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NEX Suica to Izu 2007/10/6 17:09
Hi,
Greetings from Singapore.
This is our itinerary for our 2 week trip Oct21-Nov2 2007. Our accomodation has been reserved.

We are aware of the Jorudan & Hyperdia websites and have travelled by train before on our last 2 trips. So our questions are more about what happens when we choose the NEX/SUICA option.

1) Arriving At Narita Intl Terminal 1 at 7.30am and make our way to Ito Station in Izu Hanto.


Train Route is Narita Airport - Tokyo or Shinagawa (by Narita Express) - Ito (by Odoriko).

We stay in Ito Yamatokan for 2 nights

2) From Ito to Shimoda Yamatokan - staying 3 nights.
Route - by Izukyu railway

3) From Shimoda to Ueno
3 nights.
Route is Shimoda - Tokyo (Odoriko) - Ueno (Yamanote)

4) From Ueno to Nasu Shiobara 3 nights (Hotel Epinard Nasu).
Route is Ueno to Nasu Shiobara by Shinkansen Yamabiko

5) Back to Ueno 2 nights Hotel Parkside. We will take the Keisei skyliner back to Narita.

Questions regarding NEX SUICA package. Please note that we would like to travel with seat reservations on the Limited Express & Shinakansen trains. We are aware of the costs but the time saved is worth it for us.

a) For the NEX SUICA package - how far will the NEX ticket cover?
eg. Narita to Ito (does it cover the Odoriko LEX to Ito) OR only Narita to Tokyo or Shinagawa (depending on train schedule to catch the Odoriko).
Does the NEX ticket include the seat reservation already or is that extra?

b) Using the NEX SUICA, could you suggest the easiest schedule from Narita airport to Ito station using the Narita Express & Odoriko? We arrive at Narita 7.30am and will need time to retrive our mediumsized bags.

c) If the NEX ticket doesnt cover the Odoriko to Ito, can we use the Suica?
Do we pay extra to the counter staff for seat reservation on the Odoriko or can this amount be topped up in the SUICA at the airport?

d) From Ito to Shimoda I believe we can take the Izukyu railway. Can we use the SUICA for this?

e) Can the SUICA be used from Shimoda to Ueno if we are taking the Odoriko to Tokyo station?

f) If the SUICA is allowed - do we have to go to the train counter every time we want to make our train reservations?

Can the seat reservation charges be deducted from the SUICA or must it be paid separately to the station counter when making reservations.

What's your advice for a hassle free train travel (3 adults) for our schedule and does it make sense to buy the NEX/SUICA?

Thanks very much. Lee
by Lee  

... 2007/10/6 20:35
For the NEX SUICA package - how far will the NEX ticket cover?

It is valid until Ofuna Station, but it does not cover the express supplement for the Odoriko between Shinagawa and Ofuna:
http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/suica-nex/guide.html

Does the NEX ticket include the seat reservation already or is that extra?

Yes, it includes the seat reservation on the NEX, but not on the Odoriko.

Using the NEX SUICA, could you suggest the easiest schedule from Narita airport to Ito station using the Narita Express & Odoriko? We arrive at Narita 7.30am and will need time to retrive our mediumsized bags.

It depends on how much time you need. Recommended transfer stations are Ofuna, Yokohama and Tokyo in that order. But not all trains run to Yokohama. And even less run as far as Ofuna.

If the NEX ticket doesnt cover the Odoriko to Ito, can we use the Suica?

Ito is inside the Suica area, but if you have a NEX/Suica package, it is not a practical option to use Suica for the trip. You would have to do the following:
At the station, where you exit the NEX, you would have to leave through the ticket gates once and then re-enter with your Suica card. Unless you can take the NEX as far as Ofuna, it would be a waste of money, because the NEX/Suica package covers the base fare to Ofuna.

You should rather buy a separate base fare ticket for the section between Ofuna and Ito at Narita Airport Station (plus the express supplement for the Odoriko).

Do we pay extra to the counter staff for seat reservation on the Odoriko or can this amount be topped up in the SUICA at the airport?

Suica cannot be used to pay at the ticket counter. Furthermore, the additional amount to be paid (for the Odoriko supplement and the base fare from Ofuna to Ito) is larger than the amount initially charged to the Suica card (initial charge: 1500 Yen)

From Ito to Shimoda I believe we can take the Izukyu railway. Can we use the SUICA for this?

No, Suica cannot be used on the Izukyu Railways.

Can the SUICA be used from Shimoda to Ueno if we are taking the Odoriko to Tokyo station?

No. Suica can only be used to pay for the base fare between Ito and Ueno, but not for the fare between Shimoda and Ito and not for the Odoriko express supplement.

What's your advice for a hassle free train travel (3 adults) for our schedule and does it make sense to buy the NEX/SUICA?

For your specific schedule, a NEX/Suica package will save you some money, but also causes some additional complication.
by Uji rate this post as useful

too much hassle? 2007/10/7 15:23
Thanks Uji again for your time and effort.

1) We will take either the 9.15am or 9.44am Narita Express to Tokyo station to catch the Odoriko from there.

2) I do realise there is a savings for the Narita Express trip to Tokyo station using the NEX/SUICA because the normal fare is already Y2940.

Should we
a) go ahead & buy the NEX/SUICA to save the journey from Narita - Tokyo?

b) Then keep the Suica ticket only for the 3 days we will be in Ueno.

As for all the other journeys where it will be a hassle to include the Suica, we will just buy separate tickets. Does it make sense?

c) Booking tickets without using SUICA for other journeys mean -
if we book out train journey at Shimoda to Ueno i.e.
Shimoda - Tokyo (by Odoriko) - Ueno (Keihin-Tohoku Negishi line)
we can pay the total fare and get all the tickets at the Shimoda train station. That means not without having to exit Tokyo station and go in again to catch the Keihin line to Ueno?

By the way, could you define ''Odoriko Supplement'' - are we talking about the Seat Reservation fare?
Does ''supplement'' always mean the extra fee for reserved seats?

I read that SUICA can be used in some vending machines & convenience stores but dont know if it's easy to find these.

If it is then there wont be a problem using up the amount in the card. We can get a refund of the unused amount subject to a charge of Y210 + our deposit of Y500 right?

If you were in our shoes, would you forget about the NEX/SUICA or do what I proposed above? If the savings isnt much then I would rather do without the hassle as we dont speak fluent japanese and dont want to hold up the ticket queues.

Thanks once again for your invaluable input.
Lee
by Lee rate this post as useful

... 2007/10/7 17:44
We will take either the 9.15am or 9.44am Narita Express to Tokyo station to catch the Odoriko from there.

If you use the NEX/Suica package on the 9:15 or 9:44 NEX, I recommend to transfer to the Odoriko at Yokohama rather than Tokyo. It saves you a few yen, and the transfer at Yokohama Station is easier than the transfer at Tokyo Station.

go ahead & buy the NEX/SUICA to save the journey from Narita - Tokyo?

Yes, I would get the NEX/Suica package and use it on the NEX from Narita Airport to Yokohama. Then, use regular tickets from Yokohama to Ito, and use the Suica card for your urban transportation after returning to central Tokyo.

if we book out train journey at Shimoda to Ueno i.e.
Shimoda - Tokyo (by Odoriko) - Ueno (Keihin-Tohoku Negishi line)
we can pay the total fare and get all the tickets at the Shimoda train station. That means not without having to exit Tokyo station and go in again to catch the Keihin line to Ueno?


Yes, you can buy one ticket from Shimoda (Izukyu-Shimoda Station) to Ueno and don't have to exit any station along the way.

By the way, could you define ''Odoriko Supplement'' - are we talking about the Seat Reservation fare?

The Odoriko is a limited express train. You have to pay a supplement in order to ride on it. Seat reservation, if you chose to make one, is included in the express supplement ticket. It is explained here:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2016.html

We can get a refund of the unused amount subject to a charge of Y210 + our deposit of Y500 right?

Right!
by Uji rate this post as useful

diff times same train 2007/10/7 21:39
Hello Uji,

Thanks again for the advice. I will get the NEX/SUICA and use it as suggested in our discussion.

You mentioned that it would be more convenient to take the Superview Odoriko at Yokohama. Is that because it's easier to find or walk to the plaform after exiting the Narita Express?

I realised that if we take the 9.15am Narita Express no.8 on Oct 21 to Yokohama, it arrives at 10.46am.
That means we will miss the Odoriko leaving at 10.53am and will have to take the 11.23am.

According to Hyperdia,
if we take the Narita Express No. 8 to Tokyo, it arrives at 10.18am in Tokyo. That leaves us the option of catching either the Odoriko which leaves at 10.23am or 10.53am.

Having said that, I actually wonder if it's a bit of a rush trying to catch the 10.23am Odoriko when we exit the Narita Express at 10.18am.

Considering we will have to take our luggages, is the platform for the Odoriko easier to get to when we exit the NEX at Yokohama?

If it's much easier, then we will just catch the 11.23am SuperView and wait the 20mins after arriving at Yokohama. Less tiring esp after an international flight.

Really appreciate your input.
Kindest regards,
Lee
by lee rate this post as useful

... 2007/10/8 08:57
if we take the Narita Express No. 8 to Tokyo, it arrives at 10.18am in Tokyo. That leaves us the option of catching either the Odoriko which leaves at 10.23am or 10.53am.

The NEX platform is far from the Odoriko platform. If you know your way and rush, you could theoretically make it in five minutes, but most people will probably require more towards 10 minutes to make the transfer, especially if you have luggage.

Transfering at Yokohama Station is easier: you arrive on track 9 and just have to go to parallelly running track 6. It should be a matter of two minutes or less.
by Uji rate this post as useful

will do that 2007/10/8 14:34
Thanks Uji, you've always been so helpful - a testament to the marvellous level of assistance in the service industry which we in Singapore could learn from.
Have a blessed week!
Regards
by lee rate this post as useful

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