10-12 days in Japan - itinerary?

Lena

Hi! We are now planning our Japan trip and will stay 10-12 days. From Narita we plan to visit Tokyo, Kyoto, Nagoya, trail between Magome and Tsumago, Matsumoto and then excursions from Tokyo like Fuji, maybe Yokohama. We might also include Nara and Osaka.
Would you advise us to get a 14 day JR Pass? By the way, I am truly impressed by all your detailed answers and advice on this forum!

Tenjin

Are you returning back to Tokyo to leave Japan?

Lena

We are returning back to Tokyo and flying out of Narita.

Tenjin

Hi, and thanks.
Unfortunately, you are still a long way off from making a 14 day pass pay off. But if you can make everything except the Fuji area and Yokohama fit into 7 days, you would get some good savings from a 7 day pass.
If not, then get regular fare tickets, or add some more travel - a day trip to Hiroshima from Kansai would do it very nicely.
Yokohama is too close for any pass, and you can use a regional pass like the Hakone Free Pass to see Hakone near Fuji.

Lena

Thank you so much Tenjin. This is difficult... we don't want to rush and squeeze everything in, just to make it in 7 days. If we like it someplace we would like to feel free and stay for a couple of days. Having the pass gives you flexibility and you don't need to think about buying tickets etc which is a hugh advantage ... on the other hand you don't want to spend money if it's not necessary.. May I come back when we sorted out a more detailed itinerary and find out what the price difference would be?

Lena

Now we have a more detailed travel plan looking like this:
day 1, 14 sep - arrival Narita (buy 72 hours subway ticket including ticket airport-city)
day 1-3, 14-17sep - exploring Tokyo
day 3, 17sep - activate 7 day JRpass and leave for Kyoto (JRpass day1)
day 3-7, 17-21sep - exploring Kyoto incl Osaka and Nara
day 7, 21sep - leave Kyoto via Nagoya and Nakatsugawa to Kiso Valley and Nakasendo
(We are not sure whether we can use the JR pass to get to Kiso Valley but we are planning to walk the trail between Magome and Tsumago)
day 7 or 8, 21 or 22sep - returning to Tokyo via Nagiso and Matsumoto - this would be the 4th or 5th day we use the pass. Iit would leave us with another 2 or 3 days to use the pass and we might take a trip to Hakone, Yokohama or Mitake.
Last day of the pass will be used for our trip Tokyo-Narita.
Would you say this is a good and doable plan? Would you add or delete something? We would very much appreciate your view.
Thank you // Lena

Tenjin

Hi,
First, if you activate a 7 day JR Pass to start from Sep 17, the final day would be Sep 23.
If you want a cheap way from/to Narita, there is the 1000 yen bus.
http://accessnarita.jp/en/home/
If you had some other ticket in mind, I am not sure which one.

For the Kiso Valley, you can get most of the way there on a JR train.
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6079.html?aFROM=2157_6075

For Hakone, you could use a Hakone Free Pass.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2358_008.html
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5210.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.
Yokohama is so close you don't need any pass. For Mt Mitake, see
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3036.html

You can see train schedules, times, fares, connections etc at
http://www.hyperdia.com
Under "More Options", be sure to uncheck the Nozomi box if on a full JR Pass 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.

Lena

Thank you - yes you are right, Sep23 would be the final day to use the pass - misprint my side :-)
Regarding the ticket Narita-Tokyo including a 72 hrs subway ticket I was thinking of this one: http://www.tokyometro.jp/en/ticket/airport_bus/index.html
Tokyo Subway 72-hour Ticket + Keisei Skyliner One-way Ticket (Limited Express) Adult: 3,500 yen, Child: 1,750 yen. My plan was to use this kind of ticket for the first 3 days and when returning to Narita at the end of our journey we can use the JRpass. Have I got it all wrong?

Tenjin

No, you are not wrong.
I don't know where you are going in Tokyo, but the Keisei goes to Ueno and Nippori Stations. You'll need to get from one of those to your final destination.

Lena

We will be staying near Kuramae station - A17/E11 on the metro map. Keisei/Ueno station is not too far from our final destination but I guess it involves change of metro-lines a couple of times which might be tricky for us and would not be the best solution?

Tenjin

Probably you'll arrive dead tired like everyone else. It's true you are not far at all from Ueno Stn so the Keisei makes good sense. If you're up to it, you might just get a taxi from Ueno Stn and take it easy on your first day.
You will not be far either from the Kyu-Yasuda Garden on the other side of the Sumida River, and it is well worth seeing if you have the chance. It's not too big but very relaxing.

Good luck.

Lena

Thank you Tenjin - your help and comments have been very much appreciated and helpful and I feel ready for the great adventure! This forum is great!