How to get to Amanoshidate

Hi everybody,

I would like to know how I can get to Amanoshidate from Kanazawa?

Any idea of the price with Japan Rail Pass? How long it take?

I'm organising a trip in Japan.

Thank you very much!

Axel

Any idea of the price with Japan Rail Pass? How long it take?

There are two basic routes. One is all along the Sea of Japan. But these trains are very slow. Even with perfect connections, the trip would take more than four hours, probably more like 5-6 hours with the actual connections.

So, it is actually faster to travel via Kyoto! First take the limited express tfrom Kanazawa to Kyoto and then another limited from Kyoto to Amanohashidate. It still takes a little bit more than four hours.

Note, however, that the last section of the journey to Amanohashidate is owned by a railway company other than JR, and your Japan Rail Pass won't cover that section. You have to pay for it separately.

To be precise, the section for which you have to pay is between Fukuchiyama and Amanohashidate. If you ride that section on board of a limited express train, it will cost you 1480 yen one way. If you take local trains, it costs 750 Yen.

check on the www.japanrail.com and check time and fare, search hyperdia, it can show you the price, the itinery and the time for all JR train, shinkansen and airlines ^-^

Axel:

As Uji said, the best route is from Kanazawa to Kyoto to Amanohashidate. Each train will take just over 2 hours for about 4 hours 18 minutes total including about 13 minutes train transfer time at Kyoto. We caught the Kyoto to Amanohashidate train last May and it was a pleasant and scenic trip. Be aware of the following based on our experience.

The incoming train at Kyoto split into two trains. Unknown to us, we waited near the back of the train until we realized that the front train is the one that departs for Amanohashidate where we made a mad dash to get onto the train. As said by Uji, you will need to pay an additional 1,480yen. When you show your tickets to the ticket agent on the train, he will ask you to pay this additional amount then.

There is no train change as your train will continue into Amanohashidate. Amanohashidate is a small town with a small station. The station's information desk was staffed by English speaking people. In the station and in front of the station are large maps of the area for orientation purpose.

Cross the street and walk to the right before turning left and the walkway will lead you to an old temple. If you turn right before the temple, across the bridge is the Amanohashidate sandbar and beach. But, if you head towards the temple and turn right in the temple grounds, it will lead you to the Ferry boat that will take you across Miyazu Bay to Ichinomiya where you can walk to the ropeway to Kasamatsu Park for a view of the sandbar and bay. Click on the link on the left side of this page for more details. We stayed overnight at one of the Ryokans where we had a wonderful stay and experience.

If your stay in Amanohashidate includes staying at a Ryokan, you can call the Ryokan from the Station and they will pick you up with a shuttle van. They will also take you back to the Station. We were fortunate that the lady at the Information Desk called for our pick-up.

Axel:

FYI, we caught the 10:24 LTD. EXP HASHIDATE 3 from Kyoto for arrival at 12:27 (2 hrs 3 min.) in Amanohashidate that did not require a change of train. However, with other trains you may have to change trains at Fukuchiyama Station.

To be on the above HASHIDATE 3 train, you need to leave Kanzawa at 8:05am on the LTD. EXP THUNDERBIRD 10 arriving in Kyoto at 10:11am.

Getting into Amanohashidate at 12:27pm gives you the whole afternoon for sightseeing. We bought our box lunch/bento in Kyoto Station and ate on the train. You need to buy your box lunch/bento in Kanazawa or from the food and refreshment cart on the train or have late lunch in Amanohashidate since you have only about 13 minutes change of train time in Kyoto.

hi hi where did you stay at Amanoshidate ? HOw did you go about booking it ? thanks

Hoon:

We stayed at the Hotel Kitanoya in 5/2007 approx 150 meters from Amanohashidate Station. It is a Japanese Inn or Ryokan with Dinner and Breakfast included. Hotel info: 100 Monju Aza Miyadushi Kyotofu PH: 0772-22-4126 FAX: 0772-22-7567 check-in 15:00/check-out 10:00. We paid 45,300yen per room for 2 people. Booking was by JTB.

The hotel provides free shuttle van drop-off and pick-up service to the train station and town.

Being a small town, there's only a handful of hotels/ryokans. Of course, there are cheaper and more expensive accommodations. On this trip we stayed at all three most beautiful views in Japan with the other two being Miyajima Island and Matsushima.

How was Amanohashidate like? What are the possible things that we can do there? I am also thinking of staying at Kitanoya Ryokan but am wondering if there is anything we can do in the town.
Also, how did you find your stay in Kitanoya?
Thanks!

You can do a day-trip to Amanohashidate from Kyoto without staying overnight. It is 2 hr. direct train from Kyoto, but note that even if you are using a JR rail pass, you have to pay a 1480 yen supplement (2006) because the last leg of the journey is on a private rail line.

After arriving, though you can take a bus, it is more scenic to take a ferry. From Amanohashidate rail station, cross the street and walk 5 min. down to the pier. Take 15 min ferry to Ichinomiya pier. The ferry runs every 20-30 min and costs 520 yen. Onboard you can enjoy the view of the bay with sea gulls following the ferry looking for food. After getting off the ferry at Ichinomiya, walk another 5 min. uphill to cable-car station and take 5 min 640 yen ride up Mt. Nariai to vantage point for viewing the tree-covered sand-spit. The fun part is that you have to turn your back to it, bend down and view it between your legs to apprehend its fame of Bridge of Heaven.

If you still have time after you take the ferry back to the pier near the rail station, walk along the shore on your left towards the sand-spit inlet. You can actually walk on it or ride a rental bike for the 2 ml. distance. Even if time is limited, it is worth a look at the 2 beautiful connecting bridges and take snap shots with them as background. Note that one of the bridges can be swung open for passing boats and you do not want to get stuck on the wrong side if you are trying to catch a train back to Kyoto.