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Need tips to use pass for 11 days in Japan

Hi,

It's our first time to travel to Japan. I need tips on how to use the pass since I am clueless regarding the use of your trains. I plan to use 4 days JR Kansai Area Pass and 7 days Jr Pass. The problem is I am not sure if we can reach the places we want to visit using these passes.

Here is where I will use the Kansai Area Pass

D1 Osaka Kansai airport to Namba (we arrive at night)
D2 Osaka city tour
D3 universal studios
D4 Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama (kyoto) and Nara Park

Here is where we will use Jr Pass

D5 go to tokyo
D6 city tour
D7 mt Fuji
D8 Disney sea
D9 city tour
D10 Back to osaka, go to zoo
D11 Osaka city tour, go back to airport

I would also appreciate it if anyone could suggest more places to go. Thank you!


Comments

  • Hi,
    A Kansai Area Pass would not pay off for what you plan. You might look at the Icoca & Haruka discount ticket which is great for a discount off of the Haruka train.
    http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2359_icoca_haruka.html
    An Osaka Amazing Pass might be good to see Osaka - you'd need to travel around, but you also get discounted admissions to many places so it may be worth it.
    http://www.osaka-info.jp/osp/en/index.html

    You can take a JR train from Kyoto Stn to Arashiyama as well as to Nara (different directions). From Nara Stn it's about a 20 minute walk to Nara Park. The Todaiji Temple there is the grand jewel. But also the Kofukuji Temple, Kasuga Shrine, feeding the deer, and the Isuien & Yoshikien Gardens are very nice.
    You can make a 7 day JR Pass pay off going to Tokyo and back and using it for the Haruka train back to KIX. For your Day 7 you didn't specify if you wanted to see the Hakone area or Fuji 5 Lakes area. Both are good but the JR Pass is of limited help. Look into an Odakyu Pass for near Fuji:
    http://www.odakyu.jp/english/deels/
    For Hakone info, see:
    http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5200.html
    http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5206.html
    http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2358_008.html
    http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5210.html
    For the Fuji 5 Lakes, see
    http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6900.html

    To be honest, your Day 4 looks rather thin, and Nara Park only takes 3-4 hours at most. Since you're going all the way to Arashiyama, there are many other good places to see. One is the Tenryuji Temple+Garden which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the big Bamboo grove next to it is also famous. Both are not far from the train station.
    Be aware also that Iwatayama requires a fairly strenuous 20 minute climb up a hill. If you have elderly with you or a toddler, it may be more difficult.
    As for going to Nara from Kyoto Stn, along the way it is easy to stop off and see the Tofukuji Temple (1 stop from Kyoto Stn) and Fushimi Inari Shrine - the latter is one of Kyoto's Top 3 places, and just across the street from the Inari train station. Uji farther south has some good sights as well if you make an early morning start and have the time.

    And since you're seeing Tokyo for more or less 2 days on Days 5-6, for your Day 9, why not go visit Nikko? It is one of Japan's top spots and going there would add value to your pass.
    http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3800.html

  • Hi!

    Your tips are really helpful. Thanks so much! I might just move my kyoto/nara trip to D10 so that I can also use the JR Pass. I will include your suggestions in my Kyoto/Nara trip as well :)

    I have another question, I believe that the JR pass can be used in Kyoto but can it also be used in Nara going to the places you suggested? Btw, is the osaka amazing pass readily available for purchase in Osaka Kansai International airport even late at night?
  • Hi,
    JR trains pretty much only go where I have already described. You can take a JR train from Kyoto Stn to Arashiyama, or heading south you can see Fushimi Inari etc, Uji City, and Nara. There are no JR trains that go to Nara Park - Kintetsu Nara Stn is closer to the park but you can't use a JR Pass on Kintetsu lines. From Nara Stn you can take a bus or taxi, or walk about 20 minutes to the park.

    For the Osaka Amazing Pass, you can buy it at KIX, as noted on:
    http://www.tourist-information-center.jp/kansai/en/kix/
    They close at 10 PM. I don't know if that's too early or late for you.
  • edited June 2016
    Hello,

    I am so grateful for you and this forum. Thank you so much for all your advice!
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