Travel Forum / Destinations / Asia / September 2003

A major timetable revision for the JR Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen (Tokyo -
Shin-Osaka - Hakata) and branch lines is scheduled October 1st 2003.  Shinkansen
platforms will start service in Shinagawa, shortly south of Tokyo Terminal.  The
number of NOZOMI (the fastest type) will increase.

Contents
--------

 1  Shinagawa Station
 2  More NOZOMI, less HIKARI
 3  Branch lines
 4  NOZOMI fares come down
 5  No NOZOMI for Japan Rail Pass tourists
 6  More information (links)
 7  Disclaimer

Shinagawa Station
-----------------

Shinkansen service will come to Shinagawa, 7 km south of Tokyo Station.  This
will be a convenient transit point for passengers to and from:

1) Southwestern wards of Tokyo
2) JR Sobu Rapid Line and Narita Express (transfer also possible at Tokyo, but
there the tracks are deep underground)
3) Keisei Line (via Subway Toei Asakusa Line, another route to Narita Airport)
4) Kawasaki ("ricochet" ticket, costs slightly more than via Shin-Yokohama)

About 2 NOZOMI and 1 HIKARI will serve Shinagawa each hour.  Not all trains.

No trains will start or terminate at Shinagawa.  (This may change in the
future.)

Note that Toei Asakusa Line starts one stop north of Shinagawa, from Sengakuji.
Through service is available but the fare is rather high for two companies
charge for the "first mile".

More NOZOMI, less HIKARI
------------------------

The number of NOZOMI, the fastest type, will increase (from the current 2) to 3
hourly daytime between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka.  6 to 7 will depart on peak hours.

HIKARI, the next fastest type, will be curtailed to 2 runs hourly east, 1 to 2
hourly west of Shin-Osaka.

Both the NOZOMI and HIKARI will serve more stations.

Improved NOZOMI service: Shin-Kobe, Himeji, Fukuyama, Tokuyama, Shin-Yamaguchi,
Shin-Shimonoseki.
Improved HIKARI service: Odawara, Mishima, Toyohashi, Himeji, Aioi, Fukuyama,
Shin-Yamaguchi, Tokuyama, Shin-Shimonoseki.

All NOZOMI will serve Shin-Kobe (except those that turn back at Shin-Osaka.)

KODAMA schedules will be adjusted.  The number of runs will increase but
slightly, with additions in early morning and late night.

Ogori (Ogohri) will change name to Shin-Yamaguchi.  No plans for an express or
rapid to link this Shinkansen stop with Yamaguchi City (head of Yamaguchi-ken.)

Branch lines
------------

Timetables for lines branching from the Tokaido-Sanyo trunk will be adjusted.

More (often faster) Limited Express trains on the following runs:
Nagoya / Maibara = Kanazawa / Toyama
Kyoto - Higashi-Maizuru / Fukuchiyama
Osaka = Tottori / Kurayoshi
Okayama = Tottori
Tottori = Yonago
Okayama - Kochi

More rapid trains on the following runs:
Okayama = Takamatsu
Hiroshima - Miyoshi

(= : faster trains)

NOZOMI fares come down
----------------------

The NOZOMI reserved-seat surcharge will come down a bit.  NOZOMI will also have
non-reserved seats, which cost the same as they do now on HIKARI and KODAMA.

Shinkansen discount tickets names and rules will change reflecting the increase
of NOZOMI runs.

In commemoration of the timetable revision, JR West will put a special treat on
their Shinkansen coupon tickets (shiteiseki kaisuu ken).  For one ticket out of
each pack, they'll allow free upgrade from second class reserved to first.  The
whole Shinkansen trip must be within JR West area (Shin-Osaka to Hakata.)  Valid
for  coupons sold Oct 1 to Dec 22.  Price list in Japanese:
http://www.westjr.co.jp/news/newslist/article/pdf/030730a_shin_kai.pdf

Prices for Tokyo to Osaka one-way ticket (in yen, effective Oct 1st 2003)

Regular fare:

1st class, NOZOMI, reserved: 18,690
2nd class, NOZOMI, reserved: 14,050
2nd class, HIKARI/KODAMA, reserved: 13,750
2nd class, NOZOMI/HIKARI/KODAMA, non-reserved: 13,240
* Reserved seats +200 yen "peak" days (hambouki), -200 yen "idle" days
(kansanki).
* Same price for Shinagawa.
* Ticket valid to all JR stations within Osaka-shi.

Discount tickets:

Nozomi Coupon (shiteiseki kaisuu ken) pack of 6
2nd class reserved: total 82,500 = 6 x 13,750
* Not valid Dec 28-Jan 6, Apr 27-May 6, Aug 11-20.

Shinkansen Coupon (shiteiseki kaisuu-ken) pack of 20
2nd class, NOZOMI/HIKARI/KODAMA, reserved: total 264,800 = 20 x 13,240
* Not valid Dec 28-Jan 6, Apr 27-May 6, Aug 11-20.

Hikari Early Reservation Discount (hayatoku)
2nd class, HIKARI only, reserved: 12,000
* Reserve one week before departure at latest.
* Limited supply, no changes, no refunds.

Express Yoyaku
2nd class, NOZOMI/HIKARI/KODAMA, reserved: 13,200
* Reserve from cellular phone or by e-mail.
* Changes permitted up to departure.
* Members only.  1,050 yen annual membership fee.

Other modes of transportation:

Airline Haneda - Itami or Kansai Int'l: 16,700 off-peak (18,500 peak)
JR Tokaido Line on a local train: 8,510
JR Tokaido Line night express, B class berth: 16,070
Highway bus, day run: 6,000
Highway bus, overnight run: 8,610

* Regular fare.  Check with airlines and bus companies for their discounts.

Prices listed here subject to change.  Competing rail, bus and air companies
keep coming up with new discount tickets.

No NOZOMI for Japan Rail Pass tourists
--------------------------------------

The rule disallowing Japan Rail Pass holders from boarding NOZOMI (without
paying extra) will not change.  Please keep this in mind when drawing
itineraries.  Due to reduced HIKARI service, a transfer will become necessary on
most trips crossing Shin-Osaka.  Kyoto to Hiroshima is such a case.  Making an
intermediate pause at Himeji might be a good idea.

Japan Rail Pass: http://www.japanrailpass.net/

There is no discount when transfering from Shinkansen to Narita Express at
Shinagawa.  (Express charges are halved in most other cases when transfering
from Shinkansen to local line limited/express.)

Non-reserved seats are of limited supply on the NOZOMI: 3 cars out of 16.  Those
who really want to get a seat would consider waiting in line at Tokyo instead of
taking chances at Shinagawa or Shin-Yokohama.

More information
----------------

All pages listed here English text.

New Timetable and Fares for the Tokaido Shinkansen
upon the Opening of the Shinagawa Station
http://jr-central.co.jp/info_e.nsf/doc/e_news5
(For investors.  Not the real timetable, just the main points.)

New Timetable and Pricing System for the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen Lines
to Be Implemented in Conjunction with the Opening of Shinagawa Station
http://www.westjr.co.jp/english/english/company/con02/fd/200310newtimetable.pdf
(Also for investors.  Not the real timetable.  A chart shows changes.)

JR West info in English
http://www.westjr.co.jp/english/english/
(No info concerning timetable changes here as of this writing of Sept 29. )

JAPAN RAILWAYS: Routes, Schedules and Fares
http://www.japanrail.com/2_rail/index.html
(Shinkansen Timetable.  Not updated as of this writing.)

Hyperdia (automated timetable)
http://www.hyperdia.com/cgi-english/
(Similarly not updated yet.  Blindly accepts dates beyond Oct 1.)

Disclaimer
----------

This is a private translation of railroad authority announcements.  Despite my
efforts, errors may have slipped in.  Please check the certified timetable.

Kindly reply if anything seems wrong.  mailto:afu@wta.att.ne.jp

Are there any rumors making the rounds?  Let me know.

Bon Voyage,
Douso, The Prophet of the Way