Hi
Going to Japan in November and i am still considering if i should get a JR pass or not. I guess i will need a subway card for my time in Tokyo and Kyoto but i am planning a few days trips
Atinerary.
Nov 1- Arriving in Tokyo in the morning.
Nov 2- Tokyo- Exploit the jet lag for a morning trip to the fish marked.
Nov 3- Tokyo- Day trip to Nikko
Nov 4- Tokyo
Nov 5- Leaving for Hakone early. Spend the day in Hakone then back to Tokyo
Nov 6- Tokyo
Nov 7- Leaving for Kyoto in the morning
Nov 8- Kyoto
Nov 9- Kyoto Day trip to Nara
Nov 10- Kyoto
Nov 11- Kyoto-Day trip to Castle Himeji might do a afternoon trip to Kobe.
Nov 12- Kyoto-Day trip to Osaka
Nov 13- Leave for Kanazawa at 10.40 arrive at 13.15. Spend the afternoon here.
Nov 14- Full day in Kanazawa
Nov 15- Leave early and go to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park via Nagano. Spend Half a day here before taking a train from Nagano to Tokyo
Nov 16- Tokyo-Day trip to Aokigahara Forrest and its Ice caves
Nov 17- Tokyo Shopping day
Nov 18- Fly home in the morning
Comments
Yes, a 14 day pass will pay off well for you, used to go to Nikko, Kansai, Kanazawa and Nagano.
I hope that you're aware that for Tsukiji if you want one of the tours you need to be there between 4 and 4:30 AM to have a chance (needless to say the trains/buses aren't running then). If you just want the sushi breakfast, you can easily get that til about 9 AM.
For Hakone, the JR Pass won't help much - look into getting a Hakone Free Pass:
http://www.odakyu.jp/english/deels/freepass/hakone/
It might be better if you combine it with the Fuji 5 Lakes if you're serious about Aokigahara:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6900.html
http://www.odakyu.jp/english/deels/freepass/fujihakone/
Be aware you'll need to pay for part of the way to Jigokudani.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6028.html
In Tokyo a 2-3 day subway pass is a great way to save money:
http://www.tokyometro.jp/en/ticket/value/travel/index.html#anc03
In Kyoto however, while there is a combo bus/subway day pass, it's very hard to make worthwhile - in Kyoto, not many sightseeing places are near a subway station. There is a 500 yen bus day pass though that can save you a lot, although it can take time when there's high traffic congestion.
For Himeji, don't miss the Kokoen Garden next to the castle.
I guess i should activate it on day i leave for Nikko then ?
So those trips alone make it worth the 14 day passes. Can i use it for Nara aswell ?
The Kansai area includes Kyoto, Nara, Kobe and Osaka. And yes, you can use the pass to go to Nara as well, as long as you're taking a JR train and not Kintetsu, or other non-JR line.
Also yes, start your first day of the pass for Nov 3rd to go to Nikko. You don't have to do it on the morning of Nov 3rd however, you can go to the JR exchange offices on Nov 1-2, which are listed on
http://www.japanrailpass.net/en/exchange.html
and activate your pass with the first day being Nov 3rd. Once it's done though you cannot undo it - so if you're ready, go ahead.