Bonus for using JR Pass - Return Leg from Sapporo

The return trip from Sapporo to Tokyo would have cost me ¥29,480 without the JR pass and that is already more than the amount I have paid for the 7-Day pass!

Day 6 – 4 Nov. 2013 (Sapporo to Tokyo)

From	To	By	Cost	Time Taken	Remarks
Sapporo	Hakodate	Ltd. Express	¥8,080	211min	Taken
Hakodate	Shin-Aomori	Ltd. Express	¥4,830	130min	Taken
Shin-Aomori	Tokyo	Shinkansen	¥16,570	206min	Taken
Shin-Aomori	Omiya	Shinkansen	¥15,670	192min

Omiya

Nagano

Shinkansen

¥5,780

73min

Omiya

Niigata

Shinkansen

¥9,570

98min

Instead of going to Tokyo, I could have chosen to switch at Omiya (Saitama) Station for Shinkansen  Asama to go to Nagano or Shinkansen Toki to go to Niigata. Both places are famous for their mountains, ski and hot spring resorts - best for nature lovers. I must make it a point to visit either one or both of these places in my next visit to Japan.

Day 7 – 5 Nov. 2013 (Tokyo to Osaka)

From	To	By	Cost	Time Taken	Remarks
Tokyo	Shin-Osaka	Shinkansen	¥13,240	177min.	Taken
Shin-Osaka	Nishinomiya	JR Train	¥290	19min.	Taken

Day 8 – 6 Nov. 2013 (Osaka)

From	To	By	Cost	Time Taken	Remarks
Nishinomiya	Osaka	JR Train	¥290	15min.	Taken
Osaka	Nishinomiya	JR Train	¥290	19min.	Taken

The total cost of all the train trips taken during these 7 days (Day 2 to 8) would have been ¥88,490 but I paid only ¥28,300.

Dollars (Yen) and sense of using the JR Pass to travel around Japan

The following tabulation on the train fares and time taken allows you to consider and plan the various options to explore Japan. Use "Hyperdia" to check and select the train to & fro the place of your interest.

Day 1 – 30 Oct. 2013 (Arrival in Japan)

From	To	By	Cost	Time Taken	Remarks
Kansai Airport	Ibaraki-Osaka	Airport Limo	¥2000	70min.	Taken
		JR Train	¥2430	59min.
		Nankai AE	¥1270	73min

Day 2 – 31 Oct. 2013 (Osaka)

From	To	By	Cost	Time Taken	Remarks
Ibaraki-Osaka	Takatsuki	JR Train	¥170	5min.	Taken
Takatsuki	Osaka	JR Train	¥250	23min.	Taken
Osaka	Ibaraki-Osaka	JR Train	¥210	14min	Taken

Day 3 – 1 Nov. 2013 (Osaka - Sapporo)

From	To	By	Cost	Time Taken	Remarks
Ibaraki-Osaka	Shin-Osaka	JR Train	¥210	8min.	Taken
Shin-Osaka	Tokyo	Shinkansen	¥13,240	190min.	Taken
Tokyo	Shin-Aomori	Shinkansen	¥16,370	208min	Taken
Shin-Aomori	Hakodate	Ltd. Express	¥4,830	141min.	Taken
Hakodate	Sapporo	Ltd. Express	¥8,080	245min	Taken

Day 4 – 2 Nov. 2013 (Sapporo)

From	To	By	Cost	Time Taken	Remarks
Sapporo	JR Soen	JR Train	¥160	3min.	Taken
JR Soen	Sapporo	JR Train	¥160	2min.	Taken
Sapporo	Wakkanai	Ltd. Express	¥9,660	299min
Wakkanai	Sapporo	Ltd. Express	¥9,660	299min
Sapporo	Abashiri	Ltd. Express	¥9,130	325min
Abashiri	Sapporo	Ltd. Express	¥9,130	320min
Sapporo	Sunagawa	Ltd. Express	¥2,510	52min
Sunagawa	Sapporo	Ltd. Express	¥2,510	52min
Sapporo	Otaru	JR Train	¥620	46min
Otaru	Sapporo	JR Train	¥620	46min
Sapporo	Toya (Muroran)	Ltd. Express	¥3150	117min
Toya	Sapporo	Ltd. Express	¥3150	117min

Day 5 – 3 Nov. 2013 (Sapporo)

From	To	By	Cost	Time Taken	Remarks
Odori	Sakaemachi	Subway	¥280	12min.	Taken
Sakaemachi	Odori	Subway	¥280	12min.	Taken

As it was Sunday, I spent a good ½ day at the church, Canaan Praise Church of Sapporo before doing the last minute shopping.

*Many options to see Hokkaido are available above without having to pay for the train fares.
**To check any of the suggested area, just highlight with the mouse and right-click, selecting Google-search and you will get a comprehensive guide of the available attractions before deciding where to go. I'll definitely visit Otaru and Lake Toya on my next visit to Hokkaido.
I effectively started using the JR Pass on Day 3 and would have incurred a hefty amount if not for the pass:
Cost of 7-Day JR Pass= ¥28,300 (S$358.00)
Cost of 1st leg to Sapporo= ¥43,050 (S$531.00)

Interesting observations about the Japanese

On the shinkansen with fully reserved seats:

From Sendai to Tokyo, those without reserved seat have to stand or sit beside the doors for 102 mins. This gentleman in his business suit stood & nap for close to an hour as the bullet train raced along the track, occasionally swaying left or right around gentle bends.

The other man in more comfortable jeans just sat down and snored away.

The doors of the shinkansen would not pop open when in motion as I could hear the sound of a heavy metal bar dropping across the doorway. These men could snooze safely.


On the Limited Express to Sapporo with both reserved and free seatings:
                         

 

 The train after leaving Hakodate Station - with seats to spare.

Along the way, many after office crowds boarded the train bound for Sapporo and many have to stand. When we were closer to Sapporo at about 2000hrs, those who got on the train reeked of alcohol.

Important Note for travelling between Shin-Aomori and Sapporo Station

 

If you are taking the train that will arrive at Hakodate from Shin-Aomori at 1701hrs after which you have to switch to next train to Sapporo at 1711hrs, you will not have time to get out of the station to buy your food! The pictures showed clearly that all bento shops on the platform were closed! To make matters worse, there was no sale of food and drinks on board the Super Hokuto to Sapporo.

Therefore, remember to buy your food & drinks from Shin-Aomori Station or on board the train before arrival at Hakodate. Well, I settled with the rice crackers and plain water that I had in my back-pack.

Common sight on board subway trains in Japan:

Many would be looking at their hand-phones, listening to something with ear-pieces, staring blankly or just dozing off.





Safer location for the Gasoline dispenser:

The staff must have done their risk assessment. At least no chance to be rammed by a runaway car and exploding into flame!

Blessing the Japanese people:

My attention was caught by this tree of red leaves 紅葉　which I thought was maple leaves もみじ。

I approached this ojisan who was sweeping the fallen leaves and he told me that this tree　has very hard wood and is used for making stoves in Japanese households of old.

I thanked him and blessed him, "Kami sama no shuku fuku ga arimasu youni" 神様の祝福が有りますように and his face lit up。There is power in God's blessing and like all people, they welcome blessing. Let's not be stingy with our blessings!