Hi All,
A group of us plan to go to Japan at the end of October and many of them are on a tight budget. So I have been trying to find out the best transportation options.
Our itinerary so far:
Day 1- Arrive at Narita Airport to Tokyo (Shinjuku)
Day 2-Tokyo
Day 3- Tokyo
Day 4- Tokyo
Day 5- Tokyo
Day 6- Tokyo
Day 7- Tokyo to Kyoto
Day 8- Kyoto
Day 9- Osaka (Day Trip)
Day 10- Kyoto to Tokyo
Day 11- Tokyo ( Day of Departure)
Based on our itinerary is it worth it to buy a JR National Pass?
Am I better off buying a 7day JR National Pass or 14Day JR National Pass?
My Transportation Plan:
Purchase a N'EX Tokyo Round Trip Ticket to get from Narita to Shinjuku.
When in Tokyo, we will purchase subway tickets or buy a Pasmo/Sucia Card.
Purchase a 7day JR National Pass and activate it when we go from Tokyo to Kyoto.
Kyoto- what is the best way to get around? can I use my JR pass? or will I need to use a Sucia Card/subway tickets?
Osaka- what is the best way to get around? can I use my JR pass? or will I need to use a Sucia Card/subway tickets?
With a JR pass, are we able to use Limited Express Trains?
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Comments
A 14 day pass makes no sense for your itinerary.
A 7 day pass would pay off though, used Days 5-11. On Day 11 you could use the Narita Express back to the airport on the last day of your pass, and you don't need to get the N'EX Tokyo Round Trip Ticket at all. Since you're on a tight budget, you could take the ¥1000 bus from Narita into Tokyo - it's the cheapest way and still convenient.
http://accessnarita.jp/en/home/
To get around Tokyo, a 3 day subway pass can pay off handsomely:
http://www.tokyometro.jp/en/ticket/value/travel/index.html#anc03
Also IMHO you are putting way too much time in Tokyo. About 3-4 days is plenty, and Days 5-6 could be used to take some great day trips as well as squeeze out even more savings from your 7 day pass.
Nikko makes a great full day trip,
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3800.html
and if you go to Japan near the end of October you should be able to start to see the autumn colors at a place like Karuizawa, which is beautiful.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6030.html
Seeing both places would add about another ¥20,000 (about $200) in transportation savings for you.
Since you are already seeing Tokyo, you can largely skip Osaka during the day. After the temples of Kyoto close down around 5 PM, 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.
Instead, you really should go see Nara - it has some of Japan's most breathtaking places, like the Todaiji Temple.
Both Kyoto and Nara have a ¥500 day bus pass that can be very economical. You can of course use the pass on JR trains between Kyoto and Nara, and on the Nara line you can also stop off at Inari Stn to see one of Kyoto's best places, the Fushimi Inari Shrine (it's open 24/7, so if you want to avoid the crowds, you can easily go there in the early morning or evening). The sights in Uji are also along the way if you have the time. You can also take the JR train to go from Kyoto Stn to see the Arashiyama area.
For Osaka and Tokyo, you could use your JR Pass for the Loop Line and Yamanote Line, respectively. They go to some but not all the best places there.
You can take Ltd Express trains with the pass (why not? you can take the bullet train with them too). There are a few exceptions as listed on
http://www.japanrailpass.net/en/about_jrp.html
but none I believe that matter for your plans.
How important is it to make reservations for seats on the N'EX Nartia Express or JR Trains?
For Example:
When we arrive at Narita Airport, I don't know how long it will take to go through customs, pick up my luggage, pick up my sim card, purchase tickets for Tokyo metro. There are many things I must collect around the airport, but I don't know how long it will take.
Is it possible to get a seat, the day off when I arrive at the airport to purchase a ticket on the Narita Express?
Same with JR, How far in advance can I reserve seats? and is it a must?
Narita Express trains require seat reservations. You can easily do it in the JR office. For bullet trains, as long as you have the actual pass you can do so in any JR ticket office within a month, I recall, of the departure date.
You are not traveling at a peak season though, so for the bullet train unreserved seating is fine. But for going from Tokyo to Kyoto, you might reserve some seats on the right hand side to see Mt. Fuji along the way (assuming the weather cooperates).
With JR passes, reserving seats on the bullet train to Kyoto is recommended. You have plenty of time to do so once in Tokyo.
The JR Pass is largely useless to get around Kyoto, Osaka. The Pass is meant for city-to-city travel. Use an IC card to get around the cities.
Between Nara and Osaka, which do you recommend? or do you think its possible to fit both into one day.
For example: In the morning head to Nara, and as you recommend go to Osaka at Night.
I did look up Nara, looks amazing! which is why I have decided to fit it into our schedule.
Are the IC card universal between cities? for example.. can I use a SUCIA card for Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka?
You can absolutely do Nara with Osaka as a day trip.
Yes, you can use your Suica card. This site has more info:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2359_003.html
I think I'm going to visit Mount Fuji as a day visit.
Does the Holiday Rapid Fujisan still exist? If so, how much does it cost?
I used Hyperdia to tell me the cost. Obviously the faster the train the more expensive. It seems to vary 2460¥ (179 mins) one way or 4160¥ (111mins) one way
Unfortunately, I won't be able to utilize my JR rail pass for it, since I plan to go on Day 4 of my trip. So this will be an additional cost.
The Holiday Rapid Fujisan still exists but only is running on Sat/Sun until Sept. 25th according to their website
http://www.fujikyu-railway.jp/train/holiday_kaisoku_2016.php
If you want to see the Fuji area, you'd need to choose between either Hakone or the Fuji 5 Lakes area. There are Odakyu regional passes for both. To see both areas you need 2 days.
http://www.odakyu.jp/english/deels/
For Hakone, you could use your pass for it up to Odawara Stn and save a bit that way, if you are willing to rearrange your schedule so you go there on Days 5 or 6.