TRAINS & TRAVEL
P.O. BOX 10625
RENO, NEVADA 89510-0625
Chris@traintrips.biz
Jane@traintrips.biz
Deborah@traintrips.biz
    1-800 359-4870 USA
1-800 752-1836 CANADA
1-800 266-8751 FAX
(775) 453-1004
   
OFFICE HOURS 9AM TO 5PM MONDAY-FRIDAY
PACIFIC WEST COAST TIME


TOUR 17
RAILFAN TOUR
OCTOBER 16-31, 2010
SURE-GO










Japan may well be the world's most railroad oriented society. It's an amazing place, with rail lines literally everywhere, but perhaps the most wonderful part is that it combines new and old, from the famous Shinkansen "Bullet" trains, to 1920's streetcars and interurbans, to a surprising number of steam lines-some even operated by the former, now privatized, Japan National Railroads (JR). This tour, led by Japanese and American rail experts, will provide you with an in depth looks at railroads in Japan, and at the same time offer limited opportunities for shopping and tourism. Travel on JR lines will be in first class (Green Class) using an unlimited ride JR Pass that will be provided to each participant. This is primarily a train riding adventure, but with plenty of photo opportunities. Maximum group size will be 30.

Note: Because of the excellence of rail service in Japan, we will use a limited number of base cities for overnight stops. This will allow us to leave baggage behind on most day trips.

In our day by day itinerary we have included a number of links to websites in Japan that will show you in detail what you will see and do on this tour. We invite you to click on each link and enjoy.



 




DAY 1 SATURDAY OCTOBER 16 (D) Fly into Narita airport. Upon arrival validate your Japan Rail Pass at the Narita Airport JR office. Be sure it starts on SUN Oct 17th. Passports and validated Rail Passes will be picked up at the hotel in the late afternoon so reservations and tickets can be issued.

NOTE: For those arriving in Tokyo on Friday October 15 or earlier, on early Saturday morning there will be an "Extra Fare" excursion to ride the SL (STEAM) powered MOKA Railway. Be sure and let us know if you want to join. Under $75.00 (U.S.)

NOTE: The links below are for your enjoyment, but may be only in Japanese. Even so, you may find them of interest.

DAY 2 SUNDAY OCTOBER 17 (B-L) (Morning) Narita Yume Farm for 2 foot gauge SL (STEAM) charter.

http://www.rass-rail.org/ - afternoon to Hokkaido in far northeast Japan.

Narita Airport 14:15 (NEX 28) 15:14 Tokyo 15:56 (HAYATE 25) 18:55 Hachinohe19:03 (SUPER HAKUCHO 25) 21:54 Hakodate.

DAY 3 MONDAY OCTOBER 18 (B-L) Hakodate Tram charter - a great streetcar operation!

http://dekoichi.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/2010/02/post-607c.html

Hakodate 14:13> 17:29 Sapporo

For those with a shopper's flair, Sapporo is a gem of a place. One could spend days in the elegant JR train station, from the observation tower to numerous high end shops and a huge high-end department store.

DAY 4 TUESDAY OCTOBER 19 (B-L) (Morning) Sapporo Horse Drawn Tram at Frontier Village

http://c5557.kiteki.jp/html/kaitakunomura.htm

Sapporo > Otaru

(Afternoon) Otaru Transportation Museum for STEAM

http://yutetu.hp.infoseek.co.jp/otaru01.htm

Otaru > Sapporo

DAY 5 WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 20 (B-L) Sapporo 7:21 > 10:20 Shirataki

MARUSEPPU forest railway for STEAM charter

http://train-garakuta.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/2008/06/index.html

Shirataki 15:52> 18:45 Sapporo

DAY 6 THURSDAY OCTOBER 21 (B-L) (Morning) Sapporo Tram

http://www.welcome.city.sapporo.jp/feature/sansaku/shiden2.html

Sapporo 14:05 Night Train (TWILIGHT EXPRESS) All Sleeper Express

http://www.jr-odekake.net/train/twilightexpress/

DAY 7 FRIDAY OCTOBER 22 (L) (Night Train) >12:15 Kyoto

Umekohji Steam Locomotive Hall (Japan's most famous STEAM museum)

http://www.mtm.or.jp/uslm/

Kyoto 17:49 (HIKARI 477) 19:17 Okayama

DAY 8 SATURDAY OCTOBER 23 (B-L) Okayama tram

http://omotetsu.web.infoseek.co.jp/shounan/htmlFolder/shounan070901.htm

Okayama 10:05(NAMPU 5) 12:28 Kochi

Kochi tram

http://d.hatena.ne.jp/Cat-Tram/20100124

Kochi 17:13 (NAMPU 24) 19:41 Okayama

DAY 9 SUNDAY OCTOBER 24 (B) Okayama 8:25 (HIKARI 491) 9:05 Hiroshima 9:12 (KODAMA 733) 10:19

Shin Yamaguchi 10:47 (SL YAMAGUCHI) 12:46 TSUWANO 15:20 (SL YAMAGUCHI) 17:04 Shin Yamaguchi. All day STEAM round-trip.

http://www.c571.jp/home.php

17:19 (KODAMA 749) 18:27 Hakata 19:14 (TSUBAME 59) 20:51 Kumamoto

DAY 10 MONDAY OCTOBER 25 (B) Kumamoto tram and Kumamoto Electric railway

http://wind.ap.teacup.com/sinco/266.html

http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/welcometomysite/diary/200906090000/

Kumamoto 9:41 (SL HITOYOSHI) 12:13 Hitoyoshi STEAM

http://www.jrkyushu.co.jp/tabi/sl_hitoyoshi/index.jsp

13:15 (HISATSU loop line/switchback experience) 14:37 Yoshimatsu

http://www.hitoyoshi-hikari.com/hisatu2009/eki.html

14:54 (HAYATO no KAZE 3) 16:39 Kagoshima Cyuoh - Kagoshima tram

http://caw99100.exblog.jp/9470113/

Kagoshima Cyuoh 17:52 (TSUBAME 20) 18:31 Shin Yatsushiro 18:34 (TSUBAME 20) 18:54 Kumamoto

DAY 11 TUESDAY OCTOBER 26 (B-L) Kumamoto 7:14 (TSUBAME 30) 7:49 Ohmuta

Former Mitsui Mieke Electric Railway for GE locomotives

http://tetsuppoi.com/Visit/MitsuiMiike.htm

Ohmuta 9:45 (ARIAKE 10) 10:15 Tosu 10:21 (KAMOME 13) 11:59 NAGASAKI

Nagasaki Tram (Charter)

Nagasaki 17:25 (KAMOME 38) 18:59 Tosu 19:14 (ARIAKE 19) 20:18 Kumamoto

DAY 12 WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 27 (B) Kumamoto 7:46 (TSUBAME 32) 9:11Hakata 9:37 (HIKARI 552) 11:50

Himeji 11:59 (HIKARI 472) 12:54 Kyoto Keifuku tram.

Possible side trip to Osaka Hankai Tramway (to be determined).

http://www.ab.auone-net.jp/~azm01/page113.html

DAY 13 THURSDAY OCTOBER 28 (B) Kyoto 8:56 (HIKARI 464) 10:31 Shizuoka 11:03 >11:34 Kanaya 11:48 (Oigawa Railway STEAM) 13:13 Senzu

http://www.oigawa-railway.co.jp/slninorou.html

13:32 (ABT Rack line) 15:00 Sesso Kyo

http://www.ikawasen.jp/

15:01 (ABT line) 16:06 Senzu 16:10 (Oigawa line) 17:25 Kanaya 17:30 > 18:01 Shizuoka

DAY 14 FRIDAY OCTOBER 29 (B-L) Shizuoka 8:36 (HIKARI 506) 9:40 Tokyo Railway Museum (Omiya).

http://www.railway-museum.jp/

Tokyo Tram

http://www.toshima.ne.jp/~b2on/td/

DAY 15 SATURDAY OCTOBER 30 (B-L-D) Japanese TATAMI Mattress Train - traditional Japanese fun on a five-car electric M.U. that is all dining cars, but no seats!! Saki lovers beware! http://www.enoden.co.jp/train/index.htm

Farewell Dinner

DAY 16 SUNDAY OCTOBER 31 (B) Farewell for those who must leave, but for those with an extra day, a great "Extra Fare" SL STEAM trip is being planned, on the Chichibu Railway, or possibly on one of the JR operated trips. Cost will be determined by the final route choice, and the connecting train distances. Be sure and let us know if you are interested.













PHOTOS BY JOHN KIRCHNER AND JUN SHIRAKAWA

PRICES                       ALL PRICES ARE PER PERSON

DOUBLE ROOM OCCUPANCY............................$4498
SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT...........................$ 998
DEPOSIT TO HOLD SPACE WHEN TOUR IS A SURE-GO.....$1500
FINAL PAYMENT DUE BY JULY 19, 2010

TOUR INCLUDES

*26 MEALS
*UNLIMITED RIDE JR RAIL PASS
*ALL TRANSFERS DURING THE TOUR
*15 NIGHTS LODGING IN GOOD TOURIST CLASS HOTELS
*FULLY ESCORTED BY AN AMERICAN & JAPANESE RAILFAN GUIDE

TOUR BOOKING CONDITIONS

TOUR PRICE: All tour prices are subject to change without notice at any time.

CHANGE OF ITINERARY: We reserve the right to substitute, change train routing, alter or modify the tour if any unexpected and unforeseen conditions beyond our control occur. As almost everyone knows, in the railroad industry last minute changes do occur.

RESERVATION CHANGES: A $50 per person charge will apply for any changes made to a reservation. This will also apply for any changes in credit cards usded.

DEPOSITS AND FINAL PAYMENTS: The required deposit is due in our office within 14 days of making a booking. For most tours the final payment is due in our office 90 days before the start of the tour. Due dates are posted for each tour and will also be on your invoice and in some cases we will vary the due Date depending upon the tour in question.

MILEAGE COLLECTORS: Mileage collectors please take note before you book! Trains and Travel does not cater just to mileage collectors. We cater to all people that enjoy the railroad hobby. We give strong warning that itinerary and route changes do happen and this is totally beyond our control when it does. If the only reason that you would want to book a tour with us is to collect the rare mileage, may we suggest that you be prepared for possible route changes.

RESPONSIBILITY AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY: We assume no responsibility for injury, sickness, damage, loss, additional expenses, accidental delay or irregularities which may be caused through willful or negligent acts or omissions on the part of the companies providing or engaging in transportation, accommodations or services related to the accomplishment of the tour including Trains and Travel. We have no control on the timings of our charter trains and indeed passenger trains and charters can and do run late most of the time. Nor do we assume responsibility for natural disaster, social or political upheaval, acts of terrorism or acts of nature. The right is reserved to substitute hotels, tour leaders, equipment, motive power, trains, routes and to alter the itinerary when deemed necessary without notice. We are not responsible for expenses incurred by tour members in preparing for the tour.

CANCELLATIONS: Trains and Travel does not accept cancellations on the phone. Cancellations must be received by postal mail, e mail or fax before any refunds will be processed. Be sure and allow enough time if sending your written notice by the very slow US mail postal system. When a written cancellation is received in the Trains and Travel office this will be the effective date of the cancellation. Please take note that it can take up to 60 days to process some refunds in but most cases refunds will be issued in half that time. Cancellation refund rules: 100 days prior to the start of any tour you will receive a full refund less a $200 per person administration fee. 99 to 75 days before the departure of any tour there will be a 80% cancellation penalty based on the full cost of the tour. Any cancellations received 74 or less days before the start of any tour will not receive any refund. These cancellations rules apply to everyone and will be enforced.

RIGHT TO REFUSE SERVICE: Trains and Travel reserves the right to refuse service to anyone we deem necessary, to insure that all of our clients will have the best possible tour.

PRE-DEPARTURE TOUR BULLETINS: Tour bulletins will be sent to clients that have booked on our tours. Bulletins include weather, packing tips, food, health, updates and much more. Tickets and a detailed itinerary booklet will be sent out about three weeks before the tour begins.

PAYMENTS: Payments can be made with personal check drawn on a U.S. Dollar account, money order for U.S. Dollars, bank wire transfer, or credit card. We accept Visa, Master Card, Discover or American Express. Final payment for all tours is due 90 days prior to departure. If final payment has not been received 7 days after the due date, a late fee of $50 may apply.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: All prices are based on double room occupancy. We will try and match you with a roommate. if one is available. If not, you may be charged the single room supplement listed for the tour you are booked on. Single rooms may not be available in some remote locations and on some trains.

TOUR REFUNDS: If for any reason tour members amend or delete any arrangements during travel, and leave the tour on their own, we cannot give any refunds on unused portions of the tour. If buses and trains are cancelled by the carrier or there is a labor strike or they go out of business, we cannot be held responsible and we cannot give refunds. Travel insurance will protect you for any of these reasons. If TU needs to cancel any tour everyone will receive a full refund. Please take note that refunds can take up to 60 days to process.

PARTIAL TOURS: We will allow passengers to join or leave a tour at certain points. It will all depend on the tour and the conditions. Give us a call and we will try and work up a custom option for you.




     

02917  visits August 4, 2009.

Last modified: Wednesday, 30-Jun-2010 13:59:07 PDT