First Time to Japan October 27-November 9. HELP

VIJackie

I am feeling quite overwhelmed as to whether to buy a JR Pass for my husband and I.

We will be in Tokyo for 5 nights, Hakone for 2 nights and then Kyoto for 6 nights.

I am struggling to understand transport from city to city and then whether it is worth having the JR pass if we do day trips off and on.

the plan right now is to maximize what those cities have to offer and may 30% of the time do day trips to other cities.

Have not researched it well enough at this point.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Tenjin

Hi,
I'd suggest you use a Tokyo Wide Pass to see some good day trips from Tokyo, like Nikko, Kamakura/Enoshima, Izu, Karuizawa, Kusatsu, Takao, etc.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2361_06.html

For Hakone, it's worth 2D/1N but not 3D/2N. If you're going to to do 2 nights, I suggest you also see the Fuji 5 Lakes and there is a good Odakyu pass for it.
http://www.odakyu.jp/english/deels/freepass/fujihakone/
If you just do Hakone, then use the Hakone Free Pass.
http://www.odakyu.jp/english/deels/freepass/hakone/

You can then use a 7 day rail pass to see Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Himeji, Kobe, etc. You could even take a day trip with an early start to see Hiroshima and Miyajima, which would rack up some huge savings.
You can see regular fares, routes and schedules on Hyperdia.
http://www.hyperdia.com
Please note that you cannot use Nozomi trains with the pass. You can de-select that option under "More Options".
There are some good previews of the places you may want to see on:
https://www.youtube.com/user/thejapanfaq/videos

You can also look at:
http://www.gotokyo.org/en/index.html
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2164.html

http://www.kyoto.travel/
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2158.html

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2165.html

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5200.html