14 Day trip Tokyo - Five Fuji -Nagano - Takayama - Kyoto - Osaka

kyong

Hi, I will be in Japan from 19th Dec to 1st Jan 2017. Our itinerary as of now looks like this:

19th - Arrive Tokyo, check in
20th - Fish Market, explore Central Tokyo
21st - DisneySea
22nd - explore Western Tokyo
23rd - Fuji Five lakes
24th - explore Northern Tokyo
25th - to Nagano for Snow Monkey
26th - to Takayama + Shirakawago
27th - to Shinhotaka Ropeway
28th - to Kyoto
29th - Kyoto
30th - Kyoto, Osaka evening
31st - Osaka + NY countdown
1st Jan - Depart KIX

I was thinking of a 7 day JR pass activated on 25th (to Nagano), everywhere else will use SUICA card and buy bus tickets? Your help is very much appreciated

Kyong

Tenjin

Hi,
Your trip from the 25th onwards comes slightly shy of breaking even, but for the convenience of not having to constantly buy tickets, it might just serve you well.
You cannot use the pass to get to all the places you plan to travel to, however. You'll need to pay for the bus to take you from Takayama to Shirakawago, plus the ropeway. You can't take JR all the way to see the snow monkeys either. This site has more info:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6025.html
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5943.html

For the Fuji 5 Lakes too, JR can only get you part of the way there. You might look at one of the Odakyu passes or some other.
http://www.odakyu.jp/english/deels/freepass/fujihakone/
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6905.html

Also just before the end of the year, some places will be closed for the holidays - you should verify ahead of time if they will be open, and just in case, have a back up plan.
You also may be sorely disappointed by what you'll see for a New Year's Eve celebration. There is no whooping it up like you see in New York City in Times Square, or big fireworks like in Sydney Australia. There are big crowds out of course, but the main activity is called hatsumode, which is the year's first visit to a shrine or temple. In Osaka, the Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine is popular. At bigger temples, you can hear them ringing the bells at midnight.
If you don't have hotel reservations set up yet for New Year's Eve, you may have trouble finding a place.
I also suggest to give at least half a day for Nara - it has some of Japan's best sights.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2165.html

kyong

Hi Tenjin, thank you so much for your help. I guess we will go ahead and get the 7 day JR pass for convenience. We have our Airbnb booked on new years eve. Would you be able to recommend Himeji, Kobe or Nara as our half day trip, if we chose to do one?

Tenjin

The truth is, you don't have to do just one. After the temples of Kyoto close down around 5 PM, you can zip over to Kobe for the evening. That leaves a choice between Nara and Himeji for half a day or more, and I recommend Nara easily. Himeji has Japan's best castle, but missing the Todaiji Temple in Nara is like going to India and skipping the Taj Mahal.
Plus there is a lot more as well - most of the best is in the Nara Park area, which is a 20 minute walk from the JR Nara Station. Aside from Todaiji, there is the Kofukuji Temple, Kasuga Shrine, Isuien and Yoshikien Gardens, feeding the deer, and more.

kyong

Thank you so much for your wonderful recommendation Tenjin! Much appreciated

chenkw

We have drafted our itinerary as below for your kind attention.
Would appreciate if you could advise us which JR pass is suitable.?
Your comments or suggestions on our planning are most welcome.
For 4 adults 2 children's

6 Dec : 6.00am arrive Kansai airport to Kanazawa
( 1 nite at Kanazawa )
7 Dec : Kanazawa to shirakawago to Takayama
( 1 nite at Takayama )
8 & 9 Dec : Takayama to Nagano ( Yudanaka station - snow monkey
Mountain ) ( 2 nite at Nagano )
10 & 11 Dec : Nagano to Kyoto ( 2 nite at Kyoto )
12 to 16 Dec : Kyoto to Osaka ( 5 nite at Osaka )
( 2 days at Universal Studio )
( maybe day trip to Kobe )
17 Dec : Kansas airport 11.00am flight to KL

Should I buy JR 7 days pass use for 6-12th dec &
Buy any pass for 13-17th use in Osaka & Kobe area
Hope to receive your quick reply.

Tenjin

Hi,
Yes, you do save some money with a 7 day pass used Dec 6-12. Please be aware though that there is no rail access to Shirakawago, so you need to pay for the bus. You can then pay for another bus ride to Takayama, and continue using your JR Pass. But I suggest if you can that you stay overnight in Shirakawago - a farmhouse stay can be an unforgettable experience.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5950.html

You will also need to pay for part of the way to see the snow monkeys.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6028.html

For the remaining time in Kansai, a day trip to Kobe can be good, also seeing Himeji with Japan's best castle is well worth it. The Kokoen Garden next door is very nice too. A Kansai Area Pass can save some money, but otherwise it's hard to make worthwhile by only going between the main cities. You should definitely use half to a full day for Nara as well. It has some of Japan's best sights.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2165.html

For local travel, you might look at a 1 or 2 day Kintetsu Pass.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2357_006.html

chenkw

Tenjin San, thank you for yr reply & recommendation