http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3805.html

Did you see this, shelleyk? It looks like, with a JR pass, you need to take the JR Tokoku Shinkansen from either Tokyo or Ueno stations and change at Utsunomiya for the JR Nikko train....

Evidently the train from Shinjuku is the special train that is only partially covered by the JR pass....

When I went I was coming from Kyoto so I changed at Tokyo station....

Looks like the limited express is only once a day at 07:30. See Route1 on the link below.

Going via Omiya (in addition to Tokyo or Ueno) is another option. See Route2.

http://www.hyperdia.com/cgi/en/search.html?dep_node=SHINJUKU(JR)&arv_node=NIKKO&via_node01=&via_node02=&via_node03=&year=2013&month=05&day=20&hour=07&minute=21&search_type=0&search_way=&transtime=undefined&sort=0&max_route=5&ship=off&lmlimit=null&search_target=route&facility=reserved&sum_target=7

in addition to instead of

Thanks Mara and mrwunrfl. I think I will take the train from Tokyo station, as it is just 15 minutes by subway from my hotel, and Shinjuku station is a 15 minute walk from my hotel.

One more question...If I am using the JR pass and I make a reservation on a train that I miss, can I just get on the next train. How would I know if there are seats available on that next train?

You would need to get a ticket again and seat reservation for the next train at the ticket counters. I know bummer. You could jump on the next train and get a seat from the conductor or sit in the no res section if the train has one....

Regarding Nikko, from Shinjuku station you can take the JR Chuo line or the Chuo Express direct to Tokyo Station in 13 minutes. Don't know where the subway is you are thinking of but would think it takes a little longer than 15 minutes by subway from Shinjuku to Tokyo station.

Aloha!

Just a bit of advice. Get to the train station early if its your first time taking a train in Japan. Early even if it isn't,especially if its Shinjuku or Tokyo stations. The wow factor alone(you'll see when you get there} will cost precious minutes of time only magnified if your pressed for time. Then factor in the learning curve and I figure you need to be at the station entrance at least 45 minutes before your departure time more if you don't have your pass and tickets in your hands.

I have been to Japan many times now and I still get lost in Shinjuku station and avoid Tokyo station like the plague though the food options in both places have no rivals in all of Japan. Maybe Osaka comes close.....

Aloha!

Thanks for the heads up HT. I will follow your advice to arrive early. In your reply did you mean that if I missed my train I would either have to get a new reserved seat ticket, OR alternatively jump on the next train and get a seat from the conductor (without a ticket). Or do I need to get a new ticket either way. As insurance, can you make a reservation for 2 trains leaving an hour apart to the same destination tomake sure you make one of them, or is this not allowed?

We will be at the Citadines Shinjuku (I think) and there are 2 subways within a short walk from there. One is on the Marunouchi Line that goes into Tokyo station.

With all the hassle of getting into and out of Tokyo, I keep asking myself why we are even going there. I do not like shopping. I grew up in NYC, so the neon signs don't really have a great fascination for me. I keep wondering if my 4 days in Tokyo would be better spent in the Japanese Alps?

I would just get a seat reservation after arriving at Tokyo station for a train that I knew I could make. There are frequent departures.

ht, aren't there seat reservation counters where you can get a seat reservation without getting in a ticketing line? A separate counter that just sells/issues seat reservations. I thought that was what midori-no madoguchi, the green counter, was for but I've seen that referred to as a ticket counter.

I have a fuzzy memory of going to Nagoya station and seeing people lined up to buy tickets for travel but I just went to a separate counter with no line to get a reserved seat. By "ticket for travel", I mean the ticket that gets you through the gate and which a pass holder doesn't need.

You would really want to get a new seat res and ticket. It is not smart to hop on the next train because the next train through could very well have a different destination. If you are sure of it's destination of the next train then you can hop on but I would always go back to the ticket office and get a ticket. Most of the time that entails going back into the train station proper so don't be late. No you cannot make reservations for two different trains. Reservations are free with the pass but if you didn't have one they would charge you for a seat reservation. Don't stress you'll make the train.....eventually

IIRC the walk from the Tokyo subway to the JR trains in Tokyo station is a haul from the bottom of the station to the top levels so hope you are not carrying too much luggage.

http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/stations/img/map_e/e1039.pdf

Japanese Alps are nice, Gunma is nice, Tohoku is also nice.

Aloha!

We will each have a 21 inch rollie and a small carryon bag. It looks like there are elevators near the Marunouchi line exit to get up to the JR shinkensen trains. If we wind up taking bigger bags than this, then i will forward the bags from the Citadines to our next hotel. This can be done and paid for right at the hotel. Correct? (I am assuming that we do not have to bring the bags to a drop off place outside of the hotel. Correct?)

HT-Thanks for the diagram of Tokyo station. It was very helpful.

Yes you would have the bell desk handle the details and the bag. Ask about how they handle it there at check-in as sometimes they want your bag the night before they ship in the mornings.

you want to travel as light as you can as I am imagining you will be leaving the Citadines bright and early in the morning bound for Nikko and smack dab in the middle of rush hour in Tokyo. Imagine carrying luggage in tow on the blue or green line subway in NYC at rush hour and times that by 12 for Tokyo at rush hour. They have professional "train stuffers" in the Tokyo metro. Imagine doing this in NYC and see the crowds reaction but no one complains in Japan.....amazing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XfVl6_R7_k

That's why I suggested taking the train from Shinjuku and not the subway to Tokyo station first

Aloha!

mrwunrfl, yes, you can also get tickets for any JR transportation's including buses at the midori-no madoguchi but they are usually only located in the bigger train stations and finding them when pressed for time is usually a lesson in frustration for me....except at the airports. Going back to the ticket office where you know(usually)where located is the fastest I find especially if panicking in a time pinch

Aloha!

HT-Can you tell if the morning trains from Shinjuko Station to Nikko are covered by the JR pass. I think they may require an additional payment because they use non JR tracks, but I am not sure. Very confusing...

In any case, we will be doing Nikko as a day trip on a Saturday and leaving Tokyo for Takayama on a Sunday morning. Are the subways, and Tokyo station, less crowded on weekend mornings, or should we expect crowds even on weekends?

I haven't done it but the direct train from Shinjuku to Nikko would be charged a supplement probably no more than ¥600-900. The whole one-way fare is only ¥1890. You can also travel from Shinjuku on all JR tracks and transfer at Utsonomia on the JR Nikko line but takes a little longer.

No nightmare train rush hours in Tokyo on Saturdays or Sundays.

Aloha!

For a Saturday morning trip on that L'ex from Shinjuku to Nikko, I would get reserved seats well in advance.

>>If I am using the JR pass and I make a reservation on a train that I miss, can I just get on the next train. How would I know if there are seats available on that next train?<<

Don't miss it. But, if you do, then you will need to know the departure time of the next train that goes to your destination. Not all of the Tohuku shinkansen stop at Utsunomiya. Get a timetable, or make your own, and then using the departure time you can locate the train and track number for the next train using the overhead departure boards. It may be listed on the board just above the track of the train you just missed. You wouldn't know about seat availability you would just get on the non-reserved car - which are available on the trains that stop at Utsunomiya.

If you have to have a reserved seat then follow this sign:
www.japanrailpass.net/images/midori.gif
The worst that could happen is that they charge you 510 yen for another seat, if available. And maybe receive a frown for letting the first seat go empty.

this is all over the top... good thing i have my man to lead the way and make all the decisions..

shelly---tokyo seems an easy miss...

It looks to me like the direct train from Shinjuku to Nikko, the LE Nikko 1 is ¥3900 according to hyperdia....but I can't find where it says what the extra amount for using the Tobu trackway costs....I agree with mrwunrfl that if you are there in peak autumn season time the trains will be crowded.

3900 yen includes seat reservation fee. Train fare is 1890 + seat res fee

I believe that is the LE surcharge fee, ht - I don't think it's voluntary....
See explanation of Limited Express here:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2016.html

Hyperdia doesn't categorize it correctly....

¥1890 fare + ¥2010 seat fee = ¥3900
Look at the thread link Bill left above for the pricing.

Are you saying the ¥3900 is the LE fee only and that they would be charged more than ¥3900? If it were it would be cheaper to take the shinkansen as a paying customer and that doesn't make sense. Price also checks out on Jourdan.

http://www.jorudan.co.jp/english/norikae/

Unless I am missing something the JR Pass holder would only be charged a supplement to travel from Shinjuku to Nikko and not the whole ¥3900 as explained by this segment of the Japan-Guide:
Because the trains between Shinjuku and Nikko partially use the tracks of Tobu Railways, the Japan Rail Pass and JR Kanto Area Pass do not fully cover the expenses of the journey. However, thanks to a special agreement, the JR East Pass does cover the entire trip.

Aloha!

Bob, stick close to your man - he won't get you lost. The following might be too much for you, so you can skip it.

I found a wikipage that said the difference for a JR pass-holder on that L'ex is ¥1560 each way.

The base fare is ¥950 on JR to Kurihashi and ¥940 on Tobu from there to Tobu Nikko, so that's the ¥1890. The ¥2010 would include the limited express surcharges plus seat reservation fees. Subtract ¥510 for the JR reserved seat leaves ¥1500 for the surcharges and a Tobu seat fee. That is the same ballpark as what the wiki says.

But it could simply be that you would be paying the Tobu $940 fare plus a ¥620 surcharge+seat fee for the Kurihashi-Tobu Nikko leg.

I was wondering why I, a supposedly intelligent individual, could not figure out the surcharge from Shinjuko to Nikko. After reading the discussion above, I see you need an advanced degree in Japan Rail Pass. I think I am just going to leave from Tokyo station with my JR pass. At least i know what the charge will be...zero.

Yeah mrw!

I won't get him lost for too long anyways.....

But it could simply be that you would be paying the Tobu $940 fare plus a ¥620 surcharge+seat fee for the Kurihashi-Tobu Nikko leg.

Yes I think that would be the charge. The Tobu charge using the Tobu line.

With the JR Pass you wouldn't pay any LE or seat fees on the JR train.

'Seat reservations are mandatory, and the fare for this journey is ¥3900 each way. Japan Rail Pass holders can use this limited express train departing Shinjuku for ¥1560 each way (covering the portion of the trip between Kurihashi and Tobu-Nikko).' Quote from wikitravel.org/en/Nikko

Yes, I agree - I think there was some misunderstanding of my earlier post - I didn't think a JR Pass holder would have to pay the complete 3900¥.

Complete info from wiki

By JR and Tobu

In March of 2006, JR East and Tobu began joint limited-express service from Shinjuku station to the Nikko area.

This service offers one daily round-trip between Shinjuku and Tobu-Nikko station. The Nikko limited express departs Shinjuku at 7:12, and makes stops at Ikebukuro and Omiya, then continues via JR tracks to Kurihashi station, where control of the train is turned over to Tobu. Operating over the Tobu Nikko line, the train then makes three more stops before terminating at Tobu-Nikko. The one-way journey lasts about two hours.

Other limited express trains depart Shinjuku for Kinugawa, so you will have to transfer to a shuttle train at Shimo-Imaichi for the final run to Tobu-Nikko. This also takes about two hours. This service is all in addition to Tobu's regularly-scheduled Kegon and Kinu service into and out of Asakusa.

Seat reservations are mandatory, and the fare for this journey is ¥3900 each way. Japan Rail Pass holders can use this limited express train departing Shinjuku for ¥1560 each way (covering the portion of the trip between Kurihashi and Tobu-Nikko).

Holders of the JR East Rail Pass, on the other hand, may use the service to Nikko at no additional charge; the trip is fully covered. Unlike the regular Japan Rail Pass, the JR East Pass also covers local Tobu trains between Shimo-Imachi and Tobu-Nikko, and Shimo-Imaichi and Kinugawa-Onsen. You will have to pay separate fares for any services that are not covered.

If you plan on taking this service in both directions, consider the JR Tobu Nikko Kinugawa Free Pass (¥7800), sold to Japanese and foreigners alike. Valid for three consecutive days, it includes one round-trip on the joint JR/Tobu limited express service and unlimited travel on local Tobu trains and buses within that area. It does not include admission to the Nikko temples.

There are luggage lockers at Tobu-Nikko Station and JR Nikko Station.

Aloha Qe!

answer to all these questions: select your train, go to ticket window, plop down credit card, make your request, sign and walk away to the track...

you know you want to go, you know you want to go on the train, so who cares how much it costs????????????????????

Good point, Bob!

Peter, you have to make sure every day that he has a ¥5000 note in his pocket, lodging address, and knows how to pronounce takushi.

>>just going to leave from Tokyo station with my JR pass<<

shellyk, that confirms that you are, actually, an intelligent person. Going on JR will give you more options and you don't to have to get up so early.

Mara, I understood you.