Hi! I am going to japan from 25 dec to 5 january.
- 25th dec to 27 dec in osaka
(landing in haneda on 25/12/16 at 1535hrs, then planning to take shinkansen to Osaka.
-27 dec to 30th dec in kyoto
- 30 dec to 5 jan in tokyo with day trip to hakone.
Is 7 days JR pass worth for my above itineary and do i need to purchase additional japan wide pass for travelling within tokyo?
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http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2165.html
A Tokyo Wide Pass would be a terrible waste if you only stayed in Tokyo. It is meant for areas nearby, and there are many good places to see, such as Nikko, Kamakura, Karuizawa, Kusatsu, Izu, and Takao.
The Mt Fuji area is good too such as Hakone and the Fuji 5 Lakes. Some Odakyu passes can save you money.
http://www.odakyu.jp/english/deels/
Within Tokyo, a 2-3 day subway pass can save you money too.
http://www.tokyometro.jp/en/ticket/value/travel/index.html#anc03
Be aware though that near the end of the year and the first few days of the year many places will be CLOSED. Check with each place's website beforehand or you might get a nasty shock. Also have a back up plan in case something goes wrong.
Here is some useful info:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2276.html
http://travelience.com/blog/five-ways-to-spend-new-years-eve-in-tokyo/
http://www.newyearsevetokyo2015.com/
https://tokyocheapo.com/travel/holidays/japanese-new-year-tokyo/
i have been looking through the forum for tips in planning my itineary and with consideration of your suggestions.
I currently have questions in regards with using my JR pass and local subway for travelling in Osaka and Kytoto, keeping in mind that my accommodation is in osaka.
My current plan in osaka and kytoto is,
Day 1 ->West Kyoto: Arashiyama
Day 2 -> East Kyoto : Gion and Higashiyama area
Day 3 -> South Kyoto: Fushimi Inari, Uji/Nara/Kobe/Himeiji Castle
Day 4 -> USJ
Can I use my JR pass with single trip local subway for travelling or would you recommend buying Kansai Thru pass or Kansai Area pass?
I might try to combine exploring West and East Kyoto within one day so as to save one day for exploring Osaka.
For Kyoto travelling, I am planning to buy the 2 days city bus pass for commuting between attractions.
Any comments for my above plan?
Sorry to say this but you are severely overpacking your plans. There is no way you could do West and East Kyoto adequately in one day. Also putting in Fushimi Inari, Uji, Nara, Kobe, Himeji Castle is really impossible, especially with the shortened daylight hours in winter.
What you could do is move Fushimi Inari to Day 1 - it is open 24/7 so you can go there early in the morning and avoid the crowds. It is only a couple of stops from Kyoto Stn, and across the street from Inari Stn so access couldn't be easier. On the way back you can go back to Kyoto Stn and then get the JR train to take you straight to Arashiyama.
You can see both half day and full day Arashiyama itineraries at:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3950_arashiyama_half.html
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3950_arashiyama_full.html
By all means make sure you see the Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple, which is one of the most whimsical places you will ever see.
For your Day 3 with a very early morning start you could see Nara and Himeji (skipping Uji; there really isn't time) and in the evening on the way back see some of Kobe. A lot of time will be eaten up in transport so you might plan to eat while on the train. Don't miss the Kokoen Garden next to Himeji Castle - it is also very nice.
For your Day 2 if you really love barnstorming the country, you could also see the Honganji Temples which have some of the most massive wooden structures in the world - they are easily within walking distance of Kyoto Stn and open around the crack of dawn.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3920.html
You *cannot* use the JR pass on city subways. In Osaka you can use it on the JR Loop Line though, and in Kyoto on the Nara line to Fushimi Inari and of course Nara, plus also to Arashiyama.
You can see many previews of the best places to see on:
https://www.youtube.com/user/thejapanfaq/videos