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Comparing passes and costs

The more I research, the more confused I get on the best use of passes and cards for our rail transportation.

My family and I are going to Japan for two weeks (4 adults and one child)

4/11. Arrival at Kansai airport, stay in Kyoto for 3-4 days. We will spend our time within Kyoto with only a day trip to Nara. WOULD YOU SUGGEST A 4 DAY KANSAI PASS OR USE OF AN IC CARD? (Suica, Passmo, or?)

4/14 Kyoto to Hiroshima (begin use of 7 day rail pass.

4/16 Hiroshima to Kumamoto (we will rent a car to visit takachiho gorge for an overnight)

4/18 Kumamoto to hakata

4/20 hakata to shin osaka

4/21 departure from Kansai airport

I CALCULATED COSTS FOR OUR TRIP AND IT IS SLIGHTLY LESS THAN THE 7 DAY RAIL PASS. With a young child, we have planned our trip to leisurely enjoy each destination with no full day trips (other than takachiho ) planned. Would you still recommend the 7 day pass or some other option?

Finally I will be remaining in Japan for an additional week.
4/20. Shin Osaka to koya San
4/22. Shin Osaka to Odawara

4/24. Tomizu (Odawara) to Komae (Tokyo) via odakyu line

4/24-4/27 visit friends and sites within Tokyo

4/27 depart from Haneda

THE SHINKANSEN FARE FROM SHIN OSAKA TO ODAWARA IS ABOUT $100.
SINCE I WILL BE TAKING THE ODAKYU LINE FROM ODAWARA TO TOKYO, I AM THINKING IT WOULD NOT BE TO MY ADVANTAGE TO GET A 14-DAY RAILPASS (approximately $150 more than the 7 day pass)

CSN THE SAME SUICA PASS BE USED IN KYOTO AND TOKYO?
CAN THE SUICA BE USED ON THE ODAKYU LINE

I would appreciate any advice, suggestions. Thank you.

Comments

  • edited February 2017
    Hi,
    I'm not sure how you're calculating it, but it looks to me that a 7 day pass for the rest of you pays off handsomely, and you'd also get your money's worth with the 14 day pass.
    Try the rail pass calculator on:
    http://www.japan-guide.com/railpass/

    As for getting from KIX and around Kansai, a Icoca & Haruka discount ticket can save money on the Haruka portions. For other IC card info, see:
    http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2359_003.html

    For Hakata (Fukuoka), you should definitely not miss the Nanzoin Temple - it is one of Japan's best yet virtually unknown to the rest of the world.
    http://www.thejapanfaq.com/fukpic.html

    For Koyasan, look into getting a Koyasan World Heritage Ticket.
    http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2358_012.html
  • hi,

    i have tokyo wide pass, if i want to go to Gala yuzawa, which station i need to depart from in Tokyo ?
  • thank you Tenjin!!! I re-calculated the fares again on HyperDia... and you are right. My family and I will be well served by getting the 7 day and 14 day JR passes respectively. I will use the Koyasan World Heritage Ticket . the Icoca/Haruka card/pass was the perfect missing piece for the our first four days in Kyoto (before we begin using the JR passes). We will check out the Nanzoin... I lived in Japan for four years and have made numerous vacations to Japan since then. However, only two previous visits to Kyushu hitchhiking around the island... and I am excited about our three days in Hakata/Fukuoka with the bay, parks, temples, food, etc. We, unfortunately, didn't plan our itinerary well enough to catch at least one baseball game. I digress... thank you for your good help.
  • chiyeko5 - you're most welcome.

    johnwong -
    You can easily board the train at Tokyo Station - it takes 80-90 minutes.
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