Buy 7-day or 14-day pass?

isutanto

Hi,

I plan to travel to Japan in December with my spouse and two 7-9yr old kids. We arrive in Tokyo and plan to visit Disneyland-DisneySea in the first four days. I read somewhere that it might take 40-60min 1-way to go to Disneyland from Central Tokyo and cost pretty expensive for 4 four people. I'm thinking to book hotel near Disney to save cost and time. Is this correct assumption?

On 6th day, we plan to go to Kyoto for 2 days, then Osaka for 3 days (include 1 day to Universal Studios). After this, we plan to go back to Tokyo but want to visit Shirakawa village and Gala Yuzawa (1 day each) on our way back. Total would be 7 days. This fits with 7day JR pass. Or do you think above plan is too ambitious, perhaps go straight to Tokyo after Shirakawa?

Once we're back in Tokyo, we plan to do day-trip to places near Tokyo like 5 lakes near Mt. Fuji and Edo, etc. We plan to stay another 5-6 days in Tokyo. Do you think worth to buy 14-day JR pass for these short trips? Most likely will use JR lines inside Tokyo as well.

Lastly, I know travelling in December can be madness (as like in other cities) and I will be travelling with two small kids. I can make reservation on both passes, so is it worth buy Green pass just to ease my travel? How far do I need to make the reservation, like 7 days before or should be okay 1-2 days before?

Sorry for asking lots of questions, just want to be prepared as much as I can.

Thank you

Tenjin

Unfortunately, your plan is not realistic. A 14 day pass would not pay off, and while a 7 day pass would, it would take over 5 hours to get from Shirakawago to Yuzawa - and 2 more to get back from there to Tokyo - making a huge waste of time.

It's unclear where you are getting your info from, but there appears to be a lot of misinfo. As you can see on
http://www.tokyodisneyresort.jp/en/access/
it's only about 15 minutes by train to the station near the Disney Parks from central Tokyo. Likewise you're putting in about 9 days in Tokyo, when 3-4 days are really enough, and 3 days for Osaka which is more or less a clone of Tokyo. You wrote you're going with your kids and everyone knows what kids like, but why go to Japan at all to spend so much time on American theme parks? The crown jewels of Japanese culture are in Kyoto and Nara, and there are many places that they too would love there - Fushimi Inari is a great place to run through thousands of torii 'tunnels', the Toei Eigamura is part theme park and part movie studio, done to look like Japan centuries ago, there is a new railway museum to see all kinds of real trains, at the Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple it's almost impossible not to smile, the Iwatayama Monkey Park is fun and has a great view over the city, and in Nara the Todaiji Temple is just awe inspiring.
BTW, if you are going to Shirakawago, you will have to take a bus there (not covered under the Pass). Also, if you want to see the Mt Fuji area, the Pass won't help much there either. Look into some other regional passes for that area.
http://www.odakyu.jp/english/deels/
For Tokyo, look into getting a Tokyo Wide Pass and going to some good day trips. Nikko is very popular, and your kids might like the Edo Wonderland there.
http://edowonderland.net/en/
Kamakura/Enoshima is also a great day trip, as is Izu, or Kusatsu for a hot spring experience.
And instead of the full JR Pass, you might consider instead getting the Hokuriku Arch Pass which is cheaper.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2361_arch.html

isutanto

Hi Tenjin, this is fantastic info. Thank you very much.

isutanto

Hi,

Can I ask another question, I will be leaving Tokyo to Osaka on 14 Dec, stay near Shin-Osaka station to visit Osaka, Kyoto and Nara until 20 Dec. This is 7 days in total.

I'm going back to Tokyo on 20 Dec and stay near Shinjuku station. I plan to visit Gala Yuzawa, Mt. Fuji and Edo while I'm in Tokyo until 26 Dec. This is 7 days also.

If I purchase Tokyo Wide pass for 10,000yen ($98) but it's only valid for 3 days so I have to buy two passes, total 20,000yen ($194).

Option A:
1. 7-day Hokuriku pass for 14-20Dec: $234
2. 3-day Tokyo Wide pass for 21-23Dec: $98
3. 3-day Tokyo Wide pass for 24-26Dec: $98
Total: $430

Option B:
1. 14-day JR national pass for 14-27Dec: $433

Isn't option B better since I can use faster Tokyo-Osaka shinkansen with JR pass?

Is there another option (cheaper) to Tokyo rails for 7-day period? Note that I plan to go to Haneda airport 9pm 26Dec.

Thanks again

Tenjin

Hi,
Well, the math doesn't lie - Both options are nearly the same, and your second option gives you one extra day.
There is actually another option for traveling from Tokyo to Kansai for a week - the Japanican ticket to either Osaka or Kyoto.
http://www.japanican.com/en/tour/detail/VJOPENTK1/
http://www.japanican.com/en/tour/detail/VJOPENTO1/
Both actually allow you to take the fastest bullet train, the Nozomi, so you get to Kansai about 30 minutes sooner than by the JR Pass, and a couple hours sooner than the Arch Pass. They even throw in local transport for a day. That said, you can't go beyond the destination ticket point, nor stop off in between.

rablan04

Three of us plan to attend the 15u Baseball World Cup at Iwaki City, Fukishima fr July29-Aug7, we either arrive via Narita 3-4 days before or stay after d games bcuz we'd like to see a bit of Tokyo and Mt Fuji. I am thinking of getting us 7day pass to swing by Tokyo n Mt Fuji then go to Iwaki. After d games we just buy regular train ticket from Iwaki to Tokyo/Narita to go home. any suggestion what d best deal or way for us is much appreciated. Thank you - Reuben

Tenjin

Hi,
First, it's better to start a new thread with your question and not piggyback on someone else's. At any rate a 7 day pass would not pay off for your plans. If you go to Hakone or the Fuji 5 Lakes area though there are some regional Odakyu passes you can use:
http://www.odakyu.jp/english/deels/
There is a discount round trip Narita Express ticket you can get:
http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/pass/nex_round.html
But the 1000 yen bus is still cheaper.
http://accessnarita.jp/en/home/

rablan04

Tenjin, my bad if i inadvertently piggybacked on someone else as you say. And thank you for the above sites you provided w/c gave me addt'l info I needed. Thank u also as you right 7day pass would not pay off and better for us to stick to other special offers.

isutanto

Thanks, Tenjin