If you board the train with Icoca, you only pay the train ticket, you need to pay extra 990 Yen for reserved seat. Seat can purchase from machine / ticket office.

Do not insert Seat ticket into machine when passing gate.

Btw, pro tips are go machine see the seat available thru machine first, if the train damm empty........no need waste that 990yen.

Yes. Take the unreserved seat.
Entire Japan......only JR Kyushu make reserve seat wider, more comfortable than unreserved seat.

JR West, Central, Shikoku, East, Hokkaido all no difference.

Unreserved seat Icoca Haruka discount ticket will look like this.
Ignore the 1600 yen....that was many years ago.



This post has been edited by RegentCid: Apr 28 2023, 07:12 PM

Starting 29 April 2023.
Japan fully drop COVID check requirements.

No more vaccine check....no more fast track.

Haneda most crowded , peak time was night. 6-9pm. Morning crowd are nothing compare to 6-9pm

No more checking. I dont fxxx round here.

Not busy. You Taking MAS to KIX?
Normally MAS are 1st Airlines arrived KIX in morning.

Next flight arrived KIX are 6.30am....So you got 0600 - 0630 this half hour empty custom line without passenger from other airlines.

This post has been edited by RegentCid: May 2 2023, 09:45 AM

No need pre-book. Because Tokyo > Osaka almost every 15 minute got one train depart. As long not Golden Week. The Train always got Seat.
Just get your seat reservation ticket on the date your depart.

Kyoto to Osaka no need take Shinkansen. Keihan Main Line and Hankyu Kyoto Line Limited Express will do.

If Aircraft landed using Runway 23
AirAsia X to Haneda. No chances. 90% no way you can hop into last train. Unless you very experience in Haneda airport, you memorized whole building layout.
Limousine bus is the only option.

If Landing using Runway 22
60% you will missed the last train.

If you lucky, Landed on Runway 34L
70% you can get last train.

Runway 34R
100% no chance. Runway 34R normally exclusive for ANA domestic flight, because near to Terminal 2. If control tower buat hal.....34R....lol!!! 30 minute taxing from runway to international terminal gate.

Pray to God, hope the wind direction allow you get Runway 34L

This post has been edited by RegentCid: May 4 2023, 10:17 PM

Example:
You arrived Haneda on 5 May 2023 11pm. ...ding dong ding dong......you missed the last train and take Taxi to Shinagawa.
If you booked the Hotel on 5 May 2023....yes you still able to checked in even at 12 / 1am @6 May 2023 morning.

If you booked Hotel at 6 May 2023.....then your checked in Time will be 2pm. No point get a taxi to Tokyo City, might well hang around inside Haneda Airport until 5AM & take 1st train to Shinagawa.

You can buy ticket on spot but you had to reach Arashiyama at 7am. Cannot make it at 7am then pre book thru klook with extra service charge.

Reserved thru web cannot get earliest train.

Morning 1st train got the best breeze of air except summer. Plus if cannot reserved, bigger achievement.
Means you reached Myojin Pond. Achievement unlock. Nice.
I normally do counter clockwise on Kamikochi route.

So how the trip? got any big difference from Plan & reality. derail off course how many % ?

This post has been edited by RegentCid: May 6 2023, 11:12 PM

Bigger version of Romantic train.

Meat looks like A3 quality. 8,000 Yen fair enough. A5 quality will be starting at 20,000 Yen

Japan already no longer need any vaccination cert. Even a person without single shot also can entering Japan. Everythng back to 2010. Pre-Covid era.

Narita bus web: https://tyo-nrt.com/en
Website got timetable. Last bus depart from Tokyo Station to Narita Airport was 1730

Baggage handaling in Japan normally sent to Hotel. It won't sent Airpor to Airport due to bomb / drug. Security reason.

HND Terminal to hotel. Yes. You can try Yamato Transport. They do have counter at HND
Train to Narita until 10pm. You can take JR NEX from Tokyo Station to Narita Terminal OR From UENO to Narita Terminal with Keisei Skyliner (Mini Shinkansen)

Standard Arrival & departure form

This post has been edited by RegentCid: May 15 2023, 10:31 PM

Now no more fast track & QR. If you show QR or fast Track, you will instruct to write in form. Means you need Q up again after writing form.

Some temple lodging at Koyasan do provide room private toilet + bathroom but the price are extremely expensive. Rm1k - 1.2k per night.