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How is it determined which shinkansen have Tokudane discounts on Eki-Net and which don't?
I thought it had to do with the series/make/model of the train, and perhaps that's what the train number reflects (two vs. three digits), but then I see the Yamabiko 55, on a different portion of the route, when it departs from Fukushima to Sendai, does have the discounted tickets available.
What's going on? Is it all a secret and no one knows? Also, how often does this sort of thing change or get revised? If anyone could shed light on any of this it'd be appreciated!
honestly the pattern makes more sense if you think about it as JR trying to balance load across the Tohoku Shinkansen corridor rather than just per-train. the Yamabiko 55 is a Kodama replacement type that makes more stops, so it naturally picks up more short-haul passengers from places like Omiya and Oyama. those folks fill seats that would otherwise be empty, so tokudane isn't needed
the 133 and 207 are Hayabusa combo trains that run express through Saitama and Tochigi, so they skip those intermediate stations. they have less natural short-hop demand and more empty seats for longer segments, which is exactly when JR East wants to push discount tickets. it's not really a secret, just JR being JR with their yield management
for how often it changes, March is the big one but October is minor. sometimes they tweak it for summer holidays too. if you're flexible on timing, the 133 and 207 are consistently good bets for discounts from Tokyo to Fukushima. i usually just check the price column on Eki-Net a week out and grab whichever has the best deal
the tokudane system is tied to specific train schedules and their historical booking data, not the train model or number pattern. JR East runs yield management so discounts appear on departures where they predict lower demand, and disappear on fuller ones. that's why you see the same train number getting a discount on one segment but not another, like the Yamabiko 55 from Tokyo to Fukushima vs Fukushima to Sendai, because the passenger load differs by leg
for your example, the Yamabiko 55 from Tokyo to Fukushima is likely drawing more commuters from Omiya and Oyama, so seats fill up naturally without needing a discount. but from Fukushima north, fewer people board so they drop the price to attract riders. the 133 and 207 skip those intermediate stops, less natural demand, more empty seats
they revise the list with major timetable changes in March and October, plus occasional mid-cycle adjustments if booking patterns shift. the Eki-Net search results are the only reliable source, just check the price column when you search. if you're flexible on timing, the 133 and 207 are usually safe bets for discounts on that corridor
yeah the tokudane thing is weird to figure out at first. basically it's not about the train model itself, it's about demand management on specific departures. JR East uses it to fill seats on trains that historically have lower occupancy, so the pattern can seem random
the reason Yamabiko 55 has no discount from Tokyo to Fukushima but does from Fukushima to Sendai is because the occupancy differs on those segments. more people get off at Fukushima from Tokyo, so that leg is fuller, but fewer people board there going north so they need to incentivize that segment. the train number doesn't tell u the discount status, it's just the schedule code
they update the eligible trains every few months, usually tied to timetable revisions in March and October. sometimes they add or remove trains mid-cycle if booking data changes. best way to check is just look at the Eki-Net search results, the price column will show the tokudane fare if it's available for that departure
Where can I find crispy, pan-fried bacon similar to a certain international style?
if u have a costco membership the kirkland thick cut is the move, 4 packs of 500g for around 2500 yen and it crisps up proper in a cold pan. for smaller runs, precce in azabudai hills & the basement at isetan shinjuku both carry imported US & danish brands in the chilled case, just read the label for "thick cut" or "smoked" and not "loin". also worth knowing japanese bacon is often wet-cured so pat it dry before frying or it steams instead of crisping
kaldi coffee farm is hit or miss but their smoked bacon from denmark shows up pretty regular, the 200g pack runs about 600 yen. what actually works better for me is asking the butcher counter at peacock or life to slice the block bacon thick, like 5mm, they do it for free and it crisps way better than the pre-packed stuff. also fwiw cheap bacon crisps faster, the fatty supermarket kind at 300 yen a pack works fine if u cook it from cold in a dry pan and pour off the fat as it renders.
tbh the gyomu super store brand bacon is surprisingly decent for crisping up, its not thick cut but if you cook it low and slow it gets pretty crunchy. the key is the dry cure vs wet cure thing, wet cure steams. also check hanamasa if you have one nearby, they sell big packs of american style bacon thats actually smoked and firm.
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