Mike,
Don't most of the bears vacation in New Zealand this time of year?
Pretty cool to follow your wife's trip. Thanks.
The train to Kyoto, was it N200 or the N700? Looked to me like the 200 but too new ...
Also speaking of Japanese fascination with punctuality, I was once taking a bus from Tokyo-Narita to my hotel in town. I kid you not, the driver put the bus in gear, held the brake and kept watching the seconds tick away on the clock. When the second hand reached 12, at this second he let go of the brake and pulled out.
I was amazed.
NP
I think the complete translated subject referred to dangerous bears. Our Bear is only dangerous around cheesecake.
NP01The train to Kyoto, was it N200 or the N700?
NP,
I'll have to ask her. She said it was new, so my guess is a N700?
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
mlehmanOur Bear is only dangerous around cheesecake.
Particularly the Tollerbone flavored kind
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
Confirmed it was the N700 Nozomi, apparently the top of the line in speed among Shinkansen currently in operation.
Figured I'd throw in some travel tips, given the Olympics running in Brazil right now is probably getting some thinking about Tokyo, 2020 and doing some railfanning then. Here's a pic of the Shosen Grande book store building with 6th floor of train books and lots more technical books, like for buses, autos, etc.
The new subways are interesting, as the platforms are guarded by railings and automated gates.
For the average non-Japanese speaking railfan or just Olympics visitor, my wife emphasizes how easy the JapanRail "Suica" or IC card makes travel anywhere in or near Tokyo. It's also honored across the rail system in the rest of Japan. You have to get the card at a JR station. You can take the train from the airport (charging that ticket on your credit card there), then pick up the IC card at your destination station. Or if you take a taxi or bus from the airport, simply go to a JR station.
Once you have it, it's RFID equipped and you just wave it through the scanner as you enter any public transit as well as JR rail: buses, trains, subways, light rail, ferries. You can load additional value on it as you need it. The terminals in most JR stations now provide different common language options, including English. So long as there is some value on a card, you can get inside and start your trip, just adding value. But the card is also accepted at most vending machines and many other venuews, making it a truly flexible and easy option for the foreign treveler. There is no charge for the card itself and you manage how much value is on it.
There is also a kids card option (up to 12 years old) that automatically gives your child or grandchild the half-price option. A passport or other proof og age are required.
So you can take care of virtually all your local travel needs easily. And what a boon for railfans, as the IC card makes getting around so easy and painless, just jump aboard.
Today's update pictures an Olympic/Paralympic theme train on the Yamanote transit line that circles Tokyo. The car features Olympic graphics on the outside (with a small, tasteful list of sponsors next to the door), but inside is filled with pictures and stories of Olympic and Paralympic athletes, instead of the usual ads.
This is a nice action shot of the Yamamoto train at the Harajuku platform.
Vacations draw to an end, as this shot of the interior of the train to Narita Airport portrays. My wife says she wishes the airline ride was as comfortable as the train ride, but as I remarked 1st class only comes close and is rather expensive.
I'm dreading the plane ride, but definitely looking forward to railfanning during my first trip to Japan. If the weather cooperates and the schedule holds, I'll be seeing her in about 16 hours.
So now for the wrap-up...
After thousands of miles, wife gets back to Illinois, which is still having issues with getting a plane between Chicago and anywhere else in the state. After a weather delay of nearly six hours, American Airlines representatives at O'Hare simply disappear around midnight, leaving passengers to their own devices to get to their destination. Really poor customer service there, as well as quite the let-down after returning from a customer service-oriented culture like Japan.
There is a happy ending to our otherwise enjoyable travel tale, a small item that I treasure, as I'm a big fan of Land Cruisers as well as railroads.
This Tomy 70 series double-cab pickup is sweet, even if it is 1:71. But a little forced perspective by foregrounding it against a background of 1:87 items still makes it plausible.
Thanks for reading along.