How to take the Bullet Train (Shinkansen) in Japan
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- čas přidán 12. 12. 2018
- Join me on the shinkansen from Osaka to Tokyo in Japan, and see what it's like at 200mph!
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Plus: how to take the bullet train - I'll show you the signs (in English as well as Japanese!), what to look for and how to catch your train.
- How to make reservations
- Which bullet trains you can use with a JR Pass (Japan Rail Pass)
- How to find the shinkansen in the station
- Types of train (Nozomi, Hikari, Kodama, etc)
- Ekiben (train lunchboxes) and where to find them
- What it's like on the bullet train in Japan
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#shinkansen #bullettrain #japantravel
The shinkansen must be the safest form of transport in the world over 10 billion passengers zero fatalities.
It really is amazing - can't believe it's been running in Japan for so long when it seems so futuristic!
Thank you the info on the suitcases. I’ve been scouring videos on where to park the suitcases on Shinkansen and yours is one of the only ones that show it clearly. Great help.
Haha, glad to help! :-) I actually have a photo of my suitcase by my knees as well, as it's something people ask me about!!
Great video!God bless Japan.I am Polish. Japan saved 765 Polish orphans in 1920 and 1922. Around 1920, there were about 200,000 Polish in Siberia. Most of them died. Poland has asked various countries to save Polish orphans in Siberia. But all countries refused to rescue. Poland finally commissioned Japan to rescue Polish orphans. The Japanese emperor and empress at the time immediately ordered the Japanese to save the Polish orphans.Japan soon began rescue Polish orphans.The orphan was in Siberia. Japanese continued to rescue Polish orphans in Siberia. The smallest orphan that Japan saved was a two-year-old child.The orphan was crying near her dead mother. The Japanese immediately rescued the orphan. Polish orphans were sent to Japan for treatment. Japan fed the Polish orphans a hot meal every day. All Polish orphans have recovered. Japan continued to love Polish orphans very much. All Japanese donated money to save Polish orphans. Polish orphans were always smiling. Japan has successfully returned 765 Polish orphans to Poland.
I will not forget this story. Thanks to Japan. God bless Japan.
What has it to do with this movie?
I was amazed with these trains. Loved my trips from tokyo to Kyoto. Kyoto to Hiroshima and back all the way. Best way to get around. Jr pass all the way
It makes it so easy to get around doesn't it? Great that you can go on day trips to places so far away. :-)
This will be really helpful when I go back to Japan. Thank you
Hope you can go somewhere on a shinkansen, it's a great experience! :-)
This video was so helpful! Thank you so much for all of the little tips too 😊
Thanks! I wanted to answer all the questions I had before I first went on it :-)
Glad I watched the whole video because the question I had was about my luggage and what to do with it. I didn't even think of not knowing where the reservation office was so thank you. Most ppl talk about the ekiben, but not much in the way of saving them; that'd make a nice souvenir.
There are also luggage forwarding services but you have to pay for them, so I've always carried mine with me - just leave plenty of time for travelling through busy stations with your suitcases! (And time for choosing which ekiben to get!) I'm tempted by the kids ones that come in a plastic shinkansen... :-)
I’ve been on a bullet train from Nagono to Tokyo it’s so amazing!! Journey is 75-80 mins long each way our 125 miles went in May 2018!!
That really is amazing! I'd love to visit Nagano one day! (Hokkaido next for me!) :-)
Really enjoyed this video and perfect information for booking a shinkansen I feel I could easily do it now lol thanks amy appreciate all the info you provide 😀👍
Thanks, mission accomplished for me then! :-) It's a great experience going on the bullet train.
A very enjoyable and useful video. Thank you.
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! :-)
Really enjoyed your video, and yes this is a brilliant train, my second time to japan this september, and first time on this amazing train,
my son and I traveled from Tokyo to Osaka and beyond, loads of photography, and meet my friend from facebook, can't wait to return.
Glad you enjoyed it! I'll always want to go back too, I keep discovering new places to go!
Thanks for the cool video. Shinkansen looks exactly the same 10 years later. That's dedication.
Never seen dedication like in Japan - where things are kept running so smoothly.
Just rode the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Osaka...so A W E S O M E ! ! ! Thanks for your vid! :)
Glad you enjoyed it! Have an amazing time in Osaka, I loved it there!
る
Green car is amazing.
Guests can enjoy a more comfortable trip.
I'd love to try the green car! Even regular class is so much better than trains in the UK :-)
ROMANIA BULLET TRAIN SITE www.softrans.ro
Thank you for Video about Tokyo!!!
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!
I'm lucky enough to have ride these very cool trains last year (thanks JR Pass!), and I have to say I'm mighty impressed by them! 300+ kph and you feel almost NOTHING! So smooth....
Also a little note that although the JR Pass is not valid for the fastest service on the Tokaido Shinkansen (Nozomi and Mizuho), they are valid for the fastest service on other lines (like Kagayaki on Hokuriku Shinkansen or Hayabusa on Tohoku/Hokkaido Shinkansen). Hayabusa even tops out at 320 kph which is even faster than Nozomi!
They're amazing aren't they! I'm looking forward to taking the Hayabusa to Hokkaido this year - I'll definitely be making a video about it :-)
@@cakeswithfaces Plenty of good stuff in Hokkaido.... And I'm looking forward for the video! :)
@@mrhadytama It'll be my first time there - I'm going to the snow festival!
@MR Hadytama super cool, they essentially float on a pocket of air so there’s minimal friction / drag.
I’ll be in Tokyo on early February 2019 for 3 days & would travel to Osaka for 2 days .. that means Shinkansen way .. thanks for the tips .. kind a handy
Good plan! I went to Osaka for the first time this year and absolutely loved it! (Videos on my channel if you haven't seen them already) You can also visit Kyoto easily from Osaka (less than 15 mins). Enjoy your Japlanning! :-)
We hope your travel of Japan should be nice and pleasant! Bon Voyage!!
素晴らしいレポートです😌💓
ありがとうございました! :-)
ROMANIA BULLET TRAIN SITE www.softrans.ro
I like your hair color and thanks for introducing about Japanese sinkansen :)
Thank you! It's an amazing experience.
I love eating ekiben, its a unique experience, and there are hundreds of different types to choose from, regional ones are unique, some are seasonal and special one off ones
It's so hard to decide which to pick when there are so many! They're like presents! :-)
If anyone out there is anxious about riding these trains, don't be. Once you've done so you may well wonder why your own train system at home isn't as good, simple and straight forward as the Japan bullet train system. I know I did.
All the trains I've been on in Japan have been so much cleaner, on time and pleasant to be on than trains in the UK (where we pay an extortionate amount for tickets!)
echoespaul density and lack of surrounding wealthy countries to pool resources from
Wellcome to japan❗️
I didn't see those forms to reserve seats on the Shinkansen the last time I was there (2017). Thanks for the heads up!
They don't have them at every station, but it does help make sure you get the right train! :-)
EKIBEN must buy!!👍
The hard bit is deciding which one to get...! :-)
I went to Japan round trip on April 2019 for 18 days.
I was visit in Tokyo, Hiroshima, Himeji, Kyoto, Osaka.
But, this year end of November, I must go back and visit some new place Kamakura, Nikko, Nara and of corse I must see again Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka.
If you have opportunity, go back you too, and visit some new place in Japan.
I know that feeling - no matter how many times I go, I always want to go back to Japan! So many places to explore! Enjoy planning your next trip!
聞きやすい英語ですね！
ありがたいです！
Your English is easy to hear！
ありがとうございました! どういたしまして
ROMANIA BULLET TRAIN SITE www.softrans.ro
I always enjoy your uploads. Your uploads are informative as well as fun to watch. As for eki-ben, are there vegetarian friendly bentos? Your plum onigiri looks just delicious, too (I love ume-onigiris)!
Thanks so much! :-) The only vegetarian ekiben is at Kyoto Station unfortunately! That's why I had the onigiri - but I did try some bits and pieces from the ekiben - they're quite big so there's enough to share. You can usually find regular bentos at the convenience store, etc that are vegetarian friendly.
If you like ume flavour, look out for this "Gohan ni Mazete" furikake rice seasoning - it's delicious! www.tanaka-foods.co.jp/en/img/items/gohan_ni_mazete/pic02.jpg
@@cakeswithfaces Thank you!
Interesting! Informative!
Thanks
I’m really excited to go on this train this summer!! I am going on an exchange field trip to Moka city japan
That’ll be great! Have an amazing time!
Cakes with Faces thank you
I would have a blast if I could ride The Shinkansen.
It's a great experience, hope you can make it there one day! :-)
@Southy Ah that'll be great! I wanted to see the volcano near there and the Unzen Hells!
@Southy Wow that'll be a really moving trip. I haven't been to Nagasaki but in Hiroshima I found it strange to know you're exactly where it happened, especially as I was there on such a beautiful sunny day. So if you have a connection through your family I'm sure it'll be even more meaningful.
THANX 4 INFO!!!!!
Glad you enjoyed it, hope we can travel again safely one day soon! :-)
Woow nice content! I’m subscribing to ur channel 💃🏽
Thank you! Enjoy the videos! :-)
Thank you for visit Japan and great report!
The word "Naniwa-meshi"(浪速-飯) written on your lunchbox means "Osaka's lunchbox".
"Naniwa" The origin is "Naniwa ward" in Osaka city but now it means a word that refers the whole of Osaka.
Ah interesting! Thank you, I had no idea what it meant! :-)
Beautiful video of Japan which unfortunately I didn't visit. But thanks to CZcams my interest will increase.
Glad I can share it with you through my videos! :-)
Cakes with Faces Nice knowing you. I want to improve my knowledge of Japan as much as possible. 🇯🇵
Japan so sophisticated
It’s high tech in some ways (like the bullet train etc) but not so much in other ways - they still use fax machines in Japan!
For Japan Rail Pass holders: if you make a seat reservation on the Sanyo Shinkansen between Osaka and Fukuoka, the reserved seats are 2+2 instead of 3+2. This is mainly on the Sakura trains and is the equivalent of Green Car seating on most other Shinkansen trains. Because reservations are free, you get a more comfortable seat at no additional cost.
Good tip, thank you!
Disciplin, Order and Cleanliness, and Responsibily are strong in Japan. Good perfor
mance in Japan, we don,t have in Europa and USA or South America too! Japan is
a Country of Disciplin, extremely important performance of single day on any place!
Good vid girl, them window shots you did almost made it look like you were on a jet airplane.
Between those window shots and the speed of the train she might aswell have been on a jet plane, lol
Haha yes! The windows do look just like a plane :-)
Must give it a try when I go there
My wife and I got JR passes on our first visit to Japan. If you plan to go round trip between Tokyo and Osaka or Kyoto the 7-day pass pays for itself, plus you can use any JR trains including the Shinkansen an unlimited number of times. You can even hop on any non-express Shinkansen without tickets! Just hop on and off the non-reservation cars and you can take a day trip on a whim. If you're in Kyoto or Osaka I highly recommend checking out Himejijo, the gorgeous castle!
It's really good isn't it - I think people who live in Japan are jealous of the JR Pass as it's such great value compared to individual tickets. Thanks for the recommendation! I'll be going to north Japan next, to Hokkaido :-)
@@cakeswithfaces I'm SO jealous! Not only would I love to visit Hokkaido, but I'd love to take the train there! I've heard it's a little complicated getting to Sapporo since the Shinkansen only reaches the southern tip of Hokkaido and then you have to switch to local trains, but I'm sure it'll be a scenic and peaceful trip. Enjoy - I can't wait to see your videos!
@@briandemodulated Apparently the section in Hokkaido once you get to the end of the shinkansen takes as long as the whole journey from Tokyo! We're stopping off on the way there and one the way back to see a few more places and break up the trip. It's the -10 degrees that I'm nervous about!!
I feel silly asking but how big are your suitcases? We're staying in multiple cities throughout our trip meaning lots of Shinkansen trips and I have been worrying about lack of space for cases on trains. Your videos are helping me out so much with my planning 😊 x
I think they're just regular sized suitcases. We have one of the largest size and one medium. Both fit in front of your knees (there's lots of legroom!). If you're lucky you can get that spot at the back of the carriage on the shinkansen, behind the last seats. On regular trains like the Tokyo metro, just take your time - I usually stand with my suitcase and try to keep out of the way of other people as much as possible.
Since I made this video there's a new rule about booking and paying for your luggage on certain shinkansen routes: matcha-jp.com/en/7887?type=news
Thanks! a super helpful video! Have you ever been to the Ueno park and the Swann boats? 😍
Yes! I've seen the swan boats but not been on them! They have them at Inokashira Park too, in Kichijoji near the Studio Ghibli Museum :-)
世界の人々は好奇心に溢れている。新幹線もいいが地方に本当の日本がある。青森にいらっしゃい。ネブタも三味線も十和田湖も八甲田も岩木山も「だげきみ」も、もちろんリンゴもある一度来て見てごらん。津軽三味線をききながら！
There are so many places in Japan I'd like to visit!
きれいなロイヤルイングリシュですね。何度も聴いてしまいました。Thank you for through guidance about Shnkansen. I like to listen to your clear royal english
ありがとう! I'm glad you could understand it well! :-) 英語がじょうずです!
goodvideo! great great great
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!
I would love to visit Japan - someday in the future
Hope you can make it one day, I love it there! :-)
We look forward to meeting you!!
Hi Amy, love the videos, just wanted to ask me and my GF are going to Japan for the end of 2020 into 2021 and will be flying into Osaka first for a few days and then taking the shinkansen to Tokyo the day before new year's eve, how early would you recommend we reserve our tickets for the shinkansen inadvance due to it being a very busy time of year, would be be okay getting them the day before we take it or would we be better off getting the tickets the day we land or even before we arrive? Many thanks keep up the good work :)
I'd say at least the day before. Trains are very frequent on that route so even if the one you want is booked up, it shouldn't be too much trouble to get one at a similar time, but it is a busy time of year. If you know what time you want to go, you might as well reserve at a convenient time when you get there, when you happen to be at JR station.
Hi, during 1st week of May Holiday in Japan, are the malls and shops open? I'm kinda nervous, that entire week, we'll be in tokyo. And we're planning to go to all the famous shrines, disney sea and shops. 😭 I had no idea about the golden week.
Shops and restaurants will be open but it will be busy, especially in touristy places. Banks might be closed so make sure you have enough cash with you. Trains will probably be busy so allow extra time for that. I don't think Tokyo's as bad as Kyoto, etc. And I've heard from people who've been during Golden Week that they enjoyed seeing the special festivals, etc. Have a great time! :-)
Cakes with Faces Thank You sooooo much! Happy Holidays! 🥳😄
@@clongt7926 You too!! :-)
Hey lovely, LOVE your videos, we are heading to japan in match/april and have a lot of train journeys to make, we plan to get a JR pass, but how and where do we / can we book our trains in advance? because weve got quite a tight schedule during busy season im eager to have trains pre booked (or is reserved - i dont quite get how the JR pass works) - do you know, if we book it all in advance where / how we would get our tickets? ...and last little thing, - for smaller journeys like osaka airport to kyoto for example, do you think we can just turn up and get something? Your series is amazing BTW!!!
Thanks! For smaller journeys you’ll be fine just turning up, but for longer distance and bullet train trips it’s best to reserve. If you’re travelling with JR East (north of Tokyo) you can reserve online, otherwise you have to wait till you get to Japan. You can reserve as soon as you have your JR pass. Go to the travel service centre or ticket office (Midori no Madoguchi) in a JR station. They’ll make the reservations for you and you’ll get a slip of card for each reservation. There’s no charge to reserve, and you can make all your reservations at once if you want to (use Hyperdia to check times). I’ve even made reservations when I’ve turned up at the station to get the train - however it’s better to reserve earlier if possible because sometimes they’ve been booked up when I left it that late. The night before was usually ok, but that wasn’t in peak cherry blossom season. Hope that helps!
@@cakeswithfaces Really appreciate such detailed answers. Super helpful. Love your channel and love your hair :-)
@@TheBackpackingFamily Thanks! Happy to help - have an amazing trip!! :-)
JR Kyushu is the best🇯🇵😍
I travelled with them when I stayed in Fukuoka! We went to Kagoshima, Beppu and a few places around the city (videos on my channel if you want to reminisce!).
Loved this video, thank you! I can't wait to go on a proper shinkansen, I've only been on the one that takes you to and from Narita airport. Do you know if you can get ekiben for those trains? I didn't see any when I was there...
Ah I know the one! I was amazed that before they let us get on, a team of people went through and cleaned the whole train meticulously! You can only get ekiben at shinkansen stations so I don't think you'd find one for the Narita Express (unless you can sneak into the shinkansen section at Tokyo Station!).
Hi amy..another fantastic video...looks like you had a blast..,, 200 mph and swivel seats !!!.thats not a train....its more like a starship, lol
@@stephaniemckeever3943 Haha yes, super futuristic! :-)
Its amazing how far japan has come in a relatively short time.
Thank you for making this video! Can we book Nozomi tickets online in advanced ? Is it hard to get them last minute at the station?
You can only book JR East shinkansen online (between Tokyo and Hokkaido) - you might be able to in Japanese but not in English. You can get them at the station - availablility depends on your route and when you're travelling. I've mostly been ok making reservations when I arrive at the station but it's advisable to book the night before if you can, especially if you want to sit together. Remember that if you have a JR Pass it's not valid on the Nozomi.
When you make reservations, does it have to be in person, or can you do it online ?
I've only ever reserved in person. You can reserve at any JR station.
However I think it's possible to reserve online for certain trains run by JR East (north of Tokyo). The others don't have english language online reservations so it'd be difficult unless you're good at Japanese. www.eki-net.com/pc/jreast-shinkansen-reservation/English/wb/common/Menu/Menu.aspx
Took the Hikari from Kyoto to Tokyo last month
Hope you enjoyed it! :-)
I love your hair 🥰🥰🥰
Thank you!! :-)
Hello again! So if I'm planning an overnight stay in Kyoto, should I purchase both a IC card (for getting around in Tokyo) and a JR pass?? Or will a JR pass cover both?
A JR Pass covers the JR trainlines in Kyoto (the lines run by Japan Railways - the stripy ones on this map: www.jrailpass.com/blog/getting-around-kyoto ). It doesn't cover the metro or lines run by other train companies.
So if you want to go on other trainlines you'll need either a day pass or an IC card.
Personally, I find an IC card easier (although not always the cheapest option if you're taking a lot of trains). It's valid for all trains, so you don't need to worry about whether your pass is valid or not on a particular line, and you don't have to go and buy tickets.
Hope that helps!
My partner and I travelled Japan via Shinkansen; but - as we were booked with the brilliant 'Cox & Kings' Travel Agency, we had a wonderful English-speaking Japanese guide, called Mako, in Tokyo; and he was able to do all our reservations for us, in one go! In return, we showed him Tokyo's amazing Roman Catholic Cathedral of St Mary, by the famous architect Kenzo Tange. He said he would offer it, in future, as an option on his itinerary. We use Shinkansen to travel all the way to Kagoshima, in the South; because I was desperate to see its famous volcano, Sakurajima. Be assured, your enthusiasm for the Shinkansen is shared by these two old English gits!
Glad you enjoyed it, sounds like you had an amazing trip! I went to Kagoshima once too - so exciting to be so close to an active volcano! At first I thought they were clouds around the top, not realising it's really smoking all the time!
Hey, thanks for the video! How long in advance would you recommend booking the train? I'm in Japan next week and need to get the shinkansen after a week from Kyoto to Tokyo. Could I get it on the day I travel? Thanks :)
I've booked them when I've arrived at the station to take the train. However sometimes the train I wanted was booked up and I had to take a later one, so if possible it's better to reserve a little in advance eg the night before. Have a great trip! :-)
@@cakeswithfaces thanks! Will do, can't wait!
Would you say Japan is generally expensive? I'm hoping to visit Tokyo next year and will need to budget for the trip. Also, how much did this journey cost?
Compared to the UK it isn't at all! Food is much less expensive than London, inner city trains are similar or slightly less, and long-ish distance trains usually aren't expensive either. This video might help (I filmed everything I spent for 3 days) czcams.com/video/0kkHrTQsi44/video.html The expensive part is the flights, hotel and Japan Rail Pass if you're getting one.
@@cakeswithfaces thanks for the info, it's been a dream of mine for years to go on the Shinkansen
@@shaunpierce4174 So glad you'll be going next year! I went on the Hyabusa recently, the fastest shinkansen up to Hokkaido. It was amazing watching the scenery change!
They even have little smoking rooms on the Nozomi shinkansen. I know, I know smoking is bad.. but still. Japan just wants to make all travelers happy 😊
Wow, I didn't think that would be allowed! Although Japan doesn't have a smoking ban in restaurants & bars either.
Smoking is bad? Oh no!
Seriously though, there are little smoking rooms everywhere I went in Tokyo. the hotel, airport and Disneyland all had one. Some restaurants seem to have smoke free hours around lunch time.
@@doncoleman4938 Was the Disneyland one themed like the smoking caterpillar in Alice in Wonderland? 😜
On the previous generation, they had separate smoking cars. It's just a few years ago, and some are still in service. Newer ones have the smoking room.
Yeah, I was surprised when I bought my tickets. The man in the station asked me if I would like a car with smoking area.
is it possible to buy shinkansen tickets in the ticket machine / midori no maguchi office for the future departure? i.e I buy the Tokyo-Osaka ticket on November 14th for the departure on November 17th?
Yes you can do that! :-)
How far in-advance can you book a bullet train ticket if you have a JR pass, I was planning to book a week before I travel as I will be going from Kyoto to Tokyo, 29th Dec and I know this is a busy time, due to new years celebrations. Thank you ! :)
I think that'll be fine - you'll be able to make the reservation at the ticket office of your nearest JR station (doesn't have to be the one you're travelling from). Good idea to get those reservations locked in if you know when you'll be travelling! :-)
Cakes with Faces wicked, thank you getting back to me. Love the videos super useful as always! :-)
@@madmax01992 Thank yous!! :-)
いつか新幹線に乗ってみたい！
recall that when I traveled in Europe, putting my luggage on the shelf as I usually do on Shinkansen,
when I had to get off then found that my luggage was gone.
I guess that the reason that foreigners do not put their luggage onto the shelf is for alert.
Sorry to hear that happened - did you manage to get your luggage back? In Europe crime levels are higher than in Japan. Here I wouldn't leave anything unattended, even for a moment, and in many places you need to be mindful of your pockets and your bag too in case someone steals something.
@@cakeswithfaces no sorry at all. the most important material I lost was cartoon for my kids as Xmas gift which is in English.
probably because of this, my son is very bad at his English test.( ´艸｀)
@@user-zu1ul9jw1w Oh no, it's horrible when things get stolen. Sorry to hear that.
@@cakeswithfaces no sorry at all.
Thank you for your kind words.
I'm planning to visit Japan someday and do you think shinkansen is also cheaper way to get from Tokyo all the way to Osaka as a backpacker??
It's the most convenient and quickest way, but not the cheapest (although if you get a Japan Rail Pass lots of other trains will be covered too). The cheapest is highway bus (takes 8 hours) or if you time your trip correctly to get a Seishun 18 ticket. It's a book of cheap tickets for local trains that's only available at certain times of the year. However by local trains it would take 9 hours with multiple changes.
Hey im thinking of taking the Shinkasen from osaka to tokyo. But i dont have a JR pass. Do you need it to get a ticket? I have a Suica card. Could I use that?
You can get tickets from the ticket office at a shinkansen station.If you'll be doing a return trip back to Osaka, or another long distance trip, it's probably worth getting a JR Pass. Shinkansen tickets are expensive, and a return trip from Osaka to Tokyo costs about the same as a JR Pass. Hope that helps! Enjoy your trip!
do they sell food/ekiben on the train as well? :0 i saw someone have a menu but they were in first class so not sure if that changes anything?
There's a food trolley on the shinkansen - I've even seen models of the shinkansen and dolls of the staff on it! :-) Haven't travelled first class (standard class is way better than most trains tbh!) so not sure about that. I tend to get food and snacks from the station as there's more choice. There's always an ekiben booth on the platform or somewhere in the shinkansen section of the station as you make your way to the platforms.
Really informative video, thank you :) I was wondering if you get a seat number when you reserve a ticket. I presumed you would have but then you said that you managed to get those seats at the back so is it just a specific carriage number you get on the ticket ? Thanks
Yes, when you reserve you get a little card with your carriage and seat number (and everyone does actually sit in their designated seats). There's an unreserved carriage for people who haven't made a reservation, but it can get full up so it's better to reserve if you can.
@@cakeswithfaces Thanks for replying and clearing that up
@@blairhirst6886 Happy to help! :-)
I hope ,UK will have SINKANSEN some day.
They're planning a high speed rail line to start in 2026 - we're way behind Japan!
Cakes with Faces but way smaller for now
High speed rail line ? , which country (company) is going to build that line ?
@@qjtvaddict I'm sure it won't be as efficient and on-time either!
@@yoshizen9267 It's called HS2 (in the UK) - there've been a lot of problems but it's planned to connect London with Manchester eventually (in 2033).
Do you know if there is more than one Shinkansen per day, travelling in May and wondering if there is timetable somewhere online?? Trying to figure out what time I have to be at station to get the bullet train. leaving Tokyo to Kyoto.
There are many shinkansen each day! :-) Between Tokyo and Kyoto they're really frequent, as much as every 15 minutes. The easiest way is to search for times on Hyperdia (all in English). If you'll be using a JR Pass, remember to tick the box so it doesn't show you Nozomi trains (they're the fastest ones and JR Passes aren't valid).
thank you so much, your videos are very helpful! Any videos on using SIM cards and pocket wifi tips?
@@cakeswithfaces
@@stevefaria Thanks! There's a bit about it in my trip planning checklist vid: czcams.com/video/OhbjDd8DqzQ/video.html I usually get a pocket wifi because you can connect more than one device to it.
We're going from I believe Tokyo Station to Nagano on January 17th, and then returning the 22nd. Would you recommend getting a JR East pass before coming to Tokyo, or just buy tickets when at Tokyo Station? Do we need to reserve them in advance? Thanks!
Check this, but I think the JR East pass is only valid for 5 days, so you'd need to come back on the 21st if you want to use it. It's only slightly more than the return trip on the shinkansen, so could save you money because it'll cover local JR line trains while you're there as well. A really good website for checking train times and prices is www.hyperdia.com/ If you're getting shinkansen tickets, I'd get them at least the day before if you can, just in case the train you want is fully booked.
Hope you get to visit the Yudanaka Snow Monkey Park, it's really beautiful up there.
If you plan to get JR East Tohoku Area Pass it's valid for 5 selected days of your choice between a 14 days period.
So you can potentially use it until 22nd by not using the JR Pass for few days in between.
From Nagano if you are going up the mountain in non JR line you won't be able to use JR East Pass anyways.
@@cakeswithfaces Great info, thanks! Do you know if we can buy shinkansen tickets a day before at the airport, or say the Shinjuku train station? We would leave from Tokyo Station to Nagano.
@@spencereng if you getting rail pass its better to get it from outside of Japan.
As far as I know only specific ticket hall at Narita sells JR Pass and it actually cost a few thousand Yen extra to buy in Japan.
Shinkansen for Nagano is from Tokyo station platform 24 if I remember correctly.
You will be taking the Asama shinkansen [Model E7 latest generation] to Nagano.
@@AshrakAhmed Ah I didn't realise they don't have to consecutive days, that makes it more useful! Thanks for the info! :-)
翻訳のテロップ流して欲しいな！✌️
ROMANIA BULLET TRAIN SITE www.softrans.ro
If you dont have a JR pass and want a return, how much are they?
It's about £200 for the return from Tokyo to Osaka or Kyoto - which is about the same as a 7 day JR Pass. So as a general rule you might as well get one if you're doing that return trip or more, because it'll cover other train journeys as well :-)
If you were traveling from Osaka to Tokyo, why is there a footage of Kumamoto (7:20) and google map showing you traveling in Kyushu (7:42)?
Well spotted! Yes, I also used some of my other shinkansen footage (I filmed a lot and wanted to show everything, not just that trip!).
Welcome to Japan :)
Did you enjoy your trip with Shinkansen?
I loved it! So comfortable, clean and amazing how fast it is. Looking forward to taking the shinkansen to Hokkaido next year!
英語が聞き取れなくて、落胆する。でも、日本語すら良く聞き取れないときがあるので、英語なら尚更じゃね。安心した。
いや、これ友人のアメリカ人に見せたら、かなりの早口だってさ。
だから落胆する事ないよ。
ROMANIA BULLET TRAIN SITE www.softrans.ro
The ekibens in stations are much better qualities than convini bentoes. Not only do they taste and are presented better, but also they use better ingredients too.
Yes, definitely! You can tell they're a lot fancier, especially in the work that goes into preparing the ingredients.
Just by chance you are from denmark? Or you are from the same country bjork is? Lol just curiousity :3 great vid!! Greetings from peru!!!
Haha no, I'm from the UK :-) I did sing "It's oh so quiet" by Bjork in a talent show once though....😝
U look a bit like her plus the hair. :3
英語チンプンカンプンだけど、日本の新幹線を宣伝してくれてありがとう、楽しんで帰って下さいね
ありがとうございます!
新幹線が好きです! :-)
This is Perfect. . I need to take the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Osaka ( staying a few nights there ) awesome video- thank you. I wanted to ask you if it was more economical to get a JR pass that covers the Shinkansen trip to Osaka before I go to Japan or while I'm there? Also if the Suica card or Pasmo is better ? I'll be staying in Japan for 10 days and staying at different hotels ? thanks for your help. sorry there are so many questions . :)
Sounds like a great plan - you'll love it! :-) If it's a return trip to Osaka, the JR Pass will definitely be worth it (it costs about the same as a return ticket, and you can use it for other train journeys too). You can save money by getting the 7 day rail pass, because you don't really need it for the days you're in Tokyo. It's only for foreigners, so buy it before you go to Japan.
Suica and Pasmo are basically the same thing - they both cover all the trains so it doesn't really make a difference. I've always got Suica because it has a cute penguin on it! :-)
Lots of ideas for things to do in Tokyo & Osaka in my other videos - enjoy your Japlanning!
If you're gonna ride the Shinkansen more than twice, a JR pass is more economical. As for Pasmo or Suica, they are practically the same. Though some convenience stores supports payments Suica cards more, plus some express train green cars requires a Suica card user(the green cars are like the business class section of trains, you still have to pay the extra fare to use it). I use a Suica card.
Thank you so much @@cakeswithfaces for your reply- sorry I am only seeing it now . I really appreciate you taking your time out to reply. I love your videos they are so informative . Some great advice . I can't wait to go.
Thank you @@inisipisTV I will get a Suica card and use it around Tokyo etc . I will also get a JR card . :)
@@moofiekins4307 Have a great trip!! :-)
いつも新幹線に乗ってるけど、大抵は寝てます＾＾
面白い動画をありがとうございます！チャンネル登録しました！
I'm always on the bullet train, but I usually sleep
Thank you for the funny video! Subscribed to the channel!
Thank you! Enjoy the videos! I love the bullet train :-)
When buying a JR pass, it asks for a date of arrival, is that when the pass is valid from, or can you start to use it later in your trip? We've want to head over to Kyoto and Osaka mid trip for a few days, would we purchase it for our arrival or when we plan to travel? would rather not have to pay for the 14day pass if we don't need it x
When you pick the pass up, you can choose when you want to activate it. You don't have to have the pass for the whole duration of your trip - so you can often get away with a 7 day pass for a 14 day trip if you're spending a few days in Tokyo at the start/end! You only need it for the period when you'll be travelling long distance between cities.
@@cakeswithfaces Thank you 😊
Awesome I have some videos on the (Shinkansen) but not as good as yours
I love going on the shinkansen, it's so fast and easy to get around :-)
should I purchase them in advance? 2 days ? a week before hand?
Depends when and where you're going. I made my reservations the night before if possible. On other occasions I made them when I arrived at the station to take my train - however in some cases they were fully booked and I had to take a later train that I wanted, so I'd recommend the day before if possible, or earlier if it's a busy time.
My girlfriend and me will fly to Japan next year. We will buy the railpass. Now to my question. Are we allowed to enter the Shinkansen without reservation or is there a Person in the entrance we have to show our JR railpass? And my second question is, is it allowed to stand in die Middle of the Train for maybe 30 Minutes without any seat?
Thanks a lot and greetings from Germany
Hi! When you go through the ticket barriers you have to show them your JR Rail Pass. You don't have to make a reservation. There's a carriage just for unreserved seats. It's also fine to make your reservation when you get to the station to take your train (it doesn't need to be in advance or the day before) - however I've found that sometimes the train you want can be fully booked. Yes, you can stand - the area between carriages would probably be best. Most people don't because they're travelling long distance but I know they do sell standing tickets (for people without a JR Pass) if all the seats are fully booked, so it's allowed! :-) Hope that helps! Enjoy your Japlanning!
Some of them you do need to reserve seats. You can reserve seats for free though with the jr pass. Sometimes you can book tickets up to half an hour before. I went in november, I got on one of the bullet trains and they told me the train was completely for reservations only. They let me ride anyway (I was only on for one or two stops) but I felt like a tool...
@@cakeswithfaces Thanks a lot it will Help us :) We are planning to go from tokyo to kyoto, than later to osaka. One Daytrip to Hiroshima and Nara. I think the journey to Hiroshima will be long enough so we have to book our seats. Thanks again.
Yes it's always best to reserve if you can - it doesn't even have to be that far in advance if you want to keep your plans flexible.
You can travel standing, I had that experience coming down from Hiroshima to Osaka on a 5:30 PM Sakura service which was full of salaryman returning home.
if you didn't reserve seat and taking the chance then get in on the non-reserved compartment. Standing passengers tends to travel on those carriages, also gives you chance of getting a seat when someone gets off.
Hey girlie, can you give some tips and advices on what size luggage I should bring for a 2 weeks trip? I heard alot of bring only a carry on, because there is no room for luggage on the trains or bus
I take a normal full-sized suitcase and a backpack or mini suitcase as carry-on, the same as I would on any other trip. I think it'd be difficult to take only a carry-on sized bag for a 2 week trip (unless you're very good at packing light and don't want to buy anything!).
It can be a little difficult walking through the stations with your suitcase but keep calm and leave yourself plenty of time and it'll be ok. At off-peak times the train's fine and not that crowded, but it can be difficult during rush hour when it's busy (I speak from experience!), so avoid that if you can. But it's possible!
One thing to note is if you're travelling on the shinkansen from May onwards, they've introduced a new system where you have to book and pay for your luggage: matcha-jp.com/en/7887?type=news
@@cakeswithfaces hey girlie! Thanks for your advice. Me and my bf are flying out of Los Angeles on March 14. He insisted on packing light and just trying to find a laundromat over there to do our laundry. Or buy another suitcase if we end up shopping alot. It's our first time going to japan, so I'm quite nervous about everything from purchasing jr pass to luggage =)
@@bbystarx3 I was nervous the first time I went too! :-) Have you seen my Japlanning series? It might help :-) czcams.com/play/PL-YXkErUfa4mVX6YOhO0lNQgBndxjOFBV.html
if you get a japan railway pass do you need to buy a shinkansen ticket?
No, just get the JR Pass and you can go on as many shinkansen as you like without buying tickets! You can reserve seats - not compulsory but a good idea if you know when you'll be travelling, to make sure you get seats together, especially if it's a popular route.
Welcome to Japan!!!!!
Thank you! I'll be going to Hokkaido for the first time this year! :-)
I was born and raised in Hokkaido. Honestly, Hokkaido is....nothing compared to Tokyo. In Japan, Hokkaido is famous for the food and nature but that's it. Sapporo is the only city to be considered as ok city. The other cities are meh...so, Hokkaido &Tokyo or Hokkaido&Osaka trip...etc is much better, I think. Sorry I had to say this.
19 Sho I’m sure it’s not as exciting if you’ve always lived there. :-) I’m looking forward to exploring a new region of Japan (and I’ll be going to Tokyo again too!) - I’m sure it’s completely different.
Thank you for the reply! Though I wrote negative comment, I hope you will have wonderful time in Japan :)
@@19sho33 Thank you, that's very kind of you! :-)
Can you please tell me if the Japan Rail Pass is worth it?
If your going between Tokyo and Osaka you can get the Nozomi tickets for around the same price, if your going to Hokkaido or using the Shinkansen 3 or more times get the pass
Thank you for your video, I loved it. I'm planning going to Japan next year with a tour group, but the thing is the tour starts at Tokyo and ends at Osaka, and my return flight is from Tokyo. The tour doesn't use a JR PASS and I have to find a way to return to Tokyo (Narita Airport to be specific), I've been looking some information about the Japanese train transportation and it's quite difficult for me to understand because we don't have this kind of transportation in my country. So what I think is the fastest and better option is taking the Nozomi line, but I don't know if I can buy the ticket in advanced or do I have to buy the ticket the day that I leave Osaka to Tokyo and finally I know that the train departs from Shin Osaka Station but don't know which station is the nearest to Narita Airport.
Hi Mayra! Yes - take the shinkansen from Shin-Osaka to Tokyo Station. You might as well get the Nozomi because it's fastest and there's not much price difference for the slower services.
From Tokyo Station, take the Narita Express (N'Ex) to Narita Airport: www.jreast.co.jp/e/nex/
There are cheaper ways to get to the airport (cheaper trains and coaches - they're in my How to Get Around Tokyo video - link in the description), but the Narita Express is easiest, it's only for the airport so won't be full of commuters, etc, and there's space for your luggage.
You can buy the tickets from the ticket office (like the one in the video) at a JR station. So for example when you're in Tokyo, you can buy them from the ticket office of a station on the JR Yamanote line or the JR Chuo line. There will often be an english speaker there, but if you're worried, write down the names and times of the trains you want and they should understand that.
You can check train times and prices, etc, on Hyperdia: www.hyperdia.com
Also I just found this, which might save you a little bit on the shinkansen - although it's only valid on the Kodama which is the slowest one: www.jrtours.co.jp/kodama/en/
Wow thanks for the explanation and your time, this will definitely help me! You're awesome :)
Thanks, have a great trip!! :-)
You can use the following site, may be. I have not tried ever.
smart-ex.jp/en/
have you ever seen Tohoku shinkansen？
I think it is the coolest in the world!
It's the fastest one isn't it? I'll be going on it next year to Hokkaido, can't wait!
yes! in fact i have never ridden it.
i'm looking foward to your riding and uploading the movie!!
@@user-nb5ke7ng6l I'll definitely make a video! I'm nervous about how cold it will be in Hokkaido!
Why were the other trains out of service :P haha nice video :)
Haha I don't know! Plenty of trains in service though - can't believe they have bullet trains running between Osaka and Tokyo every 10 minutes, unbelievable!
@@cakeswithfaces that's a lot indeed :=)
Your hair is awesome
Thank yous! 😊
Yes amy your hair is gorgeous.....just like you.love your channel, loving the content and just subbed.I LOVE japanese culture and history.thank you so much for your videos♥♥♥♥
Also meant to say your voice is so soothing.I could listen to you all day if I could.
@@scorpionstinger4723 Well you're welcome to watch my videos all day if you want to... 😆
Hi amy, thanks for that.I will do just that.time to getbthe popcorn and sit down to binge watch your videos.♥♥♥♥♥
I'm an international traveller and intend to travel with my family from Tokyo to Kyoto roundtrip. What would you suggest I take as the most cost and time efficient way via bullet train?
With a JR Pass, the fastest bullet train you can take is the Hikari, which travels direct between Tokyo and Kyoto. You can travel at any time of day, it's very frequent. Is that what you meant? 😊
@@cakeswithfaces what I meant is if you are a family of four, what bullet train best option would you take from Tokyo to Kyoto roundtrip (will be staying in Kyoto for 3-4 days then back to Tokyo) in consideration of cost and time? For example, would you take the Hikari compared to the other faster bullet train as time difference (longer by a few mins) is not that different but price is?
@@dennischristianchua-unsu2172 The Hikari is very fast, so I'd say it's worth taking that to save a few yen, rather than the Nozomi. The Hikari is the train in this video. It's exactly the same train as the Nozomi and goes just as fast, it just stops at a few more stations. It's very comfortable, so it feels like quite an easy and quick trip.
For most people, if you're doing a round trip between Tokyo and Kyoto, it's worth getting a Japan Rail Pass. With the pass you can go on as many bullet trains as you like (with free seat reservations), except the Nozomi. It also includes trains on lines run by Japan Rail - as many trips as you like. So if you're doing any other day trips or inter-city travel it might work more cost-effective to get the pass.
What does it mean when a train is Out Of Service?
It means it’s just passing through the station, or reached the end of its route, so it might be dropping off passengers but not picking anyone up. So you know not to get on it :-)
Are shinkansen stations everywhere? We're going to Japan next year, from tokyo (shinjuku) to osaka.
There aren't as many lines as I first thought, but you can get between major cities, like Tokyo and Osaka. (And there are lots of regular trains that take you everywhere too!). In Tokyo the shinkansen stations are Shinagawa and the main Tokyo Station - strangely Shinjuku isn't one, although it's the busiest station in the world! :-)
Cakes with Faces Thank You so much. I'm doing a massive researc for our trip to Japan. I guess we'll head to Tokyo Main station to get to a shinkansen and just buy ticket as soon as we get there.. Your vlog is a huge help! 🙂🥰
@@clongt7926 Thanks! :-) From Shinjuku you can also get to Shinagawa on the Yamanote line (free if you have a JR Pass) and take the shinkansen from there :-) I believe you can make shinkansen reservations at the ticket office at any JR station - it doesn't have to be the one you're departing from, so that might make it easier.
Cakes with Faces Thank you very much. Thanks for your time responding to me :) Happy Holidays!
In Tokyo going to Osaka and back you'll be using the Tokaido line. You can ride it in Tokyo station and Shinagawa station if your in Tokyo. Both are accessible via Yamanote train loop from Shinjuku. For Osaka you board or get off it via Shin-Osaka station only, which is a small hop from Osaka station.
Please let's me know how much cost Tokyo from Osaka.
You can check train prices on Hyperdia (in english): www.hyperdia.com/
If you're doing a return trip from Tokyo to Osaka, it's worth getting a JR Pass as the price is very similar, and it'll include most of your other train journeys as well.
9:02
THESE DONUTS ARE GREAT! JELLIED FILLED ARE MY FAVOURITE! NOTHING BEATS A JELLIED FILLED DONUT!
😝😝😝
近鉄のfenix train is good!!
It looks very comfortable!
The best country in the world.
The trains are certainly amazing!
I’m very confused. I thought you were going to Tokyo from Osaka but I saw Kumamoto and Hakata?
I used some footage from other trips at the start during the introduction, to show more of what it's like 😊