| In my capacity as the UK Director of Operations for | | | | was refreshing to see the uniformed staff all lined up |
| One World Tours Limited, I am often asked all kinds | | | | on the platforms embarking on the trains, giving them |
| of travel questions. | | | | a thorough but quick clean before the next |
| A client recently enquired about travelling to Japan | | | | passengers got on. |
| for the first time and wanted my advice on what to | | | | It is quite impressive to watch these magnificent |
| see and the best way to travel when visiting this | | | | works of technology zooming through the stations |
| remarkable land. Here are my tips.... | | | | and then to see one slowing down with its sleek |
| Because only 30% of this beautiful country is | | | | design commanding attention. |
| inhabitable, as you can imagine everyone is packed | | | | You can maneuver the seats that all face one way if |
| into these small areas so the public transport has to | | | | there is more than 2 in your group so that you can all |
| be good! | | | | sit facing one another. |
| I found that one of the better ways to get around | | | | Refreshments are bought to your carriage many |
| was on the Japanese Rail (JR) system. You will have | | | | times throughout your journey to ensure that you |
| to book a rail pass for this facility before leaving | | | | have all that you require. |
| home to start your journey, up to 3 months before | | | | The down side though is that you can still smoke in |
| you plan on travelling. | | | | designated carriages in Japan and if you do not note |
| Once you have activated your pass, you will be free | | | | this when you are reserving your seats, which you |
| to travel almost anywhere in Japan. | | | | can do for your entire stay when you activate your |
| The interesting thing about this method of travelling | | | | pass, you could be stuck in a smoke filled |
| is that the trains are never late and although they | | | | environment for your whole journey. |
| can become very crowded at peak times it is a very | | | | You don't really feel the speed that you are travelling |
| efficient way to get from A to B. There are specific | | | | at but it is quite an achievement to cover such |
| carriage numbers on the platforms where the trains | | | | distances in such a short passage of time, opening up |
| stop at precisely when they pull in at the stations. | | | | the whole of Japan to you even if you are only |
| There are even colour coded lines on the floors of | | | | visiting for a week. |
| the station that lead you to the train that you need | | | | The only problem that I genuinely had with getting |
| to catch. The whole system is designed with the | | | | used to the whole system, was when I reached the |
| customers requirements in mind. | | | | station that led back to my hotel, because there |
| The Japanese are a very respectful race and some | | | | were so many exits, I never came out at the same |
| of the rules that they display in their carriages are | | | | place twice! More of a bad judgement on my behalf I |
| most welcoming and amusing when you compare | | | | would say. I do think however that I finally found the |
| them to our own rules in England. | | | | correct exit the day before I was scheduled to leave |
| For example you are advised not to play loud music, | | | | after 9 days! |
| take up more space than is necessary or talk on a | | | | As you can imagine the roads in the major towns |
| mobile phone all things that are freely ignored on our | | | | and cities are generally very busy and slow moving, |
| trains! | | | | so travelling by train is the best way to go when in |
| The bullet train was a really effective way to cover | | | | Japan. |
| long distances in a relatively short space of time. It | | | | |