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No I didn't think CCTV would help, as it didn't prompt any help in the first place. There must be quite a few tv cameras around the station guarding its perimeter and someone must have witnessed what happened.

Tickets become available one month in advance. Ticket sales for October will start on the same date in September.

Hello Susanna, The main ticket office at Kyoto Station is open every day from 5:30-23:00. You can also buy tickets in advance at any JR ticket office in Japan.

Hello there, The cost of sending baggage from Kyoto Station to a hotel in Kyoto is 1,000 yen per item. You can find more details here: https://handsfree-japan.com/en/service/carry/ To find the baggage room at Kyoto Station check this article (it's towards the end of the article): https://www.kyotostation.com/kyoto-station-lockers-luggage-storage/ I hope that helps. Best wishes, Michael

Thank you for your help again! I ended up buying a 3-day Kansai Thru Pass for a Osaka-Himeji-Kyoto trip. It was great, particularly because it includes all the local subway so there was no need to keep buying subway tickets. Hope this helps others too.

The substitute bus will add about 20 to 30 minutes to the trip. If you are planning to stay overnight at Koyasan this shouldn’t affect the transit time significantly.

If your phone was found it will be turned over to local police. Lost and Found offices in Japan do not ship items overseas. If you know someone in Japan they can pick up your property on your behalf. Please refer to our Complete Guide to Lost and Found in Japan

Meitetsu Inn Nagoyaeki Shinkansenguchi is on the west side of the station (Taikodori side exit). All platforms have lifts or escalators, or both. Visit this page to familiarize yourself with the station layout: https://www.nagoyastation.com/nagoya-station-map-finding-your-way/ On this page you can find a map with lifts and escalators marked: http://english.jr-central.co.jp/info/station/index.html

It is a good idea to buy the bus ticket in advance. For more information about Chuo Bus visit: http://teikan.chuo-bus.co.jp/en/

You will need to buy a ticket for the Chuo Bus. From Sapporo to Otaru you can use a Kitaca card. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitaca

1. Nozomi tickets can be bought online using this app: https://smart-ex.jp/en/ (Only several countries are supported at the moment) Nozomi services are very frequent (every 10-15 minutes), you will have no problem buying tickets on the day of travel. 2. Kansai One Pass is sold at the JR ticket office. It is located outside of ticket gates and open until 23:00

The fastest way is to take the Odakyu Romancecar train from Shinjuku Station directly to Gotemba (95 min). This train is not covered by the Japan Rail Pass and runs only on weekends. The route covered by Japan Rail Pass is: From Tokyo Station or Shinagawa Station take shinkansen to Mishima Station, change to JR Tokaido Line to Numazu Station, change to JR Gotemba Line to Gotemba Station. Total travel time with transfers 117 minutes. http://www.hyperdia.com/cgi/en/search.html?dep_node=TOKYO&arv_node=GOTEMBA&via_node01=&via_node02=&via_node03=&year=2018&month=05&day=29&hour=10&minute=09&search_type=0&search_way=&transtime=undefined&sort=0&max_route=5&faretype=0&ship=off&privately=off&lmlimit=null&search_target=route&facility=reserved&sum_target=7

You can buy a ticket for Hanayome Noren at any JR ticket office in Japan. This is a popular train. Tickets are often sold out in advance. We’d recommend getting your tickets as early as possible.

You can find the current schedule on this website: https://www.jr-odekake.net/navi/kankou/hanayomenoren/ Hanayome Noren runs on the days marked pink on the calendar.

Takayama-Hokuriku Tourist Pass does not cover JR Hida #25 or #36 between Osaka and Takayama. You can use this pass to travel from Osaka to Takayama via Kanazawa only. A full nationwide Japan Rail Pass does cover JR Hida #25 or #36.

The best way to travel from Kansai Airport to Namba area (close to Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi) is Nankai Airport Express to Nankai Namba station: https://www.osakastation.com/the-nankai-airport-line-the-airport-express-rapit-services-for-kansai-airport-namba/ There are lots of coin lockers around Nankai Namba station, if your luggage doesn't fit in a locker, there is also a luggage storage facility nearby: https://www.osaka-info.jp/en/facilities/cat37/luggage_storage_osaka_namba.html Going to Kyoto from Namba you will need to take the Midosuji subway line to Umeda (connected to Osaka Station) or Shin-Osaka station and take a JR train to Kyoto from there. https://www.osakastation.com/the-midosuji-subway-line/

After activating your JR Pass you can make seat reservations at any JR ticket office at any JR station in advance or on the day of travel. At Hakodate station JR ticket office and Twinkle Plaza are next door to each other (green sign is the ticket office and pink is the Twinkle Plaza)

It is not necessary to buy a Japan Rail Pass if you are taking only one day-trip. You can buy a ticket at any JR ticket office at any JR station in advance or on the day of travel. The trains on this route run very frequently (every 10-15 min). Without a Japan Rail Pass you can take any shinkansen train from Shin-Osaka station to Hiroshima. This includes Nozomi, Sakura and Mizuho trains. One way fare with a reserved seat is 10,440 yen. You may find this article useful: https://www.japanstation.com/guide-to-rail-travel-in-japan/ You can also order shinkansen tickets to be delivered to your hotel from Voyagin

You can buy tickets for The Rapi:t Airport Express at Namba Station ticket office or ticket machine on your departure date. You can find more information about The Rapi:t Airport Express here: https://www.osakastation.com/the-nankai-airport-line-the-airport-express-rapit-services-for-kansai-airport-namba/

Follow the signs to New South Gate. The Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal is located right above the New South Gate. You can find more information here: https://www.shinjukustation.com/new-shinjuku-expressway-bus-terminal-basuta-shinjuku/ The station layout map: https://www.shinjukustation.com/shinjuku-station-map-finding-your-way/

According to the website http://kloop.jp/en/ it only operates on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Another alternative is the Sky Bus operating every day: https://www.kyotostation.com/kyoto-sky-bus-sightseeing-bus-tour-kyoto/

Some services run along the Osaka Loop Line for only part of their route. That's why they don't carry the "O" code for the Loop Line, but the code for the line of their ultimate destination. Here is a route map of all the lines with the letter codes: https://www.jr-odekake.net/eki/pdf/ubn.pdf

Yes, that's right (though your diagrams indicate the opposite). The train bound for Osaka/Kyobashi joins the Osaka Loop Line at Tennoji then continues on to Osaka Station before terminating at Kyobashi. The train bound for the Osaka Loop Line joins the Osaka Loop Line at Tennoji and then traverses the entire line in a complete loop, stopping at Osaka and Kyobashi on the way, before returning to its final destination at Tennoji. I hope that helps. Best wishes, Michael

Departing from Kansai Airport Station the Kansai Airport Rapid Service follows the Kansai Airport Line to Hineno Station, and then follows the Hanwa Line to Tennoji Station. From Tennoji Station the train then follows a clockwise course around the Osaka Loop Line, stopping first at Osaka Station, before reaching Kyobashi Station. Some trains terminate at Kyobashi Station and others continue on to complete the circle at Tennoji Station. https://www.osakastation.com/jr-kansai-airport-line-kansai-airport-rapid-service/

The earliest Haruka service from Kyoto Station is at 5:46 am getting into Kansai Airport Station at 7:11. https://www.kyotostation.com/traveling-between-kyoto-and-kansai-international-airport/

Hi there, Thank you for your questions. There is a "Kyoto City Bus & Kyoto Bus One-Day Pass" which costs 500 yen. I don't know of any similar passes to this, so probably the "one day pass" and "all day pass" you mention are the same. You can find information about this pass here: https://www2.city.kyoto.lg.jp/kotsu/webguide/en/ticket/regular_1day_card_bus.html This pass only covers buses inside the flat fare zone of central Kyoto. If you want to go outside this flat fare zone (if you want to go to Ohara for example) you will have to pay extra. However, the Kyoto Sightseeing Pass covers buses outside the flat fare zone too. That's why it costs a little bit extra. You can find more detailed information at these links: http://www2.city.kyoto.lg.jp/koho/eng/access/img/pdf/ENG150321(map)0309.pdf http://www2.city.kyoto.lg.jp/koho/eng/access/img/pdf/ENG150321(omote)0309.pdf I hope that helps! Best wishes, Michael

Hello Rachel, Sorry about the confusion. I just had a look at the Japanese version of the Blue Symphony website, and they have a schedule on there that isn't on the English website. They have a special schedule in April and unfortunately the Blue Symphony isn't running on April 22nd. Dates available in April are from the 3rd to the 21st, the 24th and 25th, and then the 27th - 30th. If you click on the following link and scroll down the page you can see the calendar for April. http://www.kintetsu.co.jp/senden/blue_symphony/timetable.html The pink dots between the 3rd and 21st mean there is a special timetable during the cherry blossom season. Where the dates are colored blue the train is running normally, and where the dates are white the train isn't running. I hope you can find an alternative date to ride this train! Best wishes, Michael

There are lots of food shops in the terminal area, but they are not near the station. You will have to go to the departures area. It's accessible for arriving passengers (before check-in).

Hi Peggy, With a JR Hokkaido Pass you can reserve seats when you arrive at the JR station right at the New Chitose Airport. When you arrive at Sapporo station you can go directly to the other train, no need to exit the ticket gates. You can see the arrival and departure platform numbers on Hyperdia, but it's also a good idea to confirm the display at the platform when you arrive in Sapporo. http://www.hyperdia.com/cgi/en/search.html?dep_node=NEW CHITOSE AIRPORT&arv_node=ASAHIKAWA&via_node01=&via_node02=&via_node03=&year=2017&month=05&day=04&hour=10&minute=14&search_type=0&search_way=&transtime=undefined&sort=0&max_route=5&faretype=0&ship=off&lmlimit=null&search_target=route&facility=reserved&sum_target=7 Have a good trip!

South Exit is located on the north side of Koshu-kaido Street. New South exit is located on the south side of Koshu-kaido Street. If you are coming from Shinjuku Station you can take either exit form underground. If you are coming from somewhere else you can just cross the street aboveground.

If you are still in Osaka you can visit lost and found office at Osaka station: https://www.osakastation.com/osaka-station-city-facilities/ Contact number: JR West Lost and Found in Osaka (Japanese language only) 0570-00-2486 or 078-382-8686

Hi there, The JR Pass is your cheapest option for that rail journey, but you cannot use the JR Pass on Nozomi and Mizuho shinkansen services, so you should work out a route that does not include those services. There are other shinkansen services you can use with the JR Pass for that journey, they just take a little longer. If you don't have a JR Pass, there is always a seating fare, but it is cheaper if you have non-reserved seats. However, not all shinkansen services have non-reserved seats. On the Hayabusa service between Tokyo and Shin-Hakodate there is no non-reserved seating, so you have to pay for reserved seating for that part of your journey. However, if you have a JR Pass reserved seating is covered so it won't cost you any extra to reserve a seat on any of those trains. If you exclude the Nozomi & Mizuho services then the journey between Hakata and Tokyo is going to cost you 21,810 yen without reserved seating and 22,130 yen with reserved seating. Traveling between Tokyo and Sapporo will then cost you 26,620 yen. So it would be at least 48.430 yen one way if you didn't have a rail pass. I'm attaching a couple of screen shots that show first what trains you can use between Hakata and Tokyo, and then the fare between Tokyo and Sapporo. Best wishes, Michael

Thank you very much Michael for the detailed info. It's very helpful indeed! Best regards Yokmee

Hello there, If you want to travel to those 3 locations from Kyoto Station then the easiest way is to just use the JR network. A Japan Rail Pass or a Kansai Area Pass will cover all of those journeys. You can use the Japan Rail Pass on JR trains across Japan. The Kansai Area Pass is just for western Japan so it is a lot cheaper. Here are some links with information about those: https://www.japanstation.com/japan-rail-pass-discounted-travel-on-japan-railways/ https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/pass/kansai/ Now about trains... To get to Fushimi Inari you should use the JR Nara Line. This departs from platforms 8, 9 & 10 at Kyoto Station and takes about 5 minutes to get to JR Inari Station (which is right in front of the shrine. For more detailed information check here: https://www.kyotostation.com/jr-nara-line-for-tofukuji-inari-uji-nara/ To get to Arashiyama you should use the JR Sagano Line. This departs from platforms 31, 32 and 33 at Kyoto Station and takes about 17 minutes to get to JR Saga-Arashiyama Station. For more information check here: https://www.kyotostation.com/jr-sagano-line-for-nijo-uzumasa-saga-arashiyama/ To get to Osaka I recommend using the Special Rapid service on the JR Kyoto Line. The Special Rapid Train departs from platforms 4 and 5 at Kyoto Station and takes about 28 minutes to get to Osaka Station. For more information check here: https://www.kyotostation.com/jr-kyoto-line-for-osaka-sannomiya-himeji/ I hope that helps! Best wishes, Michael

Hello again, Yes, you can buy those tickets from Shichijo Station. The station will be staffed from the time of the first train until the last train at night. I think the Kurama/Kibune ticket is a good deal. You can find out more here: http://www.keihan.co.jp/travel/en/index.html Best wishes, Michael

P.S. This is the timetable for the bus from Kyoto Station: http://www.arukumachikyoto.jp/timetable.php?name=京都駅前(京都バス)&rosen=203003&dest=八瀬駅前(京都バス)&date=&lang=en

Hello there, To answer your questions: 1. The Kyoto Sightseeing One or Two Day passes　do cover Kyoto Bus (red and cream) trips to Ohara. Usually "Kyoto Bus" is red and cream and "Kyoto City Bus" is green. 2. You can use these passes to get to Yase village (it is on the way to Ohara). From there you need to take a cable car and then a ropeway to the top of Mount Hiei but the cable car is not covered by the pass. The prices for these are as follows: Eizan Cable Car: Adults: 540 yen, children: 270 yen Eizan Ropeway: Adults: 310 yen, children: 160 yen 3. Kyoto Bus #17 bound for Ohara (red and cream) goes to Yase Ekimae bus stop from there it is a 2 minute walk to the cable car for Mount Hiei. The bus journey should take about 50 minutes depending on traffic. The normal fare is 390 yen. 4. An alternative to taking the bus is traveling on the Keihan and Eiden railways to Yase and then taking the cable car and ropeway. This route may be easier if you are staying near a Keihan line station. There are discount tickets available for this route: http://www.keihan.co.jp/traffic/valueticket/global/en/pdf/hiei-hieizan1dayticket-2016.pdf This ticket includes price of entry to the Enryakuji temple on Mount Hiei: http://www.keihan.co.jp/traffic/valueticket/global/en/pdf/hiei-hieizanoudanticket-2016.pdf 5. An Ohara/Yase One Day ticket is also available from Keihan which covers both Keihan & Eiden railways and Kyoto Bus trips to Ohara: https://www.keihan.co.jp/en/recommend/ohara-yase1day.html I hope that helps! Best wishes, Michael

If you will be coming from JR Shinjuku underground follow the signs to New South Gate. If you end up aboveground from Toei subway exit follow these directions to the bus terminal: https://goo.gl/maps/GDcLzrr1KXk