Paper timetables are convenient. Nowadays, the use of transfer information services, either on websites or as applications for smartphones, has become commonplace. I myself use this type of service conveniently, but the main purpose of this type of service is basically to “get from point A to point B in the fastest or cheapest way possible. As long as the departure and arrival points, dates, and times are clear, that is all that is required. However, when it comes to situations such as “I want to go on an excursion using an 18-ticket,” the situation is somewhat different. If you simply want to go from Tokyo to Aomori on an 18-ticket, there are transfer guide services that can search specifically for the 18-ticket, but if you want to compare various routes side by side, you are at a loss. Therefore, we recommend a paper timetable. The reason is that the trains are lined up by route, making it ideal for comparisons. The problem is where to go from there. If you are not used to making itineraries, how do you begin the process? The most likely way is to start from the starting point and work your way back in order. For example, “I leave the station closest to my home at around 8:00 a.m., and the first train I take is bound for XX, so I change there to the train bound for XX at …….” If there are many trains running in a metropolitan area, this is fine. However, if there is a section of the route where there are only a few trains running, it is a different story. Perhaps, as you follow the route in order from the starting point, you may face a situation where there is a “bad connection” or “no trains to connect”.
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