Pants can be bought anywhere
I often travel to the Kansai region on business.
The Shinkansen is comfortable, but it is a hassle to have to move with my luggage when I need to go to the restroom because I am basically riding alone.
On a business trip last month, I left my seat and returned to find a stranger sitting in my seat. Perhaps he had not purchased a reserved seat express ticket.
I can’t believe how this could happen in less than 10 minutes from the time I left my seat to the time I returned, but I can’t even be bothered to say to the man who had closed his eyes and was tucking himself in, “Aren’t you in the wrong seat?“
Sometimes I see people who leave their bags and computers on their seats or luggage racks and bring only their wallets and cell phones.
I can’t even go to the restroom because I’m so anxious.
Nowadays, pants can be bought anywhere, even at convenience stores. I would rather be incontinent than have my luggage stolen.
However, as I get older, it is hard for me to endure the bathroom.
The Nozomi bullet train to Shin-Osaka and Shin-Kobe takes about 2 hours and 20 minutes, and about 2 hours and 40 minutes, respectively, which is hell.
So, for the past few years, I have been using airplanes as well, depending on the price.
Limousine bus sickness
If my destination is around Osaka Station, I use a limousine bus from Osaka International Airport (Itami Airport) to Osaka Station.
Of course, you can also take the Osaka Monorail from the airport to Hotarugaike Station and then the Hankyu Takarazuka Main Line to Osaka Umeda Station by train, but it would be difficult to take a crowded train with a slightly larger travel bag and suitcase.
Travel time for both bus and train is about 45 minutes. Buses cost about 200 yen more each way, but it is nice to be able to sit comfortably and get to your destination.
On the other hand, flying to the Sannomiya city area is a problem.
The easiest route from Tokyo is to fly from Haneda Airport to Kobe Airport and then take the Kobe New Transit Port Liner Line to Sannomiya.
Unfortunately, the ANA flight operates twice a day, early in the morning and late at night, making it inconvenient.
If you are familiar with LCCs on a regular basis, I would recommend Skymark, which has many flights, but I avoid LCCs as much as possible due to past trauma, so unfortunately it is not an option for me.
Therefore, if I fly, I head to Sannomiya via Osaka International Airport.
Using a limousine bus to get from the airport to the city may cost me more than 1,000 yen each way, but once I get used to the comfort of the bus, there is no turning back.
Writer Shizuka Ijuin once said, “Convenience has its own poison,” and I guess I am suffering from the “I want to take the limousine bus from the airport” disease.
From the airport, you can take the Osaka Monorail to Hotarugaike Station and transfer to the Hankyu Kobe Line at Juso Station on the Hankyu Takarazuka Main Line to Kobe Sannomiya Station, so those looking for a hassle-free good medicine as a travel experience should give it a try.
Great pains but all in vain
When I was talking with a client about how convenient it would be if there were more ANA flights to/from Kobe Airport, he said, “How about taking the ‘Bay Shuttle‘ from Kobe Airport to Kansai International Airport and then on to Haneda Airport?” He told me.
The Bay Shuttle is a high-speed boat that connects Kobe Airport and Kansai International Airport.
Compared to the overland route shown on the map, straight ocean travel is certainly closer.
A quick Google search revealed that the service is popular among foreigners who use Kansai International Airport for sightseeing in Kobe.
Although the one-way fare of 1,880 yen (3,060 yen round trip) is a little expensive, I tried it the other day, thinking that it might be convenient to take a free bus between the airport and the ocean pier, which takes only about 30 minutes.
“The fast boats go from the piers to their respective airports every hour, so it’s hard to miss them.” I looked at my watch and saw that I had less than 10 minutes to catch the bus from the airport terminal to the pier.
I checked the bus stop at the airport information center, and it seemed to be No. 12 on the first floor.
I wanted to go downstairs quickly, but I was not familiar with Kansai International Airport, so I was not sure where the elevators were.
I managed to find an escalator and went down to the first floor, but to my surprise, the platform for No. 12 was at the very end.
Three minutes to go. If I walk, I might not make it in time. I ran through the terminal at a little trot and arrived just in time for the shuttle bus to depart.
I asked the woman in charge, “Am I going to make it in time for the next boarding?” The woman in charge replied, “It will be an hour later because it’s already booked up!“
After waiting for an hour at the port terminal of Kansai International Airport and then taking the Bay Shuttle to Kobe Airport, it would only take about 30 minutes longer than if I had taken a direct flight from Haneda Airport to Kobe Airport…“
I guess this is what they mean when they say, “Great pains but all in vain.“
