Transfer Planning
Trying to get as much information and prior planning done before actual travel. It is a challenge because language difficulties and even figuring out how to place and receive phone calls is not certain until you are right in the moment.
Getting a taxi to Kintomi Mansion would be better pre-arranged, as calling for one that morning for all would be a huge to impossible challenge. We are right at the limit for vehicle type, and it makes a difference whether we have 7 or 8 passengers. So it would help immensely to know for certain if Tim Chiang-Lin will or will not be with us.
The image is the Hinomaru Taxi site as that is the most user friendly one I have seen. https://hinomaru.tokyo/reservation_with_login 03-3814-1111
(Disregard the cost quote as that is for a regular taxi.)
Nihon Kotsu is another big taxi company http://www.nihon-kotsu.co.jp/en/ TEL : +81 (0)3 5755 2336
I've seen reference that the Line messaging system has a direct link to Nihon Kotsu, but I don't see it in the app and browser versions after I registered for that service.
Please everyone join the discussion and comment. How do you think we should travel to Hiroshima from Kintomi Mansion, and when should be start and which train should we aim for?
We need to be on schedule, and have a Plan B for contingency when the time comes.
What do you think?
[planning, communication, transportation, Japan 2017, N+1]
Also looking ahead to Osaka to Tokyo. We will have all our luggage and would likely be better off pre-arranging a taxi from Residence Miyakojima to Shin-Osaka, and it would make a big difference if we have 4+2, 5+2, or 6+2 passengers (depending on whether Bryan Imai and Tim Chiang-Lin are traveling with us).
ReplyDeleteHow many passengers will we have?
Please comment.
I will be with you from Osaka to Tokyo
ReplyDeleteThanks, Bryan Imai.
ReplyDeleteSo at this point it looks like 5+2 for both Tokyo and Osaka legs? Helps to have an accurate count in talking with the taxi companies.
Tim Chiang-Lin are you planning not to be with us on both legs?
(I have seen and heard the maximum number of passengers in a regular taxi as 3 and as 4. Don't know if that is up to the driver or some kind of regulation.)
I don't think we can want to coordinate everyone else's transfers.
What does everyone think?
Please comment.
Is this the right schedule for the Tokyo-Osaka leg? english.jr-central.co.jp - english.jr-central.co.jp/info/timetable/_pdf/westbound.pdf
ReplyDeleteBryan Imai Yes it is. We do have to take the Tokaido & Sanyo Shinkansens. The one I was looking at is the 803 am Hikari 463 changing at ShinKobe to the Sakura 553.
ReplyDeleteThe detail in these schedules is amazing, and the stationmasters at the window by which all Rail Pass holders check in sometimes will helpfully mark a schedule card like this to keep us gaijin straight. Also why I found a magnifying glass to be a useful tool to carry.
So Hinomaru says all vans already booked! 😱
ReplyDeleteCarol Imai called Nihon Kotsu who confirmed they don't have the 'jumbo' vans, so we have to use 2 sedans which we can schedule by phone (interestingly an advance reservation carries a service charge double that of a reservation).
On the return from Osaka, taking rail entails walking 7 to 15 minutes. Checking on a 9 passenger van via MK which they say costs less than 2 taxis costs 7710¥ plus a 1000¥ English speaking driver fee. And the availability of car and English speaking driver changes every seconds. 😱
ReplyDeleteIt is a 30 minute trip by car.
Rail takes 20 minutes and costs 230¥.
What do you think?
I went ahead and booked a 9 passenger taxi for the Miyakojima to ShinOsaka trip on 14 July for 8 am pickup. That would get us to Tokyo Station ~12 noon. It would avoid us having to take at least 2 rail segments with walking in between with 2 kids and luggage during work day traffic. If we fill all seats it comes out to ~8.55 bucks per person. Several times cost of rail, but probably worth it?
ReplyDeleteIf we agree, we can offer 1 or 2 seats to others. We would need to know now if Tim Chiang-Lin would be traveling with us or not.
That makes sense. I'm fine taking rail, but with all the stuff it makes
ReplyDeletemore sense to pay a little more for direct transit. For some reason I was
thinking the taxi fare was per-person.
Bryan Imai Generally taxi charges are for the trip. Standard taxis can seat 3 comfortably, and I think most would limit passengers to a maximum of 4. They do fit things in amazingly well, but the luggage space is limited, although the biggest challenge for us I think is taking all our stuff with us on the sidewalk and metro.
ReplyDelete