Cheap-o JR shinkansen tickets

[akatsuka]

Helloo... Call me mad but I'm planning on going to Osaka for 1 day when I am in Tokyo. I have an interview in Osaka, but cant afford to stay over night there (I have my hotel booked in Tokyo already). Also, I dont really have time.

I believe it takes 2h30mins to get from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka station. This, according to the JR official site, costs 8,510 one way. So, return = 17,020 (approx 70pounds). My interview is at 3pm, so if I go early morning and leave late at night, do you reckon I can make it?

I was wondering about cheap JR ticket booths. I bought my ticket to Osaka from one of these before, but dont recall it actually being cheaper. Was it just a bad time, or was it because I bought it last minute, or was it just bad luck? Are they normally cheaper?

I am on a tourist visa, but I'm not looking to buy a JR Pass. A 7 day pass costs 28,300 and isnt worth my while. I'm not into night buses either, as I'll just turn up to the interview bedraggled and in bad need of a coffee. ...Not really a good start!!

If you have any other advice, please let me know. (Like, where there is a discount JR ticket shop near Ikebukuro or Itabashi??)

Thanks

[GomiGirl]

You sure that is what it costs on the shinkansen? I thought it was more expensive than that. I did some sums a few years ago and it was about the same price for a 7 day train pass as a return trip to Osaka... Remember that when you look at prices they give you the basic price then they add the cost of the Shinkansen "upgrade".

Just checked the prices on Hyperdia.
Nozomi is Y13,XXX each way
Hikari is over Y10,000 each way.

Careful of the hidden costs. Really the train pass is worth its weight in gold.

[Ptyx]

In my memories it's closer to what GG said 13000 one way. That's why all of my friends who came and visit me bought a JR pass. Basically it reimburses itself with a two way Tokyo -Kyoto and on top of that you can use it on the JR network within Tokyo.

[Kuang_Grade]

http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/charge/index.asp
it is 13750 yen each way on the Hikari and Kodama Shinkansen and
14050 on the slightly faster Nozomi trains.

If you need the speed of the shinkansen, short of a pass, you are going to pay for it. If you are a little less of a hurry you could always take standard trains...you might have to make a few transfers and it might take five or seven hours but the rates will be a bit lower....Likewise, you can check out the Seishun 18 thingee if you are going to be here in between 7/20-9/10
http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/pass/seishun18.html

Honestly, given the current exchange rates, there's really no reason not to get a pass. Your life will be alot easier with it, you'll get the fast train that you want (although the pass doesn't work for Nozomi shinkansen trains), you can use it to get from Narita to Tokyo plus all you local trains in Tokyo.

[akatsuka]

thanks for your replies. I wondered what the extra price was down the bottom... cheeky chappies!! so, 13,750 each way...

looks like the site I was looking at before was old too... The JR pass now costs 37,800 for 7 days? That would mean I have to spend 10,000 on train travel within Tokyo for that week to make it worthwhile. I'm sorry but I doubt I will. It is not the week I arrive or leave so I wont be using any transport from Narita, and you cant use the pass on the subway. I can see the worthwhile of the pass if you plan to travel alot in that week, but I dont.

So... looks like I'm going to have to go for the regular shinkansen ticket. >_<

thanks for giving me more accurate info & the webpage!!

[Kuang_Grade]

http://www.japanrailpass.net/eng/en003.html

It is 37800 yen for a 7 day green car level pass, ie first class seating...regular class car 7 day passes only cost 28300 yen...Green car seats are pretty nice but not all trains have green car seating and it is not like you are going to be spending all that long on the train anyway. One of the pluses of using the pass on local Tokyo trains is that you don't even need to pay attention to train prices, you just flash your pass to the person at the gate and walk through/exit.

http://www.japanrailpass.net/eng/en001.html
JR rail's english page that covers all the details of the program

[FG Lurker]

(although the pass doesn't work for Nozomi shinkansen trains)

I think on the shinkansen you get unreserved seating on any train, no? It used to be that the Nozomi had no unreserved seating but it now does, so the JR Pass should get you onto that too.

[Kuang_Grade]

For whatever reason, they clearly state that it is not good for Nozomi trains, which is a shame since it is one of the cooler looking trains.

The JAPAN RAIL PASS is valid for the railways, buses, and ferry boats shown in Table 1.

Railways: All JR Group Railways-Shinkansen"bullet trains" (except any reserved or non-reserved seat on "NOZOMI" trains), limited express trains, express trains, and rapid or local trains. (With some exceptions)

http://www.japanrailpass.net/eng/en004.html

[Captain Japan]

Most of the small ticket shops selling concert and movie tickets also sell JR Shinkansen tickets at a discount. In Shibuya (along center gai) and Shinjuku (near Times Square) there are quite a few. The discount is not much (maybe slightly more than 1,000 yen each way to Osaka) and the tickets, I believe, are jiyuseki (not reserved).

Usually the tickets are in racks behind the counter, sorted by destination. So you just tell the clerk where you want to go.

Anyone know how these shops are able to sell these tickets at a discount? Are they buying them off people who have somehow gotten them out of their company?

[Taro Toporific]

Anyone know how these shops are able to sell these tickets at a discount? Are they buying them off people who have somehow gotten them out of their company?

The-rest-of-the-story on the source of those discount tickets is far darker than a few salarymen cheating on travel expenses paid by their companies.

Most tickets come from smaller companies being extorted by the Yakuza. Other small companies convert their Shinkansen tickets (deductible from business profits) to untraceable cash to reduce their corporate taxes. Many salesman get their kickbacks as Shinkansen tickets and most use the cash for soap jobs and drinking, which is why discount ticket stores are located next to major sleaze areas.

[FG Lurker]

Most tickets come from smaller companies being extorted by the Yakuza. Other small companies convert their Shinkansen tickets (deductible from business profits) to untraceable cash to reduce their corporate taxes. Many salesman get their kickbacks as Shinkansen tickets and most use the cash for soap jobs and drinking, which is why discount ticket stores are located next to major sleaze areas.

Very interesting Taro! I had always wondered how the hell those ticket places got so many shinkansen tickets, as well as all the beer tickets etc.

[akatsuka]

oh man, I'm having a great time of misreading things lately... 28,300 Yay! OK... I have to get the pass now! Bargain!! Haha. Thanks

Just another question; do you think I'll make it there and back within a day if I leave early, have interview at 3, come home late at night? The interview is near(ish) to Shin-Osaka so I wont have to travel much.

[Kuang_Grade]

http://japanrail.com/pdf/Timetable1-east.pdf

The last non-nozomi train (Hikari 428 ) for tokyo leaves shin osaka 8:23PM with arrivial in Tokyo at 11:29PM....there are plenty of trains before that as well.

[IkemenTommy]

I've ridden the Nozomi with the JR pass before. Just ride in the non-reserved and the conductor will never come to check. Even if they do, just pretend like you are sleeping and they will never wake you up. This worked every time.

One more option is to take the night bus out of Tokyo station. I have never tried it, but I heard that it is cheaper than JR and you can get to Osaka before dawn.

[Greji]

One more option is to take the night bus out of Tokyo station. I have never tried it, but I heard that it is cheaper than JR and you can get to Osaka before dawn.

They also have the highway buses out of Shinjuku near the station that run all over Japan for very cheap fares (comparatively).

Also there is an overnight "Tokyu" Sleeper Train from Shinagawa to Osaka and vice versa, that takes off after the Shinkansen stops running. They may have others, but I don't know. I was attacked in an Osaka Club one night by a thirsty, won't take no for an answer, hostess and missed my last Shinkansen and had to take the overnighter home to Tokyo. It wasn't too bad cause you sleep the trip away (especially if you're pissed). I don't remember what it cost other than it was cheap, because I was able to trade on my unused Shinkansen tickets and get change.