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7-day pass for Tokyo -> Hakone -> Osaka -> Kyoto -> Tokyo?

edited September 2016 in About Itineraries
Hello! Some advice needed:

We will be travelling by train from Tokyo to Hakone, Osaka and Kyoto (and Nara) before returning to Tokyo.

Would a JR pass be advisable here? If so, should we try and fit the itinerary into 7 days?

Full itinerary is:

Days 1-4: Tokyo
Days 5-6: Hakone
Days 7-9: Osaka
Days 10-12: Kyoto + Nara
Days 13-14: Tokyo

Thanks!

Comments

  • Hi,
    A 7 day pass would not pay off for your plans. It seems you have a misconception - if you started to use a 7 day pass from Day 5, the pass would expire at the end of Day 11 - you wouldn't have even returned to Tokyo by then.
    If you squeezed everything down to 7 days, you'd just be a bit shy of breaking even. You could easily get yourself over the top and expand your experience by taking a day away from Osaka (which is not really needed anyway, since you're already seeing Tokyo) and doing a day trip to Himeji, with Japan's finest castle.
    BTW you can't use the JR Pass in Hakone - you can take the bullet train to Odawara Stn, then buy a Hakone Free Pass. On the way back, go to Mishima Stn to catch the bullet train to Kyoto.
  • Hi, I am leaving for Japan in a week's time and have not plan or book any trains tickets. Feeling panicky now! Could anyone pls give me some advice. Would like to ask what is the best cost efficient travel methods. Am thinking of getting the 7 day JR Pass for day 3-9, but am not sure whats are the trains to take, even hyperdia is a bit confusing. Pls help!! My Itinerary is below.

    Day 1-2 Tokyo
    Day3-5 Hakone
    Day 5-9 Osaka( Thinking of day trip to Kyoto & Nara)
    Day 9-13 Tokyo

  • First, it's better to start a new thread and not piggyback your question on someone else's.

    You'd barely break even on a 7 day pass with your plans. If you want to get the pass, you'd better order it right away. Otherwise, you can still buy it now once you're in Japan, but it would be about 15% more expensive.
    The pass is only partially helpful in getting you to Hakone. From Odawara, you'd need other transport, like a Hakone Free Pass.
    http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2358_008.html
    But actually, if you are going to put in 3 days, you have enough time to see the Fuji 5 Lakes as well, though it's pricier for the Fuji Hakone Pass.
    http://www.odakyu.jp/english/deels/freepass/fujihakone/
    For Hakone, the Loop Course is a good way to see the area.
    http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5210.html
    And for the 5 Lakes, it depends on your interests, but there is a lot to see in a day.
    http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6900.html
    From Tokyo, take the bullet train from Tokyo and get off at Odawara Stn., then to save money, buy the pass you want. After seeing the area, return but go to Mishima Stn., then catch the next bullet train to Kyoto.
    Since you are already seeing Tokyo, you can largely skip Osaka during the day. After the temples of Kyoto close down around 5PM, you can zip over to Osaka for the evening. At night the city comes alive and has some great places to see, such as Dotonbori, plus the night views from the Umeda Sky Bldg and Abeno Harukas Bldg are wonderful.
    On another evening, you could also go and see Kobe.
    If you want to add some good value to your pass, take at least half a day and go see Himeji with Japan's finest castle. The Kokoen Garden next to it is beautiful as well. If you really want to rack up some savings, take a full day trip with an early morning start and see Hiroshima & MIyajima.
    Kyoto really cries out for more than just one day.

    For Tokyo, unless you have something special planned, 3-4 days are enough. You also might look into getting a Tokyo Wide Pass and see some of the sights in the area, like Nikko, Karuizawa, Kusatsu, or Izu.
    The wide pass can save you a ton of money.
    http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2361_06.html

    If you are coming or leaving through Narita, then the cheapest way is the 1000 yen bus.
    http://accessnarita.jp/en/home/
    A 2-3 Tokyo subway day pass is a good money saver too.
    http://www.tokyometro.jp/en/ticket/value/travel/index.html#anc03

    Hyperdia is not hard to figure out. This video explains it:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBXcX3Eht-k

    You can see previews of some of the best places to see in Japan on:
    https://www.youtube.com/user/thejapanfaq/videos
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