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Japan Rail Pass or Individual tickets?

Our itinerary end of March beginning of April

Haneda to Kyoto
Kyoto to Mijyama
Mijyama to Kyoto
Kyoto to Kanzawa
Kanzawa to Takayama
Takayama to Hakone
Hakone to Tokyo
Tokyo to Haneda

Should we get rail pass or individual tickets...will we not be able to get seats because we can not book in advance since our pass can only be activated once we are there? What is better economically?

Comments

  • You don't give any time schedule here. With such destinations, you would make a 7 or 14 day pass pay off. Although you'd get much better savings with the 7 day pass.
    That said, it would be a brutally hard schedule for just 7 days - I wouldn't recommend it for a week.
    You can see many previews of many places you are planning to see on:
    https://www.youtube.com/user/thejapanfaq/videos
  • I'm interested in the same question but my route is different: I would like to take the bullet train from: Tokyo to Kyoto---end of April in the morning and 4 days later take the bullet train from Kyoto to Yokohama --morning, using green seats for these 2 segments. And also use the train for a round trip Kyoto-Kobe. (any seats ok)
    What am I better off buying? A pass or individual? Can individual tickets be purchased from Canada ahead of time?
  • You can make a 7 day pass (green seat) pay off, particularly if you take the bullet train from Kyoto to Kobe and back.
    You can see regular fares, routes and schedules on Hyperdia.
    http://www.hyperdia.com

    Be aware though that you'll be in Japan during Golden Week, which is a peak holiday travel season. Trains and popular places will be jammed or worse. If you know your schedule, you should make seat reservations for all your trains to get the one you want.

    It is though wisteria season, which you can see and enjoy - something you'll never forget. The Ashikaga Flower Park north of Tokyo is one of the best places to see it.
    https://goo.gl/EvSI3v

    The shibazakura will also be out near Mt. Fuji.
    http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6919.html
  • edited January 2017
    Hello, would the 7day rail pass payoff for:
    Kansai area (4-5days) - including Nara
    Kyoto or Osaka to Miyajima (roundtrip)
    Osaka to Tokyo one-way?
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