TsukuBlog

Inspired by Shaney’s post about the Seikan tunnel, I posted a travel suggestion regarding the Seikan tunnel in a comment.
See my comment in the above link.

In response to rapidly increasing social demands to restrict smoking, East Japan Railway Company (JR East) has decided to make all Shinkansen trains and Limited Express trains operating only within JR East territory entirely no-smoking. With this change, additional smoking rooms will be provided on the platforms at major Shinkansen stations and conventional line stations where Limited Express trains stop.

Read the English press release from June 6, 2006.

In the press release, it says that this new rule is to take effect “in Spring 2007″. This Japanese press release says that the date was set for March 18, 2007.

I wonder if they will be doing anything to get the stinky smell out of the smoking cars or if they will just wait until they need to be replaced.

Tsukuba is having a rare snow day today. Since it doesn’t snow a lot in this area of Japan, a little bit of snow can make it difficult to get anywhere. Trains are often delayed or stopped and buses sometimes can’t run in the snow. If you are planning a trip and you want to know how the weather is going to affect your journey, please check the following pages. The pages are in Japanese, but when something is wrong, it is usually written in red (or bold or something) so you should at least be able to tell whether your chances of making it to your destination are good or bad without being able to read the page.

• Tsukuba Express
  If everything is ok, it will say 「平常通り運行しております」.
• Tokyo Metro
  If everything is okay, it will say 「現在、平常どおり運転しています」. If there is something wrong, it will be written in red. The lines are written in this order: Ginza, Marunouchi, Hibiya, Tozai, Chiyoda, Yurakucho, Hanzomon, Nanboku. 一部直通運転中止 means some trains are not running.
• JR East
  • Tohoku Area
  • Kanto Area (Tsukuba is in this area)
  • Shinetsu Area
  • Shinkansen
  • Long-Distance Buses

  If everything is okay, it will say 「現在、平常通り運転しています。」. Possible problems: 遅延 = delayed, 運転見合わせ = waiting for a decision, 一部運休 = some trains are not running, 運休 = trains are not running

Pasmo, a card that you can use to travel on trains and buses in Japan, debuted on March 18 of this year. I tried out the card for the first time on Saturday, and I can say that I am quite pleased with the results.

Pasmo works seamlessly with the Suica network, so you can use this one card to take the Tsukuba Express, any JR trains, the subway, and even (I assume) the bus from Tsukuba to Tokyo. (I’m not sure of the situation with intra- and inter-city buses in Tsukuba. Can any of our readers confirm whether they have been able to use Pasmo on buses in the city?)

You can buy the card with a 500 yen deposit at ticket vending machines along the Tsukuba Express line (and presumably elsewhere). You can embed your name in the card (meaning that only you can use it, and you may be able to get it back if you lose it) or just leave it blank. You can put money on the card at the same vending machines. The machine that I used had English instructions, and the procedure is fairly straightforward.

If you really want to make things easy for yourself, you can associate your Pasmo card with a credit card, so that 3000 yen will be added to the card every time it gets below 2000 yen. This means that you wouldn’t even have to wait in line to add more money to the card. Very convenient!

It is definitely worth getting one of these cards in my opinion because it decreases the amount of time that you have to fiddle with little tickets and it makes your travel go a lot more smoothly. It is especially helpful when you are trying to catch a train at the last minute and don’t have enough time to wait in the line for a ticket. You can even keep the card in your wallet and just slide your wallet across the panel, so you don’t have to go fishing about for the card.

I don’t travel to Tokyo very often, but whenever I have gone in the past, I have been jealous of the people who have Suica cards, since they don’t have to wait in any lines or look up the fares before they board the train. I am glad that that level of convenience has finally spread to Tsukuba.

Here are a few fireworks festivals along the Tsukuba Express line. (Some of them are not exactly close to the stations.)

July

July 27: Adachi Fireworks Festival (15 minutes walk from Kita Senju Station)

July 28: Joso City Mitsukaido Fireworks Festival (Train and 15 minute walk from Moriya Station)

July 29: Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival (15 minutes walk from Asakusa Station)

August

August 5: Edogawaku Fireworks Festival (Two train rides from Shin Okachimachi Station)

August 5: Ichikawa City Fireworks Festival (One train ride and 15 minutes walk from Akihabara Station)

August 5: Teganuma Fireworks Festival (Train, bus, and walk from Nagareyama Otakanomori Station)

August 15: Karakasa Mando (20 minute taxi ride from Tsukuba Station)

August 19: Minami Nagareyama Fireworks Festival (20 minutes walk from Nagareyama Central Park Station)

August 19: Misato Summer Festival Fireworks (One train ride and 5 minutes walk from Minami Nagareyama Station)

August 19: Sekiyado Festival (Train, bus, and walk from Nagareyama Otakanomori Station)

August 5: Shimotsuma Sanuma Fireworks Festival (Train and 15 minute walk from Moriya Station)

August 23: Takaoka Tsunabi (Bus and 10 minute walk from Moriya Station)

August 24: Kobari Tsunabi (15 minute walk from Miraidaira Station)

September

September 10: Hakke Ryusui Mando (10 minutes taxi ride from Banpaku Kinen Koen Station)

October

October 7: Tsuchiura Fireworks Festival (Bus and 5 minute walk from Tsukuba Station)

More information (in Japanese)

A few weeks ago I was surprised to see that there were policemen at each corner of every intersection along Higashi-Odori (one of Tsukuba’s main thoroughfares), for as many kilometers as I would travel down it. Each of these officers had a little decoration on his shoulder, so it was clear that this was VIP related. Since I had read that Prince Charles was in Japan on that day, I assumed that he had made a surprise visit to Tsukuba.

Well , it turns out that the Prince of Wales never did come to Tsukuba. However, I was not very far off the mark. Royalty, was in fact coming, and in heavy doses.  What I had seen was merely a dress rehearsal. There would be still more rehearsals (not only for the police) after the one I had seen — because this was going to be MAJOR == the Emperor and Empress of Japan (representing the longest continuous dynasty in the world) would be visiting Tsukuba. This in itself would merit a rehearsal or two, but putting more pressure on security services and Tsukuba City officials, they would be bringing along two very special guests, also of very ancient lineage: the King and Queen of Spain. (The King is a successor to the Capetian Dynasty which is the oldest in Europe. He is a descendant of Charles V, Louis XIV and Queen Victoria, among others.)

Though we have had a Nobel Prize winner or two among us, since the Tsukuba Expo of 1985, when a whole slew of world leaders and royalty whipped in and out of town, there have been few such occasions to excite our local royal and celebrity watchers. 

I was surprised to learn (since I come from a very security conscious country) that a detailed itinerary of the visit was released in advance, and even more surprised to eventually find that it was followed, to the minute.

The plan to visit Tsukuba certainly came about due to a shared interest on the part of the Emperor and the King in science and technology. But by this I do not necessarily mean the space and robot technology that they would be shown at the Tsukuba Space Center or at Tsukuba University. It seems that the planners of this trip took into consideration both monarchs’ particular affection for a more classic technology — TRAINS! (I was glad that Juan Carlos was not taken to indulge in one of his favorite pastimes: BEAR HUNTING!)

The two couples would be setting out from Ueno Station after having boarded the Imperial Family’s new PRIVATE TRAIN, several cars long, which would let them off at Tsuchiura Station. Later, they would be going back to Tokyo by TX (with the whole train specially reserved, of course).

The day of the royal arrival was dark, drizzly and a little cold. This did not deter lovers of the Imperial Family from waiting by the road, for an hour or two, at various locations along the route of the Imperial procession, so that they would be able to watch as it passed by. They came, mostly women over 60, by the busload (many of these women also volunteer, at no small personal expense, to clean the grounds of the Imperial Palace every year — the subject of a future entry).

However, with all the blue blood seated in their specially made limousines, these women were mostly interested in catching a glimpse of a commoner. Of course, I’m talking about Empress Michiko, the first woman of non-aristocratic lineage to marry into the family of the Sun-Goddess. I have found that many Japanese, again, usually women of a certain age, are deeply moved by what they consider to be Michiko’s kindness, patience, concern for the people, and beauty.

(I have my own Michiko moment. In Tokyo, on another drizzly day near the Empress’s alma mater, Seishin, we found a street lined with policemen. I asked what was going on, and was told that Michiko would be passing by soon, on the way to a class reunion. We asked if we could wait and were told that by all means we could. A plain-clothes officer then proceeded to talk into his radio. I couldn’t overhear him, but I assumed he was reporting our presence for security. I was wrong, however. He had informed the procession that some foreigners were standing and waiting outside in the rain to greet the Empress. Anyway, I guess that is what he said, because the car Michiko was in (in the middle of a convoy, of course), came to a near halt. The window then rolled down and we were given a very elegant nod by Her Majesty. I’m almost embarrassed to say that it was a MOVING experience and that I’ve had a special feeling for the COMMONER EMPRESS ever since.)

I had no particular plan to watch the processions, but as it turned out I was able to see both couples clearly, on at two different times of day, as they slowly drove by, waving to the crowd from open windows. I was also able to snap some pictures with my cell phone camera, which by shear luck (I held the keitai high over the crowd and shot at random) captured the moment.

An important impression which remains after any imperial sighting of this sort is the sheer sense of thrill in the air – exuded not only by the older women who had come by chartered bus, or by the few 30-ish, male amateur paparazzi (though they seem to be just ardent fans of the Imperial Family) mounted on tall step ladders with very long and expensive-looking telephoto lenses who proudly show off their shots to the excited ladies after the procession has passed (to cries of “Michiko’s face really IS kind and gentle”), but also the local policemen who show genuine emotion which lingers strongly even after the royals have been long gone. They bow, to the well-wishers and give an emotional thanks to all those who came out in the bad weather - ARIGATO GOZAIMASHITA!

For me, this double royal visit was less thrilling than thought provoking. Of course ,one cannot be but baffled at what makes blue blood so captivating for the public in this day and age. I would recommend reading a little about Juan Carlos- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_Carlos_I_of_Spain                                                                         

and the current Emperor of Japan

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akihito

and then tying to imagine what they spoke about sitting side by side during the train rides from Tokyo and back.

The visit also gets one to reflect on the history of Japanese-Spanish relations,which go back to the16th century.  Spain in fact  had  an immense impact on the course of Japanese history. It was distrust of the motives of the Spanish and the missionaries who came with them (fuelled of course by the opinions of the Dutch and English), which led to the banning of Christianity, and the more than 200 years of National Seclusion(sakoku) which followed http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakoku .

Have you heard of the “Seishun 18 Kippu” JR ticket?

The JR group offers this special ticket for summer, winter, and spring vacation seasons. The ticket contains 5 spaces to put date stamps. It is effective until 12 pm on the night of the day a date stamp is entered by station staff or a train conductor. You can take all local JR trains but cannot take rapid or express services. It is not the best option for a quick trip, but it is good for people who have a lot of time but no money, so it is ideal for students.

You can use the ticket 5 times during the period or you can share it with some friends. For example, you can enjoy a 5-day trip for one person or you can enjoy a 2-day trip with a friend and 1 day trip for one person, etc.

For more information for the “Seishun 18 Kippu” JR ticket (English):
http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/pass/seishun18.html
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2362.html

The usual fare for the “Seishun 18 Kippu” JR ticket is 11,500 yen, so it works out to 2,300 yen/day.

But for this spring vacation, as the 20th anniversary of the JR group, they are selling it only at 8,000 yen! (1,600yen/day!!)

Information for the 20 th anniversary discount (Japanese):
http://www.jreast.co.jp/press/2006_2/20070206.pdf
http://jr-central.co.jp/co.nsf/news/nws200728-144841

FYI, you can go to Kumamoto in Kyushu island from Tokyo with one ticket with the following plan.

There is a night train called “Moonlight Nagara” from Shinagawa station bound for Ogaki in Gifu prefecture during vacation seasons. It departs from Shinagawa at around 23:55. Just buy a normal ticket from Shinagawa to the first station where the train stops after 12 pm (Yokohama or somewhere). And ask the conductor to put a date stamp on the “Seishun 18 Kippu” in the train or when you go out from a gate. Then, you can use the “Seishun 18 Kippu” for 24 hours. You will get to Kumamoto around 11pm after 7 or 8 times transfers. Of course, it can be the cheapest way to get to Kyoto, Osaka or Nara.

Have a nice trip in early spring in Japan!!

Tsukuba Express is offering a day pass during the summer vacation. For 680 yen, kids can ride the train between Tsukuba and Akihabara as often as they like. The regular price for a return ticket for children is 1160 yen between those two points. Adults can purchase a day pass for 2300 yen, which is not a discount on the regular rate, but does allow you to get on and off the train as often as you want during the day.

Tickets can be purchased at all Tsukuba Express stations and are only valid on the day they are purchased. This campaign runs from July 15 to August 31.

Flyer describing the campaign:
Summer Holiday Day Pass (in Japanese)

Other Tx topics (in Japanese):

• Summer fireworks festivals along Tx
• Other events along the line
• Extra trains during the summer (pdf)