Tsukuba Express, a new rail company that links Tsukuba, Ibaraki-ken with
Tokyo Akihabara opens on August 24, 2005 (Wednesday).  Tsukuba "Academic City"
currently has no railroad station.


1. Services and fare
2. Station locations 
3. Tips on getting to Tsukuba
4. Other sources of information
5. Disclaimer


1.1 Services

During the daytime the timetable follows an orderly pattern.  2 rapid (kaisoku)
and 2 semi-rapid (kukan-kaisoku) trains will run between Akihabara & Tsukuba
each hour.  Local trains do not reach Tsukuba.  For Tsukuba from downtown
Tokyo, get on the rapid or semi-rapid, whichever leaves first.

The rapid takes 45 minutes between Akihabara and Tsukuba.  The semi-rapid
makes the run in 57 minutes.

Rapid stops are Akihabara, Shin-Okachimachi, Asakusa, Minami-Senju,
Kita-Senju, Minami-Nagareyama, Nagareyama-Ohtakanomori, Moriya and Tsukuba.
The semi-rapid serves 7 stations in addition to the above.

[Note: Rapid service designations in English confirmed with Tsukuba
Express (phone) call center.  There are known cases of several translations
being used within one company.]

 
1.2 Timetable

Tsukuba, Akihabara timetable in English, from the National Institute of
Environmental Sciences, Tsukuba:
http://www.nies.go.jp/gaiyo/kotu/timetabletxtsukuba.html


1.3 Fare

Akihabara to Tsukuba costs 1150 yen; no extra for rapid.  Tsukuba Express
is not a JR company and the JR Pass offers no discount.  Magnetic passnet
cards will be accepted (judging from the fact that they are issuing a
card to celebrate the opening.)



2. Station locations

* Akihabara
Between JR Yamanote Line and Showa-dori (the N-S avenue with expressway
above and Metro Hibiya Line beneath.)  Underground station.
Toei Subway Shinjuku Line Iwamoto-cho is about 300 meters to the south.

* Asakusa
Beneath Kokusai-dori, between ROX and View Hotel.  East side of shrine,
temple and amusement park.  All other stations are on the west side of
the temple, on the riverside.  Avoid transfers here.  Subway Ginza Line
Tawaramachi is closer but still the entrances are about 500 meters apart.

* Kita-Senju
Elevated, parallel to JR and Tobu.

* Tsukuba
Underground, near Tsukuba Center Bus Terminal and Seibu Department Store. 


3. Getting to Tsukuba


* Tachikawa, Hachioji, Fuchu, Tokorozawa, etc.:
JR Musashino Line crosses Tsukuba Express at Minami-Nagareyama.
Nishi-Kokubunji (Chuo Line) - Minami-Nagareyama: 50 min.
Minami-Nagareyama - Tsukuba: 24 min. by rapid.


* Omiya
Tobu Noda Line crosses Tsukuba Express at Nagareyama-Ohtakanomori.
Omiya - Nagareyama-Ohtakanomori: 60 min.
Nagareyama-Ohtakanomori - Tsukuba: 20 min. by rapid.
JR Musashino Line is probably faster than the snail-paced Tobu Noda Line.


* Urayasu, Funabashi, Makuhari
JR Musashino Line  Nishi-Funabashi - Minami-Nagareyama: 20 min.
Tobu Noda Line     Funabashi - Nagareyama-Ohtakanomori: 40+ min.
JR recommended.


* Narita Airport
Direct bus available.  9 runs daily each way.


* Ueno, by JR and bus:
Buses to Tsukuba depart from Joban Line Arakawaoki and Tsuchiura.
Via Arakawaoki, the JR East fare is 950 yen; add 440 yen for bus.
Few people currently take this route; consider this a contingency course.


* JR Tokyo Station, by bus: 
JR Bus Kanto and Kanto Railway Bus run a highway bus from JR Tokyo Yaesu
(East) Exit to Tsukuba Center: 1250 yen, 65 minutes (traffic permitting.)
Service is frequent with 3 or 4 departures most hours.

If you have the JR Pass, consider JR Bus Kanto, which, by exception, accepts
the JR Pass on this line.  It not good for the Kanto Railway Bus.

JR Bus Kanto: http://www.jrbuskanto.co.jp/ (Some English text)


4. Other sources of information

Alien Times, English language publication based in Tsukuba:
http://www.alientimes.org/2003/19-06july.html
This article has service details and discusses subjects such as effect to the
local economy.

Tsukuba Express official website:
http://www.mir.co.jp/
The English PDF file downloadable from the top page has many pictures but
nothing about schedules and fare.

Wikipedia entry in English:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsukuba_Express

Guide from the City of Tsukuba:
http://www.city.tsukuba.ibaraki.jp/e_hp/guide/trains.html

Hitachi hyperdia, automated online timetable:
http://www.hyperdia.com/cgi-english/


5. Disclaimer

This is a private translation of railroad announcements.  Despite my efforts,
there may be errors in this writing.  If you notice anything wrong, please
post a reply to the newsgroup, or send me email mailto:afu@wta.att.ne.jp.

Service details are subject to change.  There are rumors about the bus
companies considering measures to stay competitive.


Bon Voyage,

Douso, The Prophet of the Way

[Cross-posted to fj.life.in-japan with permission from
soc.culture.japan.moderated moderators.]