Musings of a Food and Travel Addict
I was at Omiya Station waiting to catch the Asama Shinkansen to Nagano a couple of Sundays back when I saw this sign.
Nothing unusual, right? Just a couple of signs telling you when and what the next train will be at the platform. But look closer at the sign on the right side.
What is a “party” train? Can someone explain, please? =P
At last there’s another option for getting into Tokyo cheaply without a JR Pass!
Before, the two cheapest options for getting into Tokyo was taking the Keisei Skyliner (Y1920, 62 min) or the Keisei Tokkyu, (Y1000, 74 min). Both trains drop you off at either Keisei Ueno or Nippori Station on the Yamanote Line.
Now as of 28 March, JR East is introducing a combo Suica bundle for Y3500 that has a one way journey on the N’Ex (Narita Express) for Y1500 and also has a Y1500 Suica credit that can be used on all the other trains and buses in the Tokyo area. Y500 is the card deposit. The Suica card can be used in stores and some fast food places and can be recharged and reused like an ordinary Suica. It’s a good deal since you’ll be spending money in Tokyo ANYWAY on things like snacks and transport. With this deal, taking the N’Ex into Tokyo, Shinjuku or even Yokohama is Y1500! Now that’s a good deal, and good deals in Tokyo are hard to come by. So now there’s one less excuse not to go for Hanami!
Think of this as being JR East’s answer to the Hong Kong MTR Tourist Octopus.
(hat tip: Mari’s Diary)
This is all you need for a smooth trip…
Your JR ticket, an iPod and a brewski…
The last train of the night arrives at Shinagawa station and I’m there to start my journey back to Minami-Senju and sleep.
Funny thing though, all the other lines that start from a Yamanote stop will wait for the last Yamanote to arrive before it leaves.
It’s funny only because I live in San Francisco and MUNI never does this, ever.
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