Hi
JR Sanyo Pass included train ride on Nozomi that is not covered by normal JR pass, we are very interested but need your advise if that is the preferred pass for our trip?
Could you also recommend interesting places we must visit or check before visiting in December?
Dec 8-10: Fukuoka
Dec 10-12: Miyajima (overnight)
Dec 12-14: Hiroshima
Dec 14-18: Kyoto / Nara / Osaka
Dec 18-20: Toyko
Thank you very much for your help.
Regards
Chiw
0
Comments
Well the problem is your long distance travel time is too long for a 7 day pass, but you don't travel enough to make a 14 day pass pay off. So you have 2 choices - one is to cut 2 days from your travel (you really don't need two days for Hiroshima), or the other choice is to use the JR Sanyo Sanin Area Pass between Fukuoka and Kansai, and then fly on a cheap low cost carrier like Jet Star, Peach or Vanilla Air from Osaka to Tokyo (or use ANA's Experience Japan Fare).
http://www.jetstar.com/jp/en/home
http://www.flypeach.com/pc/en
http://www.vanilla-air.com/en/
http://www.ana.co.jp/wws/us/e/wws_common/promotions/share/experience_jp/index.html
For what to see, it depends on your interests, but one of the best guides for Fukuoka is at:
http://www.thejapanfaq.com/fukpic.html
and you absolutely should not miss the Nanzoin Temple about 20 minutes by train outside the city. One of Japan's best places and virtually unknown to the rest of the world.
For Miyajima, the best sights are the Itsukushima Shrine, the Daishoin Temple, and if you like, the climb up to Mt. Misen (a ropeway can take you part of the way). If you still have time, Iwakuni just south of Miyajima is a great place too.
For Kyoto, there are too many to mention, but the top 3 are the Kinkakuni Temple, the Kiyomizudera Temple, and the Fushimi Inari Shrine. Fushimi Inari is open 24/7 so it's easy to fit in early in the morning or evening to avoid the crowds.
Nara has many good sights too, most around the Nara Park area. The Todaiji Temple is an absolute must-see place.
You can see many previews of the best places to see on:
https://www.youtube.com/user/thejapanfaq/videos
After the temples in Kyoto close down around 5 PM, you can spend the evening in Osaka or Kobe.
For Tokyo, too many to mention. Try:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2164.html