Job Discussion Forums

[littleleech]

I've heard several people I know mention a ticket that allows you to travel as much as you want for 5 days for 5000 yen, the only catch being you have to use local trains only.

Has anyone here used this kind of ticket before? Is it widely available? I ask because I'm planning a long holiday over Xmas of touring Japan and Jorudan seems to be saying that travel between even the minimal gaps in my itinerary will cost about 5000 yen each, and this ticket people mention sounds a little too good to be true. Can anyone confirm or deny?

Cheers

[Bread]

Yeah, that's the 青春１８切符 (せいしゅんじゅうはちきっぷ). I used it a few years ago to go from Tokyo to Kyoto, which was about 10 hours. It was fun, actually. You can buy it at any age, despite what the name suggests. At some points the trains were fairly crowded with families who seemed to be using them.

Information is here: http://www2s.biglobe.ne.jp/~sakana/18kippu.htm

This winter's tickets are valid until January 10th and on sale until the end of December. One ticket for one person good on five days of your choosing is 11500. Two people can also use it at the same time and that will use up two days' worth. No idea where the 5000 yen thing came from.

[flyer]

Yes, I think Bread is right

[Apsara]

Usually called the Youth 18 ticket in English, although there's no age limit. Definitely 11,500, not 5,000 yen.

[jcook77]

I've used it a few times in the past couple of years, and it really is a cheap way to travel, especially with one other person on the ticket. You get five days, so two people x 4 days can get you as far as Kansai or Tohoku and then back for about 6,000 yen each -- way cheaper than a bus. Alternately, there is a Higashi Nihon/Hokkaido kippu which is around 10,000 yen. This ticket can get you to Sapporo in 24 hours and allows you to use the overnight express in Aomori. The only caveat is that you must use the five days consecutively.

Also, if anyone is traveling out in the sticks, make sure to check the train schedules and make a plan. Some stations literally run trains only every few hours, so getting stuck in Palookaville is a very real possibility if you're not careful.

[move]

Here's a good link for more info. http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2362.html

If you want to plan your trip out, also Jorudan is very, very helpful. They have a handy option for Seishun 18, it's the tab that says 青春１８きっぷ検索。Unfortunately, this option isn't available on the English side of the website.

http://www.jorudan.co.jp/

With this ticket, you can't take limited express (tokkyu) or express trains (kyuko). Your best bet is using high speed (kaisoku) trains, although there aren't many of these, hence looking it up ahead of time on Jorudan.

I'm currently planning a trip to Tohoku from Tokyo, and it's been a pain to plan but the scenery should be beautiful outside the train.

[jcook77]

Another alternative is www.hyperdia.com
I recommend the "classic" version, which is easier to handle. I've used it quite a few times when planning long trips on the Seishun 18. Good call on the kaisoku, move. I once tried to board a limited express (unwittingly) with the Seishun 18 and got reamed out by a JR employee.