Although this trip was rushed, we both wanted to go somewhere closer to suburb.
I originally planned to visit Lake Kawaguchi and take in the view of Mount Fuji. But if we decided not to take a local day trip or drive ourself, and it will be expected that a lot of time will be spent on transportation, and it will be too rushed to go back and forth.
I have read the travel information and found that it takes about 1 hour only from Ueno to Karuizawa. A round trip in one day is more feasible and easy.
My friend, who is Japan frequent visitor, recommended me to buy a JR three-day pass (15,000 YEN) that can cover 3 day unlimited rides in Tokyo including Bullet Train to Karuizawa. Moreover, the pass holder can reserved seat for the train to Karuizawa in advance. This is definitely a good idea because the round-trip ticket to Karuizawa costs more than 14,000 YEN. However, I have further calculate and found that buying pass was not suitable for this simple trip (see the following article for my explanation in details)
Tokyo Again 2025 (2) - Tokyo Transportation - Simplified Package for Dummies
Then we checked the train schedule for Karuizawa on April 8th when we arrived in Tokyo on April 7th, and planned to go to the JR station around 9:00 am the next morning and buy the 9:50 train from Ueno to Karuizawa.
09:50 ASAMA Train No 607
The JR East Travel Service Center where you can buy tickets is next to the main entrance of Ueno JR Station on groundfloor. We told the staff that we would like to have round trip ticket but we have no idea when we will be back to Ueno. It was our first time there we visit Karizawa and we didn’t know how long we could stay there. (The last train back to Ueno is 11:30 pm according to my information.)
She suggested that we can buy ticket for reserved seats when we go and a free seats for return (Free seats… I guessed it shouldn’t be too hard to find a seat for my wife when we come back to Ueno during night time. When we finally got back to Ueno, it was already very late and there were many empty seats. So it was definitely the right choice for us to buy free seats ticket for return.)
The staff took out a map of the JR station and showed us how to get on the train. We were reminded that it takes about 10 to 15 minutes to walk from the service center through the central entrance to the Platform 19.
09:32 AM, we have to be hurry,
Go through the central gate first.
Follow the signs to Platform 19
There is another gate for the Shinkansen, and the same ticket is used to pass through.
09:50 Train No 607 to Nagano. As seen in the timetable, the Hokuriku Shinkansen generally has eight to nine carriages, the first four to five cars are free seats, and the rest are reserved seats.
All reserved seats have assigned seat no, and free seats are first-come, first-served. This means that if you are unlucky, you may have to stand in the carriage for an hour travel. Therefore, if you board the train at Tokyo Station, I believe it will not be difficult to find a free seat as you are the first batch of passengers.
After a long long escalator.....
09:45‥‥‥Still have 5 minutes for me to have a quick breakfast.
Here we go!
The carriage of tree seat and reserved seats are similar.
The metropolis outside the window was moving rapidly backwards, and what welcomed us were rows of bungalows.
11:02 AM - Arrived, and the time of arrival was exactly as the schedule indicated on ticket.
The temperature in Karuizawa in April is about 5 to 6 degrees lower than that in Tokyo, but it is still 12-15 degrees in the afternoon. I think it is warm enough if you have an extra sweatshirt. (It will drop a lot during night time so it would be considered if you stay overnight.)
From the platform, you can see the mountainous area of Karuizawa, and there are still a few traces of snow between the ridges of the mountains.
Compared to the busy and crowd stations in Tokyo, Karuizawa is very peaceful and tranquil. There is a tourist service center, souvenir shop and luggage storage area in the station. It is a "tourist-friendly" place.
Overview of Karuizawa. The area is not very large, but unless you drive yourself, it is difficult to visit all the attractions in one day. (I thought it is still possible to visit all if we skip outlet, but my dear will not let me to do so.)
Luggage storage charges range from 500 yen to 900 yen per time, depend on luggage size.
Our Tokyo 2025 journey - Still have 56 hours left.
Next Chapter: Tokyo Again 2025 (6) - Tokyo Again 2025 (6) - Karuizawa Day Trip (Part 2 - Leisurely Stroll......Kumoba Pond)
Tokyo Again 2025
Tokyo Again 2025(1) - 72 hours of traveling in Tokyo (3 -days Itinerary plan, plus 7-days in 2024)
Tokyo Again 2025 (2) - Tokyo Transportation - Simplified Package for Dummies
Tokyo Again 2025 (3) -APA Hotel Ueno Ekimae - with Movie
Tokyo Again 2025 (4) The First Ngith in Ueno（GYU STAR All you can eat BBQ / Donki in Ueno)
Tokyo Again 2025 (5) - Karuizawa Day Trip (Part 1 - How Did We Go?)
Tokyo Again 2025 (6) - Karuizawa Day Trip (Part 2 - Leisurely Stroll......Kumoba Pond)
Tokyo 2024
Tokyo 2024 - 7 days itinerary (Family of 4 - Attractions and Shopping Experience)
Disney Sea Tokyo 1 - Basic Information and Tips for your journey
Dinery Sea Tokyo 3 - Busy Second Half Having fun (Peter Pan / Toy Story Mania)
The Making of Harry Potter (Tokyo)
Hotel in Ikebukuro (Hotel Hisoca Ikebukuro)
USJ Osaka 2023
Universal Studio Japan (Osaka) 1 - Basic Information and Some Tips for your journey
Universal Studio Japan (Osaka) 2 - Preparation with Kids
Universal Studio Japan (Osaka) Part 6 - Harry Porter and His Magic Wand
Universal Studio Japan (Osaka) Part 7 - Our Forbidden Journey
Universal Studio Japan (Osaka) 8 - Universal Wonderland and Others
Those below are articles about Japan Visit, written in Chinese. Please feel free to leave your comments or questions. I am glad to reply and give advice according to my limited experience.
2024 Tokyo
七年無事又東京（二）新宿事變（六歌仙新店 + 歌舞伎町Tower)
七年無事又東京（四）進擊的上野 （上野Yamashiroya + 阿美橫丁）
七年無事又東京（五）迪士尼海洋Disneysea1 - 簡單易明基本概念及小提議
七年無事又東京（六）迪士尼海洋Disneysea2 忙於操作的上半場（驚魂古塔 / 地心探險記 / 樂佩公主天燈盛會）
七年無事又東京（七）迪士尼海洋Disneysea3 總動員的下半場
七年無事又東京（十）天旋地轉與膽量挑戰 (台場Joypolis1F）
七年同事有東京（十一）動感（台場Joypolis 2F - VR, House of the Dead, Transformer）
七年無事又東京（十二）獻出心臟"爸"！（台場Joypolis 3F - 進擊的巨人 + 全日通結算 + 輕鬆推介）
七年無事又東京（十三）雨中的陽光（池袋Sunshine City）
七年無事又東京（十四）池袋的超強CP值酒店（Hotel Hisoca 池袋 - 有片）
七年無事又東京（十五）與機場進餐（Marroad Hotel International)
七年無事又東京（十六）最後分組活動（酒酒井OUTLET / 成田機場T2)
七年無事又東京（十七）東京遊2024 總結 + 後記 （各景點評分）
2023 Osaka
2019 Kyushu Self-Driving Tour
九州日誌（二）互動（九州野生動物園 / Hello Kitty Harmony Land )
九州日誌(四) - 雨天（湯布院大街 / 福崗OUTLET)
九州日誌(七) - 天地（天神地下街 / MARK IS......)
2018 - Okinawa Self-Driving Tour
自駕衝衝沖繩之旅(二） Day1,2,3 沒有浪花的季節 (谷茶灣Rizzan海洋公園酒店)
自駕衝衝沖繩之旅(三） Day 2 「魚」出驚人 (沖繩美麗海水族館 + 大家 + 水果樂園 + 萬座毛)
自駕衝衝沖繩之旅(四） Day 3 在水中央 (海中展望塔 + 伊波公園 )
自駕衝衝沖繩之旅(五） Day 4 雨程 (琉球之牛，Aeon Mall Okinawa Rycom)
自駕衝衝沖繩之旅(六）- Day 5-1 與小象的約會 (沖繩動物王國)
自駕衝衝沖繩之旅(七）- Day 5-2 沖繩最強「浦」點 （浦添大公園 - 有片 + 美國村）
自駕衝衝沖繩之旅(八）- Day 6-1 人人彈起（中城公園)
自駕衝衝沖繩之旅(九）- Day 6-2 Round 1 Fight!!（Round 1 Stadium)
自駕衝衝沖繩之旅(十）- Day 7-1 最後的公園（國際通 + 第一牧志市場 + 奧武山公園）
自駕衝衝沖繩之旅(十一）- Day 7-2 「瀨」住唔走 （瀨長島溫泉酒店）
自駕衝衝沖繩之旅(十二）- Day 8 來去沖沖 (ASHIBINAA OUTLET + 給自駕者的話)
2017 - Yokohama and Tokyo
「橫東」直撞七天遊二 (Day 2-1) - 全包宴 (橫濱麵包超人館)
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