Airplane vs Shinkansen

[Ranpyon]

I guess that this question has been asked thousand times, but I'm a n00b and I couldnt find an answer >___< So, gomen gomen in advance :relief:

I was wondering how to go to Osaka, this summer.
"SHINKANSEN!" was kinda an obvious answer, but tonight another info (from JGuide) came to me... What about AIRPLANE?

Shinkansen (Hikari Hayatoku Kippu)
12,000Y

JAL/ANA
10,000 - 12,000 Yen
Skymarkt
5,000 - 7,000 Yen

What do you think? How much would take an air trip from Tokyo to Osaka?
That 5,000 - 7,000 discount price is really yummi, don't you think so?
O__O I dont know what should I think, because it sounds too good to be true!

Ja nee!
Have a nice week-end, BTW!^^

[ArmandV]

There's an old saying, "If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is." It takes about an hour to fly from Tokyo to Osaka. If you have limited amounts of time available and don't plan on going elsewhere around Japan, then you may want to consider flying. But, if you have plenty of time and plan to go to other areas of Japan, then get the JR Railpass.

[Glenski]

If you take the train, you won't have to wait so long for boarding and unboarding, and you won't be so far from the center of the city when you get there. On the trains, you can get up and walk around anytime, too, plus the shinkansen has a bar car. So, prices aren't everything.

[Mikawa Ossan]

If you can listen to English well, I have something that may or may not interest you.

I'm going to look for a link which talks about the envirnmental impact of travel, especially that of airflight. It's conclusion is that airflight is the single most environmental UNfriendly type of travel.

EDIT: Found it! (It's just a minor part of this segment from NPR's "Talk of the Nation", which discusses what can be done to help the environment, but it's here, nonetheless.)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9568557

[Ewok85]

That price is too good to be true - it does not include mandatory taxes and charges. I can almost guarantee that the price will be more than the shinkansen once you add these charges onto the price.

You also do not save any time - you have to remember that you need to go to the airport (which itself takes time), board (more time), un.. board (time) and then catch another train back into town.

[Mike Cash]

The first time I heard Japan has domestic air routes I thought someone was pulling my leg.

Some routes, I get it. But why on earth would anyone fly Tokyo <-> Osaka?

[ArmandV]

The first time I heard Japan has domestic air routes I thought someone was pulling my leg.

Some routes, I get it. But why on earth would anyone fly Tokyo <-> Osaka?

Believe it or not, we did back in '04. Our group tour to Japan had us in Kyoto for the last three days and when it was time to head back to the U.S., we were bused to the airport in Osaka and flown to Tokyo with our arrival time of 9:00 am. Then we had to wait for our 7:00 PM flight out of Narita to Los Angeles. Most of us took a train into Tokyo to do some final site-seeing during the wait.

The flight out of Osaka was an ANA Boeing 747(!). Incredibly, the plane was full.

[Mike Cash]

I was recently reading somewhere that Japanese domestic routes have actually become the prime hangout for 747s.

[omEigaMan]

How about Tokyo <> Fukuoka? I'm thinking plane is better, esp. since the rail pass won't cover the Nozomi. Any thoughts?

[NekoMama7]

Skymark flies to/from Kobe. They no longer serve Osaka. But I hear ground connection at the Kobe Airport is much better than Itami or Kanku.

When you are flying, you need to think about the ground connection into budgeting. You still need to take trains or buses to reach the city. And the delay factors.

When you travel via Shinkansen, you'll need to drag your luggage with you. There's no porter services. But connections are easy. And you can also get off Shinkansen at Kyoto, do some sightseeing, and then take commuter train (Kyoto-sen) to Osaka. Super fast and cheaper than going all the way to Shin Osaka via Shinkansen (just avoid rush hour). Use coin lockers at the Kyoto Station to store your luggage while you are in Kyoto.

[ArmandV]

How about Tokyo <> Fukuoka? I'm thinking plane is better, esp. since the rail pass won't cover the Nozomi. Any thoughts?

I just got back from Japan and took the Hikari Shinkansen from Tokyo to Fukuoka (and back) during my trip. The Nozomi is more of an express train with little or no stops and probably no train change. It runs the same route as the Hikari. The Hikari takes about 6 to 6 1/2 hours to go to Fukuoka from Tokyo (and vice-versa) with a change of trains at Shin-Osaka. The time between trains at Shin-Osaka is roughly a half hour. The Railpass will cover the Hikari line. The Hikari was convenient enough for me.

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

Tokyo <> FukuokaAIRLINE
A normal rate of an airline ticket
ANA/JAL 33,800YEN
SKYmark 18,800YEN
A minimum price of special discount
ANA 12,100YEN
JAL 12,100YEN
SKYMARK 10,000YEN
It is 3 hours 31 minutes using an airplane from Tokyo Station to Hakata Station.

Sinkansen
NOZOMI (No1)
Time is 4 hours 55 minutes.
Money of general use is 21,210 yen
However, JR pass is the most effective.
Sleeper trains from Tokyo to Fukuoka
Limited Express "Hayabusa"
About 16 hours
23,040 yen
Others, the Sinkansen and limited express route.
TOKYOU 19:50->NOZOMI(75) -> 23:31 FUKUYAMA 23:50 ->
limited express(NAHA)->5:52 HAKATA

Buses
Night travel buses from Fukuoka (Tenjin) to Shinjuku.
BUSES "HAKATA GOU"
Indispensability time is 14 hours 20 minutes.
15,000YEN.


In addition, there is the ferry which goes from the Tokyo Port to Kitakyusyu (Moji).
A passenger fare 13,800YEN
It is about 30 hours in time

[Pepe]

Trains don't have jet engines which eat birds and explode, causing an emergency landing. They also don't have fuselages which tear open and suck out a dozen passengers who then fall 2 minutes to their deaths. Of course trains can have a wheel explode at 300km/h and then wrap themselves around a bridge...still want to go?

Kidding :sorry: - my suggestion is to fly only when it is time critical, but I would take the train any day of the week because it is more comfortable and you have an awesome view out your window. All you see out of a plane is clouds :sleep: .

[Taiko666]

I was recently reading somewhere that Japanese domestic routes have actually become the prime hangout for 747s.
And the world's worst single aircraft disaster involved such a plane.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Airlines_Flight_123
A mix of frequent take-offs and landings, a minor prang and poor maintenance causing a massive disaster. And compounded afterwards by the J-authorities refusing to let American servicemen help in the rescue.

[maushan3]

I haven't been on a train ever, so, wen I go to Japan, I am going to take the train just for the experience, I bet it is wonderful. I am very stingy but this might not be only a convenient way of transportation, but rather a marvelous experience that I would pay for that price, even if it is more expensive than the airplane, but I see you are from Europe, so you might have been on the train way too many times.

Mauricio

[Pepe]

I love taking the train over planes, as it is far more relaxed. No security checkpoints, no metal detectors, no rushing to the plane because of the delay caused by the 'random' body cavity search. I also love the way trains rock and shake a little as the sceenery floats by. Romantic even, such a train ride can be.

[ArmandV]

I would take the train any day of the week because it is more comfortable and you have an awesome view out your window. All you see out of a plane is clouds :sleep: .

I agree. The scenery passing by your train window is awesome.

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

New Sinkansen type N700 runs from July 1, 2007.
It is maximum speed 320km/h with a new motor.
However, speed is 270km/h for security.
Brakes are new, too.

A characteristic can use wireless LAN.
http://internet.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/news/2006/03/31/11463.html

[xerxes99]

I so love the shinkansen. I'd much rather take it than fly. I actually recently took the shinkansen fron shinKobe to shinOsaka. 11 minutes!:-)

[MeAndroo]

The main reason I would recommend a train over a plane is leg room. I'm nearly always cramped when traveling because I'm a sloucher, especially when I want to take a nap. I'm only 5'9" and I still find most flying to be utterly uncomfortable. The shinkansen is an interesting experience, but bring your own food.

[omEigaMan]

Thanks for all the replies. It's very helpful. I've taken the shinkansen before and it's great. My main concern is time. I don't have long for this particular trip to Japan and would like to spend as much time as possible seeing sites and less time traveling. Never seen Kyuusyuu before. This'll be my first time there. Tanoshimi ni...

I would fly into Osaka, but I need a couple days in Tokyo. Plus, there's no direct flight from KIX and, with layovers, it's actually longer than taking the Shinkansen from Osaka to Tokyo with a direct flight home.

ArmandV : Didn't know Hikari was so quick on that route. That's a definite possibility. Thanks. Maybe shinkansen to Hakata, then fly back to Tokyo the same day as my flight home.

Pepe: Well, better to be on the plane than be the bird that flies into it :)

Wish I had more time this trip.

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

From Tokyo Station to Osaka Station,
The Sinkansen arrives earliest.
The route which arrives at Osaka Station by 9:00 a.m.
TOKYO -> OSAKA
Sinkansen
6:00 -> 8:57
Time is 57 minutes for two hours.
13,470 yen
Airplane
5:18 -> 8:53
Time is 35 minutes for three hours
21,740 yen
Limited express
"GINGA(Milky Way)"
23:00 -> 7:18
Time is 18 minutes for eight hours
16,070 yen
Night travel bus
"JR BUS"
21:40 -> 7:24
Time is 16 minutes for 14 hours
3,500 yen
http://www.kakuyasubus.jp/kanto_kansai/youth_megadream/index.html

In the case of me, I use a limited express.
Because,
When you move by Sinkansen or airplane, you must get up at 5:00.
When I move by a bed limited express,
I eat dinner in Ginza,
After having gone in a sauna,
I get on a limited express.
The next morning,
I eat breakfast in Osaka.

[Pepe]

From Tokyo Station to Osaka Station...
...In the case of me, I use a limited express.
Because,
When you move by Sinkansen or airplane, you must get up at 5:00.
When I move by a bed limited express,
I eat dinner in Ginza,
After having gone in a sauna,
I get on a limited express.
The next morning,
I eat breakfast in Osaka.
Mate I'm keeping note of that tip for when the girlfriend and I are finally able to take that trip around Japan. Sounds like not only an efficient way of getting from a to be, but it is transport and accomodation in one. Very cool:cool: .

[ArmandV]

Mate I'm keeping note of that tip for when the girlfriend and I are finally able to take that trip around Japan. Sounds like not only an efficient way of getting from a to be, but it is transport and accomodation in one. Very cool:cool: .


You don't need to get up at 5:00 am to catch a Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Fukuoka (Hakata). The trains run every hour. I took the trains at 7:00 am only because I wanted to get to my destinations earlier in the afternoon.

[maushan3]

You don't need to get up at 5:00 am to catch a Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Fukuoka (Hakata). The trains run every hour. I took the trains at 7:00 am only because I wanted to get to my destinations earlier in the afternoon.

Lol, another reason to take the Shinkansen, you don't need to checkup at the airport two hours earlier and, the train runs very frequently.

Mauricio

[NekoMama7]

If you start your travel a bit far from Tokyo station, you may need to leave early to get on the train, you know. And some grooming factor...

Anyway, if you are visiting Japan as a tourist and consider flying domestic, especially when visiting Okinawa, Kyushu or Hokkaido, consider using special discount air coupons like these: http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/arrange/transportation/discount_air.html

[uchimizu]

I would definitely vote in favour of the Shinkansen for travel from Tokyo to Nagoya and Kyoto. However, domestic flights are also quite efficient in Japan, so you may want to fly for longer trips, for example to Fukuoka. Flying may even turn out to be cheaper.

By the way, you may be interested in this introduction to Tokaido Shinkansen (http://uchimizu-en.blogspot.com/2008/07/tokaido-shinkansen.html).

[manners]

My experience in Japan is that air travel has been cheaper than shinkansen when going longer distances. But given the price of oil now I am not sure.

JR has good hotel shinkansen packages to take advantage of for those who live in Japan.

[AJBryant]

If I were traveling anywhere in Japan, and it were possible, I'd take the shink. No problem with airports, no security hassles, you start on the ground and end on the ground at a station, ready to go. Plus the scenery is wicked, and the experience is just great.

One of the most nostalgic things for me is the little bell-tone from the shink announcing arrival at a station.

Tony

[Fel1city]

Shinkansen every time: no waiting for luggage (it's with you all the time);superefficient and frequent timetables; arrive in the centre of town, not 1.5 hours away; scenery +, and some are even double-deckers which makes the view even better; can move around at any time;and I agree: heaps of legroom....

[ArmandV]

The shinkansens also have available for sale pretty good bento lunches for around 800 yen (or pick one up at the train station).

[AJBryant]

Oh, heck, yeah. Forgot about the really yummy bento -- especially the regional specialty ones. Also, the shink doesn't mind if you board carrying a metric buttload of "outside-purchased" drinks and munchies, unlike most airlines.

Tony