JR East
Tokyo-region JR network and Narita Express.
Travel playbook
Know the move.
Confirm the platform.
Open only the route you need. Live station displays, service alerts and staff instructions always override this planning copy.
One rule for every station
Platform: confirm on the display and official app on travel day.
Keep a 15–35 minute buffer depending on luggage and station complexity. Never follow a future platform number saved in a screenshot.
Door-to-door routes
Tap a journey when you need it.
01NRT → Tokyo hotelJR East / Keisei / airport bus
- Walk: arrivals → selected operator counter; use elevators with luggage.
- Choose N’EX for Tokyo/Shibuya/Shinjuku, Skyliner for Ueno-side access, or a direct limousine bus when it serves the exact hotel.
- Ticket: reserved operator ticket or IC-compatible local connection; never assume the airport train is included in a city pass.
- Typical duration/cost: use the live operator quote after the hotel is selected.
- Platform: Confirm on station display and official app on travel day.
02Tokyo hotel → ShinjukuJR / Tokyo Metro / Toei
- Exact entrance and accessible path populate after the Tokyo hotel is chosen.
- Allow 15 extra minutes inside Shinjuku Station.
- Follow Odakyu signs, not a generic ‘west exit’ memory.
- Platform: Confirm live.
03Shinjuku → Hakone-YumotoOdakyu
- Walk to Odakyu Shinjuku with a 25-minute buffer.
- Board reserved Romancecar toward Hakone-Yumoto; all Romancecar seats are reserved.
- Ticket method: base fare/Hakone Freepass plus limited-express ticket as shown at purchase.
- Typical ride about 80 minutes; verify selected service.
- Platform: Confirm on station display and official app on travel day.
04Hakone local loopHakone Tozan / ropeway / ship / bus
- Sequence is weather-led: train/cable/ropeway/Owakudani/Lake Ashi/bus.
- Closures are common enough that Hakone Navi must override the planned order.
- Freepass can simplify fares; compare coverage with the exact route.
- Keep ryokan dinner check-in as the hard deadline.
05Hakone-Yumoto → Odawara → KyotoOdakyu/Hakone Tozan + JR Central
- Local train to Odawara; allow 35 minutes for signs, food and transfer.
- Reserved Tokaido Shinkansen westbound to Kyoto.
- Oversized baggage seats are required for qualifying bags; large bags are forwarded on this itinerary.
- For Fuji views westbound, ordinary-car seat D is commonly the mountain side, but verify train configuration.
- Platform: Confirm live.
06Kyoto hotel → Kyoto StationKyoto Subway / bus / taxi
- Exact hotel entrance and elevator route populate after property selection.
- For a timed Shinkansen, favour subway/taxi over a delay-prone bus when luggage is involved.
- Arrive 25 minutes before train departure.
07Kyoto → HiroshimaJR Central/JR West
- Enter Shinkansen gates with SmartEX QR/linked IC or paper ticket as instructed.
- Reserved westbound service to Hiroshima; choose the train shown in the reservation.
- Typical duration and fare depend on service; use SmartEX live result.
- Platform: Confirm live.
08Hiroshima Station → Peace ParkHiroden
- After bag drop, follow signs to streetcar stops.
- Use an appropriate streetcar toward Genbaku Dome-mae or the hotel-recommended stop.
- Tap/pay as posted; board/alight rules differ from some trains.
- Taxi is the simplest luggage fallback.
09Hiroshima ↔ MiyajimaJR West + JR Miyajima Ferry
- JR Sanyo Line between Hiroshima and Miyajimaguchi.
- Walk via signs to ferry terminal; take the JR ferry unless another schedule is clearly better.
- Confirm tide and final useful return—this plan sleeps on the island.
- Platform/berth: Confirm live.
10Miyajima → Hiroshima → Shin-OsakaJR ferry/JR West
- Ferry to Miyajimaguchi, JR to Hiroshima, then reserved Sanyo Shinkansen.
- Use a 45-minute Hiroshima connection buffer with the overnight bag.
- If a train is missed, ask JR staff/SmartEX support; do not board a reserved category blindly.
11Shin-Osaka → Osaka hotelOsaka Metro / JR
- Namba/Shinsaibashi: Midosuji Line southbound; Umeda: JR/local or Midosuji one stop.
- Exact exit/elevator path populates after hotel selection.
- Platform: Confirm live.
12Osaka → NaraKintetsu
- From Osaka-Namba, take Kintetsu Nara Line to Kintetsu-Nara.
- Rapid Express/Express usually fits; Limited Express may require supplement.
- Kintetsu-Nara is closer to the park than JR Nara for this route.
- Platform: Confirm live.
13Osaka → USJJR West
- Reach Nishikujo, transfer to JR Yumesaki Line toward Sakurajima/Universal City.
- Follow event-day signs and expect crowded trains.
- Arrive before the posted opening; app/ticket screenshots are essential.
14Osaka hotel → KIXNankai / JR West
- Namba: Nankai Rapi:t or Airport Express from Nankai Namba.
- Umeda/Tennoji: JR Haruka where practical.
- Leave the hotel around 13:00 for an approximately 14:30 airport arrival; verify terminal and disruption first.
- Platform: Confirm on station display and official app on travel day.
Rail education
Know the operators—not every timetable.
JR Central
Tokaido Shinkansen core operator.
JR West
Kyoto/Osaka/Hiroshima JR and Sanyo Shinkansen services.
Tokyo Metro / Toei
Separate subway operators; transfers may require walking and distinct fare logic.
Odakyu
Shinjuku–Hakone operator; Romancecar requires a reserved limited-express ticket.
Hakone Tozan
Mountain railway/cable/related loop services.
Kintetsu
Convenient Osaka-Namba–Kintetsu-Nara route.
Nankai
Namba–KIX operator; Rapi:t is reserved limited express.
Nozomi / Hikari / Kodama
Fastest to all-stops Tokaido service pattern; exact stop and fare rules shown live.
Reserved / non-reserved / Green
Assigned seat / flexible car where offered / premium class.
Suica
Stored-value IC for compatible local transit and purchases; not a universal long-distance ticket.
Ekiben
Station bento intended for longer-distance trains; avoid strong-smelling food on commuter services.
Oversized baggage
Qualifying Tokaido/Sanyo bags need a designated seat/storage reservation; verify dimensions officially.
Missed train
Check reservation change rules immediately and ask staff; do not assume any following train/seat is valid.
Yamato / TA-Q-BIN
Two sends, two small carry bags.
October 7
Tokyo hotel → Kyoto hotel, requested October 10. Carry the two-night Hakone bag.
October 14
Kyoto hotel → Osaka hotel, requested October 17. Carry the Hiroshima/Miyajima bag.
Show the step-by-step luggage workflow
- Confirm both receiving hotels accept and hold prepaid luggage.
- Show recipient name, Japanese address, phone, stay date and requested delivery date.
- Keep passports, medication, batteries, valuables and two changes of clothes with you.
- Photograph the slip and receipt; track until delivered.
- Never send cash, passports, power banks or prohibited contents.
Phrase: この荷物を次のホテルへ送りたいです。10月10日着でお願いします。
I’d like to send this luggage to our next hotel. Please request delivery for October 10.
Rates, size limits and delivery timing vary; obtain a current hotel/desk quote.