We're a family of 5 and will be staying 7 days in Japan (leaving on the 8th day). We're planning to visit various places in Tokyo then spend 2 days in Kyoto and perhaps a day trip at Mt. Fuji. We'd love to take the Shinkansen to Kyoto but is wondering if the JR Pass would be a suitable purchase for us.
Any advise would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
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Going Tokyo-Kyoto-Tokyo is a little short of the cost of a 7 day pass, but if you use it from Narita Airport into Tokyo on the Narita Express, the difference is covered.
If you're going that far though, more than just 2 days is certainly worthwhile. You could see Kyoto in the daytime for 2½ days, see Nara (also well worth it) for ½ a day, and after the temples of Kyoto close down around 5PM, you can zip over to Osaka for the evening. At night the city comes alive and has some great places to see, such as Dotonbori, plus the night views from the Umeda Sky Bldg and Abeno Harukas Bldg are wonderful.
For seeing Mt Fuji, the best place and most convenient would be going to Hakone - you can use the JR Pass up to Odawara Stn, and then you can use a Hakone Free Pass for the rest of the way. If you start early in the morning, you can cover all the sights in a full day trip.
http://www.odakyu.jp/english/deels/
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5200.html
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5206.html
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2358_008.html
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5210.html
Please note that actually going on Mt Fuji offers very little - no view and nothing to do, unless you want to hike the 3776 meters to the peak.
Since you'll be in Japan 8 days and can't use the pass back to Narita (if you're landing there), you could use the ¥1000 bus.
http://accessnarita.jp/en/home/
For other info on what to see, try:
http://www.gotokyo.org/en/index.html
http://www.ar.jal.com/world/en/guidetojapan/city_information/tyo/see/akasaka/
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2164.html
For Kansai:
Kyoto:
http://www.kyoto.travel/
http://www.ar.jal.com/world/en/guidetojapan/city_information/uky/see/central/
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2158.html
For Nara:
http://www.pref.nara.jp/secure/79931/yukari_usa.pdf
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2165.html