Special Mid-Summer Birthday Vacation to Japan in June 2015 ~ Section 3

Welcome to the third segment of my special mid-summer birthday vacation to Japan in June 2015. This segment of the blog report will cover a total of four focus topics. They will mainly be spending a family trip to the popular and modern western Universal Studios Japan theme park, together with a special self-birthday afternoon shopping journey to Tokyo International Airport (Haneda Airport) in celebration of my 20th birthday.

Part 1 ~ Family Day Trip To Universal Studios Japan

Universal City Station (ユニバーサルシティ駅) is a railway station located on the Sakurajima Line (Yumesaki Line) in Konohana-ku, Osaka, Japan. Opened on 1 March 2001, the station is operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West), and is the main railway station for Universal Studios Japan, the first Universal Studios theme park located outside the United States. As of 14 March 2015, the station has two side platforms serving two tracks, with the station's building designed by local architect, Tadao Ando.

Nishi-kujo Station (西九条駅) is an interchange railway station located in the urban district of Konohana-ku, Osaka, Japan. Operated by both West Japan Railway Company (JR West) and Hanshin Electric Railway, it serves as a major interchange station for the Osaka Loop Line, Sakurajima Line (Yumesaki Line) and the Hanshin Namba Line, and as an important access station for passengers visiting Universal Studios Japan. With all JR line commuter trains stopping, select Kuroshio limited express services also make stop here.

Part 2 ~ Birthday Celebration Trip To Tokyo International Airport (Haneda Airport)

The next morning, which was Thursday (4 June), June 2014.

For the in-bound trip to Tokyo International Airport (Haneda Airport), I would be scheduled to catch the Shinkansen NOZOMI Superexpress No. 310 bound for Tokyo, which would be scheduled to depart Shin-osaka Station at 8.57 a.m., and arrive at the Tokyo terminal station at 11.30 a.m.. Upon arrival at Tokyo, I would connect to a Keihin-Tohoku Negishi Line Rapid Service train bound for Ofuna, which would be scheduled to depart Tokyo Station at 11.45 a.m., and arrive at Hamamatsucho Station at 11.49 a.m..

After arrival at Hamamatsucho Station, I would have a very short 10-minute layover before immediately catching a Tokyo Monorail Haneda Express train bound for Tokyo International Airport (Haneda Airport), which would be scheduled to depart Hamamatsucho Station at 12 noon, and arrive at the Haneda Airport Terminal 2 terminal station at 12.19 p.m.. I was lucky since I had made my Green Car (first class) seat reservations at Osaka Station three days earlier, and that I had arranged with the hotel for a cab to transport me to Shin-osaka Station at 7.45 a.m. the previous day.

My family, on the other hand, were planning to travel to Hiroshima and Kure on this day. To access Hiroshima, they would be catching the Shinkansen SAKURA Superexpress No. 551 bound for Kagoshima-chuo, which would be scheduled to depart Shin-osaka Station at 9.59 a.m., and arrive at Hiroshima Station at 11.26 a.m.. They were quite lucky since I had made the Green Car (first class) seat reservations at Universal City Station for them in advance on the way back to the InterContinental Hotel Osaka the previous day.

The cab drop-off area located outside the Shinkansen entrance to Shin-osaka Station on a bright summer's early morning

The Shinkansen ticketing concourse at Shin-osaka Station during the early morning rush hour

The Tokaido & Sanyo Shinkansen ticketing gates in the Shinkansen ticketing concourse at Shin-osaka Station during the early morning rush hour

The Tokaido & Sanyo Shinkansen concourse leading to the platforms at Shin-osaka Station during the morning rush hour

Finally arriving at Tracks No. 25 and 26 at Shin-osaka Station

A 16-car JR West N700 Series Shinkansen Set No. N16 (K16), operating as the Shinkansen "NOZOMI" Superexpress No. 212 bound for Tokyo, on Track No. 27 at Shin-osaka Station

The LED destination panel of the 16-car JR West N700 Series Shinkansen Set No. N16 (K16), operating as the Shinkansen "NOZOMI" Superexpress No. 212 bound for Tokyo, on Track No. 27 at Shin-osaka Station

The logo of the 16-car JR West N700 Series Shinkansen Set No. N16 (K16), operating as the Shinkansen "NOZOMI" Superexpress No. 212 bound for Tokyo, on Track No. 27 at Shin-osaka Station

The departure information board for eastbound Tokaido Shinkansen trains bound for Nagoya and Tokyo departing from Tracks No. 25 and 26 at Shin-osaka Station

A 16-car JR Central 700 Series Shinkansen Set No. C42, which would soon operate as the Shinkansen "NOZOMI" Superexpress No. 300 bound for Tokyo, entering Shin-osaka Station on Track No. 26. I remember riding on this train as the Shinkansen "KODAMA" Superexpress No. 800 bound for Tokyo between Odawara and Tokyo in June 2013

The LED destination panel of the 16-car JR Central 700 Series Shinkansen Set No. C42, operating as the Shinkansen "NOZOMI" Superexpress No. 300 bound for Tokyo, on Track No. 26 at Shin-osaka Station

The front view of the Green Car (first class) cabin on board the 16-car JR Central 700 Series Shinkansen Set No. C42, operating as the Shinkansen "NOZOMI" Superexpress No. 300 bound for Tokyo, during the boarding process on Track No. 26 at Shin-osaka Station

The rear view of the Green Car (first class) cabin on board the 16-car JR Central 700 Series Shinkansen Set No. C42, operating as the Shinkansen "NOZOMI" Superexpress No. 300 bound for Tokyo, during the boarding process on Track No. 26 at Shin-osaka Station

The logo of the 16-car JR Central 700 Series Shinkansen Set No. C42, operating as the Shinkansen "NOZOMI" Superexpress No. 300 bound for Tokyo, on Track No. 26 at Shin-osaka Station

The LED destination panel of a 16-car JR West 700 Series Shinkansen Set No. C18, operating as the Shinkansen "KODAMA" Superexpress No. 638 bound for Tokyo, on Track No. 25 at Shin-osaka Station

The logo of the 16-car JR West 700 Series Shinkansen Set No. C18, operating as the Shinkansen "KODAMA" Superexpress No. 638 bound for Tokyo, on Track No. 25 at Shin-osaka Station

The logo of a 16-car JR Central N700A Series Shinkansen Set No. G12, operating as the Shinkansen "NOZOMI" Superexpress No. 110 bound for Tokyo, on Track No. 25 at Shin-osaka Station

The LED destination panel of the 16-car JR Central N700A Series Shinkansen Set No. G12, operating as the Shinkansen "NOZOMI" Superexpress No. 110 bound for Tokyo, on Track No. 25 at Shin-osaka Station

The LED destination panel of a 16-car JR Central N700 Series Shinkansen Set No. Z38 (X38), operating as the Shinkansen "NOZOMI" Superexpress No. 214 bound for Tokyo, on Track No. 26 at Shin-osaka Station

The logo of the 16-car JR Central N700 Series Shinkansen Set No. Z38 (X38), operating as the Shinkansen "NOZOMI" Superexpress No. 214 bound for Tokyo, on Track No. 26 at Shin-osaka Station

The LED destination panel of a 16-car JR Central N700A Series Shinkansen Set No. G13, operating as the Shinkansen "HIKARI" Superexpress No. 512 bound for Tokyo, on Track No. 25 at Shin-osaka Station

The logo of the 16-car JR Central N700A Series Shinkansen Set No. G13, operating as the Shinkansen "HIKARI" Superexpress No. 512 bound for Tokyo, on Track No. 25 at Shin-osaka Station

A 16-car JR Central 700 Series Shinkansen Set No. C55, which would operate as the Shinkansen "NOZOMI" Superexpress No. 306 bound for Tokyo, entering Shin-osaka Station on Track No. 27

The logo of the 16-car JR Central 700 Series Shinkansen Set No. C55, operating as the Shinkansen "NOZOMI" Superexpress No. 306 bound for Tokyo, on Track No. 27 at Shin-osaka Station

The logo of a 16-car JR Central N700 Series Shinkansen Set No. Z46 (X46), operating as the Shinkansen "NOZOMI" Superexpress No. 112 bound for Tokyo, on Track No. 26 at Shin-osaka Station

The LED destination panel of the 16-car JR Central N700 Series Shinkansen Set No. Z58 (X58), operating as the Shinkansen "NOZOMI" Superexpress No. 216 bound for Tokyo, on Track No. 26 at Shin-osaka Station

The LED destination panel of a 16-car JR Central N700 Series Shinkansen Set No. Z16 (X16), operating as the Shinkansen "NOZOMI" Superexpress No. 114 bound for Tokyo, on Track No. 25 at Shin-osaka Station

The logo of the 16-car JR Central N700 Series Shinkansen Set No. Z16 (X16), operating as the Shinkansen "NOZOMI" Superexpress No. 114 bound for Tokyo, on Track No. 25 at Shin-osaka Station

Tracks No. 25 and 26 serving some of the eastbound Tokaido Shinkansen trains bound for Nagoya and Tokyo at Shin-osaka Station during the morning rush hour

The logo of a 16-car JR West N700 Series Shinkansen Set No. N3 (K3), operating as the Shinkansen "NOZOMI" Superexpress No. 2 bound for Tokyo, on Track No. 25 at Shin-osaka Station. I clearly remember riding on this particular train as Set No. N3 as the Shinkansen "NOZOMI" Superexpress No. 7 bound for Hakata (Fukuoka) from Tokyo during my end-of-year winter vacation to Japan in December 2014

The LED destination panel of the 16-car JR West N700 Series Shinkansen Set No. N3 (K3), operating as the Shinkansen "NOZOMI" Superexpress No. 2 bound for Tokyo, on Track No. 25 at Shin-osaka Station

The departure information board for eastbound Tokaido Shinkansen trains bound for Nagoya and Tokyo departing from Track No. 25, indicating that the Shinkansen "NOZOMI" Superexpress No. 310 bound for Tokyo would be the first train to depart from Track No. 25

Track No. 25 at Shin-osaka Station shortly before the Shinkansen "NOZOMI" Superexpress No. 310 bound for Tokyo arrived at the station

After spending approximately 1 hour 10 minutes of anticipated waiting on Tracks No. 25 and 26, a 16-car JR Central 700 Series Shinkansen Set No. C34, which would operate as the Shinkansen NOZOMI Superexpress No. 310 bound for Tokyo, finally entered Shin-osaka Station at 8.40 a.m. on Track No. 25. Once the train doors were opened, I boarded the train through Car No. 8, which was one of the Green Car (first class) coaches, and settled into my assigned Seat No. 1A at the rear of the cabin for the upcoming morning journey duration of 2 hours 33 minutes to the lively hustle and bustle of downtown Tokyo.

The seat next to me, 1B, would remain empty for the entire early morning journey of 2 hours 33 minutes from Shin-osaka to Tokyo. Once the clock struck exactly 8.57 a.m. sharp, all the train doors were closed, and the Shinkansen NOZOMI Superexpress No. 310 finally pulled out of Shin-osaka Station for its early morning journey duration of 2 hours 33 minutes to the lively hustle and bustle of downtown Tokyo located in the Kanto region of the country. I was then on my way for a morning 20th birthday journey of 2 hours 33 minutes to the very lively hustle and bustle of the national capital city of Japan.

700系新幹線 C34編成 のぞみ310号 東京行き 新大阪駅に入線シーン

The front view of the Green Car (first class) cabin on board the 16-car JR Central 700 Series Shinkansen Set No. C34, operating as the Shinkansen "NOZOMI" Superexpress No. 310 bound for Tokyo, during the boarding process on Track No. 25 at Shin-osaka Station

The rear view of the Green Car (first class) cabin on board the 16-car JR Central 700 Series Shinkansen Set No. C34, operating as the Shinkansen "NOZOMI" Superexpress No. 310 bound for Tokyo, during the boarding process on Track No. 25 at Shin-osaka Station

The logo of the 16-car JR Central 700 Series Shinkansen Set No. C34, operating as the Shinkansen "NOZOMI" Superexpress No. 310 bound for Tokyo, on Track No. 25 at Shin-osaka Station

The LED destination panel of the 16-car JR Central 700 Series Shinkansen Set No. C34, operating as the Shinkansen "NOZOMI" Superexpress No. 310 bound for Tokyo, on Track No. 25 at Shin-osaka Station

Getting ready to board the 16-car JR Central 700 Series Shinkansen Set No. C34, operating as the Shinkansen "NOZOMI" Superexpress No. 310 bound for Tokyo, on Track No. 25 at Shin-osaka Station

Another front view of the Green Car (first class) cabin on board the 16-car JR Central 700 Series Shinkansen Set No. C34, operating as the Shinkansen "NOZOMI" Superexpress No. 310 bound for Tokyo, during the boarding process on Track No. 25 at Shin-osaka Station

Another rear view of the Green Car (first class) cabin on board the 16-car JR Central 700 Series Shinkansen Set No. C34, operating as the Shinkansen "NOZOMI" Superexpress No. 310 bound for Tokyo, during the boarding process on Track No. 25 at Shin-osaka Station

A view of my seat, 1A, during the boarding process on Track No. 25 at Shin-osaka Station

The view of the Green Car (first class) cabin on board the 16-car JR Central 700 Series Shinkansen Set No. C34, operating as the Shinkansen "NOZOMI" Superexpress No. 310 bound for Tokyo, from my seat during the boarding process on Track No. 25 at Shin-osaka Station

Crafting out my report for the in-bound segment between Shin-osaka and Tokyo on my blog

Reading through the most hilarious quote in "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" on iBooks in my laptop, where Harry's Uncle Vernon throws a temper tantrum after Harry tells Dudley to say 'please' to get more breakfast ｰ "WHAT HAVE I TOLD YOU," thundered his uncle, spraying spit over the table, "ABOUT SAYING THE 'M' WORD IN OUR HOUSE?!"

Awaiting departure from Shin-osaka Station

700系新幹線 C34編成 のぞみ310号 東京行き 新大阪駅から京都駅間

Making a brief stop at Kyoto Station

My Green Car (first class) Shinkansen tickets for the in-bound segment from Shin-osaka to Tokyo

A view of my seat, 1A, between Kyoto and Maibara

The rear view of the Green Car (first class) cabin on board the 16-car JR Central 700 Series Shinkansen Set No. C34, operating as the Shinkansen "NOZOMI" Superexpress No. 310 bound for Tokyo, between Kyoto and Maibara Stations

The front view of the Green Car (first class) cabin on board the 16-car JR Central 700 Series Shinkansen Set No. C34, operating as the Shinkansen "NOZOMI" Superexpress No. 310 bound for Tokyo, between Kyoto and Maibara Stations

The view of the Green Car (first class) cabin on board the 16-car JR Central 700 Series Shinkansen Set No. C34, operating as the Shinkansen "NOZOMI" Superexpress No. 310 bound for Tokyo, from my seat between Kyoto and Maibara Stations

Passing through Maibara Station

Passing through Gifu-hashima Station

Making a brief stop at Nagoya Station

700系新幹線 C34編成 のぞみ310号 東京行き 名古屋 (発車) ~ 豊橋 (通過)

700系新幹線 C34編成 のぞみ310号 東京行き 浜松 (通過) ~ 静岡 (通過)

700系新幹線 C34編成 のぞみ310号 東京行き 三島 (通過) ~ 小田原 (通過)

700系新幹線 C34編成 のぞみ310号 東京行き 新横浜駅から終点東京駅間

After an early morning trip duration of 2 hours 33 minutes from the lively hustle and bustle of downtown Tokyo, I finally arrived at the Tokyo terminal station at 11.30 a.m. on Track No. 14.

After spending about 10 minutes of anticipated waiting on the departure track, a 6-car Tokyo Monorail 1000 series EMU finally arrived at Hamamatsucho Station at noon, approximately three minutes behind schedule. The train had just arrived as an 11.35 a.m. Rapid Service train bound for Hamamatsucho from Tokyo International Airport (Haneda Airport) earlier, and was to become the twelve o' clock Haneda Express service bound for Tokyo International Airport (Haneda Airport). Once the train doors were opened, I quickly boarded the train via Car No. 6 and secured a front row middle seat by the driver's observation cab.

With the clock striking around 12.03 p.m. sharp, the train doors were closed, and the Tokyo Monorail Haneda Express train finally pulled out of Hamamatsucho Station for its short and quick routine afternoon travel duration of 19 minutes to Tokyo International Airport (Haneda Airport) located in the outskirts of downtown Ota-ku, Tokyo. I was then on my way for a short early afternoon trip of 19 minutes to Tokyo International Airport (Haneda Airport) located in the suburban outskirts of downtown Ota-ku, Tokyo.

東京モノレール1000形 (1078F) 空港快速 東京国際空港行き 浜松町駅から羽田空港第2ビル駅間

1) Air France Airbus A330-203 Herpa Scale 1:500 (518482-001)

2) American Airlines Boeing 777-323/ER Herpa Scale 1:500 (523950-001)

3) Lufthansa Airbus A330-343X Herpa Scale 1:500 (514965-001)

4) Thai Airways International Boeing 787-8D7 Dreamliner Herpa Scale 1:500 (526869)

After.

東京モノレール1000形 (1079F) 空港快速 浜松町行き 羽田空港第2ビル駅から浜松町駅間

After a short mid-afternoon return journey from Tokyo International Airport (Haneda Airport) in the suburban outskirts of downtown Ota-ku, Tokyo, I arrived back at the Hamamatsucho terminal station at 4.01 p.m.. Checking to see that nothing had been left behind, I promptly alighted from the train and took the escalators down to the Tokyo Monorail Haneda Airport Line concourse before proceeding to the ticketing gate leading to the JR Line interchange concourse of the station building, eventually reaching there in less than a few minutes.

The entrance to The Tokyo Phoenix Chinese Restaurant located on the 12th floor at Daimaru Department Store Tokyo shortly before making my way back to Tokyo Station

The elevator lobby located on the 12th floor at Daimaru Department Store Tokyo as I begin to make my way back to Tokyo Station

The passageway leading to the Tokaido & Sanyo Shinkansen ticketing concourse at Tokyo Station from the Daimaru Department Store Tokyo

The Tokaido & Sanyo Shinkansen ticketing gates in the Tokaido & Sanyo Shinkansen ticketing concourse at Tokyo Station during the early evening rush hour

The Tokaido & Sanyo Shinkansen concourse leading to the platforms at Tokyo Station during the early evening rush hour

About to take the escalators up to the upper concourse leading to Tracks No. 16 to 19 at Tokyo Station during the early evening rush hour

Finally arriving at Tracks No. 18 and 19 at Tokyo Station

The LED destination panel of a 16-car JR Central N700 Series Shinkansen Set No. Z79 (X79), operating as the Shinkansen "HIKARI" Superexpress No. 523 bound for Shin-osaka, on Track No. 19 at Tokyo Station

The logo of the 16-car JR Central N700 Series Shinkansen Set No. Z79 (X79), operating as the Shinkansen "HIKARI" Superexpress No. 523 bound for Shin-osaka, on Track No. 19 at Tokyo Station

A 16-car JR Central 700 Series Shinkansen Set No. C34, which would soon operate as the Shinkansen "NOZOMI" Superexpress No. 401 bound for Shin-osaka, entering Tokyo Station on Track No. 19

The front view of the Green Car (first class) cabin on board the 16-car JR Central 700 Series Shinkansen Set No. C34, operating as the Shinkansen "NOZOMI" Superexpress No. 401 bound for Shin-osaka, during the boarding process on Track No. 19 at Tokyo Station

The rear view of the Green Car (first class) cabin on board the 16-car JR Central 700 Series Shinkansen Set No. C34, operating as the Shinkansen "NOZOMI" Superexpress No. 401 bound for Shin-osaka, during the boarding process on Track No. 19 at Tokyo Station

The LED destination panel of the 16-car JR Central 700 Series Shinkansen Set No. C34, operating as the Shinkansen "NOZOMI" Superexpress No. 401 bound for Shin-osaka, on Track No. 19 at Tokyo Station

The logo of the 16-car JR Central 700 Series Shinkansen Set No. C34, operating as the Shinkansen "NOZOMI" Superexpress No. 401 bound for Shin-osaka, on Track No. 19 at Tokyo Station

The logo of a 16-car JR West 700 Series Shinkansen Set No. C16, now operating as the Shinkansen "KODAMA" Superexpress No. 677 bound for Nagoya, on Track No. 17 at Tokyo Station

A 16-car JR West 700 Series Shinkansen Set No. C16, now operating as the Shinkansen "KODAMA" Superexpress No. 677 bound for Nagoya, on Track No. 17 at Tokyo Station

The LED destination panel of the 16-car JR West 700 Series Shinkansen Set No. C16, now operating as the Shinkansen "KODAMA" Superexpress No. 677 bound for Nagoya, on Track No. 17 at Tokyo Station

The departure information board for Tokaido & Sanyo Shinkansen trains departing from Track No. 19 at Tokyo Station, indicating that the Shinkansen "NOZOMI" Superexpress No. 401 bound for Shin-osaka would be the first train to depart

A 16-car JR West 700 Series Shinkansen Set No. B12, which would soon operate as the Shinkansen "HIKARI" Superexpress No. 525 bound for Shin-osaka, arriving at Tokyo Station on Track No. 18

The LED destination panel of the 16-car JR West 700 Series Shinkansen Set No. B12, now operating as the Shinkansen "HIKARI" Superexpress No. 525 bound for Shin-osaka, on Track No. 18 at Tokyo Station

The 16-car JR West 700 Series Shinkansen Set No. B12, now operating as the Shinkansen "HIKARI" Superexpress No. 525 bound for Shin-osaka, undergoing an extensive cleaning process on Track No. 18 at Tokyo Station

Tracks No. 18 and 19 serving some of the Tokaido & Sanyo Shinkansen trains bound for Nagoya, Shin-osaka and Hakata (Fukuoka) at Tokyo Station during the early evening rush hour

The departure information board for Tokaido & Sanyo Shinkansen trains departing from Track No. 19 at Tokyo Station, indicating that the Shinkansen "NOZOMI" Superexpress No. 403 bound for Shin-osaka would be the first train to depart

Track No. 19 at Tokyo Station shortly before the Shinkansen "NOZOMI" Superexpress No. 403 bound for Shin-osaka arrived at the station

After spending approximately 25 minutes of anticipated waiting on both Tracks No. 18 and 19, a 16-car JR Central 700 Series Shinkansen Set No. C60, which would operate as the Shinkansen NOZOMI Superexpress No. 403 bound for Shin-osaka, finally entered Tokyo Station at 5.56 p.m. on Track No. 19. Noticing that the seating arrangements were facing in the opposite direction, the cleaners boarded the train to do an extensive cleaning process before allowing the passengers to board the train, which took approximately 10 minutes.

Upon completion of the entire in-car cleaning process of the entire train, the train doors were finally opened again at 6.07 p.m., thus allowing the passengers to board the train bound for Shin-osaka. Without wasting anymore time, I immediately boarded the train through Car No. 8 and headed into Car No. 9, which was one of the Green Car (first class) coaches, before heading to my assigned Seat No. 16D located at the rear of the cabin for the early evening return travel duration of 2 hours 33 minutes back to the lively hustle and bustle of downtown Osaka.

The seat next to me, 16C, would remain vacant for the whole early evening return journey of 2 hours 33 minutes between Tokyo and Shin-osaka. Once the clock struck exactly 6.13 p.m. sharp, all the train doors were closed, and the Shinkansen NOZOMI Superexpress No. 403 finally pulled out of Tokyo Station for its early evening trip of 2 hours 33 minutes to the lively hustle and bustle of downtown Osaka located in the Kansai region of Japan. I was then on my way for an early evening return journey duration of 2 hours 33 minutes to the very lively hustle and bustle of downtown Osaka in the centre of the Keihanshin metropolitan area.

The 16-car JR Central 700 Series Shinkansen Set No. C60, which would soon operate as the Shinkansen "NOZOMI" Superexpress No. 403 bound for Shin-osaka, undergoing an extensive cleaning process on Track No. 19 at Tokyo Station

The LED destination panel of the 16-car JR Central 700 Series Shinkansen Set No. C60, now operating as the Shinkansen "NOZOMI" Superexpress No. 403 bound for Shin-osaka, on Track No. 19 at Tokyo Station

The logo of the 16-car JR Central 700 Series Shinkansen Set No. C60, operating as the Shinkansen "NOZOMI" Superexpress No. 403 bound for Shin-osaka, on Track No. 19 at Tokyo Station

Getting ready to board the 16-car JR Central 700 Series Shinkansen Set No. C60, operating as the Shinkansen "NOZOMI" Superexpress No. 403 bound for Shin-osaka, on Track No. 19 at Tokyo Station

The front view of the Green Car (first class) cabin on board the 16-car JR Central 700 Series Shinkansen Set No. C60, operating as the Shinkansen "NOZOMI" Superexpress No. 403 bound for Shin-osaka, during the boarding process on Track No. 19 at Tokyo Station

The rear view of the Green Car (first class) cabin on board the 16-car JR Central 700 Series Shinkansen Set No. C60, operating as the Shinkansen "NOZOMI" Superexpress No. 403 bound for Shin-osaka, during the boarding process on Track No. 19 at Tokyo Station

A view of my seat, 16D, during the boarding process on Track No. 19 at Tokyo Station

Another front view of the Green Car (first class) cabin on board the 16-car JR Central 700 Series Shinkansen Set No. C60, operating as the Shinkansen "NOZOMI" Superexpress No. 403 bound for Shin-osaka, during the boarding process on Track No. 19 at Tokyo Station

Another rear view of the Green Car (first class) cabin on board the 16-car JR Central 700 Series Shinkansen Set No. C60, operating as the Shinkansen "NOZOMI" Superexpress No. 403 bound for Shin-osaka, during the boarding process on Track No. 19 at Tokyo Station

The view of the Green Car (first class) cabin on board the 16-car JR Central 700 Series Shinkansen Set No. C60, operating as the Shinkansen "NOZOMI" Superexpress No. 403 bound for Shin-osaka, from my seat during the boarding process on Track No. 19 at Tokyo Station

After a quick early evening journey duration of 2 hours 33 minutes from the lively hustle and bustle of downtown Tokyo, I finally arrived at the Shin-osaka terminal station at 8.46 p.m. on Track No. 22. Checking to see that I had left nothing behind on board, I quickly alighted from the train and took the escalators down to the main Shinkansen concourse. Upon arriving at the Shinkansen concourse at 8.50 p.m., I headed over to the Shinkansen ticketing gates to show my Japan Rail Pass at the staffed Shinkansen ticketing gate.

Overall, my 20th birthday journey to Tokyo International Airport (Haneda Airport) has been a very pleasant experience, and one of the best birthdays I have ever had in so many years of history. The particular highlight of this special day trip was a ride on the NOZOMI service on an older 700 Series Shinkansen set, and like my previous NOZOMI train rides, this was way better than the Korea Train Express (KTX) in South Korea. I shall not hesitate to embark on such special train trips again for my future birthdays when the opportunity comes.

This officially brings the second segment of my special mid-term birthday vacation to Japan in June 2015 to a formal conclusion. The remaining three segments of the trip report will be published once I have managed to select the highest quality photographs and videos for all of them. However, please do be patient as these require time and effort for the trip report to become more intriguing to all bloggers.