My 11 year old grandson and I are coming to Japan for the first time from 9-21 October. We arrive at Narita at 7pm and have booked 3 nights in Tokyo. Our other fixed booking is in Kyoto Oct 15-18. These stays are with friends.
We would like to see Takayama and Kanazawa areas. Are we better to do that coming back from Kyoto or from Tokyo?
Should we base ourselves in one of these places so we can leave our bags and not have to find extra accommodation? It looks like we need to take a bus to get about.
I am trying to work out whether we can manage on a 7 day rail pass if we return to Tokyo on Oct 18. If we want to do day trips to places like Hakone or Nikko would we be better to get the 14 day pass or other tickets?
Fares to also consider are the return trip to Narita airport and getting around Tokyo and Kyoto as well as the bus from Takayama.
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You have a few options and it's up to you on if you want to save the time or the money. A 14 day pass would not pay off though unless you expanded your itinerary.
The first is the 7 day JR Pass, used between Oct 12-18. You could visit Takayama after Kanazawa, which takes about 2 hours by train (from Tokyo it'd take 4½ hours). You could take a bus also but to Takayama from Kanazawa it is also about 2 hours. The real jewel of the area though is Shirakawago, and that requires a bus to get to. Staying at a farmhouse overnight in Shirakawago would be an unforgettable experience.
One advantage of the 7 day pass is that you'd save a couple hours returning back to Tokyo since you can take the Tokaido line.
Another option is the Hokuriku Arch Pass.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2361_arch.html
It is cheaper but you'd have to return back to Tokyo the same way, taking about 2 hours longer than the Tokaido route.
For the luggage, you might look into using a delivery service - then you can travel about without dragging a ton of stuff everywhere you go.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2278.html
For Hakone, no JR Pass can take you through there. Instead, look at getting a Hakone Free Pass:
http://www.odakyu.jp/english/deels/freepass/hakone/
and for Nikko there is the Tobu Nikko Free Pass:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2358_002.html
Your grandchild might like the Edo Wonderland there.
http://edowonderland.net/en/
The cheapest way to/from Narita would be the 1000 yen bus:
http://accessnarita.jp/en/home/
For getting around Tokyo, use a 2-3 day subway pass - you can recoup the costs easily with even modest sightseeing and save a lot of money over buying tickets or prepaid cards.
http://www.tokyometro.jp/en/ticket/value/travel/index.html#anc03
For Kyoto, there is a 500 yen bus day pass. Subway is also quick and convenient but comparatively not so cheap as other cities and limited in where it goes. If pressed for time, then with the 2 of you a taxi becomes an option if it is near closing time (many stop entrance about 30 minutes prior). You could also go see Osaka after the temples and shrines close around 5 PM. Dotonbori is excellent and the views from the Umeda Sky Bldg and Abeno Harukas Bldg are superb.
There are some good previews of the places you plan to see on:
https://www.youtube.com/user/thejapanfaq/videos
Arrive Narita and stay October 9-12 at Shimo Kitazawa. On Oct 11 go to Disneysea.
October 12-15 go to Kanazawa
October 15-18 go to Kyoto
October 18-21 go to Takayama and depart from Narita at night
With the above you save a bit with a 14 day pass but not a whole lot. With a trip to Nikko added, you begin to get some real savings.
Also the best way to get to Disneysea in Tokyo? I think coming back to Tokyo for the last few days would be a better move as I am trying to do things that interest an 11 year old, without spending lots of money. Do you have suggestions?
Trying to do Takayama and Shirakawago as a day trip from Tokyo is completely unworkable. To Takayama alone it is about 4½ hours by train, plus more bus riding to get to Shirakawago.
For the Disney Parks, look at their access page.
http://www.tokyodisneyresort.jp/en/access/
You also have the option of seeing Miyama from Kyoto - it is not the same or as good as Shirakawago, but it still makes a good day trip and is similar.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3985.html
Now my plan is to go to Hakone before Kyoto and go to Kanazawa on the way back to Tokyo.
Miyama looks good for a trip from Kyoto and satisfies the cultural aspect of village life.
As for going to Takayama from Kanazawa, as I already said on Sept 16 it will take about 2 hours. If you opt to pay for and take the bus, you can see Shirakawago before going on to Takayama.
You can use the Suica card to take the train to Disneyland. You can see regular fares, routes and schedules on Hyperdia.
http://www.hyperdia.com
Just put in your starting station to Maihama.
For Hakone, you could do it as a side trip on the way to Kyoto. Take the bullet train to Odawara Stn, then buy the Hakone Free Pass there to see Hakone. On the way back, go to Mishima Stn to pick up the bullet train for Kyoto.
My itinerary is
Oct 9-12 Tokyo
12-15 Kamakura
15-18 Uji (activate 7 day rail pass)
18-20 Takayama
20-21 Kanazawa
21 Narita International Airport
Thanks again Cheryl
As I mentioned, you should try using Hyperdia. You could either pick up the bullet train at either Odawara, Shin-Yokohama, or back in Tokyo. Try to avoid taking the Kodama bullet trains however since they stop at every station and take a lot longer - Hikari trains are much better.
You can see some examples of your routing here:
http://bit.ly/2cIV7e0