Riding Cassiopeia
19 May 2013 – Tokyo
Few days before, when we arrived in Cerulean, we got a package from JTB. It was our Cassiopeia ticket which looked like Shinkansen ticket. If you need information on how we got our ticket, you can read it in my previous post.
From Asakusa, we went back to Ueno Station. We took our backpacks from the locker, bought some Ekiben or bento and bread from Andersen Bakery. Then we rushed to platform 13 and found this unique train. So we finally rode the Cassiopeia, we were going to Hokkaido. How i envied the couples who got the Suite room. The room was spacious, it has large window. You can see all the view like watching movie in the cinema.
Our room was upper twin in Car number 11. The space of twin room was limited, restricted us from moving too much in the room. There are 2 seats inside, a single seat and a long seat. The seats can be connected and converted to a bed.
We had our own toilet inside the room. You can also see a monitor which able to show the train position or map, and a control panel for sound, light and alarm
Later when the train departed, you will be offered a welcome drink with options of juice, soft drink, coffee or tea. In addition, the room facilities was quite complete, we got yukata, facial towel, blanket, bed linen, slipper, and pillow. In overall, the room was clean and comfortable.
I bought the shower ticket in the third car or the dining car. I suggest you to buy it directly once you board the train, since we need to pick the shower time. When all the available slot was sold, you wont get the chance to shower. You just need to go to the third car, and ask the dining car’s cashier. You will be scheduled for 30 minutes shower time, means within the specified time you are free to use the shower room. The ticket will be used for timing the hot water, which is only available for 6 minutes. The shower ticket was sold for 310 yen, excluded the shower amenities.
It was a nice and pleasant experience of riding Cassiopeia, we truly enjoyed our time on the train. However, Mr. D faced a serious problem. For you who are smokers, you are not permitted to smoke in any place inside the train. Even though in car 11 there was not any non smoking sign, i guessed the rule has changed. And this is the reason why i do not have enough picture of Cassiopeia to show you guys. Mr. D was cranky and craving for smoking all night. Troublesome!
We managed to have a good sleep and woke up very early to get off in Hakodate. You can stop at any station where the Cassiopeia made a stop. After that, we still felt the after effect of staying on the train for a night. Each time we stopped walking, we felt earthquake. This was hilarious, since we kept asking whether its really earthquake or not. None of us aware if its really an earthquake.
