Korean Job Discussion Forums

[TOGirl]

Does anyone know anything about the JP Rail Pass?

I contacted a travel agent about it and they said yes I can buy it and then trade the voucher when I get to Japan (Fukuoka) for a pass.

My question though is about buying a train ticket. I want to get a ticket from Fukuoka to Kyoto and then onto Tokyo but I'm concerned that when I get there the trains will be booked (memories of KTX on a weekend).

Does anyone know if you can book the tickets in advance or do I have to wait until I get to Fukuoka and hope for the best.

Thanks

[mindmetoo]

I think it's nearly impossible to book a ticket in advance outside of the country. As well, I don't think you can book in advance with the normal jrail pass even if you're in the country. However, if you get the Midori class pass, you can book in advance in the country. All 'n' all the jrail pass is the deal of the century.

[Ekuboko]

[J.B. Clamence]

I have made two different tours of two different islands of Japan, each time with a rail pass. My experience is that there are so many trains, they never seem to be booked out, so seriously, don't worrky about it.

When riding a train in Japan, there are usually two sections of the train: one section is for seat reservations, and the other section is for first come, first seated. Seat reservations cost more than free seating, so a lot of people travel the other way, but if you have a rail pass, all your seat reservations are free. Just go to the ticket window and book a seat on the next train to where you want to go. It is unlikely that there will be no reservations because trains are very expensive and there are so many of them, so it's rare that they are fully booked. If it does happen to be booked, no problem. Just go to the 'unreserved' section of the train and sit anywhere that is open.

Or just ask for a seat reservation on the next available train. You shouldn't have to wait to long. To be safe, make a seat reservation on a train as soon as you know you will be taking that train. Don't worry if you miss the train, because it's free anyway! For example, if you want to be safe, when you arrive in Kyoto, book your seat to Tokyo at the date and time you plan to travel. (The earlier poster who said you cannot do this with a JR Pass is wrong by the way, as the last poster pointed out.)

Getting the pass is easy. You need to buy the voucher here before you leave Korea. When you start travelling by train, go to the special office at Hakata Station (Fukuoka) and exchange your voucher for the pass (you will need your passport to do this). They will stamp that day's date on the pass. (Remember, that is your first day of travelling, so it's best to start in the morning to get more time out of it. Even if you trade the voucher in at 11pm, you have only one hour and the first day of your pass is over.) That pass will get you into any station and onto any platform (except with a normal JR Pass, you cannot ride the super-fats 'Nozomi shinkansen'). If you want a seat reservation, you need to get that separately (they'll give you a little ticket for that). On the train, when they check your ticket show them your pass. Sometimes they want to see your passport to make sure you're not using your friend's pass, so keep that handy. When you get to Tokyo, you will be able to ride the JR commuter trains around town for free with your pass.

If you like castles, I would suggest that on the way to Kyoto, you get off the train at a town called Himeji, a little before Kobe. There you will find one of the most beautiful landmarks in Japan, Himeji-jo (Himeji Castle, AKA 'The White Egret'). You can walk there from the train station and touring the castle won't take more than an hour. It would be a wonderful way to break the journey. Just a suggestion. Have a great time!

[TOGirl]

Thanks so much for all the info, thats really great.

And I will certainly see about the Castle, its sounds interesting and if its in walking distance then I'm sure I will have time.

Thanks again.

[just because]

I too highly recommend the JR rail pass...went all the way from Fukuoka to tokyo and back and you can get on and off wherever you like...it was awesome...

Himeji also is highly recommended