train schedules
Can someone help me with train schedules & how they are presented on hyperdia & jorudan? I'm looking to go from Shinjuku to Fujisan on the morning of Oct. 10. I put in a 6:00AM departer on http://www.jorudan.co.jp/english/norikae/ . It says the JR Chuo Line departs 06:26, arriving Takao (Tokyo) at 07:10, then the "Chuo Line (JR East)" departs at 07:11, arriving at Otsuki at 07:47. Then I have to change to the Fujukyuko Line, departing 07:51 and arriving Fujisan at 08:34.OK, my question is that stop at Takao - does that mean I have to change trains there? If so, it looks like there's just 1 minute between, so this connection doesn't seem to be feasible. ???
Also, the Otsuki connection is also quite tight - only 4 minutes. Is that a small station where I'll quickly find my train?
Never been to Japan & am very green with how the trains work (I'm sure they're terrific). Thanks!
1
The trains may be terrific, but that doesn't mean the online train route-finders are.Hyperdia gives a similar routing, except it thinks that you can make the 1-minute transfer in Takao, but not the 4-minute transfer in Otsuki - it has you take a train at 8:15am from Otsuki and arrive at 9:01.
Google Maps doesn't seem to know about the 6:26am express train, and wants you to take a local at 6:03 from Shinjuku.
I'm guessing that either you continue at Takao on the same train with a different name, or else the next train is just across the platform. Whereas at Otsuki you may or may not make the 4-minute transfer.
2
I believe Shinjuku to Otsuki is direct, i.e. you don't need to change trains at Takao. In case I am mistaken, the connecting train will be at the opposite platform and there will be many people changing trains, no problem to make the connection.In Otsuki you have to change trains. 4 minutes should be perfectly feasible as Otsuki station is not that big (only two lines, JR and Fujikyuko) and since Japanese trains are in time 99% of the time. Just look out for signs saying "Fujikyuko line", e.g. such. If you are unsure just ask station staff for "Fujisan".
And if you are not travelling on a railpass it might in fact be cheaper and more convenient to take a bus from Tokyo to Kawaguchiko.
BTW, are you sure you want to go to "Fujisan station", or rather to Kawaguchiko?
Edited by: bamse
3
Actually, what I want to do is go from Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko 5th station, climb Mt Fuji, then get back to Tokyo. I have the bus schedule from Fujisan to K-5th station. Maybe there's a better way than train to Fujisan & bus to the 5th station? My understanding was that the buses don't run from Shinjuku to the 5th station during the weekdays in October.Now, I understand that the time window from first bus to last bus at the 5th station is only 5 hours. I believe I can make the round trip climb in that time under good conditions. In any event, I'd turn around in time to get the last bus, and I won't go unless conditions are good. I live at high altitude, am extremely fit, and have climbed many mountains all over the place.
Thank you!
4
The bus to the 5th station starts at Fujisan station and passes Kawaguchiko station 10 minutes later, so you catch it at either station. Instead of the train connection you could consider a direct bus from Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko, but haven't checked whether they leave early enough to make it for the first bus to the 5th station.5 hours for the climb seems very very quick (and I am usually not slow).
6
Based on the map you linked, there is an under/overpass from the middle of the JR platform to the station building and the Fujikyu track, no?
Yes, I noticed that after I posted! I'm sure we arrived at track 3 and just walked to the end when we did the transfer but it was a couple of years ago now so I might be mistaken. Anyway, even if you go up the steps and down again it is only a short walk and they tend to be setup to handle the transfer as I'm sure it is pretty standard. We bought tickets and were on our way pretty quickly.
8
"Not on a weekday in October "Too bad. Then I stand by my main advice. Don't bother climbing Fuji-san.
