mrwunrfl

but to keep it simple just take the rapid train. Show up at Kyoto station and take the next one

plambers

if i can reserve the limited express i will since i don't have to change and worry about shin osaka. as always, i appreciate the help. leaving in a week!

mrwunrfl

In a week! IDK about you but I'm excited. Thanks back to you as I learned a bit more about JR on this thread. Stunned to learn that passes don't cover all limited express trains.

To finish this:
I could not find a good L'ex to shinkansen transfer for Himeji but you might get a good one when you go to Hiroshima.

The rapid train that goes from Kyoto to Himeji is the only no-transfer option you have with the pass. Pretty sure, anyway. The pass covers the basic fare of 2310

The Super Hakuto is the only L'ex that I could find that goes to Himeji and you can't use it with the pass.It is all-reserved train, no unreserved seats. The fare for that train is 4700 without the pass.

The 4700 ticket works out as:
2310 base fare
2390 limited express surcharge plus reserved seat

Your pass is good for the base fare, so you might only have to pay the 2390. That's 15 bucks. While that is not as good as free it is a good price considering that it could be $22 a year from now and it would have been about $22 in May 2021.

That reminds me to urge anyone to use the baggage delivery service. Its the best thing ever and at the current USD exchange rate it is a great bargain.

jznsn2u

Thoughtful tip -It would be a good idea to download the Pasmo app on your phone and load some money onto it before traveling.

plambers

Hi again. We leave Friday! Why can't i use that Super Hakuto train? I fear I still don't understand the train rules. Why is the pass only good for the base fare? I thought I could make reservations with this pass.

I am downloading the suica card tomorrow.

mrwunrfl

Because JR says so.

• * Non-reserved seating is not available on trains with exclusively reserved seats.
• Click here to check trains with all reserved seats.

That info is on the webpage for the pass, here: West Japan Railway Company - Setouchi Area Pass Information (westjr.co.jp)

Go back to that website and read the rules.

I was speculating that the pass might cover the base fare on the Super Hakuto. Today, reading it again, I would guess that it does not cover any of the cost on that train. I'm sorry that I brought that train up because you were on the right track using Navitime with that pass selected. Your options are what is shown there.

You can ask. Go to the reserved seat line/counter/window at Kyoto Station with your pass and ask for that train. Expect them to say "no" or "that is not possible" (btw if you ever hear "that would be difficult" then that is another Japanese way of saying "no").

You would be fine making the transfer at Shin-Osaka.

BUT, you don't have to do that. I took another look at the timetable at jorudan. It shows
07:25 Kyoto
JR Kyoto Line Special Rapid (For Himeji)
26 min to Shin-Osaka
Transfer 10 min Wait 14 min

08:15 Shin-Osaka
Shinkansen Hikari No.533 (Series N700) (For Hiroshima)
34min
08:49 Himeji

Or just stay on that rapid train and arrive Himeji at 9:05
You would have no transfer.
(the train has a 2 min wait at S.O. and then changes name to be JR Kobe Line for Himeji.

mrwunrfl

I just edited the previous post after seeing that the rapid train with no transfer didn't take that much longer (16 min) than transfering to the shinkansen. You might be able to find a better transfer time (e.g. you might find 10 min transfer plus 2 min wait instead of the 14 min wait that I saw) and maybe shave a couple minutes on Nozomi (instead of the Hikari). Would you prefer a transfer to shinkansen because it would make for a quicker trip?

This is not that hard.

plambers

I see at 7:25 that arrives Himeji 8:49. 6 minute layover in Shin Osaka. Is this doable? Thanks again. Hope this all makes more sense when I get there...

mrwunrfl

That is the same time that I found at JR West and gave above.

Navitime website (for May 22) shows two good options:
07:25 - 08:28 Rapid train to Sakura shinkansen
07:34 - 08:49 Rapid train to Hikari shinkansen

7:25 - 8:49 would be fine

All three of those itins are doable.

plambers

so our flight to dallas was delayed and we wont' make connection to Haneda. We are now flying out Sunday so losing 2 days in Tokyo. We arrive Tokyo Monday at 4. Going to Takayama on Tues morning. So we have to go to station to buy tickets Monday when we arrive. Is there a way to buy on line?
I am on Navitime and see 2 trains leaving on May 21 7:48-12:14 and both have exclamation points next to them showing delayed. What does this delay mean?
there is another at 7:48 that arrives 12:23. Its Nazomi to Nagoya. Then we take a bus for 2.5 hours.
I am ready to cry.