Niigata Station Shinkansen Platform to "Inaho" Local Train Change
Niigata Station Shinkansen Platform to "Inaho" Local Train Change
Overview
In this quick transit video, John Daub documents the process of transferring from the Joetsu Shinkansen to a local limited express train at Niigata Station. Arriving with just minutes to spare, John demonstrates how efficiently Japan's rail system handles connections, even when switching from bullet trains to regional lines. The journey highlights the dramatic weather shift encountered when crossing the Japanese Alps from the Pacific side to the Sea of Japan side, transitioning from sunny skies to snow and rain.
John boards the Inaho limited express train bound for Murakami, a city on the Niigata-Yamagata border known for its salmon culture. Along the way, he shares observations about the train amenities, vending machine offerings, and the excitement surrounding the Japan national soccer team's recent World Cup victory against Spain. This video serves as both a practical guide for navigating Niigata Station and a glimpse into the winter atmosphere of the Sea of Japan coast.
Highlights
- 00:09 John arrives at Niigata Station with only six minutes to transfer.
- 00:26 Following signage for JR line transfer from the Joetsu Shinkansen.
- 01:43 Spotting the Inaho train on Platform 5 with moments to spare.
- 02:37 Noticing the drastic weather change after passing through the Japanese Alps tunnel.
- 04:10 Discovering mochi truffles and Hot Boss coffee at the platform vending machines.
- 05:09 Boarding the train and settling into car number 2, seat 17D.
- 07:23 Saying goodbye to Niigata City as the train departs into the countryside.
- 08:34 Discussing Murakami's geography and the Japan national team's World Cup win.
- 10:28 Explaining how easy Shinkansen-to-local train transfers are in Japan.
- 11:43 Spotting Echigo Tsurukame sake branding on the train passing through Yuzawa area.
Timeline / Chapters
- 00:00 - Arrival at Niigata Station Shinkansen platform
- 00:26 - Navigating transfer signs to JR lines
- 01:43 - Locating the Inaho Limited Express on Platform 5
- 02:37 - Observations on weather change (Pacific vs. Sea of Japan)
- 04:10 - Platform vending machine snacks and drinks
- 05:09 - Boarding and luggage storage
- 07:23 - Departure from Niigata City
- 08:34 - Murakami destination details and World Cup commentary
- 10:28 - Travel tips on station navigation
- 11:43 - Sake brewery mention and train interior comparison
- 13:09 - Ticket cost breakdown and ekiben trays
- 16:30 - Closing remarks and upcoming livestream plans
Japan Travel Tips
- Transfer Time: John made a Shinkansen to local train transfer in under 3 minutes with 7 minutes available. This is plenty of time at Niigata Station.
- Follow the Signs: JR line transfer signs are clear; simply follow the crowd and signage.
- Station Size: Niigata Station is manageable compared to massive hubs like Shinjuku or Tokyo Station.
- Vending Machines: Platform vending machines may not accept IC cards (like Suica/Pasmo) for all items; have cash ready.
- Weather Prep: Crossing the Japanese Alps can mean drastic weather changes; prepare for snow on the Sea of Japan side even if Tokyo is sunny.
- Train Amenities: Limited express trains like the Inaho often have tray tables suitable for eating ekiben (station bento).
Japanese Language & Culture Notes
- Inaho (いなほ): The name of the limited express train, meaning "rice ear," reflecting Niigata's status as a major rice-producing region.
- Joetsu (上越): Refers to the region connecting Tokyo and Niigata via the Shinkansen.
- Echigo (越後): The old provincial name for this area of Niigata, often used in sake branding (e.g., Echigo Tsurukame).
- Honke (本家): John mentions "Echigo Tsurukame Honshu," likely referring to "Honke" (main house/branch), a common term in brewery names.
- Ekiben (駅弁): Station bento boxes designed for train travel; tray tables indicate where passengers might eat them.
- World Cup Context: Recorded during the 2022 FIFA World Cup where Japan defeated Spain, a major topic of conversation nationwide.
Food & Drink Guide
- Mochi Truffles: Spotted at a platform vending machine. John considered buying them but ran out of time.
- Hot Boss Coffee: A popular canned hot coffee from vending machines (Georgia brand). John purchased this.
- Echigo Tsurukame Sake: Famous Niigata sake brand spotted on signage near Yuzawa. John plans to try it later.
- Ekiben: Mentioned as a possibility due to tray tables on the train, though John did not eat one in this clip.
People
- John Daub: Host and narrator. He guides viewers through the transfer process, shares travel observations, and interacts with live chat viewers (mentioning "Jim").
- Jim: A viewer mentioned in passing regarding the sake spotting.
Key Takeaways
- Transferring from Shinkansen to local lines in regional stations like Niigata is straightforward and quick.
- The geography of Japan creates distinct weather zones; the Sea of Japan side receives heavy snow in winter compared to the Pacific side.
- Murakami is a notable destination for salmon culture, including upstream swimming and drying processes.
- Limited express trains offer comfortable seating and amenities comparable to or exceeding Shinkansen in some aspects.
Notable Quotes
- 00:09 "I have about six minutes to get to the local train from the Shinkansen platform. This is the Joetsu Shinkansen. It should be fine."
- 00:26 "The great thing about Japan is if you're on the right side, you can walk down."
- 03:04 "Hey, I'm not naming the channel John Missing Trains. Although, that would be, I think people would watch that."
- 02:37 "We go through a tunnel, get to the other side of the Japanese Alps, and it's a totally different scene. Snow."
- 10:28 "I wanted you to see specifically in this livestream how easy it is to change from the Shinkansen to local train lines. Just follow the signs."
- 12:24 "This train is so much... It's like just different than the Shinkansen. It looks even cleaner. If that's possible?"
Related Topics
- Joetsu Shinkansen Travel
- Niigata Prefecture Tourism
- Japanese Train Transfers
- Sea of Japan Winter Weather
- Murakami Salmon Culture
- 2022 FIFA World Cup Japan Matches
Search Tags
#only-in-japan-go #niigata #shinkansen #train-transfer #inaho #murakami #sea-of-japan #winter-travel #jr-east #japan-travel #echigo #saké
Full Transcript
00:09 John Daub: How you doing everybody? Welcome to Niigata Station. I have about six minutes to get to the local train from the Shinkansen platform. This is the Joetsu Shinkansen. It should be fine. Just follow the people.
00:26 John Daub: The great thing about Japan is if you're on the right side, you can walk down. There's the Joetsu Shinkansen on the right side there. So it says here my train departs in now. JR line transfer. Sometimes you just have to follow the signs.
01:43 John Daub: There's the train. I got two tickets here. So my train is at 10:56 I believe. The Inaho. There it is. There it is, the Inaho 1056. I've got just enough time to get there. Platform number five.
02:19 John Daub: Okay. Alright, there it is. Hey loop de loop. That's the Shinkansen. Whoa. Alright. No time for fun and games. Let's get to the train platform.
02:37 John Daub: So this is the Prism app again. I was taking the Shinkansen on the Tokyo side. It was sunny. Cold, but sunny. Beautiful, wispy, white clouds, blue sky. We go through a tunnel, get to the other side of the Japanese Alps, and it's a totally different scene. Snow. Maybe. It was cloudy. Definitely raining. I think it was snow. Some roofs were white.
03:04 John Daub: Oh, here we are. Oh, this is a train. Now, let's see what seat I'm on. I'm in car number two, seat 17D. Alright. So I've got about five minutes left. Of course, I'm gonna take my time here. Hey, I'm not naming the channel John Missing Trains. Although, that would be, I think people would watch that.
03:50 John Daub: Yeah, this is the Inaho, which is an express train. You don't see these kinds of trains much because most trains on YouTube are focused in the other side of Japan. This is the Sea of Japan side. And this train will take me up to Murakami, which is on the Niigata, Yamagata border.
04:10 John Daub: Oh, you got some vending machines here. Oh, they got some snacks here. Oh, mochi truffles. What? Mochi truffles? Those look good. How do I get that? Oh man, I don't think I have time. Uh, I could use a hot coffee. Hot Boss. Some mochi truffles. Nine. Oh, it doesn't take IC cards. That stinks. Alright, let's go to the seat here.
05:09 John Daub: Here you go. I'm gonna put my luggage here. Excuse me. Is this door gonna close? Oh, there we go. Kind of express train. And 35 minutes on this train before I get to Murakami. Uh, and it's supposed to be 3 degrees Celsius, or about 37 degrees Fahrenheit. And there's gonna be snow, I believe, in the mountains where I'm going. But, there you go.
07:23 John Daub: That, ladies and gentlemen, is a Shinkansen train change. It actually, oh, here you go, hold on. Let's say goodbye to the station here. Niigata station. Leaving the city of Niigata. You can see it's overcast, chilly, wet. The other side might be better. On the Sea of Japan side of Japan. That's pretty cool.
08:04 John Daub: Hopefully the transmission is okay. This is a 1080p livestream. I had some issues in the earlier livestream. I'd scheduled it with the YouTube Live app and was able to pick up the schedule in the Prism app, but apparently it didn't work out as well the way I wanted it to. Sorry about that for those that were waiting for the livestream earlier. It was a beautiful Shinkansen ride. Oh, you can see the smokestacks in the distance.
08:34 John Daub: So, Murakami City is quite interesting. It's on the coast of the Sea of Japan as well as into the mountains, and I'm really curious about this. And congratulations, by the way, to the Japan national team for defeating Spain. Somewhat controversial call there, but it looked like it was on the line to every Japanese fan. Maybe not to the German fans. Very interesting turnout of events, and we're all cheering the Japan team on here, and the U.S. team. Pretty cool.
09:04 John Daub: Checking out some of the attractions there, and I'll be doing livestreams as well, so you'll get a chance to join me. I'll probably livestream once or twice more today, and then maybe once or twice tomorrow. One of the things I'm going to film is the swimming of the salmon upstream. They do that here in Niigata. I didn't know about that, and it's an interesting story, perhaps, so I'm going to see the drying of salmon here, and then the salmon swimming upstream.
09:46 John Daub: There's a bunch of very interesting things out of the stream. There's a bunch of countryside here that I'm looking forward to doing, but I'm just happy to be out of Tokyo and in Niigata. Let's take you to the other side here. The city of Japan side, not the Pacific side of Japan right now. This is Niigata Prefecture, Niigata City, where we're rolling out of the city and heading towards Murakami, which is a rural town in... I'm not too sure.
10:28 John Daub: This is one of the towns I've been through, but I've never actually spent time in it. I went through Murakami hitchhiking a couple of times. I've never spent time in the city, so I'm looking forward to that very much. I wanted you to see specifically in this livestream how easy it is to change from the Shinkansen to local train lines. Just follow the signs. I had seven minutes to change from the Shinkansen to the local train, and I did it in three minutes. You have plenty of time to do that. The signs are usually well marked.
11:10 John Daub: Niigata's not a massive... Look at that big train. Do you see that? Niigata's not a very large station, although it is a prefectural capital. It's pretty easy to get around. The only stations that are quite difficult are, I would say, Ueno, Shinjuku, Tokyo Station, and Osaka Station, and elements of Kyoto Station. It's pretty straightforward there. Sapporo's okay.
11:43 John Daub: And Hello Hi 821... Oh! Hey! The Echigo Tsurukame sake! You got it, buddy! Yeah! You know, they got... This is actually part of Yuzawa City, I believe. Or Yuzawa area. Which is where Echigo Tsurukame Honke [?] is from. So, yeah. Oh my gosh, that's great. I'll see if I can get that tonight, Jim. I'll have to celebrate. Bye over there.
12:24 John Daub: This train is so much... It's like just different than the Shinkansen. It looks even cleaner. If that's possible? Is that possible? Yeah, it looks like it's cleaner and more spacious than the Shinkansen. That's weird.
13:09 John Daub: 6,600 yen. This is the local train. It's just a supplement on it for 740 yen. Called the Inaho No. 3. Inaho is an express train. It's very nice. And if you have these trays in front of you, that means you could probably eat an ekiben. But I was recently telling people if you have like bench seating like on a subway, it's very difficult to eat an ekiben. But people still do it. So another reason to join our Discord server.
16:30 John Daub: And maybe five minutes before I start a live stream on Only in Japan. I'm going to be doing the 1080p resolution on Prism Out. And we'll work out how to schedule this a little bit.