I am a bit confused as to the best option in rail pass for our trip?
1. land at Narita 5pm
2. Tokyo - shinjuku area
3. Tokyo
4. Tokyo
5. Train to Matsumoto - then bus to Hirayu Onsen
6. Hirayu Onsen - day trip to Kami-Kochi
7. Bus to Takayama
8. Takayama
9. Bus to Kanazawa - was going to go by Bus so can see Shirakawago on the way
10. Kanazawa
11. Kanazawa
12. Train to Kyoto - leaving early morning
13. Kyoto
14. Kyoto
15. Train to Hiroshima
16. Hiroshima
17. Train to Osaka - staying near airport
18. Fly out from Kansai Airport
We were going to get a 14 day pass and start using from day 5 to Matsumoto - but given all the bus travel from day 5 to 9 it doesn't seem worth it. So I have looked at a 7 day pass from Day 12 - day 18 and it seems worthwhile. But is there another pass/s that would suit us better overall?
Is a 72hr Skyliner & Subway Metro ticket good value for Tokyo? Do you really need to use JR Yamonite line in Tokyo?
Thanks so much for your help.
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Comments
You can barely make a 7 day pass pay off used Days 12-18.
A slightly cheaper method of travel would be the JR Kansai Hokuriku Area Pass.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2361_kansai_hokuriku.html
It only covers up to Okayama, but a one way unreserved bullet train ticket up to Hiroshima is 5500 yen, and you'd still come out ahead.
Another suggestion is the JR Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2361_kansai_hiroshima.html
You'd need to buy the ticket to Tsuruga from Kanazawa (unreserved seat 4100 yen) as well as to KIX, and since it's a 5 day pass you'd have to rearrange your itinerary to get the trip to Hiroshima done first.
So up to you.
You should not miss Nara either since it has some of Japan's best sights.
You can see regular fares, routes and schedules on Hyperdia.
http://www.hyperdia.com
I am a bit confused as to the difference between getting the 7 day JR pass and the 7 day Sanyo San'nin Area Pass. Can I reserve seats with the Sanyo San'nin pass? Do I have access to more trains and buses with the Sanyo-San'in pass compared to 7 day JR pass?
Looking at the website they are introducing changes with more access to lines from April 2017. But it is all so confusing!
Info on the JR Sanyo Sanin Area Pass is at:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2361_sanyo_sanin.html
Yes, you can make free seat reservations. And you can use the pass from Tsuruga to Kyoto. But why would you need the extra coverage compared to the Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass if you are not going beyond Hiroshima?
Your last 2 days are in Osaka where fares are not higher than the difference of the 2 passes.
The full JR pass covers the entire country - it's not a regional pass like these. From April they are giving more JR bus access (as well as raising prices a bit) to several regional passes - the full JR Pass already has them included.
Again, I suggest you use hyperdia to see what best suits you.