[cpuer]

castafarian wrote:

I'm confused, we can use our existing Starhub prepaid sim cards to data roam, right?

yes, just buy their dataplan, pay for the required period and data volume, turn on data roaming when u are in JP, that simple.

[castafarian]

cpuer wrote:

yes, just buy their dataplan, pay for the required period and data volume, turn on data roaming when u are in JP, that simple.

thanks a lot

[twosix]

Why dun just buy unlimited data sim card from qoo10? Is cheaper too.

[LittleSnow]

Hi can anyone explain to me about Japan trains?
I'm so confused with all the trains they have in Japan.
I am trying to see if I should purchase a concession pass for the trains in Japan. But I can't seem to understand what trains the concession pass is covering.

What is JR trains?
What is the difference between Metros and Subways?
What is IC? Issit like MRT cards? If i purchase the IC, can I also use it at Osaka?

So for stations like shibuya, akihabara (those are taken by Metro trains right? Or are they taken by JR trains?)
Then what about the train they have in Osaka? What is the name of the train there?
Also... Like travelling from major cities (Tokyo to Osaka to Nara) is take a JR train right?

Sorrrryyyyy =[ I just have too many things that I don't understand. I tried to research.. But the more I read, the more new things I see, the more I get confused...

[autumm]

I am traveling from Kyoto station to odawara then next day odawara to shinjuju.

Can I book both JR tickets at Kyoto station itself? Anyone knows if they accept credit card? Thanks

[anyhowsaysay]

autumm wrote:

I am traveling from Kyoto station to odawara then next day odawara to shinjuju.

Can I book both JR tickets at Kyoto station itself? Anyone knows if they accept credit card? Thanks

Any JR Station, you are able to purchase ticket as long as they got a Ticket counter.
Credit card i saw people using before. But not sure about Singapore credit card.

[anyhowsaysay]

LittleSnow wrote:

Hi can anyone explain to me about Japan trains?
I'm so confused with all the trains they have in Japan.
I am trying to see if I should purchase a concession pass for the trains in Japan. But I can't seem to understand what trains the concession pass is covering.

What is JR trains?
What is the difference between Metros and Subways?
What is IC? Issit like MRT cards? If i purchase the IC, can I also use it at Osaka?

So for stations like shibuya, akihabara (those are taken by Metro trains right? Or are they taken by JR trains?)
Then what about the train they have in Osaka? What is the name of the train there?
Also... Like travelling from major cities (Tokyo to Osaka to Nara) is take a JR train right?

Sorrrryyyyy =[ I just have too many things that I don't understand. I tried to research.. But the more I read, the more new things I see, the more I get confused...

In Japan, there are many different companies operating different lines especially in big cities like Tokyo or Osaka. Within those city, what you require is IC Card similar to our EZ Link. There are many different IC Cards by different companies like JR East, West, Metro etc. But most of them will work with each other. Easily is you buy a Suica in Tokyo JR Station.

Travelling long distance is different like Tokyo to Osaka. Long distance cannot use IC Card so u need to purchase physical ticket. Normally long distance also quite expensive, most people also not enough money in their IC Card.

For Tokyo to Osaka, You will travel by Shinkansen which require physical ticket.

[cpuer]

LittleSnow wrote:

Hi can anyone explain to me about Japan trains?
I'm so confused with all the trains they have in Japan.
I am trying to see if I should purchase a concession pass for the trains in Japan. But I can't seem to understand what trains the concession pass is covering.

What is JR trains?
What is the difference between Metros and Subways?
What is IC? Issit like MRT cards? If i purchase the IC, can I also use it at Osaka?

So for stations like shibuya, akihabara (those are taken by Metro trains right? Or are they taken by JR trains?)
Then what about the train they have in Osaka? What is the name of the train there?
Also... Like travelling from major cities (Tokyo to Osaka to Nara) is take a JR train right?

Sorrrryyyyy =[ I just have too many things that I don't understand. I tried to research.. But the more I read, the more new things I see, the more I get confused...

You don't need to know all the train companies/lines. Just decide where you want to go to and from where, then use hyperdia to check the suggested routes. In it they will list the train lines. You can tell if they are private trains or JR.

As other suggested, just use SUICA(or ICOCA if you buy an IC CARD in Osaka) for max convenience.

Passes are useful if you are sure you are taking the lines covered by the pass. One private lines oriented pass example is the Kansai Through Pass. It covers almost every private lines running in the Kansai area.

http://www.surutto.com/tickets/kansai_thru_english.html

Also, it depends on your itinerary and usage, doesn't mean every pass will surely save you money. Use Hyperdia to see if the cost of pass is lower than the sum of your single trip tickets or not.

[twosix]

JR is the traditional trains like the one that commutes between sg and my. Metro is the mrt that commutes within a city.

JR can bring you within the city and between cities. Metro are only within the cities.

Sg so small also has 2 mrt companies. Japan so big so they will have a lot more mrt/metro companies and also railways.

[SibehEng]

Need help on rail. actually planning to get JR pass for my trip but realised that my return flight would be too early for a JR pass train Hikari.

On return day my flight is at 1030am at haneda and i will be traveling from osaka. will not make it from Hikari first train, so can only take JR nozomi which is not covered in JR. therefore planning to buy single tix instead

Traveling to following places so would like to see if there is any day pass for maybe tokyo etc that will be worthwhile since now i am not using JR pass.



Narita -> tokyo (stay) -> kyoto (stay) -> osaka (stay) -> haneda

- Narita to Tokyo
will be taking JR sobu 1320yen

- Tokyo (shinjuku) to Kyoto
from hyperdia including those connecting sub and via nozomi (unreserved seat) 13,080yen

- Kyoto to Osaka
800 yen

- Osaka (Namba) to Haneda
first train 6am and target to reach haneda ard 9am via nozomi (unreserved seat) 14,310 yen



would i be able to buy shinkansen tix online in advance or i can only buy at the station and is advance buying possible at the station? for example, buying my osaka to tokyo return nozomi reserved tix first?

[anyhowsaysay]

SibehEng wrote:

Need help on rail. actually planning to get JR pass for my trip but realised that my return flight would be too early for a JR pass train Hikari.

On return day my flight is at 1030am at haneda and i will be traveling from osaka. will not make it from Hikari first train, so can only take JR nozomi which is not covered in JR. therefore planning to buy single tix instead

Traveling to following places so would like to see if there is any day pass for maybe tokyo etc that will be worthwhile since now i am not using JR pass.



Narita -> tokyo (stay) -> kyoto (stay) -> osaka (stay) -> haneda

- Narita to Tokyo
will be taking JR sobu 1320yen

- Tokyo (shinjuku) to Kyoto
from hyperdia including those connecting sub and via nozomi (unreserved seat) 13,080yen

- Kyoto to Osaka
800 yen

- Osaka (Namba) to Haneda
first train 6am and target to reach haneda ard 9am via nozomi (unreserved seat) 14,310 yen



would i be able to buy shinkansen tix online in advance or i can only buy at the station and is advance buying possible at the station? for example, buying my osaka to tokyo return nozomi reserved tix first?

looks risky. flight 10:30am, u reach airport 9am. If unlucky u miss any connection train then your plan will be disrupted.
My estimation u need switch train Shinkansen->Yamanote -> Monorail or Shinkansen->Keiyu Main Line->Keiyu airport line
If weekday, u will clash with peak hour Yamanote traffic 8am plus. Super super risky.
My suggestion, get back to Tokyo one day prior.

Nozomi, u can buy in advance at any ticket counter. For Train Ticket, maximum is one month advance.

[SibehEng]

anyhowsaysay wrote:

looks risky. flight 10:30am, u reach airport 9am. If unlucky u miss any connection train then your plan will be disrupted.
My estimation u need switch train Shinkansen->Yamanote -> Monorail or Shinkansen->Keiyu Main Line->Keiyu airport line
If weekday, u will clash with peak hour Yamanote traffic 8am plus. Super super risky.
My suggestion, get back to Tokyo one day prior.

Nozomi, u can buy in advance at any ticket counter. For Train Ticket, maximum is one month advance.

thanks for your suggestion!
hmmm the route is :

Namba subway -> Osaka City Subway Midosuji Line (14mins) -> Shin-Osaka 545am -> 6am Shinkansen -> 819am Shinagawa -> 833am Keikyu Airport Exp for HANEDA AIRPORT -> 854am

its my first time so i am not sure how does a jap mrt and train works. does missing a connecting mrt or train means the nxt one will be very far apart?

like sg if we miss 1 mrt, the next train would probably come in 6mins. is japan much different?

[anyhowsaysay]

SibehEng wrote:

thanks for your suggestion!
hmmm the route is :

Namba subway -> Osaka City Subway Midosuji Line (14mins) -> Shin-Osaka 545am -> 6am Shinkansen -> 819am Shinagawa -> 833am Keikyu Airport Exp for HANEDA AIRPORT -> 854am

its my first time so i am not sure how does a jap mrt and train works. does missing a connecting mrt or train means the nxt one will be very far apart?

like sg if we miss 1 mrt, the next train would probably come in 6mins. is japan much different?

I use hyperdia to look at your ideal route. 5:31am start at Namba subway, the frequency of that is 10mins one train.

You cannot miss that 5:31 or else u likely will not make it in time for the Shinkansen Nozomi 202. u got 18 mins transfer at Shin Osaka station. Should be fine but u need to be extremely savvy at navigating the station.

Shin Osaka is not a small station. I went there last week and walking from subway to shinakansen is not that fast.
Last year i stayed at Shin Osaka nearby i still remembered this station is a bit weird because in the morning they shut off certain parts of the station because those shops not opened. Accessibility is very very poor in the morning due to that. I was trying to catch the first shinkansen out of the station to Okayama then. I nearly got lost and was a bit panicky trying to find entrance. U need to get very careful.

Once u reach Shinagawa, u got 13 mins to make transfer from JR Shinkansen portion to Keikyu. If weekday Shinagawa will be bit crowded since they trying to make Shinagawa their new CBD. The direct train to Haneda is running at frequency of 10mins.

Overall, still a bit risky. Got two land mines for you to trip at Shin Osaka and Shinagawa.

I still recommend if you are not confident, to return to Tokyo one day earlier at stay near airport like nearby Hamamatsucho.
Another method, u should buy open jaw ticket. Fly out of KIX. Can take Haruka to KIX.

[crntbs]

SibehEng wrote:

Need help on rail. actually planning to get JR pass for my trip but realised that my return flight would be too early for a JR pass train Hikari.

On return day my flight is at 1030am at haneda and i will be traveling from osaka. will not make it from Hikari first train, so can only take JR nozomi which is not covered in JR. therefore planning to buy single tix instead

Traveling to following places so would like to see if there is any day pass for maybe tokyo etc that will be worthwhile since now i am not using JR pass.



Narita -> tokyo (stay) -> kyoto (stay) -> osaka (stay) -> haneda

- Narita to Tokyo
will be taking JR sobu 1320yen

- Tokyo (shinjuku) to Kyoto
from hyperdia including those connecting sub and via nozomi (unreserved seat) 13,080yen

- Kyoto to Osaka
800 yen

- Osaka (Namba) to Haneda
first train 6am and target to reach haneda ard 9am via nozomi (unreserved seat) 14,310 yen



would i be able to buy shinkansen tix online in advance or i can only buy at the station and is advance buying possible at the station? for example, buying my osaka to tokyo return nozomi reserved tix first?

How about changing your itenaries to travel to osaka/kyoto first?

Another suggestion would be taking overnight bus or domestic flight.

Personally, i would avoid train. Too much of a hassle to drag lugguage ard especially with so many xfers and lugguage will be heavier with suveniors and etc.

[symbiote28]

i'm going to japan on 21st March but haven't really decided what to bring with me in terms of luggage / backpack wise.

i'm bringing a camera backpack which will always be on me. as for my stuffs, still undecided if i wanna bring a backpackers backpack or a cabin luggage. going there for 16 days. having this dilemma now as i've heard and read that luggages in trains can be something of a hassle. i'm going to 4 cities so plenty of travelling around.