Page 177 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Tokyo

TR A VEL INFORM A TION  175

DIRECTORY
The Railway Network/
Private Railway Lines
JR East
Tel (03) 3423-0111 (English info).
∑ jreast.co.jp/e
Keikyu
∑ keikyu.co.jp
Keisei Railway
∑ keisei.co.jp
Odakyu Railway
∑ odakyu.jp/english/
Ticket barriers for the Tobu Railway at Tobu Asakusa Station
Seibu Railway
The Japan Rail Pass ∑ seibu-group.co.jp/railways/
but the tracks do not make it tourist/english/index.html
easy for those pulling suitcases In a country with some of the
with wheels. Escalators are world’s highest train fares, the Tobu Railway
readily available for commuters. Japan Rail Pass is a wonderful ∑ tobu.co.jp/foreign/tobu.html
Note that many trains, deal. Specially devised for Tokyu Railway
especially the shinkansen, stop tourists, the pass is not for sale ∑ tokyu.co.jp/global/index.
only briefly in order to maintain inside Japan and must be html
their timetables. Thus, travelers purchased from an agent
are encouraged to line up on abroad before your visit. Rail passes
some platforms. Floor markings The pass gives unlimited travel Japan Rail Pass
on the platform indicate where on all JR lines and affiliated ∑ japanrailpass.net
the train doors will open; buses, including the N’EX (see
however, these are written in p168) between Narita Airport JR East Rail Pass
Japanese, so they can be and Tokyo, city-center JR trains ∑ jreast.co.jp/e/eastpass/
difficult for most visitors (including the Yamanote Line),
to decipher. and shinkansen,
On trains with except Nozomi and for the actual Japan Rail Pass
reserved seats, such Mizuho trains. Also at designated JR Travel Service
as the shinkansen included is the ferry Centers in Japan, including
and the N’EX, the to the island of Narita Airport and major train
car number is the Miyajima, near stations. When you get your
first of the two Hiroshima. Subways pass, you must specify the date
numbers that The Japan Rail Pass and private railways on which you wish to start
appear on the are not included. You using it; the date has to be
ticket. This is followed by may have to reserve a seat on within three months of the issue
a letter, which indicates the long-distance trains, but the of the exchange order. After the
actual seat. Again, this reservation will be free. start date of the pass, the cost
information is in Japanese. You can choose a 7-day cannot be refunded, neither can
Stations in major tourist (¥28,300), 14-day (¥45,100), or the exchange order or pass be
areas have baggage lockers 21-day (¥57,700) pass; there replaced if lost or stolen.
and information booths where are also more expensive passes
staff may speak English. that allow travel in Green Cars
(equivalent to first class). If you Other Passes
intend to do much traveling by There are also other, less
On-Board Facilities train, the pass will save you expensive regional rail passes.
On shinkansen and other long- money. If you want to explore The JR East Rail Pass, which can
distance routes, trolleys serving Japan by train for more than 21 be bought both outside Japan
snacks, beverages, bento lunch- days, or prefer to break up your and within the country, covers
boxes, and edible omiyage (local travels by staying in one place for Honshu, northeast of Tokyo. A
specialties) are wheeled up and more than a few days, consider 5-day pass costs ¥20,000 (children
down the length of the train. buying more than one pass. ¥14,000) and a 10-day pass costs
There is often a choice of JNTO offices (see p159) have a ¥44,800 (children ¥22,400). Tobu
Western- (sit-down) and full list of rail-pass agents in your Railway issues two-day and four-
Japanese-style (squat) toilets. country. The agent will issue a day passes for Nikko. Odakyu
Wash rooms and toilets may be Japan Rail Pass Exchange Order, offers various passes to Kamakura
electronically operated, requiring usually at a price based on the and the Hakone area. Seibu
a hand to be passed in front of a day’s rate of exchange with the issues passes for the popular
panel for flushing, or use a lever. yen. This voucher is exchanged spots of Chichibu and Kawagoe.

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