Hello everyone, I am planning a 2 week trip to japan during the 2018 golden week. The first part of trip begins apr 30 arriving in tokyo and I am planning to go to takayama using jr trains may 5 at morning and to kanazawa may 6 at morning. I have already read that shinkansens are very busy at that time (specially may 6) so I am wondering if I can book in advance trains and shinkansens from takayama to kanazawa as soon as I arrive in tokyo (april 30). Is that possible? Can I book seats in tokyo for shinkansens/trains departing from another city? Thanks in advance.
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Easily done. As long as you have a ticket or activated pass, you can reserve any JR train from any JR station. I highly recommend you do so during that busy time. But it may not be as bad as you think. At the beginning of GW, it gets extremely crowded leaving the big cities, and at the end, on the way way. It looks like you are going the other way, so you might be surprised.
Actually many tourists are told to avoid GW no matter what, and understandably so. But you will have good timing to see some excellent sights, and you are in the right location.
The wisteria at the Ashikaga Flower Park in Tochigi should be at its peak, and it's a wonder to behold.
https://www.ashikaga.co.jp/english/
The is also the beauty of Japan’s tulips such as the annual Tulip Fair in Toyama.
http://fair.tulipfair.or.jp/
In Nagano there is also the annual Nanohana festival (canola, or rape blossoms).
http://www.iiyama-nanohana.jp/
And the Hitachi Seaside Park in Ibaraki is exploding in color
http://en.hitachikaihin.jp/
along with the shibazakura near Mt Fuji.
http://www.shibazakura.jp/eng/
You can see regular fares, routes and schedules on Hyperdia.
http://www.hyperdia.com
Under "More Options", be sure to uncheck the Nozomi box since you can't ride that train if you are using the JR pass.
You can see previews of some of the best places to see in Japan on:
https://www.youtube.com/user/thejapanfaq/videos
There are also loads of other tips on
http://www.thejapanfaq.com/the-best-japan-travel-tips/
Hope that helps.