When you travel by the JR express train in Japan, you have a few choices of the seat. Most of the JR express trains offer two classes, Green and Ordinary. Those are like business class seat and economy class seat on the fight. And the highest class seat, “Gran class” is available on some of the Shinkansen lines. Some express trains in Kyushu offer Deluxe Green class. And there are some trains which offer the compartment.
Green class is better than Ordinary class definitely. But it is pricey. Before choosing the class of seat, you should know how much better Green class is than Ordinary class. And you should know what the benefit of Green class is. Especially if you intend to buy JR Pass, you will consider which you will get, Green seat pass or Ordinary seat pass.
In this post, I would like to focus on the seat of JR trains. You will know the layout of the seat, a leg space, benefit of higher class seat. I believe you can judge which seat is your choice after reading this post.
The types of JR train’s seat
| Gran class seat | The Tohoku Shinkansen, The Hokkaido Shinkansen, The Hokuriku Shinkansen |
| DX Green class seat | Some of the Limited Express trains in Kyushu area |
| Green compartment | Limited Express Super View Odoriko Some of the Limited Express trains in Kyushu area |
| Green class seat | Most of the Shinkansen trains Most of the Limited Express trains Rapid trains in Greater Tokyo area |
| Ordinary compartment | Resort Shirakami |
| Ordinary class seat | All trains |
Gran class seat
Gran class is the highest category of seat in all JR trains. It is like First Class seat on the train in Japan. There are only 18 seats in the car. And the seat layout is 2+1.
- Leg space – 1,300 mm
- Width – 520 mm
There is an exclusive staff in Gran class car. The light meal is served on board. You can choose Japanese style or western style. The amount of the food is very small. Please do not expect a full size of meal.
Coffee, tea, green tea, pop, juce, beer, Japanese sake and wine are also included. You can drink as much as you can. And the tea snack is served too.
Green class seat
Gran class is the highest category of JR trains’ seats but it is available on the specific trains only. Green class is more common choice for the passenger who wants the higher class seat. Green class seat has more spacious in the leg space than Ordinary class seat. Green class seat has nicer head rest, the leg rest and this seat reclines much deeper than Ordinary class seat. Green class does not offer any meal and/or drink services on board.
Since Green class seat is available on most of limited express trains, the seat size, the leg space and the seat functions are varied by the train.
- Leg space – 1,100 to 1,200 mm
- Width – 460 to 490 mm
- Seat layout – 2+2 or 2+1
2+1 layout is more spacious definitely. I would like to show you some of Green seat.
Green class seat on the Shinkansen
All Green class seat on the Shinkansen has 2+2 layout and this layout is the standard of the Shinkansen. The Shinkansen train fleet is wider than the trains on the conventional lines. This 2+2 seat layout on the Shinkansen lines offers same amenity as 2+1 seat layout on the conventional trains.
However the Akita Shinkansen and the Yamagata Shinkansen are different. These two Shinkansen train fleets are same width of the conventional trains.
As you saw the photo above, everything is more narrow than the standard of the Shinkansen. The seat itself is not bad. This seat has lots of the leg space. But the armrest is narrow.
If you take Akita Shinkansen “Komachi” or Yamagata Shinkansen “Tsubasa”, Green class seat is smaller than other Shinkansen trains. Please expect this and do not disappoint.
Green class seat of the limited express train on the conventional lines
The limited express train is the fastest and most comfortable train on the conventional line. This train runs on the route which the Shinkansen does not run. The seat layouts of the limited express trains are 2+2 or 2+1 as I mentioned above.
This 2+1 seat layout is very nice and so comfortable. It offers same amenity as 2+2 seat layout on the Shinkansen line.
Obviously 2+1 looks more spacious. This E353 series runs on Chuo line between Shinjuku and Matsumoto as the Limited Express Azusa. Actually this fleet is one of the newest fleets in all JR train cars.
This difference is caused by the value and the way of thinking of each train companies. JR East and JR Central place more importance on the capacity. Other JR companies place more importance of the comfort.
I would like to show you the major limited express trains which have 2+2 Green class seat layout:
- Azusa, Kaiji (Shinjuku, Chiba, Tokyo – Kofu, Matsumoto, Minami Otari)
- Narita Express (Narita Airport – Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Yokohama)
- Hitachi, Tokiwa (Shinagawa, Ueno – Tsuchiura, Katsuta, Takahagi, Iwaki)
- Odoriko (Tokyo – Atami, Ito, Izukyu Shimoda)
- Wide View Hida (Nagoya – Takayama, Hida Furukawa, Toyama)
- Wide View Nanki (Nagoya – Kii Katsuura)
Some of Wide View Hida have 2+1 seat layout Green class car.
Green class seat on the ordinary train
Some local trains have Green class seat. In Greater Tokyo area, the train for suburban area offers Green class seat.
This seat is actually very similar to the limited express train’s Ordinary class seat. The leg space is only 960 mm which is much smaller than Green class seat standard on the limited express train, 1,100 mm to 1,200 mm. However the regular car on the local train is very crowded and it is hard to find the seat in many situation. And the seat is not like this in the regular car.
This type Green class seat is available for the commuter who want to avoid the crowded train. Please do not expect the same amenity of other express train’s Green class seat.
DX Green class seat
This Green class is available on 787 series in Kyushu region.
This seat is much bigger than common Green class seat. It is 5 cm wider, 1 cm longer in the depth and 3 cm higher than common Green class seat on 787 series. You recline the seat deeply and it is almost flat. Each seat has two power outlets
Green compartment
Green class seat compartment is available on the Limited Express Super View Odoriko (Shinjuku – Izukyu Shimoda) and JR Kyushu’s 787 series.
Most compartments accommodate 4 passengers.
Ordinary class seat
This is most common seat for most travelers.
- Leg space – 910 to 1,200 mm
- Width – 440 to 480 mm
- Seat layout – 2+3 on the Shinkansen or 2+2 on the limited express train on the conventional line
There are also many kinds of Ordinary class seat. However there is no big difference between many Ordinary class seats. Some trains offer better seat on the reserved Ordinary class car.
I like to show you several samples.
Ordinary class seat on the Shinkansen
2+3 seat layout is the standard of Ordinary class seat on most of the Shinkansen line.
The Shinkansen fleet is wider than the trains on conventional trains. This is the reason why the layout is 2+3. You can recline the seat. Green car seat is way better but the ordinary class seat is not a bad choice.
Some Shinkansen trains have 2+2 seat layout. The Akita Shinkansen and the Yamagata Shinkansen have 2+2 seat layout.
These Shinkansen line trains go through the conventional line. The size of the fleet is smaller than the standard Shinkansen fleet size. This is a reason why these Shinkansen fleets have 2+2 seat layout. It does not mean that this 2+2 seat layout is better other Shinkansen 2+3 seat layout. The width of the seats are almost same .
There are several more Shinkansen fleets which have 2+2 seat layout in Ordinary class on the Sanyo and the Kyushu Shinkansen lines. These are better 2+2 seat layout which is different from Ordinary class seat on the Akita Shinkansen and the Yamagata Shinkansen.
The first one is 800 series on Kyushu Shinkansen. All Ordinary class seats are provided by 2+2 seat configuration.
And the other one is N700 series, 700 series and 500 series of the Sanyo Shinkansen and the Kyushu Shinkansen. N700 series usually runs as “Mizuho” or “Sakura”. 700 series and 500 series usually runs as Kodama. These series provide 2+2 seat for only RESERVED Ordinary class seat.
As you see the photo above, the seat looks Green class seat. If you take a seat in non reserved car, the seat layout is 2+3. If you take Sakura or Mizuho, I highly recommend you to reserve your seat. And Kodama offers 2+2 seat layout in the reserved car. However this seat is offered on Sanyo Shinkansen between Shin-Osaka and Hakata only. Kodama which runs on Tokaido Shinkansen between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka does not offer any 2+2 seat layout. All Ordinary class seats are 2+3.
Ordinary class seat of the limited express train on the conventional line
All Ordinary class seats on the conventional lines’ limited express train are 2+2 seat layout.
If you take a seat on most of economy class seat on the flight, the leg space is around 800 mm. Even the smallest leg space on Ordinary class seat is 910 mm. It is way bigger than the flight economy class seat. My height is 184 cm (6 feet) but I am okay with Ordinary class seat.
What is the difference between Green and Ordinary?
If you are thinking to buy JR Pass, you may be wondering that you should buy Ordinary or Green pass.
The difference is basically amenity and the functions. Green class seat offers bigger leg space. And it offers lots of functions, such as the head rest, the leg rest and recline much deeper than ordinary seat. As I mentioned above, Green class seat does not include any meal services.
Usually Green class seat car is quieter than Ordinary class seat car. I do not mean that Ordinary class seat car is very noisy. But Green class seat is very expensive. Most of family travelers with small child avoid to take Green class seat. Many Green class seat passengers pay for this atmosphere.
And if you use JR Pass Green, you can book a seat on either Green or Ordinary. This gives you a bigger chance to book a seat. Especially if you travel in the busy period, this may be a big advantage. However some trains do not have any Green class seats. Even the train has it, the space may be very limited.
In my opinion, JR Pass Green is very good deal. As long as you can pay for it, you should go for it. But as I mentioned, JR trains’ Ordinary class seat is not a bad choice. If you are very sensitive with your budget, you can go for JR Pass Ordinary. That is not such a bad choice.
Green class of JR Hokkaido trains
If you have a plan to travel in Hokkaido, I recommend to buy Green pass. JR Hokkaido provides you the best service in Japan Railways Group (six companies = JR Hokkaido, JR East, JR Central, JR Shikoku, JR Kyushu).Green class of all JR Hokkaido limited express train give you 2+1 seat configuration. “Twincle Lady” who is an attendant just for Green class on limited express “Hokuto/Super Hokuto” (Hakodate-Sapporo), “Super Tokachi/Super Ozora” (Sapporo-Obihiro/Kushiro) provide you soft drink, new paper (maybe Japanese only), magazine (maybe Japanese only too), blanket and steam hot towel. Twincle lady do not attend on the other limited express train, but the attendant provide you very similar service. (This service was discontinued in March, 2015.)
Comments
Dear Takeshi,
I’m planning to visit Japan from 17-25 March 2017 with my three small children, husband and parents. It will be a group of seven. We’ll be arriving at Narita airport, and leaving from Kansai Airport, Osaka.
I’m wondering whether it’s cost effective to buy JR pass for the first seven days of my trip since we only go one way to Kyoto, yet want to take advantage the Narita Express and local trains to move around Tokyo.
Kindly look at my rough itinerary:
17 March – arrive in Tokyo
18-20 March – explore Tokyo,
21 March – leave Tokyo and travel to Kyoto with Shinkansen.
22-24 March – explore Kyoto & Nara
25 March – leave from Kansai Airport Osaka
Thank you, really appreciate you response.
Hi Orazqa,
JR pass is too expensive for one way trip from Tokyo to Kyoto/Osaka. Approximate total cost for the first 7 days is less than 25,000 yen. You may use some local deals and single ticket for Shinkansen to Kyoto from Tokyo.
Narita-Tokyo and subway pass combo deal:
http://www.tokyometro.jp/en/ticket/value/airport_bus/index.html#anc02
*If you really want to take Narita Express, you have to pay single ticket. It costs around 3000 yen.
Single ticket for Shinkansen is around 15000 yen. 6-11 years old is half price. Under 5 years is free if you share the seat with child. If you want to give one seat for child who is 5 year old or younger, you still need to pay child price (half of adult price).
In Kyoto, you can use local deal:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-residents/how-to-choose-the-best-train-pass-for-sightseeing-in-kyoto.html
Single fare is only choice for trip to Nara. (about 700 yen one way, kids half price)
Haruka discount ticket is available for trip to KIX.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/icoca-and-haruka-ticket-very-flexible-and-good-deal-for-tourist-who-stay-in-kansai.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Good day! Thanks for the useful info. We’re travelling in June or early July. May I know which pass shall I use for these trips: 1) Osaka, Nagoya, Kyoto – 5 days trip. 2) Osaka, Nagoya, Kyoto and Tokyo – 9 days trip. Thank you.
Hi Gina,
Before you choose the pass, you have to decide which airport you will arrive and depart. And also you have to decide the plan when you stay in the cities. If you have a plan to travel outside cities, such as day trip to Fuji from Tokyo, you have to think about the coverage of these trip.
At this point, your plan is a bit rough. Please build a bit more detailed plan.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi,
Great site with detailed information! I’ll be traveling to Kurikoma Kogen from Narita in 3 days. And I plan to travel from Sendai to Nagano, and Nagano/Matsumoto back to Tokyo. My sister lives in Kurikoma Kogen, so I plan to be there for a few days and with the consecutive 7 days JR pass, I’ll ‘lose’ the days I’m not traveling on JR. Would it be worthwhile to still purchase the JR pass? Or should I get the Tohoku East pass and a separate pass for traveling to Nagano? Please help! Thank you so much! 🙂
Hi Ivy,
If you purchase JR East Pass Tohoku and add single fare for outside coverage area, it’s cheaper than JR Pass. But the difference is around 1000 to 2000 yen. If you have JR pass, it’s more expensive but it’s easier. You don’t need to purchase any tickets on top of JR pass. You can take whichever you like.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi there. Me and my husband had booked our trip to japan this coming Nov for 12 days.What we’re planning to do is buy a 7 days ordinary pass and the first 7 days we plan to do is to travel to kyoto just for a day trip then back to tokyo. 2nd day, planning to do a day trip again from tokyo to osaka. 3rd go to disneysea then back to tokyo. My question is, it is worth it to buy the 7 day pass going to this places?
Also, can we use our jr pass from narita airport to tokyo?
Hope to hear from you soon!
Hi VC,
7 days pass give you a big saving. One round trip fare between Osaka and Tokyo by Shinkansen (bullet train) is almost same as 7 days pass price.
You can use the pass from Narita to Tokyo too. You can take Narita Express.
https://jprail.com/trains/sort-by-type/limited-express/narita-express.html
By the way, even if you take Shinkansen, it takes at least 2.5 hour to get Kyoto or Osaka from Tokyo. So you will spend 5 hours for just moving each day. Please keep it in your mind.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
HI,
First time traveller to Japan, with my wife and 1 year old daughter from Aug 30 to Sep 8. Arriving/leaving from Tokyo, but we are planning to stay in Kyoto for 5 nights. We are planning to buy JR ordinary passes for our travel. Once in Kyoto, we plan to do day trips (one to Nara/Uji, second to Himeji/Kobe/Osaka). We are also planning to do a day trip to Kamakura from Tokyo. I have two questions, 1) can we fit a short trip to Odaiba in our itinerary while going back and forth to Kyoto from Tokyo? 2) Because we will be travelling with our luggage from Tokyo to Kyoto and then back, will we have more space for our luggage in the Green car as opposed to ordinary cars? 3) How can we make sure that we sit together during our commutes? Thank you!
Hi Tayyab,
1. Yes, you can, But I think you have a few days in Tokyo. Odaiba is in Tokyo. You can go there anytime when you are in Tokyo.
2. I would say yes and no. It depends on which type of bag you will use. You can find more info about handling luggage in the train at the link below:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/travel-tips/baggage/managing-luggage-how-to-carry-your-baggage-on-board-and-how-to-store-your-baggage-at-the-station.html
3. As long as you show two JR Passes to the staff at the reservation window, they give you the seats side by side. If they cannot, they will let you know.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Thank you Takeshi for your useful response.
Is Aug 28 – Sep 08 included in high season? Are trains crowded during this time of the year if we avoid rush hours (7-9am)? The reason I am asking is I am torn about getting a Green Pass vs an ordinary one. I am not interested about getting more leg room, only thing I am interested is getting our seats together when we travel. Appreciate your response.
Hi Tayyab,
Ordinary pass is okay. It’s not hard to get a seat in this period. Summer break of schools is until end of August. In beginning of September is slow.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hello Takeshi,
I am very impressed by your detailed article and knowledge about travel in Japan! May I also benefit from your travel knowledge?
My partner and I will be in Japan across October and November for 16 days. Would it be feasible/cost-effective for us to get 1 x 7 day ordinary JR pass for the shorter distance travel in the first part of our trip, then 1 x 7 day green JR pass for the longer distance travel in the second part of our trip, and then pay the fares for local travel around Tokyo as needed?
I have provided the rough plan of our trip below if this helps.
Wed 19 Oct – arrive in Tokyo and explore Tokyo on Thurs 20 Oct
Fri 21 Oct – leave Tokyo and travel to Kyoto. Explore Kyoto, Osaka and Nara between Sat 22 Oct and Tues 25 Oct
Wed 26 Oct – leave Kyoto and travel to Okayama and explore Okayama on Thurs 27 Oct
Fri 28 Oct – leave Okayama and travel to Nagasaki. Explore Nagasaki on Sat 29 Oct
Sun 30 Oct – leave Nagasaki and travel to Hiroshima
Mon 31 Oct – leave Hiroshima and travel to Miyajima
Tues 1 Nov – leave Miyajima and travel to Tokyo. Explore Tokyo Wed 2 Nov
Thurs 3 Nov – leave Tokyo and fly home.
Thank you for any advice you can provide! It is our first trip to Japan (or any international country for that matter), so we are very excited but also nervous 🙂
Hi GigglinKristy,
I don’t recommend you to use JR pass for the first part of your trip. Because total fares for the first 7 days is cheaper than 7 days pass. If you use 14 days ordinary pass for the first 14 days, it will be paid off because the difference between 7 days and 14 days is about 17,000 yen. It’s much lower than 7 days pass at 29,110 yen. And also total of 7 days Ordinary + 7 days Green is 67,910 yen. It’s higher than 14 days Green Pass.
So your option is the following:
1. Single fare for Tokyo to Kyoto + local deal for Osaka, Kyoto and Nara
2. 14 days Green Pass
If you have a budget to purchase 7 days ordinary and 7 days green, you can purchase 14 days green. It’s easier and more comfortable. Especially if you arrive in Narita, you can take Narita Express to Tokyo by JR pass.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Thank you very much for your advice Takeshi,
I can’t believe how silly I was! Clearly my first time navigating the system 🙂
We will take your advice and go with one of your two suggested options.
I’m very excited about our trip and the more and more research I do, it sounds like the train travel will be smooth sailing 🙂
Thank you again for your advice to me and to everyone else on this forum, you’re doing a fantastic job!
No worries, GigglinKristy. 🙂
Enjoy your trip to Japan.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
I’ll be in Japan from 6-14aug. Brief itinerary: Tokyo-Hiroshima-Osaka-Tokyo.Total 8days. I’m going to buy the 7day JR rail pass. That’s mean I’ll need to pay for my transport from Tokyo to Narita airport on my last day. Pls advise how much is the bullet train ticket & what are the choice of transportation to Narita airport beside the bullet train. Thank you.
Hi Thomas,
Bullet train does not go to Narita airport. You can take Narita Express, Skyliner or bus. Budget bus is most affordable. Please see the link below:
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/airport-access/narita/the-list-of-deals-for-access-to-downtown-tokyo-from-narita-airport.html#The_Access_Narita
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi,
Thank you for your advise. I will like to visit Nara park either on my way to Hiroshima or on the way back to Tokyo. Do I need to make any detour along my Shinkansen route to get to Nara and to the park. Pls advise. Thank you.
Hi Thomas,
Nara is not located on the way to either Hiroshima or Tokyo. It’s easier to drop by Nara on the way to Tokyo from Osaka. Please see the link below:
https://jprail.com/trains/sort-by-type/subway/how-to-access-to-nara-by-japan-rail-pass-if-you-dont-use-jr-pass-kintetsu-railway-is-more-convenient.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Dear Takeshi, next winter will be my second time in japan. I am not sure i did a good job with my first 14 days JR Pass, but was convenient to have a full pass without to think all the times about prices, tickets etc…
Now this time my arrival will be 27 december 2016 at narita and after 3 days in tokyo i want try to see Hagi-ware and than kurakawa direction for few Onsen. The idea is to leave Tokyo 31 december with some stops and overnights before Hagi and Kurakawa, but maybe is possible. Do you think if i start the 31 december from tokyo is it possible to stay in kyoto 6 January and to use a 7 days JRPass ? departure will be the 8 January from Osaka 11:00am Flight. I am not sure if i can use a 7 days pass that start 31 december….and i am not sure if its safe to stay 6 Janury in Kyoto or if its better to stay at Osaka 🙂
thanks a lot but i am confused because i would love to make an onsen itinerary
Hi Manuele and Sabina,
Before answer your inquiry, I would like to make sure “Hagi-ware” and “Kurakawa”. I couldn’t find these places. I think there are some mis-spell. Please check these location name and let me know.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hello! So my friends and i are going to Japan from July 31st to August 20th. We were thinking abiut the green pass. We do not have a set itinerary but we are staying in kyoto n flying into tokyo.
So we were plannung 3 day trips to tokyo, 1 to 2 days in osaka, a week traveling kyoto, and the rest have not been decided. Should we get the tickets?
Hi Emilia,
At this point, you cannot use the pass. JR pass 7 days is almost equal to the round trip between Osaka/Kyoto and Narita airport. But you will spend more than 7 days. Single ticket is cheaper.
But if you travel more, like trip to Kyushu, Hiroshima, even Hokkaido, 14 days pass or even 21 days pass will work.
Anyway I recommend you to fix your itinerary first if you want to have the best deal.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Arigatou gozaimasu, Takeshi-san.
(I just saw that I commented off that reply chain’s topic. Let me write this new.)
So, my trip of July 9-16 will not fall into the super peak season, right? Though it is summer time for Hokkaidō, I suppose that it shall be before school holiday and Obon, so students won’t be around yet, and people should save for the festival time, will they?
So how do you feel, whether my trip will be worth for going Green?
Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.
Hi Independencer san,
Mid July is lower than usual actually. I’m very optimistic to book trains in this period.
But I still love Green pass because it’s much quieter and more comfortable
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Arigatou gozaimashita, Takeshi san.
More comfort and quietness are good for one thing. The other thing would be that will we get a lot better chance to sit together (a group of 4)?
And sometimes if we cannot pre-book, will we be able to still sit together by booking just, say 30 minutes before departure time?
Thank you for your kind advice. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.
Hi Independencer san,
It’s hard to say. Number of green seats are much smaller than ordinary seat. You may not be able to sit together in last minutes booking.
You can find the availability of trains at cyber station. It may give you some idea.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/timetable-and-reservation/how-to-find-seat-availability-of-trains-jr-cyber-station-guide.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Arigatou gozaimashita, Takeshi san.
We will try to pre-book any time if possible. And for the cost of 30% more expensive, I think I would go Green to have more chance on sitting together, with get free bigger seats, quietness, and special lady services in Hokkaidō’s green cars.
Could you please help me one more thing, about my itenerary, please? Will we be able to make it ok? Will we make some mistakes or get into time trouble? Will we miss something?
[Sun] Jul 10: Arrive at NRT @ 0735 / Run to immigration w/ just Carry-on luggage (to save time) / Exchange JR Pass quickly … AND
A.) “Try to see if we can get 0915 Narita Express to Kawaguchiko → bus to 5th Station → Catch bus back to Shinjuku & to Tokyo for the last Shinkansen for Hakodate”
OR, B.) “Go to Hakodate”
Jul 11: Sapporo → Otaru
Jul 12: Furano & Biei
Jul 13: Sapporo & Lake Tōya (& Onuma National Park, if in time) → Hakodate
Jul 14:
A.) If been to Fuji-san already, Sightseeing in Hakodate
B.) If not already to Fuji-san, First Shinkansen to Tokyo → Sightseeing in Tokyo (by 2-day Tokyo Metro pass)
Jul 15:
A.) Hakodate → First Shinkansen to Tokyo → Sightseeing by 1-day Metro Pass
B.) Tokyo → Kawaguchiko (may consider a 1-day Tour)
Jul 16: Sadly, Sayonara Japan. Mata ne~
Hi Independencer san,
Your itinerary is very organized. You have a back up plan in case that you cannot make Fuji on arrival day. I don’t see any issues and you are ready to go!
By the way, I have to tell you one thing. I forgot to update info about the service that is provided by JR Hokkaido in Green class. All extra services on Green car by Twincle lady was discontinued in last year. JR Hokkaido trains still have very nice accommodation that is 2+1 seat layout. But you cannot get any more other services. You will just have spacious seat.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Arigatou Gozaimashita, Takeshi san, for reviewing my itenerary. You are more than Sugoi!
Sadly that the only JR with lady service was discontinued… T-T But I will go for Green anyway…
So.. does this mean, since March 2015, there are no more trains with special services in Green Car in the whole Japan?
By the way, I know we can take Narita Express for free using JR Pass, I am not very sure if I can as well take the N’EX that go for Kawaguchiko for free or not? I have read the website, but I could find only the statement saying JR Kanto Pass and JR Tokyo Wide Area Pass holders can use N’EX for free to Kawaguchiko…
Yoroshiku onegaishimasu
Hi Independencer,
Only Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen’s Green class gives us wet paper towel. As far as I know, that’s it.
You can take Narita Express to Kawaguchiko. But JR Pass does not cover base fare from Otsuki to Kawaguchiko. Limited Express fare is not applied to this segment. Only base fare for this segment on Fuji Kyuko line is extra. It’s same rule as taking other trains to get Kawaguchiko.
https://jprail.com/destinations/chubu-area/how-to-use-japan-rail-pass-to-go-to-mt-fuji.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Arigatou gozaimashita, Takeshi san,
Maybe the extra service in Green Class has not made them much profitable… sadly.
Well… that is what I figured for the non-JR railway part there, having to pay like 1,140 Yen, won’t I?
So, if I will not be in time for Fuji-san on the 1st day, I think I will consider taking either a 1-day Fuji tour or take a highway bus direct from Shinjuku up to the Subaru Line’s 5th Station. Do you think my plan will work or not?
Yoroshiku onegaishimasu
Hi Independencer san,
Express bus to Lake Kawaguchi is the best way to get there because it’s direct.
It runs very frequently and the fare is very reasonable.
http://bus-en.fujikyu.co.jp/highway/detail/id/1
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com