And somehow, there's still domestic airline service.

>>53815
Given JR fares, I would probabily fly too if it was that much cheaper.

Also, you can run up \40000 in highway tolls when you drive from one end of the country to the other.

>>53816

Aren't there also intercity buses; something like Greyhound in the US and National Express in the UK?

>>53817
overnight buses, which are killing shindai trains. ironically, JR has a bus division and runs a bunch of overnight highway buses

>>53822

Not too incredibly ironic. The Union Pacific and the Santa Fe used to run buses through Trailways franchises to connect the rail depots to cities not served by the trains. Amtrak continues the tradition with Thruway Buses, though they usually just farm the work out to various transportation companies. So JR running buses isn't an entirely foreign concept, even if their purpose is different.

>>53814

No, JR fares are incredibly expensive when you consider that a standard JR 7-day pass saves money (not much, but it still costs less) if you take N'EX to and from Narita Kuko to Tokyo, and then the Shinkansen to Kyoto from Tokyo. Anything local seems okay (and I think that's how commuters do it) but I really don't understand how commuters can afford passes. At least Green Car rates on the Shonan-Shinjuku aren't bad if you're going from say, Zushi to Utsunomiya.

I gotta say though, passes do save you a bundle in the long run. The pass from Hachioji to Yurakucho is only 21600 a month, which equates to about 28 rides, and that's probably a pretty normal distance for commuters.

Also, what Tokkyu is that? (yes, I should be ashamed for not knowing)

>>53822

Dude the Shindai trains aren't even worth it anyways. Cassiopeia is for couples, Twilight and Hokutosei are for rich people or people who fit into TINY rooms and have minimal luggage--and it's still a squeeze in those single-twin rooms. I've never travel compartment, but I figure it's not much better.

It's impossible to get any real service (read: dinner in the dining car) on Twilight (and I assume Hokutosei as well) unless you're booked with a tour company, and all the A-class rooms are booked a month in advance (I know, as I was just on it a week ago. I'm assuming it's a little better in winter when nobody goes to Hokkaido.)

Forget about Nihonkai and Akebono, because you can expect JR East and West to axe them when the Shinkansen line to Shin-Aomori opens, and those are the only Shindai left (aside from ye olde Hamanasu, which is only Kyuko, and they'll most certainly get rid of when the Hokkaido Shinkansen to Hakodate is done).

I dunno, as JR keeps increasing the speed on the Shinkansen, I'd say they'll only keep Cassiopeia and Twilight around as special trains that they sell tickets for an insanely inflated rates. I'm surprised Sunrise has lasted this long too--the Seto seemed to be nearly empty two weeks ago when I boarded at Takamatsu, and when I got off in Tokyo, there was almost nobody on the platforms either.

>>53849

I guess that's the Boso-View Express 255 Series. Either on a View-Wakashio or View-Sazanami run.

Also, I think the Japanese can afford such tickets since the earn more money and probably because they are subsidised by their company. Could be wrong though.

>>53868
you're correct, but in my case it's the Shiosai for choshi, not the other two runs.

>earn more money

only when you consider the exchange rates.

>subsidised by their company

yes, it's mostly the benefits.

>>54173

>>earn more money

>only when you consider the exchange rates.

You got me there ;)

There's actually a way for JR to charge even MORE money

1) Have more all-reserved cars (they already do this on most special summer event rapids)
2) Have all-green car runs (JR East already has one, if I'm not mistaken
3) Rip apart tracks and local communities for mini-shinkansen. It dosent go any faster then a tokkyu (hell, the Akita shinkansen is slower then most tokkyu), but you can charge shinkansen prices
4) ????
5) Profit