10	--
18:42	Hida20	21:01	21:22	H532	--	23:02	23:10	--

Train names:
H; Shinkansen Hikari
Hida; limited express Wideview Hida

Schedules are all arrivals except for ones at Takayama, unless specified (Nagoya).


4) Connecting trains list to Western Japan (from Nagoya, in conjunction with Hida trains)

Ltd Exp. Hida		Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen
Taka dep	NGO arr	NGO dep	train#	Kyoto	S.OSA	Himeji	train#	OKJ	HIJ	Hakata
6:50	9:13	9:47	K633	10:38	10:53/10:59	passage	H557	11:45	12:28	13:40
8:07	10:32	10:47	K637	11:38	11:53/11:59	passage	H561	12:45	13:28	14:39
9:37	12:01	12:11	H467	12:48	13:03	13:47/13:52	H565	14:13	14:54	16:06
11:35	14:01	14:11	H471	14:48	15:03	15:47/15:52	H571	16:13	16:54	18:06
12:43	15:01	15:11	H473	15:48	16:03	16:47/16:52	H573	17:13	17:54	19:06
13:38	16:01	16:11	H475	16:48	17:03	17:47/17:52	H577	18:13	18:54	20:06
14:40	17:01	17:11	H477	17:48	18:03	18:47/18:52	H581	19:13	19:54	21:05
15:36	18:01	18:11	H479	18:48	19:03	19:49	->	20:26	--	--
15:36	--	--	Hida36	19:22	19:46/19:59	passage	H585	20:45	21:28	22:40
16:43	19:01	19:11	H481	19:48	20:03	20:47	->	21:15	--
--	--	--	--	--	20:59 dep	21:29	H587	21:50	22:34	23:48
18:42	21:01	21:22	H527	22:14	22:30/22:38	23:20	K787	23:47	--	--

Legend:
Taka; Takayama
NGO; Nagoya
S.OSA; Shin-Osaka
OKJ; Okayama
HIJ; Hiroshima
H; Shinkansen Hikari
K; Shinkansen Kodama
Hida; Limited express Wideview Hida
/; arrival/departure ( Transfer possible on the same platform at Himeji )

Hida36 runs directly from Takayama to Osaka.

All schedules are arrivals except for ones at Takayama, Nagoya, Shin-Osaka and Himeji(departures).


5) Full fare chart (Hikari or Kodama in reserved seats)

Segment	One way price: yen
Takayama -- Tokyo, Shinagawa	14,300
Takayama -- Odawara	12,410
Takayama -- Nagoya	5,870
Takayama -- Kyoto	9,680
Takayama -- Shin-Osaka	10,310
Takayama -- Himeji	12,200
Takayama -- Okayama	14,300
Takayama -- Hiroshima	16,410
Takayama -- Hakata	19,980

B) By bus


1) Shinjuku (Tokyo) -- Takayama

Timetable chart

Shinjuku	Takayama	in operation
7:00	12:30	seasonal
8:00	13:30	all year round
9:00	14:30	all year round
14:30	20:05	all year round
16:00	21:35	all year round
23:00	5:30	seasonal

Takayama	Shinjuku	in operation
6:30	12:00	all year round
8:00	13:30	all year round
13:30	19:00	all year round
14:30	20:00	seasonal
15:30	21:00	all year round
16:30	22:00	seasonal

Price: One way; 6,500 yen, return; 11,700 yen (7-day validity)
Contact #s to book:
Keio Bus: (03)5376-2222
Nohi Bus: (0577)32-1688


2) Osaka -- Takayama

OCAT	Umeda	Takayama
8:10	8:35	13:23
16:30	16:55	21:43

Takayama	Umeda	OCAT
7:00	11:56	12:21
15:20	20:05	20:25

Price: one way: 5,500 yen, return: 9,900 yen
Contact #s to book:
Nohi Bus: (0577)32-1688
Kintetsu Bus: (06)6772-1631
* Purchase the ticket by 4 days prior to departure after making a telephone booking.


3) Nagoya -- Takayama

Nagoya Station	Takayama
7:35	10:15
8:35	11:15
9:35	12:15
10:35	13:15
13:05	15:45
14:35	17:15
16:05	18:45
17:35	20:15
20:35	23:15

Takayama	Nagoya Station
6:30	9:10
8:00	10:40
10:30	13:10
12:00	14:40
14:00	16:40
15:00	17:40
16:00	18:40
17:30	20:10
19:00	21:40

Price: one way; 2,900 yen, return; 5,000 yen (4-day validity)
Contact #s to book:
Meitetsu Bus: 052-582-0489
Nohi Bus: (0577)32-1688
You can also purchase the ticket at a ticket counter in any JR stations, or major travel agencies e.g. JTB.





4) Matsumoto - Takayama

Link to alpico site



C) Access to Shirakawago/Kanazawa from Takayama

Bus timetable between Takayama and Shirakawago / Kanazawa




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