ENG TOKYO MOTOR SHOW BLOG

Hello. I am Yoshizawa from the Tokyo Motor Show Office.

Following up our last blog entry, we are reporting how public transportation serves the 40th Tokyo Motor Show 2007.

In our previous report, we went to the Chiba Prefectural Bus Association and spoke with the staff there.
In this entry, we went to JR East's Chiba Branch Office and asked Mr. Makino about how to make use of trains to get to the Tokyo Motor Show.

Hello, I am Makino and I work at JR East's Chiba Branch Office.

First of all, I would like to tell you that taking the train from Tokyo to the Makuhari area, where the Tokyo Motor Show is held, offers much greater convenience than you might think.
From Tokyo Station to Kaihim Makuhari Station, the station nearest the show site, it takes only 23 minutes on the fastest trains, the Wakashio and Sazanami limited express trains of the JR Keiyo Line. This is faster than the usual commute for most of us.

(The Wakashio limited express train will be in service with a special train schedule for the 40 Tokyo Motor Show 2007.)

When the Tokyo Motor Show is open to the public from Saturday, October 27 to Sunday, November 11, 2007, we expect many more people will take the train than usual.
Kaihim Makuhari Station will increase station staff to better serve passengers.
It has some extra ticket gates, used only when very large events are held.
All these extra ticket gates will be in service during the Tokyo Motor Show, eliminating waiting queues.
Event if your fare is insufficient, you can pay at the extra ticket gates for the extra distance you have ridden.

We rarely use these extra ticket gates.
Apart from the Tokyo Motor Show, we used them when Glay, a Japanese pop band, played for an audience of 200,000 people and when the Japan Series baseball games were held.

We will work hard to make your travel to the show site easier and more comfortable.

We revised the train timetable in March to increase limited express trains stopping at Kaihim Makuhari Station.
When there are long intervals between limited express trains, we will run special trains starting from and arriving at Kaihim Makuhari Station.
Since more limited express trains stop at Kaihim Makuhari Station, both heavy congestion and waiting time will be reduced.
You can buy limited express train tickets one month in advance.
With advance tickets, you can avoid queuing up when you travel.
Advance tickets with seat reservations are even better. With reserved seats, you do not have to worry about your seats on the way home. Comfortable seats are waiting for you.

A regular one-way ticket from Tokyo Station to Kaihim Makuhari Station costs 540 yen for adults and 270 yen for children from six to twelve years old.
For limited express trains, however, you need to buy a limited express ticket in addition to the regular ticket.
A limited express ticket costs 500 yen without a seat reservation (250 yen for children) or 1,010 yen with a seat reservation (500 yen for children).

For people coming to the Tokyo Motor Show on local trains, we will extend some JR Musashino Line services. In the morning and early evening on weekends during the Tokyo Motor Show, JR Musashino Line's local trains that usually stop at Minami Funabashi Station will continue to Kaihim Makuhari Station.
For further information, please see the October issue of the JR Timetable.

Announcements on the trains during the show days will inform you of the nearest stations for the Tokyo Motor Show. Please be sure to get off at the right station.
The nearest stations are Kaihim Makuhari Station on the JR Keiyo Line and Makuhari Hongo Station on the JR Sobu and Keisei Chiba Lines.

(People going to the Tokyo Motor Show from Kaihim Makuhari Station)

For people in wheelchairs, we at JR are fully prepared to offer excellent service. Station staff work to assist people in wheelchairs to reach their destinations as part of our JR service.
This service are commonly being offered to wheelchair users company-wise regardless of the Tokyo motor Show. We also work hard to create barrier-free stations and trains.

The stations have temporary counters selling tickets for the Tokyo Motor Show.
After getting off the train, you can buy your tickets at the station.
This way, you can avoid queuing up at the Tokyo Motor Show.
Afternoon tickets are also available, allowing you to enter after 15:00 on weekdays. An afternoon ticket costs 1,100 yen for adults and 500 yen for junior high school and high school students.
Afternoon tickets are available only at Kaihim Makuhari Station and the Tokyo Motor Show.
They are especially convenient for people enjoying the Tokyo Motor Show after school or business hours.

(You can buy your tickets at the station before arriving.)

At the stations nearest the Tokyo Motor Show, we will help you to get to the Tokyo Motor Show smoothly and safely.
We hope you will take advantage of our smooth JR trains and service when visiting the Tokyo Motor Show.
We are looking forward to serving you.

Thank you, Mr. Makino.
People at JR are doing their best to ensure smooth access to the Tokyo Motor Show, as well as avoiding heavy crowding.
There will be special limited express trains too.
A new ticket system with IC cards, SUICA and PASMO, is also in service.
People living in the Kanto region can go through automated ticket gates by just touching the ticket gate machines with the IC cards.
This system will significantly reduce the crowds at ticket gates!

When you are using an IC card, make sure that the amount left on the card is sufficient.
Charge your cards before traveling, avoiding the embarrassment of a closed gate and an alarm going off.

When coming to the Tokyo Motor Show 2007, be sure to take comfortable public transportation.