I am planning to attend a conference in Matsue in December, and thought that I would try out the Sunrise Izumo train after looking at all the ways to get to Matsue from flights, trains, and overnight buses. I’ve never been on a overnight train before and I figured that it would be an exciting experience, and also can save on the extra hotel nights.
After some research, I currently have reserved a nobinobi seat from Tokyo to Izumoshi by using the JR West reservation site. The conference is in Matsue but I plan to use the morning/afternoon of the day before to do some sightseeing in Izumoshi/Matsue before I go check into the hotel, since I’ve never been to Shimane before. My current reservation includes the limited express ticket and the basic fare ticket. The basic fare is the round trip version of Tokyo ward -> Izumoshi, since I plan to travel back to Tokyo with the Sunrise Izumo again.
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My questions are as follow:
1. I’m slightly confused by the roundtrip base fare. Does that only cover me from going in any station in Tokyo then out Izumo + Izumo in then any Tokyo station out? Or does that allow me to travel anywhere in between/within Tokyo like a JR pass would?
2. Is the private room (single) worth it? I havn’t bought the ticket back to Tokyo yet (since it’s more than 1 month away), so I’m debating if I want to go for that on the way back or not.
3. Any recommendation on places to go or things to eat there? I am free the whole day that I arrive, then on the next few days I would only be free after like 4pm. My current plan so far is:
1. Store my luggage (only a small carryon size suitcase) at the JR station (unless I can leave my luggage at #2 below?)
2. Go to Ranpu no Yu for a quick bath, maybe find some lunch around the station if I’m hungry
3. Take the train to Izumo Taisha
4. Go back to Matsue (pick up luggage from station first ofc), check in early (or leave my luggage at hotel)
5. Go to Matsue Castle
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2 comments
1 – no. It only cover your 2 time travel tokyo->itsumo and itsumo->tokyo .I guess you will get it on 2 paper tickets anyway.
2 – It depend on which days on december you are travelling.
Nobi nobi normally has 30-50% booked on holidays or 10-20% booked or normal day
which normally is not a problem of over crowded
but if you has big luggage with you it can be harder.(backpack/suitcase is ok)
single room just provide you with privacy.(and a slightly better bed)
you can try searching for nobinobi/single in youtube to see what it offer.
A single room gets you an actual mattress instead of just carpet, a door you can lock, and a power outlet