Tag: shinkansen

Example of lean thinking in Japan's railway ticket gates

Why are Japan’s ticket barriers always open in railway stations?

Kyoto, Piqer
It’s true that on Japan’s railway network and especially in major cities, the ticket barriers are always open. But try to go through without buying a ticket and you could be in for a nasty shock! The ticket barriers are designed to only close if someone attempts to pass through without having already presented a valid ticket (a paper ticket,…
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kyoto day trip 24 hours guide kiyomizu dera temple

One day in Kyoto trip guide

Kyoto
Kyoto might not be as big a city as Tokyo but there’s still more to see that can easily fit into one day. It is possible however, if you catch an early enough bullet train from Tokyo (before 7AM at the latest), to see many highlights of Kyoto if you really only have time for one day there. Arriving by about…
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kyoto to tokyo

Kyoto to Tokyo and back again – the cheapest, fastest way to travel

Kyoto, Piqer
The Japanese bullet train, or Shinkansen, is probably the best way to travel around Japan – fast, comfortable, smooth and reliable. But unfortunately also, expensive. Return journeys between major cities can cost more than US $400. Single trips can cost more than $200. About 20 years ago, foreign tourists used to be able to buy heavily discounted Shinkansen rail pass,…
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