JR PASS Bullet train to tokyo to kyoto

mattcar

Can you please tell me how many of these trips the Japan Rail Pass will cover and if any of them cover the bullet trains.
We will be travelling in mid-April. Two adults, three children aged 11,9, and 5. The itinerary is as follows:
Tokyo to Kyoto
Kyoto to Hiroshima to Kyoto
Kyoto to Matsumoto
Matsumoto to Nagano
Thanks

japanexperience

Hi,

The Japan Rail Pass covers unlimited travel within Japan during its validity period (7 days, 14 days or 21 days). Children 5 and under can travel for free, and 6-11 are eligible for a child pass. JRP covers all JR Group Railways bullet trains, as well as limited express trains, express trains, and rapid or local trains. It is not valid on the Nozomi or Mizuho train however.

In terms of your itinerary, you may do as follows:

Tokyo to Kyoto: take a direct bullet train (shinkansen Hikari), which will take you roughly about 2 hours and half.
Kyoto to Hiroshima: there are no direct trains, so you will have to take the shinkansen Hikari to either Shin-Osaka or Shin-Kobe, and then the Shinkansen Sakura to Hiroshima.
Kyoto to Matsumoto: take the shinkansen Hikari to Nagoya and then use a Limited Express train to Matsumoto.
Matsumoto to Nagano: a 50 minute ride away, also by Limited Express.

Please feel free to use the website www.hyperdia.com which can give you train times and itineraries. Remember to deselect Nozomi/Mizuho/Hayabusa when conducting your search.

Thanks,

Japan Experience

frangela

So just to confirm, the Japan Rail pass includes the Tokyo to Kyoto bullet train (shinkansen Hikari)?