Nismo festival 2014 from Tokyo

Hi, My boyfriend and I are planning on attending the Nismo festival on Sunday 30th November which is being held at Fuji speedway.

We have a JR pass for that week but we understand the best or fastest way to get to Gotemba Station is by highway bus followed by a taxi to the track. And for the return journey there is a bus from the track back to Gotemba Station.

We believe the event starts at 8.30am. Could someone please confirm if this is the right way to get there. We have budgeted for 1500 or so yen for the bus. (Not sure if this is the return price) and 3,500 Yen for a taxi from Gotemba Statiion to the track.

How would we get the bus tickets? Do we need to book in advance or can we buy them on the day?. Are the buses in in the evening from Gotemba to Tokyo frequent? and what time is the earliest bus from Tokyo to Gotemba?

Sorry for all of the questions, we just want to make the journey stress free. =) Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you very much!

Have you already contacted the organizer?
They show their e-mail address on the web:
http://www.nismo.co.jp/event/festa2014/info_1.html
(at the bottom of the right column in the Japanese page)

Glancing their web pages, I would take a JR to Gotemba, a shuttle bus to the track, a shuttle bus from the track and a JR from Gotemba.(tickets on the way. I cannot find any reasons to use highway bus.) The track gate will be opened for 5:00-16:30 (seemed daylight limited). The parade will start at 9:00. The earliest JR train will arrive at Gotemba at 7:23. The frequency is roughly one train per hour. I would take 17:10 JR train from Gotemba.

Shuttle bus[シャトルバス] info update yet.
I agree, send e-mail to official secretariat.
http://www.nismo.co.jp/event/festa2014/info_1.html

This is last year 2013 (Use google translate)
http://www.nismo.co.jp/event/festa2013/info_4.html
but still don't know same or not.(bus stops and time table)
Shuttle bus fare from Gotemba stn maybe under 650Y/oneway.
(This Apr 2014 sales tax raised 5 to 8%) No need booking.

(note)
JR-Pass not covered EXP(high)way bus (JR bus,too)
Fuji-kyu bus and Odakyu[小田急] railways/bus,too.

EXP(high)way bus from JR Tokyo stn to Gotemba stn.
http://time.jrbuskanto.co.jp/bk040180.html
Bus no.1 is maybe possible opening parade 9:00 am start
but not recommend early dep from mid Tokyo.
Find near Gotemba or closer area hotels.

Thank you for the prompt replies!

If we were to take the option of using trains for the majority of the journey, are we correct in assuming our JR passes would cover us from Tokyo to Mishima? (we are staying in the nihonbashi area so we are not too far away) From then on pay a seperate fair to gotemba? We also noticed the connection window is around 2 minutes, would that be makable?

With regards to staying in a hotel near to the track, we would like to avoid this as much as possible, but thank you for the suggestion!

So the next step would then be to email the secretariat with regards to the frequency of the shuttle busses to and from the track am I correct? Also to be honest if we did have to take a taxi either way it would tick off one of the items on the holiday list!

On a side note, are we right in thinking it is possible to purchase tickets from 7/11 stores? I'm sorry but I cannot find the direct link to this, but even so we are more than happy to purchase tickets on the gate.

Thank you again for your time and help. We really do appreciate this!

I think the first step should be the email inquiry...

Anyway, I would get tickets from either from 7/11, circleKsunkus, or TicketPia
(A ticket at the gate is 500JPY more expensive).
http://www.nismo.co.jp/event/festa2014/info_1.html

Take the 5:20 JR train from Tokyo, transfer at Kozu (not Mishima by Shinkansen).
The next train should wait for you. The 2 minutes window is just for that.
You would arrive at 7:23 at Gotemba.
http://www.jorudan.co.jp/norikae/cgi/nori.cgi?rf=top&eok1=R-&eok2=R-&p...
All these will be covered with your JR pass.
http://www.japanrailpass.net/eng/en004.html

You just need 610+JPY for the shuttle bus.
You would arrive at the gate just around 8:00 before the parade
(assuming Ariel's link for the past would be similar this year).

I hope that the crowd should lead you all the way from Kozu to the gate.

Thank you very much for the reply!

This may sound like a very stupid question to ask, but in regards to emailing the organizer, should we be requesting a shuttle bus timetable or are we overlooking something? Also thank you for the station correction!

Thank you again for your continued assistance!

I think the email should look like your post at 2014/11/12 19:43, indicating all your planned actions relating to the Nismo festival. If they found misunderstandings in it, they would try to correct them, at least. They might also try to establish English pages for the festival, as they already have English nismo site.
http://www.nismo.co.jp/en/index.html
Moreover, with your email, they would recognize that some foreign visitors should come to the place. That would result in making you much ease at the festival.

Just for sure, the ticket discount is only available before 30 Nov. You should go to 7/11 or others until 29 Nov.

Shuttle bus and other special events tickets sales info update this week maybe.
(now still Sunday 99.999% no update)

[purchasing regular entering ticket]
At convenience store 7-11(Seven-Eleven) easiest to find.
http://oobokewest.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/p4051985.jpg
Enter shop and find this ticket machine(multipul copy machine) near door.
http://livedoor.blogimg.jp/ohmyhot2/imgs/c/d/cdd5f7c7.jpg
Then touch screen menu like this
http://www.sej.co.jp/services/popup/svflow_pia.html
and input "P-code[Pコード]" six numbers
from "Pコードで探す(search by P-code)" on "step 3". [Pコード：989-188]
http://www.nismo.co.jp/event/festa2014/info_1.html

But you cannot all bc no Eng menu,name form not matched foreigners
and no Japanese phone number.(Hotel numbers instead no problem)
Shop staff help you usual if not busy. If staff don't speak/understand Eng well
say "I want to buy a ticket. I have P-code here (and showing with)
but I don't know this machine..._???" only again and again slowly :)
This is other convenience store's machine video and instructions
but same process most not so hard. http://youtu.be/Eu_z2UGEWx4
http://l-tike.com/guide/loppi_english.html


And...
purchasing possible Highway bus tickets at same ticketing machine,too.
from Tokyo stn[東京駅] to Gotemba (for Kawaguchiko[河口湖]) and back both.
But No like "P-code" system a little harder maybe.
http://www.jtb.co.jp/bus/guide/seven/
(note)
Now checked booking conditions first bus to Gotemba already "full[満席]".
http://urx.nu/ec1q

You guys have helped us out a tremendous amount, we wouldn't even have known where to begin!

So, with all your help and advice, we believe we are going to take the option of:

- Purchase tickets at a local 7/11 using the guide and p- code provided.

- JR line to and from Gotemba, changing trains where necessary. That way we can utilise our passes as much as possible!

- Attempt to obtain an up to date shuttle bus timetable from Nismo if they can provide one. If not taxi or hopefully follow like minded Nissan fans to and from the track!

As a side note, we posted a question related to the Top Secret garage recently, but are yet to receive a reply regarding the possibility of a visit, but they have stated on their webpage they will be attending the festival so two birds with one stone!

I know we keep saying this, but we really do mean how greatful we are for your help and time!

Thank you!

Have you ever noticed updates of the web site? Still basically in Japanese, but just press buttons of LETTER OF CONSENT in the following page.
http://www.nismo.co.jp/event/festa2014/ticket.html

You might be interested, or have you already got info from the organizer?