Booking limited express train tickets for November?

Hi,

Travelling to Japan in just under two weeks. After settling in Tokyo for a week, I’d planned for my travel partner and I to have day trips, one to Kawaguchiko and one to Nikko, using the limited express trains. We’d already booked a hotel in Tokyo for the duration of our stay in the area so didn’t look into staying the night at either day trip location, j(which is why limited express seemed the way to go, to reduce the time spent in transit in one day). In previous trips, about 2 hours 1 way is the max I’m willing to spend on a day trip. For whatever reason, I’m very prepared on all the various aspects of the trip except the trains, which I find daunting. I’d seen online that generally, trains don’t need to be pre-booked too much in advance, with the exception of shinkansen with luggage or in rush hour, so I’d held off to buy them until I was already in Japan so I could gauge whether the weather would be nice that day, especially for Kawaguchiko, which I’d be spending mostly outside.

After seeing the recent autumn foliage predictions, I saw that the day we’re going to Nikko is right around when it’ll be busiest, though not a weekend. (Kawaguchiko, also not a weekend day.) I thought I should probably just check the train sites just in case. And lo and behold, the train times I wanted are booked out – either I can arrive around noon, at which point it’s just not worth it for a day trip, or I can leave at 6 in the morning, which is probably too early for me to think is worth it. The same story for Kawaguchiko, except that there is not an earlier time to consider. I tried reading up on limited express trains to see if this is normal, and I’m just a little lost. Is there a possibility to still book while in Japan at a train station, or if they’re sold out online, they’re sold out entirely? I saw one website talking about unreserved seating. I’d rather not stand for two hours but, is that even an option? I’m not seeing it online either.

Any guidance you may have is much appreciated.

2 comments
  1. As I was reading your post, I realized I had the exact same situation for Nikko when I thought about checking train schedules last night.

    I’m not sure how helpful this route is, and I am probably going about it wrong since I did not really take the Shinkansen on my previous trips, but I ended up booking a ticket for the Tohoku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Utsunomiya and then the plan would be to transfer to the JR Nikko line so I can still do Nikko as a decent day trip. This might be useful if you get the JR Pass too if the calculations become worthwhile for your trip. I was also able to preemptively buy a ticket using the limited express train to return back to Tokyo so hopefully it will still be in your favor if you consider this option to return. My trip will be a bit later than yours so hopefully there are still tickets available if you want to book early.

  2. You don’t name which trains you are looking at. Yamabiko (slower Shinkansen that stops at Utsunomiya) has unreserved cars that you could take, so no reservations are required. Unreserved does not necessarily mean you stand for hours, it means seating is not assigned so first come first serve.

    Fuji Excursion to Kawaguchiko has always been one of those few trains where you have to book right when the window opens, similar to Sunrise Seto and a few of the joyful trains.

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