Osaka House checkout at 10:00 AM, Nozomi 22 at 13:06, Tokyo House by ~4:15 PM. Carrying bags — use Shin-Osaka coin lockers during the pre-boarding gap if you want hands-free time.
At a Glance
| Segment | Depart | Arrive | Duration | Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Osaka House → Shin-Osaka | ~11:15 AM | ~11:50 AM | ~35 min | Metro + Midosuji Line |
| Shin-Osaka Station (gap) | 11:50 AM | ~12:50 PM | ~1h | Wait / lunch / omiyage |
| Shin-Osaka → Tokyo Station | 13:06 | 15:33 | 2h 27m | Nozomi 22, Green Car |
| Tokyo Station → Ikebukuro | ~15:40 | ~16:05 | ~25 min | JR Yamanote or Saikyo Line |
| Ikebukuro → Tokyo House | ~16:05 | ~16:15 | ~10 min | Walk |
Total door-to-door: ~4h 45m Tokyo House check-in: 4:00 PM (arrival ~4:05–4:15 PM — close but fine; contact host if delayed)
Booked: Nozomi 22 · Green Car · Seats to be selected March 14 (A window, left/Fuji-facing side)
Full Timeline
| Time | Action | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 9:30 AM | Final pack and house check | Leave nothing behind — next stop is Tokyo |
| 10:00 AM | Osaka House checkout | Return key per VRBO instructions |
| 10:00–11:10 AM | GAP - Osaka House area (~1h 10m) | See gap options below |
| ~11:15 AM | Depart for Shin-Osaka via Metro | IC card covers it — Midosuji Line to Shin-Osaka |
| ~11:50 AM | Arrive Shin-Osaka Station | |
| 11:50 AM–12:50 PM | GAP - Shin-Osaka Station (~1h) | See gap options below |
| 13:06 | Nozomi 22 departs Shin-Osaka | Green Car — QR codes on phones |
| 15:33 | Arrive Tokyo Station | |
| ~15:40–16:05 | Tokyo Station → Ikebukuro | JR Yamanote Line (counterclockwise ~25 min) or Saikyo Line |
| ~16:05 | Arrive Ikebukuro | Short walk to Tokyo House |
| ~16:15 | Tokyo House check-in |
Gap: Osaka House Area (10:00–11:15 AM, ~1h 10m)
What to do:
- Last neighborhood food stop — Nishinari has good morning options; grab a final osaka breakfast or onigiri from a konbini
- Nothing ambitious — this is a transition morning; don’t start a new activity
Hard deadline to leave: 11:15 AM to catch the metro comfortably for a 1:00 PM train
Gap: Shin-Osaka Station (11:50 AM–1:00 PM, ~1h)
What to do:
- ASTY Osaka (Shinkansen concourse level) — solid lunch options including ramen, teishoku, soba. Eat here before boarding rather than relying on ekiben timing.
- Omiyage shopping — Shin-Osaka has a dense concentration of Osaka regional souvenirs and snacks. Good last chance for takoyaki snacks, Pocky variations, Osaka specialties.
- Ekiben — buy a bento box on the concourse to eat on the train. Classic travel experience; rice boxes specific to the route.
- Coin lockers — use these to go hands-free during lunch and shopping. Large lockers (fits a standard carry-on) are near the Shinkansen concourse entrance and near the ticket gates. Cost ¥600–700/bag. Pay by IC card. Retrieve before heading to the platform — allow 5 min.
What to skip: Any food or errand that takes you outside the Shinkansen concourse — no time to re-clear security.
Hard deadline to leave for platform: 12:50 PM — Shinkansen gates, find platform and car, Green Car is toward the middle on a 16-car N700
Segment Notes
Metro: Osaka House → Shin-Osaka
- Midosuji Line from nearest station to Shin-Osaka Station (~25 min, covered by IC card, ~¥280)
- Carrying bags — allow a couple extra minutes on stairs and platforms
Nozomi Shinkansen: Shin-Osaka → Tokyo Station
- Train: Nozomi 22 · booked · seats selected March 14
- Car: Green Car (グリーン車) — 2+2 seating, quieter
- Seats: A window (left/Fuji-facing side going Tokyo direction) — D is the equivalent on the other side
- Mt. Fuji: Visible on the left (A/B seats) roughly 45–60 min after departure — weather dependent
- QR codes: Screenshot as backup before boarding; scan at Shinkansen gate
JR: Tokyo Station → Ikebukuro
- Yamanote Line (counterclockwise, inner loop) from Tokyo Station to Ikebukuro: ~25 min, ~¥210
- Alternative: Saikyo Line direct — faster on some departures
- IC card covers both
Luggage
Carry-on bags stow in the overhead racks on the Shinkansen — standard carry-on size is fine. Use the Shin-Osaka coin lockers during the pre-boarding gap if you want hands-free time for lunch and shopping; retrieve before 12:50 PM. See Coin Lockers for station locker tips.
Contingency
| If… | Then… |
|---|---|
| Shinkansen is delayed | SmartEX allows switching to a later Nozomi for free before the original train departs — do it at the kiosk or app |
| Miss the 13:06 Nozomi 22 | Next Nozomi departs ~13:20; Tokyo House check-in shifts ~20 min — no real problem |
| Someone is sick | Reduce to two or three travelers on the train; one stays back if needed; Tokyo House is accessible on arrival regardless |