Job Discussion Forums

[Hoser]

So the folks are coming over for a visit this spring this vacation so of course we're going to go to Kyoto. I'm the one who's living here so I guess it's up to me to make the arrangements. Of course I have no idea wtf I'm doing because I never leave Tokyo! And it's at times like this when I'm reminded why I don't-it's such a hassle!

Anyways-we're planning on going in the last weekend of March-probably at the beginning of hanami season. Will Kyoto be just rammed? I'm wondering if I haven't already left things like hotel reservations too late.

I was checking out the Kyoto Tower Hotels and they state that a twin room is for two people-does this mean that ideally two people can stay in the room or there is a limit of two people? I mean, I figure that we could cut down on the price and my folks could sleep in one twin and I would sleep in another-would they let us do that?

Also, how in the world does one go about getting shinkansen tickets? Are they something that need to be reserved weeks ahead of time or can you pretty much just go up to the ticket booth of the day of and grab them? And how does it work when 2/3 of your party has JR passes? We'll probably validate the passes on the same day we go to kyoto so how does that affect our ability to buy tickets ahead of time?

Ahh this is so stressful! No wonder I just like to stay at home!

[fhsieh]

Yes, Kyoto will be busy through hana-mi, but you should still be able to get around during the end of March. It only really gets hectic during Golden Week.

For shinkansen tickets, just head to Tokyo station to one of the reservation offices and they will be able to help you out. You can buy tickets same-day, but it's better to do it at least a day in advance especially if you want to reserve seats next to one another. For your folks, they will just show their JR Pass to the attendant at the reservation office. You will have to buy your ticket separately, but the attendant will still choose seats next to one another.

Although your folks' JR Passes are good on all JR lines (even buses and ferries), Kyoto doesn't have very many JR lines within the city, meaning you'll have to pay fare by cash or prepaid tickets, so be prepared. Of course, their passes are still valid on all local JR trains as well, so you could use them for a half-day trip out to Horyu-ji, Uji, or Nara. You can also make a day-trip out to Osaka/Kobe, and even as far as Hiroshima and Himeji (which I've personally done when my own folks visited Japan, but it is quite exhausting).

[Hoser]

Just another quick question about the shinkansen tickets. Can you reserve tickets ahead of time and pay for them the day of travel, or do you actually have to pay for them whenever you go to reserve them. I'm just curious because I've reserved a hotel in Kyoto and I would like to buy (or reserve) the tickets now but my parents don't get here for almost another 3 weeks and they will have the JR passes.

[Apsara]

Buy a ticket for a "jiyuu seki" (non-reserved seating) on the shinkansen, otherwise you will have issues with being able to sit together. Most shinks have some reserved cars, some non-reserved.

[Inflames]

You shouldn`t have a problem getting shinkansen tickets on the same day, provided you`re not trying to get something on Friday night or weekends. What I`d do (not the easiest) is to buy a shinkansen ticket from one of the discount ticket shops (their tickets are unreserved, but you can make a reservation for free), then go with your parents and make a reservation together. If you elect to make a reservation before your parents get here, remember that they can`t ride on Nozomi shinkansens.