Iwakuni MCAS » Traveling To/From Iwakuni
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Traveling To/From
New! Commercial service will start at the airport in 2012 with a civilian airport terminal built to accommodate commercial flights. It is projected that up to 430,000 passengers will use the airport. Airline carrier, All Nippon Airways (ANA), 4 flights a day from Haneda, Tokyo Airport. Read more about it here: http://www.stripes.com/news/japan-carrier-to-offer-iwakuni-flights-1.99042
Iwakuni
Preferred Route:
The preferred route for traveling to MCAS Iwakuni is via the AMC “Patriot Express” flight that lands directly aboard the base. If you are not using the Patriot Express, for whatever reason, then you will be coming via one of the following commercial routes:
Option 2: Tokyo-Narita International Airport to Hiroshima Airport:
You can fly directly from the U.S. to Narita International Airport, and transfer to the one daily late afternoon domestic flight to Hiroshima Airport. Flight times vary seasonally, but it generally leaves around 1745 and takes about 1.5 hrs to reach Hiroshima. Since this flight arrives late in the afternoon, it is very likely that the currency exchange and information counters will be closed when you arrive, therefore it is imperative that you bring enough Japanese Yen for the remainder of your journey to Iwakuni. NOTE: You must go through customs at Narita and recheck luggage for the flight to Hiroshima. The planes from Narita to Hiroshima are small, so pack accordingly, as large or heavy luggage may present a problem. Refer to “Hiroshima to Iwakuni” for remainder of trip. For information about the airport, here is a link to the Tokyo-Narita International Airport website.
Option 3: Tokyo-Narita Intl Airport to Tokyo Haneda Domestic Airport to Hiroshima Airport:
You can fly into Tokyo Narita and transfer by bus to Tokyo Haneda Domestic Airport, which has numerous daily flights to Hiroshima. The bus ride can take up to 2 hours depending on Tokyo traffic, and you must first clear customs at Tokyo Narita and collect all bags to take with you. Bus tickets for the trip can be bought at the airport bus desk near the terminal exit point, and most staff members speak English and can direct you how to get to the correct waiting area for the next available bus. Note: If you have pets, you will most likely give them up at Narita Airport baggage pickup for quarantine and onward travel later to Iwakuni. Refer to “Hiroshima to Iwakuni” for remainder of trip.
Option 4: Osaka Kansai International Airport to Shin Iwakuni:
You can fly in to Osaka Kansai Intl Airport, then take the Shin (bullet train) to Iwakuni. After clearing customs in Osaka, you must collect your bags and purchase tickets at the JR ticket station just after exiting the airport (1 floor up after departing baggage claim). Purchase your tickets for both the local train and Shinkansen (Shin) train rides to Shin Station Iwakuni. The cost is approximately $110 Adult and $55 child 6-11. Children 5 and under are free, but do not get a seat (they will sit on your lap). It takes about 45 minutes to go from the airport to the Shin station on the Haruka/Kansai Express train. Once at the Shin Station, you can board the fastest Shin Train (called a Nozomi) and travel to Hiroshima Shin Station (About 2.5 hrs) where you will transfer to another Shin Train (Kodama) for the remaining 20 minute ride to Shin Iwakuni Station, which is about a 30-40 minute car/taxi ride from base. Refer to the “Shinkansen Travel” instructions for more detailed information. For more info about the airport, here is a link to the Osaka Kansai International Airport.
Option 5: Fukuoka International Airport to Shin Iwakuni:
This route is only recommended for those with limited baggage, due to the fact that you must travel quite a ways by foot, and due to limited luggage storing. You can fly directly from the U.S. to Fukuoka Intl Airport, and take an airport shuttle to the Domestic Terminal. When you leave the Domestic Terminal you will be outside, so turn left and follow the (train icon) signs to the Subway (About 100 yd walk & go downstairs). At the bottom of the stairs and directly in front of you, you will see machines for purchasing subway tickets. Placing 250 Yen in coins into slot & pressing 250 button will spit out a small ticket for you. Take the ticket, and move to your right a few yards where subway entrance machines are located. Insert ticket in machine to be punched, walk thru gate & grab your punched ticket again. Follow crowd downstairs to subway and board next available train. Hakata Station is the 2nd stop after the Airport Subway Station (10 min ride).
If excess luggage is an issue, you can ship some to MCAS Iwakuni via Nittsu or Yamato Transport located in the arrival area of Fukuoka Airport Terminal (Note “Shinkansen Travel” concerning baggage service).
Upon arriving at Hakata Train Station, use the escalator to the upper floor, turn left and walk until you come to another escalator to the next level (Mr. Donut will be on your right side as you approach 2nd escalator). At top of escalator, look to your right for the Shinkansen ticket office and get in line to purchase tickets for “Iwakuni Shin Station” (Approx $70 Adult & $35 child 6-11). Children 5 and under are free, but do not get a seat (They share with you). Your train will not say it will stop in Iwakuni, more likely Yamaguchi or other, so ask the ticket issuer to write the # of the train for you so you get on the right one, (Example, Kodama #623). Right outside of the ticket office are LED signs indicating train#, departing time and track# (Use escalator on right most likely). Once you find the track and verify your train# and time with the LED nearest that track, board train arriving nearest your departure time and/or ask Shin support personnel if that is the # of your train (Car & seat #s should be on your ticket). NOTE that only KODAMA type Shinkansen trains stop in Iwakuni, the faster NOZOMI does not. The Shin will make a few stops before arriving at Iwakuni Shin Station (1.5 hour ride). Once your arrive at the Iwakuni Train Station, you can take a taxi (Depending on family size & luggage) or have sponsor pick you up. Refer to the “Shinkansen Travel” instructions for more detail on riding the bullet train.
Hiroshima Airport to Iwakuni:
If your travel itinerary brings you to Hiroshima Airport, you will have some options on proceeding to Iwakuni:
Option A: Have your sponsor meet you at Hiroshima Airport. Some sponsors do not mind driving to pick you up at the airport, but keep in mind that they are not required to do so, and are not reimbursed for the trip, so you may want to offer them at least $70 to cover gas, expressway, and parking fees.
Option B: Reserve the Hiroshima Airport Shuttle, a service offered by MCCS Iwakuni. For reservation information, call IT&T 253-4030, or from the US, call 011-81-827-79-4030. Your sponsor can also make reservations for you. The cost is $60 per person, reimbursable on your travel claim. Small caged pets are authorized on the shuttle; if the caged pet is in a set, the $60 fee applies to the pet as well. You may utilize the shuttle even if you do not have the money on hand to pay for the service, but you will be required to sign an agreement that you will make the payment the following day.
Option C: Take a bus from Hiroshima Airport to the Hiroshima JR train station, and take the train to Iwakuni. You can buy bus tickets from vending machines outside baggage claim (prior to exiting the terminal) to get to the Japanese Rail (JR) Hiroshima Station (a 50 min ride). Once you arrive at the Hiroshima Train Station, you will then purchase a ticket for a local JR train to Iwakuni JR Station in downtown Iwakuni (1 hr ride). From the local Iwakuni JR Station, it is a 10 minute taxi ride to base (at a cost of about 1500 yen, which is about $15; the taxis only take Yen), or your sponsor can pick you up. Follow this link for more information.
Option D: BE ADVISED: A taxi directly from Hiroshima Airport to MCAS Iwakuni is expensive (approx 30,000yen) and can be difficult to fit all your luggage. If a taxi is needed due to large size of family and amount of baggage, it is more advisable that the bus is taken to Hiroshima Train Station from the Airport, then look for English sign for “TAXI” where a larger taxi can be obtained for travel to the base by going to the taxi office and asking for a “Jumbo TAXI”. Note that the taxi will not be allowed on base, so your sponsor will have to pick you up at the front gate, and you must have ample Yen to pay driver.
Notes:
You may hear about Shiraichi Station which is a local train station that is closer to the airport (15 min bus ride), but not recommended for first time travelers. Luggage must be hand-carried aboard the shuttle bus and there is only room to sit, (I have traveled this many times myself with limited luggage). The bus to Hiroshima Train Station however, will allow you to store all luggage in below compartments.
The Air Station website has very good instructions on how to get from Hiroshima Airport to Iwakuni. I highly recommend printing out the instructions and carrying it with you to refer to if this is the route you will be arriving. The last page has numerous contact numbers & a reminder on how to use Japanese phones. Also, please be sure to have enough money exchanged to Yen prior to leaving the U.S. At least $300 is recommended, but if you have several dependents, more is better (you will use it while in Japan, I assure you, or you can exchange it back to Dollars at one of the cash cages on base once you arrive). Here is the link: http://www.marines.mil/unit/mcasiwakuni/Pages/welcome-aboard/travel/howtoget.aspx
Shinkansen Travel (Bullet Train)
Should you arrive in either Osaka or Fukuoka Airports, neither airport has connecting flights to Hiroshima Airport, and you must take the Shinkansen (Shin) to Iwakuni from these arrival points. Video of Shin Iwakuni station -新岩国駅
Shin tickets cannot be purchased in advance from the U.S., but both Yen and most major credit cards are accepted to purchase them here in Japan. The Shin is expensive, difficult for first-timers to navigate, only stops for about 1 minute at each stop, and will not allow pets other than with a small, “hand-carried” carrier. If you have more than 1 suitcase per adult you may also run into problems, because you basically have to keep your luggage with you where you sit and space is very limited.
Due to this limited baggage space, the baggage delivery service is recommended for all personnel traveling via the Shin from Kansai or Fukuoka airport, particularly those traveling with numerous bags. Note that in many cases, families were not allowed to board the Shin if they had too much luggage.
Inbound personnel should have baggage delivered to TMO, Freight Shipping and Receiving, Bldg 1710, MCAS Iwakuni, phone number 253-6716/4379. Total linear dimensions cannot exceed 67 inches or 170 cm, and total weight cannot exceed 66 lbs or 30 kg. The cost is about 1,300 – 2,700 Yen ($11-24) per bag depending on size (this is currently reimbursable on your travel claim).
Note also that you must transfer Shinkansen trains at Hiroshima Shin Station if you come from Osaka or Tokyo Station to make the last leg to Iwakuni. Review the Air Station website for more detailed information, including very well made videos on how to travel to Iwakuni from Narita and Osaka Airports, and information on how to buy/read train tickets, use Japanese phones and info on baggage delivery service. Here’s the link again: http://www.marines.mil/unit/mcasiwakuni/Pages/welcome-aboard/travel/howtoget.aspx are restrooms on the Shin trains.
Language Barrier:
Some mode of communication between yourself and the local people would be very helpful to ease your mind about the language barrier, unless of course you are fortunate enough to speak Japanese. Though it is not required of you, and though there will be English-speaking people who can assist you along the way, for your own convenience and peace of mind you might want to consider bringing along a phrase book or electronic translation device.
See my “Language and Sightseeing” page to learn about some web sites and tools to help with communicating in Japanese.
Baggage Service:
Information about available luggage services can be found on MCAS Iwakuni’s How to get to MCAS Iwakuni page. The service will take your luggage and send it to Iwakuni for you so you don’t have to lug it around between trains when you get here. Be sure you separate out what you will need for a day or two into a smaller suitcase to keep with you, and send the rest via the baggage service, and it will arrive a day or two after you do.
Summer Pet Travel Info:
If you plan to bring a pet to MCAS Iwakuni, please refer to the Summer Pet Travel info on the Pets page, for breed-specific information and weight allowance guidelines.
MCAS Iwakuni’s Welcome Aboard Page:
MCAS Iwakuni’s Welcome Aboard page is dedicated to newcomers, and is full of information about customs, travel, bringing pets, and general information about the area. Be sure to check it out: http://www.marines.mil/unit/mcasiwakuni/ and click the Welcome Aboard link.
Misc PCS Travel Notes:
Hyperdia.com is a nice resource for traveling within Japan. Click the English in the top left corner of the page next to the search boxes to begin. Then enter the starting point and destination (such as Narita to Iwakuni), then click Search. On the next page, you can further define your starting and destination points, choose whether you wish to include travel by airlines or shinkansen or both, dates and times of departure, type of seat, etc. Then click Start to see the resulting options based on your input.
Remember – You are responsible for getting yourself & your family to the main gate of MCAS Iwakuni. It is not the responsibility of the sponsor or the unit, as there is no duty driver or vehicle designated expressly for picking up inbounds, nor do sponsors currently get reimbursed for picking up inbound members (About $70 in gas & tolls to travel to Hiroshima Airport). However, most sponsors will work with you and assist in every way they can to get you here.
Be aware that Japan has two different train systems: the Japan Rail or “JR” which is the local train system, and the Shinkansen or “Shin” which is the bullet train. Iwakuni and Hiroshima, as well as other cities, have both JR (local) and Shin train stations. At Hiroshima’s main station, they are both present within the same set of terminals. In Iwakuni, the JR train station is downtown (near the base) and the Shin station is situated a bit more remotely (near Kintai Bridge). Just be sure that you are on the correct type of train for your destination.
Travel lighter than you are normally accustomed to (your orders may say 2 bags per person, but trains, airlines, taxis may not have enough space for that much luggage). Have a valid credit card and ample Japanese Yen to cover travel and expenses for the entire family. It doesn’t hurt to have a sense of humor also.
It is highly recommend that you ship some of your uniform items to your sponsor (cammies, boots, alphas, short/long sleeve shirts, etc.) and ask them to send them to the cleaners, pick them up, and have them put in your TLF room the day you arrive. Have the sponsor keep the receipt so you can properly reimburse for the expenses. Doing this ensures that you have all of your uniforms ready to go when you arrive, and you get to avoid lugging them through airports and finding space for the extra luggage.
Taking the Local Train:
These are my instructions for traveling on the local train system in Japan, otherwise known as JR or Japan Railway.
STEP 1
Examine the posted train schedule, which shows the train destinations, times, track numbers, and status of the type of train (whether it is a regular train that stops at all the stations between destinations, or an express train that will skip the smaller stops and only stop at the larger stations along the way to save time to popular destinations; the express trains are colored in orange on the schedule).
Destination: The destinations are listed across the board in both Japanese and English.
Time: Near the train schedule will be a clock showing the official time. If there is a discrepancy between your watch and this time, use the time posted.
Time (Hours): The numbers down the left side of the display represent hours of the day that the train is in operation. The one pictured shows hours from 4 to 23 (0400 to 2300, or 4am to 11pm; the local train for Iwakuni is closed between the time the last train leaves for Hiroshima at 11:32pm and the time the first train leaves the next morning at 4:53am for Hiroshima).
Time (Minutes): The bottom numbers across from each of the hours represents minutes past the hour that the trains arrive. For example, the first train each day that departs from the Iwakuni local train station on the Sanyo Line leaves at 4:53 and the destination is Hiroshima.
Track Number: The track number that the train departs from is displayed as a number inside a circle to the right of the destination name. For example, the train that departs at 4:53am for Hiroshima departs on track number 6, so when you buy your ticket, you will follow the signs to track 6 to board your train. PLease note, the track number is not always the same for the same destination at different times of the day. For example, the 6:47am train to Hiroshima departs on track 4.
Note: Hiro is NOT the same as Hiroshima! We often abbreviate the word Hiroshima as, “Hiro” when we talk about it to each other, but realize that they are not the same destination when it comes to buses and trains.
Great website – connects to all JR stations just type in your destination.
STEP 2
Approach the ticket machines.
The local Iwakuni train station has instructions posted in English beside the machines for your convenience, but these are only at the Iwakuni station, so make sure you understand what to do if you plan to purchase tickets elsewhere.
Examine the destination panel (located directly above the ticket machines) to determine how much yen to insert into the machine. If you look at the closeup of the destination panel and locate Hiroshima (on the left side just above the red line) on it, you can see that there are two numbers above the Japanese word for Hiroshima (which is immediately above the English word Hiroshima): the top, larger, black number is the price in yen per adult traveling, and the smaller number below it in red is the price in yen per child. Children under 5 are free. Examining the closeup image, you can see that the cost for riding the train from the local Iwakuni station to Hiroshima is 740 yen for adults and 370 yen for children (ages 6-12).
Get your yen ready. 1000 Yen notes and change are accepted at all machines, and special machines may be posted that accept larger bills such as the ones in the photo of the ticket machines which take 5000 and 10,000 yen. Do not plan to use 2000 yen notes in machines, because though they may have provided you with some when you exchanged dollar for yen, they are as uncommon as our $2 bill so most machines do not recognize them! For a trip to Hiroshima, you will need 740 yen for each adult, and you can insert a 1000 yen note (or higher if the machine allows it) and the machine will give you change.
Insert enough money to purchase your ticket. The lights will illuminate under buttons on the machine as you insert enough money to cover increasingly higher fares. (Note: You can see in this picture that the button for 740 yen has been illuminated because I inserted enough money to purchase a ticket to Hiroshima, as well as several others, because I inserted a 1000 yen bill).
STEP 3
Press the button on the left side of the panel that shows how many people you are buying tickets for with the corresponding age groups. The blue stick figures are adults, and the red are children. For example, if you are traveling alone, press just the button with one blue figure on it. If you are purchasing for two adults, press the button with two blue figures on it. If you are buying fare for an adult and a child, press the button with a blue stick figure and a red stick figure on it. Children 5 and under ride free, children 6-12 travel at the child fare, and people 13 and over travel at the adult fare.
STEP 4
Press the price button that corresponds with the price for your destination for a single ticke as stated on the destination board. For example, if you were traveling to Hiroshima, you would press the button with 740 illuminated. The price will be multiplied by the corresponding number of people for the button that you selected in Step 3. Be sure you inserted enough yen to cover the total amount.
STEP 5
Remove your ticket(s) from the slot, and don’t forget your change if you inserted more than the exact amount. If you are traveling round-trip, you will have two tickets, one for the trip to the destination and one for the return trip.
STEP 6
Walk through the gates, either handing your tickets to the attendant to have the correct one stamped, or inserting into the machine to be punched if no attendant is present. The tickets will be given back to you, keep them in case the conductor asks to see them, and you will need to give up your ticket as you exit the train station at your final destination.
STEP 7
Proceed through the gate and place your tickets somewhere handy but safe, so you don’t lose them. Remember, you’re going to need to surrender the ticket when you get to your destination!
STEP 8
Find the track number on the destination board as you walk through the ticket gate, and proceed to the track. There will be a display that switches between English and Japanese. Check the time against the platform display clock, and wait for your train to arrive. Be sure you board the train for your track, because if there are two tracks using the same platform (one on each side, for example) don’t get confused and hop on the wrong one! They are clearly labeled, just be sure to double-check.
As you travel, you will notice signs at every platform or train stop. The signs are labeled in English and Japanese, and depict which stop was the previous one, and which is coming up next, with arrows in those directions. The name of the current stop is larger and centered above the other two, so you will know which stop you are at, and whether yours is coming up next. If in doubt, find the current stop on the map inside the train car, and compare it with your destination (Iwakuni is located to the far left of the map, and the main Hiroshima station is located in the center; realize that this is a crop of the applicable area of the larger whole map, which didn’t quite fit in my camera’s view when I tried to take the picture).
When you arrive at your destination, hand the stamped (or punched) ticket to the attendant (or insert it into the machine if no attendant is present). You will not get your ticket back! Proceed out of the train station and enjoy your adventure! Remember, if you purchased round-trip tickets, keep up with your return ticket.
