Hi I will be travelling from Tokyo to Mt.Fuji and then onwards to Osaka. May I know how and which trains whether JR pass or otherwise? I am thinking if it's advisable to purchase 7 days JR pass.
Hi, You don't specify where exactly. There is the Hakone area, and the Fuji 5 Lakes area on the other side of the mountain. If you stayed in Hakone, it would be a lot easier to get on your way to Osaka. You don't give your full itinerary or how long, so it's impossible to tell if a 7 day JR Pass pays off or not.
We arrive in Tokyo on 27th April and will be going to Guesthouse Orange cabin, Yamanashi Prefecture, Minamitsuru District at Mt Fuji on 1st May for 1 night.
The JR 7 days pass, will use on 1st May, as we are flying off from Osaka on the 7th May. Should I buy the 7 days Tokyo - Osaka only or 7 days nationwide?
On 2nd May will be travelling to Osaka and will be travelling around Kyota, Nara and near-by places.
Should I just buy the normal train ticket or night bus to Osaka? I am very anxious about the trip and hope not to spend unnecessarily.
Hi, If your trip is only one way from Tokyo to Osaka via Fuji and not returning to Tokyo, then the 7 day pass would be a waste of money. If by "near-by places" you did a day trip to Hiroshima/Miyajima however, you would make the 7 day pass pay off. If you took a bus down to Osaka, it is a cheap way to go, but most people don't really get a good night's sleep on the way down. Trying to see Japan with your brain in a fog is not worth it to me.
You can find regular rail fares, routes and schedules on Hyperdia. http://www.hyperdia.com Under "More Options", be sure to uncheck the Nozomi box since you can't ride that train using the pass.
We will be travelling to Japan on 14-21 November this year, I would like to seek your advise on our itinerary (if advisable to purchase JR Pass), please see below:
14-16 Tokyo (with Disneysea and within the city)
17 Nov Tokyo to Mt Fuji (covers Gotemba, Lake Kawaguchi and 5th station) then go straight to Osaka departs 4-5pm. My question will be: what is the most convenient itinerary by bus Tokyo to 5th Station? or Tokyo to Gotemba? or Lake Kawaguchi?, consideration would be where we can leave our luggage. Next question is where is most convenient station (by train) going to Osaka. 18-21 Osaka (with Kyoto and Nara)
Hi, First, it's better to start a new thread and not piggyback your question on someone else's. Well the first question is if that is your whole itinerary or not. If you only have that one way plan, you're still a long ways off from making a pass pay off. The next issue is that it would be very hard to see both the Fuji Lakes area as well as going up Mt Fuji (which has no view, since you're actually on the mountain), plus Gotemba. I suggest you choose between the Fuji Lakes or Hakone. The latter would be a lot easier, especially with the shorter days of November. http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5200.html http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6900.html The Hakone Loop Course http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5210.html is a common way to see the area and takes a full day. http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2358_008.html After seeing the area, return but go to Mishima Stn., then catch the next bullet train to Kyoto.
7. If you want to stay for two hours at the 5th station, you need more than three hours only for that. Kawaguchiko 1100-1155 5th station 1350-1435 Kawaguchiko http://bus.fujikyu.co.jp/rosen/detail/id/14/#d_h01
Your choice would be to follow the below or similar, to drop some, or to stay there for a night. Shinjuku 605-754 Kawaguchiko Kawaguchiko 1100-1155 5th station 1350-1435 Kawaguchiko Kawaguchiko 1530-1705 GPOM GPOM 1945-2040 Mishima 2057-2355 Osaka
Comments
You don't specify where exactly. There is the Hakone area, and the Fuji 5 Lakes area on the other side of the mountain. If you stayed in Hakone, it would be a lot easier to get on your way to Osaka.
You don't give your full itinerary or how long, so it's impossible to tell if a 7 day JR Pass pays off or not.
Best regards.
We arrive in Tokyo on 27th April and will be going to Guesthouse Orange cabin, Yamanashi Prefecture, Minamitsuru District at Mt Fuji on 1st May for 1 night.
The JR 7 days pass, will use on 1st May, as we are flying off from Osaka on the 7th May. Should I buy the 7 days Tokyo - Osaka only or 7 days nationwide?
On 2nd May will be travelling to Osaka and will be travelling around Kyota, Nara and near-by places.
Should I just buy the normal train ticket or night bus to Osaka? I am very anxious about the trip and hope not to spend unnecessarily.
thank you.
If your trip is only one way from Tokyo to Osaka via Fuji and not returning to Tokyo, then the 7 day pass would be a waste of money.
If by "near-by places" you did a day trip to Hiroshima/Miyajima however, you would make the 7 day pass pay off.
If you took a bus down to Osaka, it is a cheap way to go, but most people don't really get a good night's sleep on the way down. Trying to see Japan with your brain in a fog is not worth it to me.
You can find regular rail fares, routes and schedules on Hyperdia.
http://www.hyperdia.com
Under "More Options", be sure to uncheck the Nozomi box since you can't ride that train using the pass.
You can see previews of some of the best places to see in Japan on:
https://www.youtube.com/user/thejapanfaq/videos
There are also loads of other tips on
http://www.thejapanfaq.com/the-best-japan-travel-tips/
Best regards.
I am grateful for your help and tips. Will google and check again for options.
Thanks.
We will be travelling to Japan on 14-21 November this year, I would like to seek your advise on our itinerary (if advisable to purchase JR Pass), please see below:
14-16 Tokyo (with Disneysea and within the city)
17 Nov Tokyo to Mt Fuji (covers Gotemba, Lake Kawaguchi and 5th station) then go straight to Osaka departs 4-5pm. My question will be: what is the most convenient itinerary by bus Tokyo to 5th Station? or Tokyo to Gotemba? or Lake Kawaguchi?, consideration would be where we can leave our luggage. Next question is where is most convenient station (by train) going to Osaka.
18-21 Osaka (with Kyoto and Nara)
Thank you and hoping for your usual prompt
First, it's better to start a new thread and not piggyback your question on someone else's.
Well the first question is if that is your whole itinerary or not. If you only have that one way plan, you're still a long ways off from making a pass pay off.
The next issue is that it would be very hard to see both the Fuji Lakes area as well as going up Mt Fuji (which has no view, since you're actually on the mountain), plus Gotemba. I suggest you choose between the Fuji Lakes or Hakone. The latter would be a lot easier, especially with the shorter days of November.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5200.html
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6900.html
The Hakone Loop Course
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5210.html
is a common way to see the area and takes a full day.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2358_008.html
After seeing the area, return but go to Mishima Stn., then catch the next bullet train to Kyoto.
http://www.fujisan.ne.jp.e.aca.hp.transer.com/event/info.php?no=680
It means the climbing road to the 5th station could be frozen. If so, you could not go there. The first closing was recorded on 14 November, last year.
http://subaruline.jp/e/state.php
Nonetheless, here is the timetable for the Mt Fuji Hiking Bus. Seven buses per day, almost hourly services until the sunset.
http://bus.fujikyu.co.jp/rosen/detail/id/14/#d_h01
I assume your Gotemba means Gotemba Premium Outlets Mall (GPOM). They likely list all the buses to get there on this website.
https://www.premiumoutlets.co.jp/en/gotemba/access/
This lists almost all direct buses to Lake Kawaguchi.
http://bus-en.fujikyu.co.jp/highway/
Then, you could try to find the best route to take. There should be coin-lockers or similar both at Gotemba Premium Outlet and Kawaguchiko station.
1. The overnight bus to Osaka allows you to stay at Kawaguchiko until 20:30.
Kawaguchiko 2047-734 Osaka Abenobashi
http://bus-en.fujikyu.co.jp/highway/detail/id/9
2. The buses to Nagoya allow you to get to Osaka on the same day.
Kawaguchiko 1700-2120 Nagoya 2127-2237 Osaka
http://bus-en.fujikyu.co.jp/highway/detail/id/11
3. The buses to Mishima could allow you to get to Osaka earlier.
Kawaguchiko 1700-1838 Mishima 1857-2154 Osaka
http://bus-en.fujikyu.co.jp/highway/detail/id/29
4. You may stay until 1930 at Gotemba to get to Osaka on the same day.
GPOM 1945-2040 Mishima 2057-2355 Osaka
https://www.premiumoutlets.co.jp/en/gotemba/access/bus/detail13.html
5. If you leave Kawaguchiko at 15:30, you would stay two hours at Gotemba.
Kawaguchiko 1530-1705 GPOM
https://www.premiumoutlets.co.jp/en/gotemba/access/bus/detail18.html
http://bus-en.fujikyu.co.jp/route/detail/id/1/
6. You could reach Kawaguchiko as early as 8:00 if you start the day at Shinjuku at 6:00.
Shinjuku 605-754 Kawaguchiko
http://bus-en.fujikyu.co.jp/highway/detail/id/1
7. If you want to stay for two hours at the 5th station, you need more than three hours only for that.
Kawaguchiko 1100-1155 5th station 1350-1435 Kawaguchiko
http://bus.fujikyu.co.jp/rosen/detail/id/14/#d_h01
Your choice would be to follow the below or similar, to drop some, or to stay there for a night.
Shinjuku 605-754 Kawaguchiko
Kawaguchiko 1100-1155 5th station 1350-1435 Kawaguchiko
Kawaguchiko 1530-1705 GPOM
GPOM 1945-2040 Mishima 2057-2355 Osaka
I have found another, but Mishima looks better.
Kawaguchiko 1808-2015 Shin-Fuji 2034-2342
http://bus.fujikyu.co.jp/pdf/rosen/fujigoko/detail_id7_timetable_1804.pdf