Hi everyone, we are currently planning our first trip to Japan and were wondering if you could please help with our itinerary and which JR pass to get!
This is our plan:
1 Tokyo
(arrive 22nd October evening)
2 Tokyo
3 Tokyo *
4 Tokyo (Nikko) *
5 Tokyo (Kamakura/ Fuji 5 Lakes) *
6 Tokyo (Yokohama, Kanazawa) *
7 Tokyo (Matsumoto) *
8 Tokyo *
9 Takayama * day 7
10 Takayama *
11 Shirakawa-go *
12 Kanazawa *
13 Kanazawa *
14 Kyoto *
15 Kyoto *
16 Kyoto (Hiroshima) * day 14
17 Kyoto (Nara) *
18 Kinosaki *
19 Kinosaki *
20 Miyajima *
21 Miyajima *
22 Osaka (Himeji) *
23 Osaka (Mt. Koya) * day 21
24 Osaka
We thought about getting a 21 day rail pass (activated on the day with *) but we're wondering if it makes more sense to get a 14 day pass pass and make use of buses? Or any other travel suggestions?
We are pretty happy with our plan and have done a lot of research but are open to suggestions (apart from our night at Shirakawa-go as we've had to book ).
Any hints and tips or general advice for the places we are visiting is very much appreciated!
Thanks!
0
Comments
I think you could get better convenience and value using a 14 day pass as well as some regional passes for other places you mention.
You only get good value from the JR Pass with lots of long distance travel, especially by bullet train.
For Nikko, you can there and around the whole area better with a Tobu Nikko Free Pass.
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2358_002.html
Likewise you can see Kamakura/Enoshima better on the Enoshima-Kamakura Freepass.
http://www.odakyu.jp/english/deels/freepass/enoshima_kamakura/
Going to Yokohama or Kanagawa is really so close and fares are cheap. There are no real passes needed. But if you want, you could look at a few at:
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/arrange/transportation/discount/rail-
bus.html
From there it gets more complicated. Seeing both Kamakura and the Fuji 5 Lakes in a day is basically impossible.
Tokyo to Matsumoto is about 2½ hours one way, and really too far to be a day trip. You might consider switching Days 7 & 8, and then going to Takayama straight from Matsumoto. You can do it by rail on the pass, but you also have the choice of saving about 2 hours if you pay for the bus between the cities (3190 yen).
Going to/from Shirakawago requires paying for a bus also. There is no rail access.
Another thing that looks odd is doing Hiroshima & Miyajima separately. You could see the highlights of Hiroshima and Miyajima easily in 2 days (and maybe even see Iwakuni as well) and use Day 16 for something else - like Hikone Castle & Lake Biwa, or venturing into Shikoku to see Takamatsu, Kotohira, or Unpenji. Or Okayama and Kurashiki is another possibility.
Please be aware also that to get from Kinosaki to Hiroshima will take you about 5 hours.
For Himeji, don't miss the Kokoen Garden next to the castle.
For Koyasan, the JR Pass won't help you. Look into getting a Koyasan World Heritage Ticket.
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2358_012.html
You can see previews of some of the best places to see in Japan on:
https://www.youtube.com/user/thejapanfaq/videos
Hope that helps.
1 22-Oct Tokyo
2 23-Oct Tokyo
3 24-Oct Tokyo
4 25-Oct Tokyo (Nikko) Nikko City Pass
5 26-Oct Tokyo (Fuji 5 Lakes) Bus
6 27-Oct Tokyo (Yokohama) Train
7 28-Oct Tokyo
8 29-Oct Matsumoto Bus
9 30-Oct Takayama Nohi Bus
10 31-Oct Takayama
11 01-Nov Takayama - SHIRAKAWA-GO Bus
12 02-Nov Shirakawa-go - KANAZAWA Bus
13 03-Nov Kanazawa
14 04-Nov Kyoto Train
15 05-Nov Kyoto
16 06-Nov Kyoto (Nara) Train
17 07-Nov Kyoto (Kobe) Train
18 08-Nov Activate pass Kansai Hiroshima Pass
18 08-Nov Kinosaki
19 09-Nov Hiroshima
20 10-Nov Hiroshima (Miyajima)
21 11-Nov Hiroshima-OSAKA (day in Hiroshima)
22 12-Nov Osaka (Himeji)
23 13-Nov Osaka (Mt. Koya) Koyasan Heritage Pass
24 14-Nov Osaka Bus
You could save some money in Tokyo with a 3 day subway pass:
http://www.tokyometro.jp/en/ticket/value/travel/index.html#anc03
For Kinosaki, there is also the hot spring day pass:
http://www.kinosaki-spa.gr.jp/global/hotspring/yumepa.html
There are various passes to see the Fuji 5 Lakes areas as well.
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6905.html
Good luck.