e.g.
Parent A + Parent B + Kid C (10 years old) + Kid D (5 years old)
: If the four passengers have a ride together in an Ordinary-Class non-Reserved car of a JR train, child-rate JR fees apply to C while D can travel free of JR fees.
: If A, B and C use Ordinary-Class reserved seats of a JR train and D is on knees of B, child-rate JR fees apply to C while D can travel free of JR fees.
: If D solely uses an Ordinary-Class reserved seat of a JR train, child-rate JR fees apply also to D.
Major non-JR railroad operators (including Keisei, which offers NRT accesses) have similar rules regarding kids and fees.
"Narita Express" trains, which are offered by JR-East, do not have non-Reserved seats; all the seats require reservation.
The 3-year old kid can travel on a "Narita Express" train from the station in NRT to Shinagawa Station at 750 yen if she uses a child-rate N'EX Tokyo Direct Ticket.
http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/pass/nex_oneway.htmlUnfortunately there is no such discount ticket concerning an NRT-bound "Narita Express" ride. If you take a non-express JR train together (outside Green Cars), she can travel free of JR fees.
Depending on the location of your Tokyo hotel, Keisei lines may be better for you to travel back to NRT.
If we use a Suica card, do we just carry her through the automatic gates? If her parent is accepted by touching a Suica Card, the 3-year old kid and the parent can walk together through the automatic gate while the doors are open (unless the gate is too narrow).
When she uses a N'EX Tokyo Direct Ticket, she can put the ticket into a gate machine and solely pass through the gate. (If the ticket slit is too high for her, someone needs to set the ticket from behind.)
By the way, how old will the other kid be?
A Child Suica Card can be issued for a kid of an elementary school age (roughly 6 to 11); his/her personal data (such as the name and the date of birth) need to be registered.
Day 1 - late arrival Narita, stay hotel there Where in Narita City will you stay?
Your station in NRT is either Narita Airport Station (in Terminal 1) or Airport Terminal 2 Station.
Please note that Narita Station (of JR) and Keisei Narita Station are located outside the airport.
(get 7 day JR pass at airport) In order to get a Japan Rail Pass, a passenger should purchase an Exchange Order in advance before coming to Japan.
- Japan Rail Pass: Who is eligible for a JAPAN RAIL PASS?
http://www.japanrailpass.net/eng/en002.html- Japan Rail Pass: Where exchange orders are sold
http://www.japanrailpass.net/eng/en005.html- JR-East: JR East Travel Service Centers (in the two NRT terminals)
http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/customer_support/service_center.html: When Travel Service Center is still closed in the morning, you can visit JR Ticket Office (open from 6:30, located beside the JR gate) to turn in Exchange Orders for Japan Rail Passes and try reserving seats of "Narita Express" and Shinkansen trains.
N'EX & Shinkansen to Kyoto Your transfer in Shinagawa Station to Tokaido Shinkansen, which is operated by JR-Central, is much shorter and simpler than that in Tokyo Station.
- JR-Central: Map of Shinagawa Station (of JR-East and JR-Central)
http://english.jr-central.co.jp/info/station/_img/shinagawa_L.jpg"Narita Express" trains from NRT arrive at Track 14 in Shinagawa Station; you can just follow signs for Shinkansen. The south transfer route (via Shinkansen South Transfer Gate) is equipped with elevators.
Cf. In Tokyo Station, "Narita Express" trains use Sobu Underground tracks on the 5th basement while Shinkansen tracks are above the ground. And you need to choose a correct Shinkansen gate because there JR-East and JR-Central have Shinkansen zones independently.
Kyoto to Hiroshima Three regular Shinkansen "Hikari" trains are scheduled to depart from Kyoto at 7:20, at 8:02 and at 8:23 and run to Hiroshima.
If you leave Kyoto Station later, you are likely to need to take two Shinkansen trains. (Most of the direct Shinkansen trains for Hiroshima are "Nozomi" trains, which cannot be taken with a Japan Rail Pass.)
Westbound Shinkansen "Sakura" trains start from Shin-Osaka Station, so you can get on a "Sakura" train there some minutes before the departure. (Also some westbound "Hikari" trains start from Shin-Osaka Station.)
Shinkansen trains make indeed a "brief stop" at Kyoto Station.
When you take a Shinkansen train from Kyoto Station, you are expected to get on the train quickly (after certain passengers get off). To get off a Shinkansen train at Kyoto Station, please get ready early.
The same applies to Hiroshima Station except for Shinkansen trains starting from or destined to the station.
