2. Pack Snacks, Lunch, Books, and a Watch with a (vibrate) Alarm
If you’ve done your research, you know that you will be making many train transfers. Some transfers may have as little as 2 minutes between the departing trains so you won’t have time to buy food or even use the restroom.
Keep a watch or phone handy where you can keep track of train arrival and departure timings. If you want to take a snooze on the train and you don’t have a buddy with you, be sure to set an alarm so you don’t miss your connection.
3. Arrive at the Station, Get on Your Train!
Remember that the Seishun 18 Kippu cannot be used in the automated gates. You need to go to the ticket agent when you start your travel day, so they can stamp your ticket.
If you are transferring at the terminal station on a route, the conductor will announce (in Japanese) connecting train platform numbers.
4. Transferring Trains & Leaving the Station
As seen in the sample Seishun 18 Kippu routes below, there are some tight connections you have to make between trains, even as little as 1 min! This is where the beauty of Japanese efficiency steps in. Many transfers take place between two terminus stations for the local route. When you transfer trains, the majority of the time you just have to walk across the platform to board your connecting train!!
During Seishun 18 Kippu months, many people will be traveling the same long-distance route and making the same transfers. You will notice a stampede of Japanese people running from one train to another so they can get a seat – just follow the crowd!
Finishing the Day
If you are taking all JR trains, theoretically you don’t need to pass through any more gates until you reach your final destination. There, you will hand your ticket to the agent again, to complete your travel day on the Seishun 18 Kippu.
If you feel like taking a break and leaving any train station en route, just do the same and show your ticket on the way out and back in to the JR station.