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First-time visitors to Japan are often amazed at the extensive rail network. Admittedly taking a look at the metro map of Tokyo can be incredibly intimidating, but once you arrive you’ll quickly realize how easy it is to navigate the system. Of course, the rail network isn’t limited to just the cities, Japan easily has the most efficient bullet trains – known locally as shinkansen – in the world.
Travellers will be happy to know that the Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass) is a cost-effective way to travel across long distances in Japan. The JR Pass is only available to tourists and must be ordered before you arrive in Japan. You’ll receive a voucher which you exchange for your pass in person in Japan. So if you forget your pass at home before departing, you’re out of luck. It really makes no sense why the pass system isn’t done electronically, but those are the rules.
The pass comes in two types: ordinary and green cars. Green cars are first class seats which give you more spacious seats, but ordinary cars are quite comfortable already so there’s no need to upgrade. Let’s take a look at the JR pass price and see what the value is. Note that children aged 6-11 get 50% off the listed rates.
| Days | Ordinary | Green Car |
|---|---|---|
| 7 consecutive days | ¥ 29,110 | ¥ 38,880 |
| 14 consecutive days | ¥ 46,390 | ¥ 62,950 |
| 21 consecutive days | ¥ 59,350 | ¥ 81,870 |
Is the Japan Rail pass worth it?
It really comes down to simple math. If buying single tickets to your intended destinations cost more than a pass, then obviously the JR Rail Pass is worth it. You can look up the exact costs and times of your intended route on Hyperdia, but here’s a quick way to help you calculate if getting a Japan Rail Pass is worth it for you.
- Tokyo – Osaka: ¥ 14,450
- Osaka – Hiroshima: ¥ 10,230
Using these base trip costs you can see that the JR pass price will pretty much be even with a 7-day JR Pass if you do a round trip from Tokyo to Osaka. For the 14-day pass, you need to go as far as Hiroshima. The price difference is pretty small between a 14-day and 21-day pass so adding another day trip or two and the JR pass price for 21 days all of a sudden becomes an incredible value.
If you’re flying into Tokyo, but departing from Osaka, purchasing one-way tickets might be of better value. Also note that you get to select when your JR Pass becomes activated, so if you plan your trip well, you may only need a 7-day pass even if you’re in the country for longer than that.
Where is the Japan Rail Pass valid?
Since this is a physical paper pass and not an electronic card type pass, you can not use it at the turnstiles. All you need to do is show it to the ticket agent at the station and they’ll let you through. The following are the types of transportation you can use your pass on.
JR Trains – The JR Pass will give you access to all JR trains nationwide including shinkansen (except Nozomi & Mizuho trains), limited express, express, rapid and local trains. This includes the Narita Express train to/from Narita airport and the Tokyo monorail to/from Haneda airport. JR pass holders can make free seat reservations for the Shinkansen at any JR station with a JR office.
JR Trains in Tokyo – This is where a lot of confusion comes in. The JR Yamanote and Chuo lines are owned by Japan Rail so you can use those two lines for free with an active pass. The other metro lines are run by different companies and you will need to use an IC card (detailed below). You do not need a JR Pass if you’re staying just in one city.
JR Ferry to Miyajima – The JR ferry to Miyajima located near Miyajimaguchi station can’t be missed. There are only two lines and one is marked with “JR.” Just flash your pass as you get on. When you return from Miyajima, just show your pass again to get on the ferry.
Local JR Buses – Not many tourists will use local JR buses, but your pass is valid on them. The one major bus route that tourists may be interested in is the JR tourist loop bus in Hiroshima. Your JR pass is NOT valid for the Raku bus in Kyoto.
Final word
As you can see the JR Rail Pass is worth it if you’re travelling a long distance in a set time period. The other advantage is that since you won’t need to buy train tickets, you can make any random side trip when you want to.
If you’re going to be in a single major city such as Tokyo or Kyoto, then you’re better off using a local IC card for your daily needs and supplementing it with individual tickets for any day trips. To be clear, if you’re visiting just Tokyo, then all you need is a Suica or Pasmo card.
I found the JR Pass to be incredibly convenient for tourism, and far more useful than I initially expected. It seems there are a lot of JR trains that are decent alternatives to other train and bus routes, so we used it a lot. If you use Google Maps for directions as I did, you just have to filter your searches mentally for JR trains. (I wish Google Maps had a filter with just JR trains!) Often our guidebooks didn’t mention the JR alternatives, so look for them yourself to save money.
Our trip in Kyoto to the Golden Temple was a good example of how we biased our search to a JR line. There are multiple ways to travel there: either an all-bus trip, a trip on a non-JR train to a bus, or a trip on a JR train to a bus. The all-bus is the longest, but you can use the Kyoto Bus daypass. The two train journeys were faster than the all-bus, and not much different in travel time from each other. So of course we chose the JR route. This happened many times — to Himeji, Osaka (twice), Kyoto-Tokyo, and Hiroshima where we also used it for the Miyajima Ferry.
Waving the JR Pass instead of buying specific tickets to get onto unreserved trains was also far more convenient. Not all JR ticket offices have English speakers; wish you could buy tickets online or at your hotel.
As for the subways and non-JR trains, it was great to see how the PASMO card worked for all of them that we took. Couldn’t miss a Hashin Tigers game!
HamTech.
Yes the JR pass is so convenient once you learn exactly where you can use it. The app Japan Trains is also really useful since you can filter it with or without the JR Pass. I did figure out in Kyoto it was easier to use the bus. Even in Osaka, I opted to use my Suica card because it was easier than using the long way via JR pass.
Hi Barry,
I’m going to Tokyo (four days), then off to Kyoto (3 days), day trip to Nara and back to Kyoto, then heading to Nara and leaving from the Osaka airport. Since I’m not doing the round trip back to Tokyo, do you recommend getting the JR pass or is buying tickets on the go a better option? Thank you so much for your help in advance!
Krystal,
One way tickets are likely your best bet. I don’t even think the Kansai Pass will be worth it for you.
Out of curiosity, why are you headed back to Nara before going to the Osaka airport? Can you not go direct?
Hi Barry,
Me and my wife intend to travel from Tokyo to kyoto then to Nara and Osaka and then to Hiroshima and back to Osaka to fly home, Will the JR Pass be a better option ?
Hi Mark,
If you’re able to complete your travel from Tokyo to Hiroshima and back to Osaka in a 7-day window, then the 7-day JR Pass is an excellent value. You could just activate it the day you leave Tokyo or just ensure your pass is active for your return journey from Hiroshima to Osaka. If you have other side trips planned, just add up the individual costs on Hyperdia to see if it’s worth it for a 7-day or even a 14-day pass.
Do children under 6 travel for free then?
Maxime,
Correct. Kids aged 1-5 ride for free but they’re not entitled to a paid seat. In other words, you can’t reserve a seat for them. If you reserve a seat for yourself, they must sit in your lap. If there is a free seat in the unreserved section, they’re welcome to that.
Hi Barry, thank you for the tip. I am planning to go to Tokyo – Kanazawa- Kyoto – Osaka – Naoshima -Tokyo, my trip is 15 days. `is this pass works for all these places? thanks you
Hi Lou,
Generally speaking, a 14-day JR pass is worth it once you make a return trip from Tokyo to Hiroshima. Although you’re not going as far as Hiroshima, your added trips to Kanazawa and Naoshima appear to make the pass of good value. You’ll obviously have to pay regular fares for one of your days. Depending on your itinerary, I would probably activate the pass as soon as you land and pay regular fares the day you depart.
One tip, get familiar with the JR lines in advance via Hyperdia and download the JR Trains app.
Hi Barry, we are planning to travel from Okinawa to Kyoto to spend 3 days there and then return to Narita airport – would the pass be worthwhile – we could use it to do some trips from Kyoto as well.
thanks, Barbara
Oops I meant Yokohama not Okinawa
apologies
Hi Barbara,
The 7-day is worth while as long as you use the Narita express and make a round trip to Kyoto, so yes it would be worth it. You would be able to use the pass in quite a few places and make side trips to say Nara and Osaka while in Kyoto. The JR pass is of limited use within Kyoto (except to get o Arashiyama), but it’s still of good value just for convenience purposes.
Hi Barry – we will be traveling to Japan in October. We’ll be there for a total of 15 days, spending the first four days in Tokyo. Initially, we were going to purchase a 14 day pass but it seems that JR lines are not convenient for travel within Tokyo and Kyoto. So, we are thinking of purchasing the 7 day pass so that we can travel from Tokyo to Takayama. (We will be visiting Shirakawa-go and Kanazawa but I believe the buses running to both of these towns are not included in the JR pass). From Kanazawa we will be going to Kyoto which will be our base for the rest of the trip. The first two days in Kyoto we will take 2 day trips to Himeji Castle, and Hiroshima/Miyajima to take advantage of the remaining days of the pass. After these two days we are planning on exploring Kyoto, inlacing the bamboo forest, Mt. Koya, Nara and Osaka.
My questions is – the 7 day JR pass covers practically the long distance train rides for the first half of the trip. Would it be best to combine the 7 day JR pass with a Kansai Thru Pass or a JR Kansai regional pass? Not sure which of these two passes is more useful to travel within Kyoto, Nara, Mt. Koya and Osaka and between these towns.
Thanks in advance for your response!
Hi Carol,
A few things to note to help you make up your decision
– The JR lines IMO, are very convenient in Japan. The Yamanote line goes in a circle and goes to almost every major attraction (except Sensoji), there’s also the JR Chuo line that cuts across the city and is represented by a thin grey line on this map.
http://bento.com/pix/subway/tokyo_subway_1700.gif
– The bullet trains now go directly to Kanazawa but not shirakawa as you’ve noted.
Based on what you’ve listed, to me it does sound like a 7-day pass + a Kansai pass makes sense since you’re doing all your long distance travel in those 7 days. The only question is, where are you flying out of? If it’s back in Tokyo, you need to factor that cost in. If it’s Kansai, then I think you already know the answer.
The nice thing about the Kansai pass is that it covers the journey to Koyasan which the JR pass does not.
The only other thing I would advise is to think about your route. I did something similar, but instead of Kanazawa and shirakawa, I spent extra days in Tokyo as the city has a lot to see. It’s really all personal preference, but Japan is a country where you want to slow down when you can.
I should also note that Nara was the last day trip I took and by the time I got there, I was so tired of seeing temples. I spent an hour there and decided to go back to Kyoto and just eat and shop for a change of pace. The temples in Kyoto and Koyasan are absolutely stunning.
Thanks so much for the information. Sorry, I forgot to mention that we are flying out of Osaka – for this reason, I wasn’t sure the 14 day pass made much sense.
In regards to Takayakama, Kanazawa and Shirakawa – we were originally planning on spending extra days in Tokyo and doing one day trip to see Mt. Fuji instead. As of right now, the itinerary feels a bit crammed and too fast paced…I might reconsider going to these towns. Have you been to Takayama and Kanazawa? If so, would you recommend one over the other? We would be arriving in Takayama on October 10th and I believe this is the last day of the autumn festival.
Carol,
Since you’re flying out of Osaka, it seems obvious that your idea of a JR Pass + Kansai pass makes much more sense. I personally did not do Takayama or Kanazawa for the same reasons you are thinking about dropping them now. I felt like my time was better spent elsewhere e.g. more time in Tokyo and Kyoto as my bases.
I spent 7 days in Tokyo the last time I was there and easily found enough things to entertain myself. Part of the fun of Tokyo is exploring random lesser known neighbourhoods e.g. Yanaka Ginza, Daikayama, Kagurazaka.
I had debated Mt. Fuji or Hakone, but just cuz of my timing, I didn’t think it would be worth it (there was volcanic ash in Hakone at the time).
The 2 best places I visited were Koyasan and Miyajima. Both were a touch out of the way, but I LOVED them. Himeji was nice just for the castle. You could easily stop in Himeji on your way back to Kyoto as the only thing to see there is the castle.
Thanks Barry, that’s really helpful
are there any other places you would recommend we visit from Kyoto that would utilise the pass
kind regards
Barbara
Barbara,
If you have time and are willing to do a long day-trip. Hiroshima / Miyajima is well worth it. I LOVED Miyajima. That being said, since you only have 3 days in Kyoto, you really only have time to choose ONE day trip. So it would have to be Nara or Hiroshima/Miyajima.
You could also make a long day trip out of Nara e.g. Kyoto –> Nara –> Osaka –> Kyoto. The distance between each place is only 1 hours by JR trains. Be sure to purchase the Nara bus pass if you do this route to save time. Also note that in parts of Osaka, your JR pass will not work, but you can use your Suica or Pasmo card instead.
Hi Barry, I see you are very helpful here and hope I can get a piece of advice.
I’m planning a trip to japan next march, I will arrived and depart from to Narita airport.
My planned itinerary would be:
Tokyo 4 days
Mt Fuji 3 days
Kyoto-Nara-Osaka 6 days
Hiroshima 2 days
I think te best deal would be to activate a 14 day pass once I leave tokyo for the rest of my trip and return at the end.
I just need to resolve how to get from Narita to Tokyo without a JR Pass.
Any kind suggestions?
Regards!
Salvador,
I’m assuming on the last day you’re going to travel from Hiroshima to Narita? If that’s the case, just back time your pass and activate it 14 days from your departure date.
As for Narita to Tokyo. You can just buy a one way ticket on the Narita Express or you can take the bus. It’s roughly 3,100 yen.
Wow Barry, you seem like the person who may be able to give me some advice. I am travelling to Japan with my family in December. We are spending 3 nights at Disneyland (we arrive in Tokyo in the evening), 3 nights in Tokyo, 7 nights in Osaka and 7 nights in Hakuba before travelling back to Tokyo to fly home. The whole transport thing is confusing me. We are planning day trips to Hiroshima, Nara and Kyoto. Should we get a 21 day pass or is that not worth it?
I appreciate any assistance you are able to provide.
Sherie
Hey Sherie,
A few things to note
You’ll make your money back with the 21day pass as long as you go from Tokyo -> Hiroshima roundtrip. However, if you’re able to rearrange your itinerary, you could get away with a 14 day pass e.g. depart Tokyo Day 5 and return to Tokyo before the 14-day pass is up.
I personally think the 21-day pass is more convenient, but note that you’ll still need to pay for local transit in some places e.g. Some lines in Osaka, Kyoto, and Hiroshima.
You’ll also want to look at your route to and from Hakuba. From what I understand, connections can be difficult.
http://www.tabitabihakuba.com/get-hakuba-osaka-kyoto/
Hi Barry,
I have read all your comments and I’m still confused on what is best for us, 2 couples.
We will be flying into Haneda airport then we need to get to Kyoto for 2 nights from there we will be going to Osaka 2 nights and then onto Tokyo for a few nights before boarding our cruise on the 13th of October.
We have tours booked in Kyoto but no where else so will probably need trains for sightseeing.
What would you suggest?
Hi Vicki,
It Assuming you’re in Kyoto and Osaka for 4 days combined total, you could probably just get a 7-Day JR pass and activate it whenever it’s convenient for you. The JR pass will be of limited use within Kyoto and Osaka, but the round trip ticket from Tokyo – Kyoto will pretty much mean you’ll break even. You can use the JR pass in Tokyo to get you to most major attractions.
To supplement your local travel, get a suica or passmo card which you can use for non-JR trains. In Kyoto, the tourist bus pass will likely be your best option.
https://www.moneywehave.com/kyoto-tourist-bus-the-raku-bus/
Hi Barry, can you help me decide the best pass to get please? I’m traveling from Tokyo (and Kamakura & Yokohama)-Kanazawa-Takayama-Kyoto (and Koyasan)-Osaka-Hiroshima (and Miyajima)-Fukuoka
I’m traveling one way and not returning to Tokyo via train, total time in Japan is about 17 days, I know it’s a busy agenda! I’m curious whether JR is the best option or maybe something else?
Thanks!
Leon
Hi Leon,
It’s a bit trickier for you since you’re going one way. I suspect one-way tickets and possibly a Kansai pass may be the best value for you, however a 14-day JR pass my be the most convenient. I would suggest pricing out your individual routes at the following sites and then compare it to available passes.
http://japan.aoimirai.net/jrpass_calculator.html
http://www.hyperdia.com/
Hello Barry,
My husband and I are planning a trip and we are struggling to understand if the JR Pass will work for us. We need to travel by train from Kanazawa to Kyoto, from Kyoto we would like to do a anumber of day trips to Nara, Konya-San and Kinosaki and the. To go from Kyoto to Tokyo.
We would be very grateful for any advice.
Kind regards
Karen
9 Oct Takayama 02 301 Car
17th century medieval town
Museums
Kanazawa 10 Oct Kyoto 02 Train
Travel to Kanazawa to drop off car
Kyoto 11 Oct Nara
1h by Car less by train
Train
Kyoto will be the central base and Nara, Koya-San and Kinosaki will be day trips by train (not car)
Home to 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites Todaiji Temple Fushimi Inari Shrine
World’s largest wooden structure and home to Japan’s largest Buddha
Kyoto 12 Oct Koya-san
3h 30m by car and will be less by train
Train
Kyoto will be the central base and Nara, Koya-San and Kinosaki will be day trips by train (not car)
Kongobuji Temple and Garan temple complex
Kyoto 13 Oct Kinosaki Train
Kyoto will be the central base and Nara, Koya-San and Kinosaki will be day trips by train (not car)
Onsen Town Hot Springs
Kyoto 14 Oct
Booked Castle Tour with Ken
Kyoto 15 Oct Tokyo Hilton
Tokyo 16 Oct Hilton
Customised tour of Tokyo with Yoko
Hey Karen,
Is there a reason you’re renting a car to Kanazawa? Also, I see you’re starting in Takayama? Is there a reason for this too? What airport are you flying into?
What I’m getting at is, if you build your itinerary a bit differently, you could probably maximize different passes.
The Kyoto Thru Pass will cover your for Nara and Koya-san. Kinosaku (if you mean Kinosaki Onsen seems out of your way). When you depart Kyoto, you could get the Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass which would get you to Kanazawa and Takayama. You could then use that same pass to get to Nagoya before purchasing a one way ticket to Tokyo.
http://www.surutto.com/tickets/kansai_thru_english.html
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2361_takayama_hokuriku.html
If you’re schedule is fixed, one way-tickets might be your best option since you’re renting cars. If you don’t rent a car, a 7-day pass may be good enough as long as you arrive in Tokyo by the time it expires. Use the following sites to check how much you’ll spend on one way ticketes.
http://japan.aoimirai.net/jrpass_calculator.html
http://www.hyperdia.com/
Hi Barry,
I need some suggestions.
So I’m planning to go to Japan next March 2018 and going for about 14 days. I’m flying in and out from Tokyo Narita Airport. I’m not sure if I should get the 7 days pass or 14 days pass. My plan is to stay in Tokyo the first 2 nights, then move to Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Nara the next 6 days, then coming back to Tokyo on the 9th day in Japan. My problem is that do I need to use the JR pass from Narita to Tokyo and Tokyo to Narita or a general pass will do and be much cheaper? And I will be activating the JR pass on the 3rd day in Japan to travel to Kyoto area. So I’ll only need a 7-day pass.
Melody,
Using a 7-day pass and activating it on day 3 is probably your best bet. You can buy individual tickets for the Narita Express or take the bus.
One personal thing to note, I found Kobe to be incredibly boring. I went there for the beef, but I didn’t think it was anything special.
I’m actually going Kobe just to try Kobe beef tenpanyaki too!! Can you recommend some restaurants ??
Will the individual tickets for Narita Express be too expensive?
Melody,
Steakland is the most popular spot, but honestly, I think teppanyaki style steak is really overrated. I personally would rather make a run to Hiroshima and Miyajima if you have the time.
As for the Narita Express, it should be around 3,200 Yen for an ordinary class ticket. Some people think that’s expensive, but I think it’s pretty reasonable considering it’s like a 60min train ride.
Unfortunately, I dont have the time to go down to Hiroshima. How much approximately did it cost in Steakland and do I need to make a reservation?
Does the JR railway take the same amount of time to reach Tokyo (60min) ?
hi barry, I’m hoping you can help.
we are travelling to japan in October this year leaving UK 04th arriving at narita airport on the 05th. we are wondering if it is worth getting a JR pass for our time. we need to make the following train journeys
narita airport to tokyo (05th)
tokyo to kyoto (08th) first available train in the morning. how early do they start?
koyto to osaka(kansai) airport (10th)
or does it work out cheeper to do individual tickets?
many thanks
Hi
My sister and I want to travel from Hiroshima to Mt Koyo overnight then onto Osaka. Is this possible to use Japan rail pass?
Hi Leigh,
The JR pass would only cover Hiroshima to Osaka. You would have to purchase the Koyasan World Ticket to get from Osaka to Koyasan.
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2358_012.html
Note that Hiroshima to Osaka is about 3 hours and then Koyasan is another 1.5 – 2 hour journey, so plan accordingly. If you can, try to stay overnight in Kyoto or Osaka before heading to Koyasan in the morning.
Hello Barry,
My partner and I are arriving at Narita Airport and are spending 6 nights in Tokyo, then going to Kyoto for 3 nights, Hiroshima/Miyajima for 1 night, Osaka (with a day trip to Nara) for 4 nights, then flying out of Kansai Airport. Would you advise the 7 day rail pass is more cost effective (activating it on last day when we go to Kyoto), the 14 days rail pass and activate from day 1, or just purchasing one way tickets and forgetting about the rail pass altogether?
Thanks in advance.
Hi Kristy,
The 7-day pass would indeed be the best value for you. I agree it’s best to activate it the day you depart Tokyo (use it to get to the Shinkasen station). You can then use it in Kyoto (to get to Arashiyama), Hiroshima / Miyajima and then to get to Nara while in Osaka.
There is a JR circle line in Osaka which you can use, but I found it to be not that convenient and just paid to use the regular lines.
You could also use your JR pass to go to Himeji if you wanted another day trip from Osaka.
Dear Barry,
My family will be flying to Osaka in November, taking a train to stay in Kyoto for 2 nights, then 4 nights at Osaka. Plan to go to Shirakawa-go & Kanazawa from Osaka. What is the best travelling method?
Is it worth getting the 7 day JR pass?
Any suggestions on what & where to go to while in Kyoto & Osaka.
Please advise.
Hi Maria,
If the furthest you’re headed is Shirakawa-go & Kanazawa, I don’t think the 7-day JR pass will be worth it as normally you would need to make a return trip to Tokyo to break even.
I’m looking at the Kanzai Thru pass and I doubt it would be of good value.
I suspect your best bet is to just pick up a ICOCA or PiTaPa card and just pay as you go.
Use the following sites to schedules and costs to figure out what’s the best value for your itinerary.
http://japan.aoimirai.net/jrpass_calculator.html
http://www.hyperdia.com/
My son is traveling to Tokyo with a friend for 2 weeks. They have a few activities planned, but were planning on getting the JR Pass for convenience.. can you travel to places like Osaka or Kyoto and return in a day? Can you see things like the countryside of Japan just taking trips on the train? Is there a better pass to get if staying mainly in Tokyo?
Hi Barry,
I really appreciate this article and your responsiveness to us uninitiated travellers to Japan!
Here’s my itinerary and I’m hoping you can give me your feedback on JR vs. point to point as I’ll be in
Japan for all of April, but from April 20 onward I’ll just in tokyo or doing short day trips, to Disney for example.
Tokyo to Osaka
Osaka to Tokyo
Tokyo to Kyoto
Kyoto to Toba (to see the Ise Shima area)
Toba back to Tokyo
So I can get the 21-Day pass, but I’ve been reading that the JR rail only includes the slower trains, is that correct?
Looking forward to your feedback.
Thank you in advance for your time. 🙂
Hi Michael,
Is it at all possible to do all your long distance travel within a 2 week period? E.g. activate your 14-day pass when you depart Tokyo for Osaka and make sure you return from Toba before the 14days are up? If not, the 21 days pass will still be worth it, but I’m just trying to see if it’s at all possible to bring down the costs.
With the JR Pass, you wouldn’t get access to NOZOMI and MIZUHO trains, but the time difference is only 15mins from Tokyo -> Kyoto compared to all the other Shinkansen so it really doesn’t matter.
Unfortunately I can do it in 15 days but not 14. It’s with 2 separate friends so my schedule is beholden to theirs. Good news is that I can still do day trips outside Tokyo to get even more use from the JR Pass.
But in the end, the 21-day pass will still be worth it at nearly $600?
Is there a region pass I could get or just the all japan pass?
Planning to order tomorrow so thanks a lot for your quick replies. Life saver!!
Michael,
The problem is, you’re going through multiple regions and backtracking to Tokyo, so I suspect the regional passes wouldn’t be much better. I took a look at Hyperdia and a 1-way ticket from Tokyo to Kyoto one-way is ¥14,110. Since you’re technically making that trip 4 times, that’s a total of ¥56,440. Kyoto to Toba is another ¥9,030 which totals ¥65,470. Buying a 21-day pass is still cheaper. At least you could use your pass for any other JR trains when using local public transportation.
That being said, I’m not an expert when it comes to regional passes. I would suggest posting on reddit to see if the locals have a better solution.
https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/
My mind is boggling at the trains! not sure if the Jr pass is worth it for me.
I fly into Tokyo for 5 nights,
then to Hakone for 1 night
Kyoto for 3 nights
Osaka for 4 nights
and fly out of Osaka.
From what I’ve read maybe not?
Thanks 🙂
Hi Sarah,
You’re correct, it would be cheaper to simply buy point to point tickets for your trip. That being said, the Hakone Free Pass would be of good value if you plan on doing the circuit. The Kyoto Raku Bus pass would also be good.
https://www.moneywehave.com/kyoto-tourist-bus-the-raku-bus/
Hi Barry
Traveling to japan may 2018
Only for 6 days
Staying in Tokyo
Was planning on doing a day trip to Kyoto
Is it worth it to get an JR pass
Or just the prepaid ic card.
Thankyou
Mel,
Are you flying home from Tokyo? If so, a 7-day JR pass is still worth a roundtrip ticket on the Narita Express + a roundtrip ticket to Kyoto will cost more than a 7-day pass.
That being said, with just 6 days in Tokyo, I wouldn’t advise a day trip to Kyoto as there is so much to see there. You might be better off going Kamakura instead. If you drop Kyoto, a JR pass would NOT be worth it.
Hi Barry,
We’ll be traveling from Tokyo to Fujiyama, Kyoto, Koyasan and Osaka in twelve days.
Could you please advise whether the JR pass is worthy?
Thanks heaps!
Pohism
Choo,
Are you heading back to Tokyo at the end? If so, then a 7 day pass is worth it if you can do all your travel in that time. If you’re flying out of Osaka, just buy point to point tickets. For Koyasan, you’ll need to buy the Koyasan World Heritage Ticket.
Hi Barry,
I’ll depart from Osaka, not going back to Tokyo.
Noted your advice.
Greatly appreciate your kind and prompt feedback! It’s really helpful!
Secondly, is it more convenient to travel from Osaka or Kyoto to Koyasan?
Cheers!
To get to Koyasan, you need to depart from Osaka Namba so technically speaking, it’s more convenient to travel from Osaka. If you do depart from Kyoto, just budget another hour for your travel time.
When I travelled to Koyasan, I started from Kyoto as it was more convenient for my overall schedule.
Hi Barry,
we are travelling into and out of Tokyo (Narita) in April with 4 days in Toyko and 3 days in Kyoto. we are 2 adults and wondering whether the 7 day pass is the best option
Thanks
LM
Hi Leone,
Assuming that you’re doing all your travel in 7 days, then yes, a 7-day pass is worth it.
Remember, you can also use your JR Pass for the Narita Express so you can use it as soon as you land. The JR Yamanote Line will get you too all the major areas in Tokyo with the exception of Sensoji Temple and Roppongi.
Note that the JR Pass is of limited use in Kyoto, but you can get a Raku bus pass there for 500 yen.
https://www.moneywehave.com/kyoto-tourist-bus-the-raku-bus/
Hi Barry, we are travelling to Japan for a short stay March 2019. We are going to Nozawa Onsen from Tokyo (arriving and departing to Australia from Narita) and spending time at Disneyland/DisneySea. There are 4 adults and 3 kids ages 6-9 years. I am not sure that the JR pass would be worth it for our families? I would like your advice please. Thanks.
Hi Katie,
Are you travelling anywhere else besides Nozawa Onsen and for how long?
Looking at Hyperdia, a return ticket to TOGARINOZAWA-ONSEN will cost you about 18,000 Yen so you’ll unlikely get good value out of a 7 day pass.
If you were making a return trip to say Kyoto, you’d get your money’s worth.
Thanks, Barry. No other journeys only Tokyo to Nozawa return. 5 days in the snow and 4 days in Tokyo. I appreciate your advice. Kind regards.
Hi Barry
I understand if you buy the pass online (we are in Australia) you need to exchange it for a voucher once in Japan. We are traveling over the Dec/Jan holiday period (30/12 from Kyoto to Kanazawa, 2/1 Kanazawa to Takayama (is it better to take the bus??), 4/1 Takayama to Tokyo)
People are telling me I need to prebook our seats as it is very busy this time of year. Can I only book the seats online before we get to to Japan or do I have to wait until we get our voucher (we arrive in Osaka on 23/12)
Thanks for your help.
Hi Ros,
To confirm, you’re starting in Kyoto and ending in Tokyo? What day do you depart?
Technically speaking, the cost of buying one way tickets is cheaper than a 7-day JR pass, but it’s almost a wash. I personally would just by the 7-day pass assuming you’re doing all of your travel in 7days. You could even use it for the Narita Express.
You can only activate your pass when in Japan which in turn means you can only book your seats at that time. You book your seats at the JR office in Kyoto station. You can book ALL your seats at the same time.
Note that even if you can’t get a reserved seat, you could just line up earlier for a non reserved car.
Hi Barry
Actually we are starting in Osaka. So Osaka – Kyoto, Kyoto – Kanazawa, Kanazawa – Takayama, Takayama – Tokyo.
But it may change and we might skip Kanazawa all together and stay in Hiroshima for a couple of nights instead… Osaka – Hiroshima, Hiroshima – Kyoto, Kyoto – Takayama, Takayama-Tokyo. We will do one day side trips from Kyoto and Tokyo as well.
Total time of stay 23/12 to 11/1.
Thanks
Ros
Hi Ros,
It’s a bit hard for me to comment right now without knowing your entire route. Obviously, in an ideal world, you would do all your major travel in a 7day window which would likely be Kyoto to Hiroshima and then all the way to Tokyo. However, that may not be possible.
I would honestly just plug your route into hyperdia to see how much one-way tickets cost compared to a 7 or 14-day pass.
http://www.hyperdia.com/en/
Obviously, if one-way tickets are cheaper then just buy those. That being said, if it’s only costing you a little more for the pass, it may very well be worth it. a JR pass will also be convenient for side trips to say Nara or Himeji while in Kyoro or Nikko and Kamakura when in Tokyo. The pass is also good for a few lines in Kyoto / Osaka and it can get you just about anywhere in Tokyo if you’re close to the JR Yamanote line.
Hi Barry – I found your post helpful as my partner and I are travelling to Japan next month!
I’ve done some research and am still deliberating on whether we should get the JR pass. We are there for three weeks and our schedule looks like this:
Fly into Narita – Tokyo (3N/4D) – Hakone (1N/2D) – Matsumoto (1N/2D) – Kanazawa (2N/3D) – Takayama (3N/4D) – Kyoto (4N/5D) – Osaka (4N/5D) – Tokyo (3N/4D)- Fly out of Haneda.
We plan on getting the Hakone Free Pass for Hakone and between Matsumoto and Kanazawa, we are doing the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route. We would use the SUICA/PASMO IC Card for travels around Tokyo.
Is it worth getting a 14 or 21 day pass?
The reason why I say a JR 14 day pass is that we could use it when we leave for Matsumoto and use it on the return trip from Osaka to Tokyo. Though I did calculate individual tickets and it works out cheaper by $100AUD, using Hyperdia and using their total prices with seat reservation.
From your experience, is it easy to purchase individual JR tickets, say on the day or day beforehand? For time and convenience, it is better to get a JR Pass for our itinerary?
Cheers,
Helen.
Hi Helen,
You just got to do the math on one-way tickets which breaks down as follows:
Narita Express – ¥3,000
Tokyo – Odawara – ¥3,740
Odawara – Matsumodo – ¥8,500
Matsumodo – Kanazawa – ¥11,000
Kanzawa – Takayama – ¥6,650
Takayama – Kyoto – ¥5,600
Kyoto – Osaka – ¥1,700
Osaka – Tokyo – ¥14,450
That adds up to ¥54,640 which is technically cheaper than the 21-day pass, but simply purchasing the 21-day pass is likely still worth it as you can use it still for the JR lines in Tokyo and Kyoto. Heck, the odds are you’ll do a day trip from Osaka or Kyoto to Himeji, Nara, or Hiroshima, so there’s a very good chance you’ll come out ahead.
That being said, if you’re able to do all your long distance travel in a 14-day window, you’ll be able to save about ¥13,000
Cheers Barry – appreciate it!
BTW,
Miyajima really should be on your itinerary.
https://www.moneywehave.com/hiroshima-and-miyajima-in-one-day-from-kyoto/
Hi Barry!
We will be going on a trip and will be landing on Narita. We will be staying at Ueno for 5 days and will go to Osaka (Umeda) for 3 days. Do you recommend us getting a 7day JR Pass or just buy a single round ticket?
Thank you!
One way tickets would be better
HI,
Thankyou for your excellent article! I am heading to Japan this summer for 12 nights, and am wondering if i should get a 7 or 14 day Jr. Pass. Four nights in Tokyp, then off to Hiroshima for 1 night, then to Kyoro for 4 nights, then finally back to Tokyo for 2 nights. Any advice would be appreciated!
Hi Kelley,
Buying a 7day pass and activating it the day you depart Tokyo would give you the best value.
If you haven’t booked your accommodations yet, please consider using my booking.com affiliate.
https://www.booking.com/index.html?aid=1457715
Hi Barry,
Can you please give me your thoughts on whether a rail pass makes sense for us? This is our itinerary. I’ve stated what I think are the approximate prices per leg. I think (but am not sure) that it does make sense for us to purchase a JR 7-day rail pass, but simply wait to activate it until Day 3. Thank you for the help!!!
Day 1: Arrive Tokyo, Narita Express to Tokyo Station [4,000 yen round-trip?]
Day 2: Tokyo sightseeing [not sure, but guessing about 2,000 yen]
Day 3: Tokyo sightseeing [not sure, but guessing about 2,000 yen]
Day 4: shinkansen from Tokyo to Nagoya, transfer to Takayama [16,000 yen total?]
Day 5: Takayama to Nagoya, transfer to shinkansen to Kyoto [11,000 yen total?]
Day 6: Kyoto sightseeing [not sure if I can use my rail pass in Kyoto?]
Day 7: Kyoto sightseeing [not sure if I can use my rail pass in Kyoto?]
Day 8: shinkansen from Kyoto to Tokyo [13,500]
Day 9: Tokyo sightseeing [guessing about 1,000 yen]/ Narita Express from Tokyo Station [0 yen, already included in round trip ticket]
Rocanne,
You nailed it, getting 7-day pass and then activating it on day 3 will give you the best value. A few notes
– Buy a one way ticket for the Narita Express on the way in since you can use your JR pass for it on the way out.
– It’s unlikely you’ll use 2,000 yen per day in Tokyo, but it’s roughly 300 yen per trip
– In Kyoto, you can really only use the JR Pass for the JR Sagano line which will take you to Arashiyama. You can also use the pass to get you to Kyoto or the express train to Osaka. For Kyoto, buy a Raku bus pass instead.
If you haven’t booked your accommodations yet, please consider using my booking.com affiliate.
https://www.booking.com/index.html?aid=1457715
Hi Barry
We would be travelling as follows :
Enter into Osaka (From Jeju,Island)
10th &11th May : Osaka
11th-13th May : Kyoto
13th-16th May : Tokyo
16th May : Fly out of Tokyo
Does it make sense to take the JR 7 day Pass ? Because ideally the long distance travel would only be Kyoto to Tokyo (no return) However, we want to try out the Nozomi express (fastest bullet train) as well which is not covered in the pass and need access to the subways etc in Kyoto and Tokyo.
Please let me know,
Thank you
Saira
Hi Saira,
Since you’re only going one way, it’s better to just buy point to point tickets.
You could simply pay for the Nozomi when you buy your one way ticket, but the premium is not worth since you’ll only save about 15mins.
Hey Barry,
I’m going to Japan for 10 days in May flying in and out of Tokyo. I was planning on visiting Kyoto, Osaka and a couple other places. I don’t have much planned yet but I was wondering if you think it would be best to buy a 7 day or a 14 day travel pass.
Thanks,
Matt
Hi Matt
The 7-day pass would likely be worth it since you’re making a round trip from Tokyo. Just make sure it’s active for your travel to and from Kyoto.
If you haven’t booked your accommodations yet, please consider using my booking.com affiliate.
https://www.booking.com/index.html?aid=1457715
Hi Barry,
We would really like to get your opinion if we should get the 7 day pass. Our trip is as follows:
Arrive in Osaka
Spend 4 days in Osaka with day trips to Hiroshima and Himeji
Activate JLR 7 day pass to go Kyoto from Osaka
Spend 4 days in Kyoto
Kyoto to Tokyo
Spend 6 days in Tokyo with a day trip to Hakone
Fly off from Tokyo
Thank you and i look forward to hearing from you
Hi Pree,
I personally would advise the following
2 Days in Osaka
6 days in Kyoto with day trips to Hiroshima and Himeji ( go to Hiroshima on day 3 and activate your JR pass then)
6 days in Tokyo
The cost from Osaka to Kyoto is not very expensive if you take the local train which is why I suggest moving more days to Kyoto and using that as your base.
If you book a hotel near Kyoto station, then things can be really easy. You could also use your JR Pass to go to Nara from Kyoto if you so desired.
Also note that if you want to day trip to Hakone, it may be worth doing as you transit from Kyoto to Tokyo, but that’s a personal chouce.
Hi Barry need you advise for Japan trip planning for my family trip for 2 adult, 2kids aged 6 and 3 years old. Planning to visit Osaka, universal studio and Disneyland in tokyo. Worth to buy JR 7 day pass travel ? Planning to stay for 7 days.
either depart from Osaka and take train to Tokyo or vice versa. Save the traveling time and cost.
What is your best advise. Thank you.
Hi Barry,
Would it be cost effective for my family and I to get a 7 or 14 day JR pass with the following itinerary?
Day 1: Arrive Tokyo, Narita Airport to Skytower station
Day 2 – 5: Stay in Tokyo – sightseeing
Day 6: shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto
Day 7: Stay in Kyoto – sightseeing
Day 8: shinkansen from Kyoto to Osaka
Day 9: Stay in Osaka
Day 10: shinkansen from Osaka back to Tokyo -> Narita Airport
This is my family’s first trip to Japan (2 kids ages 8 and 10). Would you recommend decreasing the number of days in Tokyo and increasing the days in Kyoto and/or Osaka? If so, what would you recommend in Kyoto and Osaka?
Thanks in advance for your help!
Hi Christine,
Assuming that’s your set schedule, your best bet is to get a 7 day pass and activate it on Day 4 so it’s good to the end of your trip.
This is just my personal opinion, but it may be easier to just stay in Kyoto for 4 days and make day trips as needed to Osaka. This will make things a little easier since that’s one less hotel you need to worry about.
Hi Barry,
Very helpful thread with a lot of information on the JR Pass. I am wondering if you can give me the same advice you have given so many people before me.
My wife and I are travelling to Japan in 3 weeks. We are deciding whether or not to get the 21 day pass. Our itinerary thus far is:
23/06 – Arrive Osaka
25/06 – Osaka to Hiroshima
27/06 – Hiroshima to Kyoto
30/06 – Kyoto to Takayama
02/07 – Takayama to Hakone
04/07 – Hakone to Tokyo
09/07 – Tokyo to Mt Fuji for overnight climb
10/07 – Descend Mt Fuji and return to Tokyo
12/07 – Fly out of Tokyo back home
This is just shy of 3 weeks, so we were wondering whether to get the 21 day pass, or if we would be better off getting the 14 day pass and activating it at a certain point?
Any help would be great.
Thanks,
Michael
Hi Michael,
So you could get a 14-day pass, but you would need to modify your schedule a touch.
Right now, your major travel starts on 25/6 and technically ends on 10/7 which is 15 days.
HOWEVER, if you moved your day trip to Hiroshima while you’re in Kyoto, then you would only need the 14 day pass. Osaka and Tokyo are close enough that you don’t need to take the Shinkansen.
That being said, I’m assuming you’re making some side trips too that you haven’t mentioned e.g. Miyajima, Nara. For convenience purposes, a 21-day JR pass might be worth it so you’re not constantly having to worry about buying one-way tickets.
If you haven’t booked your accommodations yet, please consider using my booking.com affiliate:
https://www.booking.com/index.html?aid=1457715
Hello Barry,
I wanted some advice.
I will be going to Japan in 2 weeks.
Planning on doing 3 days in Tokyo and 2 days in Kyoto and flying out of Tokyo. Is the 7 day pass worth it ? I will be arriving at the Haneda and departing from Narita.
Hi Shay,
For convenience purposes, I would just buy the 7-day pass so you don’t need to worry about purchasing one-way tickets every time. For reference, here’s the math.
7-day ordinary pass = ¥ 29,110
Return trip to Kyoto from Tokyo = ¥ 26,800
The price difference is about $23 USD.
If you factor in the use of the monorail and JR lines in Tokyo, you’ll likely come out ahead with the JR Pass.
Note that the JR Pass does not work in the Tokyo subway so you’ll still need a suica card. In Kyoto, your JR Pass is only good for 2 lines (To Arashiyama and Fushimi Inari-taisha / Nara). You’ll need to use the Raku bus to get to other sites.
https://www.moneywehave.com/kyoto-tourist-bus-the-raku-bus/
Hi Barry,
Family of 3 A 3 C(under12).
We plan to travel end Dec to mid Jan. Question is 7 day pass or 14 days?
Current thought is:
Landing Narita. Will be in Tokyo from christmas eve to 31st Dec (should be going to DisneySea, yokohama, around tokyo and day trips) — CAN be shorter days, if you think need more in osaka kansai region.
Off to Osaka (if JR pass will take shinkansen), or fly direct
Osaka 6 days and doing day trips to Kyoto, Nara, Hiroshima, Nagoya, (Universal Studios, Legoland) and if possible fit in mount Fuji, Hakone
then off to Seoul (from Kansai) – Tokyo
Thanks!
Hi Serene,
How many days will you be in Japan total? It’s hard to assess what is best without more information.
One thing to note right away. You are trying to do A LOT in 14 days. It’s doable, but with 3 kids, you’ll get tired really fast. See below for a rough breakdown
Day 1 – Arrive in Tokyo
Day 2 – Tokyo
Day 3 – DisneySea
Day 4 – Yokohama
Day 5 – Tokyo
Day 6 – Tokyo Daytrip
Day 7 – Nagoya Legoland
Day 8 – Arrive Osaka
Day 9 – Universal Studios (this is in Osaka)
Day 10 – Nara
Day 11 – Hiroshima
Day 12 – Kyoto
Day 13 –
Day 14 –
You can see based on a 14 day itinerary, you’ve already packed too much. 1.5 days of free time in Tokyo is not enough. Nor is one day in Kyoto.
Since you’re flying out of Kansai, you should try to build all of your long distance travel in a 7-day period which would be Tokyo to Nagoya/Osaka/Kyoto and then Osaka to Hiroshima.
If you need to spread out your travels, you’re likely better off buying one way tickets for the Shinkansen.
Hi Barry, sorry to confuse you!
At the moment, I plan to arrive 24th Tokyo and leave for Seoul on 26th for 6 days.
Go direct to Osaka for 7 days. 7th day Head back Tokyo for 6 more days.
Total we have 21 days, not 14.
So thinking of only getting the 7 days pass to start from haneda , Osaka etc …and back again to Tokyo.
Thanks!
Hi Serene
Are you flying to Seoul from Tokyo on the 26th?
From Seoul, do you fly direct to Osaka?
If that’s the case, a 7-day pass is likely best. Just activate it when you’re Osaka on the 4th or 5th day. You can then use it to get to Hiroshima, Nara, Nagoya, and Tokyo.
When the pass isn’t active, just pay locally via a Suica or Passmo card. In Kyoto, the Raku bus is the most convenient way to get around.
A 14-day pass is likely not worth it since you’ll be flying directly into Osaka and then out of Tokyo.
Hi Barry,
So hard to get the plane tickets to Seoul! Fully booked. So I’m flying out of haneda and arriving gimpo instead of narita / Kansai.
Means Tokyo /Seoul/Tokyo.
Going to Osaka from haneda.
Will activate 7 day pass from Tokyo to Osaka and return.
How do I get from haneda to Osaka?
Is it better to stay in Kyoto or Osaka to do the day trips?
Thanks
Hi Serene,
Haneda and Gimpo airports are both closer to Tokyo and Seoul respectively so it’s actually not a bad thing.
Now that you’re landing in Tokyo then headed to Osaka and Hiroshima before you head back to Tokyo to return home, a 14-day JR pass is probably a better value.
To get to Osaka from Haneda (assuming your JR pass is active) you would take the monorail to Hamamatsuchō Station, you would then take the JR Yamanote line to Shinagawa station. You would then take the shinkansen to shin-Osaka. Note that you can get to Shinagawa station directly from Haneda if you take the metro, but this line is not covered by your JR Pass.
I personally prefer to stay in Kyoto to do day trips since there are many hotels near Kyoto station and there are more things to do in Kyoto.
If you haven’t booked your accommodations yet, please consider using my booking.com affiliate.
https://www.booking.com/index.html?aid=1457715
Hi Barry,
In this case, should I take the metro to Shinagawa first and then activate the JR pass there, to get on the Shinkansen to Kyoto?
Or possible to activate at the monorail? Which route is better? since I have so many of us?
I’m planning to get the 7 day pass and activate on the day i reurn from Seoul and heading to Kyoto. from there do my day trips around and use the 6th and 7th day on route from Hakone to Tokyo. I will then have 6 more days in tokyo before heading back home.
I should be able to get around tokyo (Disney Sea, Nissin factory etc) without the JR Pass?
Thanks !
Hi Serene,
The quickest way is to take the Metro directly from Haneda. However, the cheapest way is to go via Monorail and requires a few extra steps. Note that the actual price difference is likely less than 300 Yen but you’ll save 20 mins or so.
Since you’re going to Osaka right away, you should activate your JR pass at Haneda.
If you can complete all your long distance travel in 7 days, then that’s perfect. When you’re back in Tokyo, a Suica or Passmo card will do.
Use the following site to plan your trips. Remember, Japan trains ALWAYS come on time.
http://www.hyperdia.com/en/
Hello Barry,
Can you help me pls if it’s worth buying the JR pass or not. I’ll be travelling with my 8 y/o child. We’ll be arriving and departing from Haneda airport. We’ll be staying in Tokyo for 3 days then on the 4th day to Kyoto. We’ll stay in Kyoto for 4 days then back to Tokyo for 2 days. Plan to take JR Nara line to Fushimi Inari. Also JR Sagano line to Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. I booked a full-day trip to Nara.
Can I use the JR pass to explore Ginza and other areas in Tokyo?
Thanks.
Hi Grace,
Getting a 7-day JR pass will likely be worth it just for the convenience purposes. Obviously there will be 2 days in Tokyo where you can’t use the pass so just use a Suica or Passmo card during that time.
The JR pass can be used to get you to Nara from Kyoto. Within Tokyo, you can use it on any JR line (Yamanote and Chuo). The only major destination in Tokyo where your JR pass won’t get you is Sensoji temple.
Hi Barry. We are travelling to Japan in September/October this year and will spend time in Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Osaka and Nikko. We have purchased our Japan Rail Pass (and will activate upon leaving Tokyo).
Would you suggest a Pasmo or Suica card (or something else) for travel in the areas where our Japan Rail Pass doesn’t cover?
Thank you heaps.
Hi Janet,
Any IC card will do to supplement your travels in Japan. Pasmo and Suica are essentially the same thing. Basically, you can use your Suica card just about any place where your JR pass is not accepted. There are a few exceptions though e.g. say you buy a regional pass such as the Hakone Free Pass or the Koyasan World Heritage Ticket. In Kyoto, buying Raku bus pass is likely better since those buses are aimed at tourist.
One other thing to note. Although Osaka has a few JR lines, I personally found that it was not as convenient as just using my suica card and riding the regular lines.
Hi Barry,
I found this article helpful but I would like to seek for your advice with our itinerary if we can maximize the use of JR pass:
Day 1 – ETA KIX then go to Kyoto
Day 2 & 3 – Kyoto (Arashima, Gion District, Fushimi Inari etc)
Day 4 – Nara day trip then go to Osaka
Day 5 – Osaka (Osaka Castle, Ume, Dotonbori, Shinsaibashi)
Day 6 – USJ
Day 7 – Osaka to Tokyo
Day 8 & 9 – Tokyo
Day 10 – ETD Narita
Thank you.
Hi Marrah,
Since you’re flying into KIX and then out of Narita, I suspect a 7day JR pass will not be worth it. It’ll likely be cheaper to simply buy one-way tickets.
You can double check the math by checking your routes via hyperdia.
http://www.hyperdia.com/en/
Hi Barry,
Thanks for the reply. Yeah, we figured that the 7day JR pass is not worth it. We’re thinking of getting 4day JR West Kansai Rail Pass (KIX-Kyoto-Nara-Osaka) then purchase local passes for our DIYS in Kyoto, Osaka, and Tokyo. Thanks again ^_^
Marrah,
The Kix pass not even be worth it since all of those areas are easily accessible from each other via regular commuter lines.
The Raku bus pass is handy for Kyoto. You can get to/from Nara to/from Koyoto or Osaka for less than 600 yen. The train from Kix to Kyoto is about 2900 Yen.
You’re probably better off just purchasing your Kix to Kyoto ticket on its own, and then purchasing an IC card to use for your regular travel. In Kyoto, use the Raku bus since it gets you to all the tourist attractions.
thanks for the additional info Barry. and yeah I am planning on getting the Raku Bus pass for our Kyoto DIY based on your recommendation from your other blog. actually I was thinking of getting the JR West Kansai Pass for the main reason that it is ‘unlimited’, is that right? if not, will an ICOCA + Haruka IC card suffice for our trip in Kansai region? thanks again
Hey Marrah,
It is unlimited, but based on cost, I think you’ll spend less using an IC Card. the ICOCA + Haruka IC card is likely the best value for you IMO since you’ll mostly be in the Kansai region. The odds are the amount you spend on that will cost you less than had you bought a KIX pass.
I see. another thing that I’m confuse with is about the ‘reserved seats’. how is it done if we’re using an IC card? thanks again.
Hi Marrah,
Which reserved seats are you referring to? As far as I know, IC cards do not get you access to reserved seats on the SHinkansen, you’d purchase that ticket separately.
I’m not really sure about this but I’m referring to reserved seats on the JR train. Can we also use the IC card on the JR trains/buses?
Hi Marrah,
Reserved seats are ONLY for the Shinkansen. You need to buy a separate ticket for that.
Your IC card will work on all modes of transportation in Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo (regardless of who owns the line). Note that it’s cheaper to just buy a bus pass for Kyoto (and Nara if you don’t want to walk).
If I recall correctly, it won’t work in Hiroshima on the tram, but you can just buy an individual ticket on board.
yay! thanks for answering my queries. now I understand. thanks a lot Barry and God bless
Hi Barry,
We will be going to Japan in September for 14 days, and I am trying to put together an itinerary that would make the most sense. Flying in and out of tokyo, but I would like to visit osaka, kyoto, nara, hiroshima, and miyajima, I originally also was going to fit in Kobe, but read on your previous comment that it wouldn’t be worth it. Would the 14 day JR pass be worth it? Also, do you think that we’re trying to fit in too much on our 2 week schedule?
Hi Lynn,
I actually did a similar route but I also did Koyasan so I don’t think you’re trying to fit in too much. I even spent 7 days in Tokyo during that trip.
I personally did not enjoy Kobe. I think Kobe steak is a bit overrated and you can get it anywhere in the country so it’s not like you NEED to go to Kobe for it. That being said, Kobe is only 30mins from Himeji so if you’re going to the castle, you could easily stop in Kobe after.
Since you’re there for 14 days and you’ll be doing a return trip from Tokyo all the way to Hiroshima, the JR Pass will pay for itself. You’ll still need an IC card for some cities and I recommend the Raku bus pass for Kyoto. In Hiroshima, you’ll have to buy separate tickets for the tram.
Hi Barry,
I am heading to Japan for 14 days in September. 5 Days in Tokyo then headed to Nagoya for 1 day followed by Osaka for 4 days, Kyoto for 2 days and then back to Tokyo for 2 days (Narita Airport).
Do you suggest buying the 7 day JR Rail pass or 14 day one?
Hi Becs,
as long as you leave and return to TOkyo within those 7-days, yes a 7-day pass is best for you.
[…] and possible, but I wouldn’t recommend them since you’ll be cramming in too much stuff. A 7-day JR pass will likely be worth it, so be sure to pick one up before you depart. Here’s how to spend one week in […]
Hi Barry,
I will be in Japan for a total of 14 days in September. I could really use your advice about whether I should get a 14-day JR pass or a 7-day JR pass with a regional pass of some kind. Here is my itinerary (everything is flexible):
Sept 20 Day 1 – Arrive Haneda/Tokyo
Sept 21 Day 2 – Tokyo
Sept 22 Day 3 – Tokyo
Sept 23 Day 4 – Kyoto
Sept 24 Day 5 – Kyoto
Sept 25 Day 6 – Kyoto
Sept 26 Day 7 – Kyoto
Sept 27 Day 8 – Kyoto > Kobe
Sept 28 Day 9 – Kobe > Hiroshima (& Miyajima)
Sept 29 Day 10 – Hiroshima >osaka
Sept 30 Day 11 – Osaka > Tokyo
Oct 1 Day 12 – Tokyo
Oct 2 Day 13 – Tokyo
Oct 3 Day 14 – Leave Haneda/Tokyo
I am planning to do some side trips as well – Nara while in Kyoto, maybe Takayama from Tokyo?
What do you think – 7-day pass plus regional pass(es) of some sort, or a 14-day pass?
Also, what is your suggestion for the best/easiest/shortest way to get to Takayama?
Thanks in advance!
Hi JL,
I think a 14-day pass would be easiest. You can activate it at the airport and use it immediately on the monorail.
You’ll still need some regional tickets (not passes) in Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima, but that shouldn’t cost you much.
In Kyoto, purchase a Raku Bus pass and use it for convenience. Your JR pass will get you to Arashiyama.
https://www.moneywehave.com/kyoto-tourist-bus-the-raku-bus/
Hi Barry,
Thanks for all of the great information. I am heading to Japan in October. We will be arriving in Osaka and staying for 4 nights. Then heading to Nagoya for 2 nights and the Tokyko for 7 nights. We fly out of Tokyo. From what I have read, we would be best to buy single tickets instead of a JR pass, is that correct? What sort of card should I use yo pay for tickets, Pasmo, IC? Also, is it easy to travel with suitcases or should we use the bag transport?
Thanks in advance for your help,
Amy
Hi Amy,
Yes, I believe one way tickets would be best. You can buy tickets for the Shinkansen directly from any JR office. They accept cash or major credit cards.
As for local transportation, any IC card will work, but purchasing a Raku Bus pass in Kyoto is a good idea too since it’ll take you to all the major tourist attractions>
Suitcases are fine, just note that during rush hour, trains will be packed so avoid those times if you can. Some train stations are massive too and finding the elevator may not be easy. If you happen to have “backpacks” I’d recommend those, but I also wouldn’t stress about it either.
Thank you so much. Is the bus pass available to purchase on the bus?
Hi Amy,
A single ticket is 230 yen or you can get a day pass for 500 yen. You can read this guide I wrote about the Raku bus for more details.
https://www.moneywehave.com/kyoto-tourist-bus-the-raku-bus/
Thank you
Hi Barry!
Thanks for this! Husband and I are celebrating our Honeymoon and we are so excited! Grateful for this article. Our itinerary is such:
SEPTEMBER 24TH- FLY TO JAPAN
SEPTEMBER 25TH- LAND IN JAPAN
September 26- Tokyo Disney (stay in tokyo)
September 27- Disney Sea
September 28th- October 2st- TOKYO (5 days)
October 3rd- Travel to Hakone, stay overnight in ryokan
October 4th- travel to Kyoto
October 5th-8th- Kyoto ( 4 days), (two of which we would like to commit to Hiroshima & Miyajima)
October 9th- Travel back to tokyo
October 10th- Fly home
We don’t know if the 7 day or 14 day rail pass is worth it, or even if we should get it.
Thank you so much!!
Hi Laura,
Since you depart Tokyo on the 3rd and return on the 9th, you would only need a 7-day pass (activate it on the third).
You can use an IC card (SUICA or passmo) for your local travels in Tokyo. For Hakone, you’ll want to buy the local pass. In Kyoto, you can use a combination of the Raku bus (requires a pass) and your IC card. You can use your JR Pass in Kyoto to get you to Arashiyama, Nara, and Osaka. In Hiroshima, the local trams also take suica cards.
Here are some other articles I wrote that may interest you.
https://www.moneywehave.com/kyoto-3-day-itinerary/
https://www.moneywehave.com/hiroshima-and-miyajima-in-one-day-from-kyoto/
https://www.moneywehave.com/kyoto-tourist-bus-the-raku-bus/
Hello Barry,
Thank you for this information! I just graduated from college and saved enough for my dream trip. I am super excited! I am wondering if it’s worth getting the 7 day pass or the 14 day pass? I will be coming in from Tokyo then heading to Kyoto then Osaka and back to Tokyo for New Years Eve. I am staying for 20 days. Which one would you recommend?
Thank You!
I will be spending 7 days in Kyoto then starving Osaka for 5 days then head to Tokyo
Hi Rachel,
It depends on your route but as long as you go as you make a return trip to Hirsohima from TOkyo, a 14-day pass will pay for itself.
Hi Barry,
What if my itinarary like this? Will 14 days jr pass worth?
10 NOVEMBER
SHINJUKU
SHIBUYA
11 NOVEMBER
ASAKUSA , Akhibara
12 NOVEMBER
Tsukiji Market ~~ Roppongi ~~ Tokyo Towel ~~ Ginza
13 NOVEMBER
OSAKA = Cup Noodle Museum, Dotomburi, Shinsaibashi shopping area, Glico man, Giant Crab, night culinary, 24 hr shopping at DON Q SHINSAIBASHI
14 NOVEMBER
OSAKA = Osaka Castle, Tempozan giant ferris wheel, Santa maria Cruise, Tennoji Temple, Umeda sky building rofftop garden, Hev Five mall and ferris, Dombori river cruise
15 NOVEMBER
HIROSHIMA
MIYAJIMA ISLAND
16 NOVEMBER
HIMEJI CASTLE
KOBE
17 NOVEMBER
KYOTO
18 NOVEMBER
KYOTO
19 NOVEMBER
KANAZAWA
20 NOVEMBER
SHIRAKAWA GO
21 NOVEMBER
YOKOHAMA
22 NOVEMBER
YOKOHAMA
23 NOVEMBER
Tokyo- KAWAGUCHIGO
24 NOVEMBER
Tokyo -KAMAKURA
25 NOVEMBER
Tokyo – EDO WONDERLAND
26 NOVEMBER
TOKYO – Odaiba
27 NOVEMBER
BACK TO BALI
Do u think for the 1st 3 days in Tokyo, do we need to buy tokunai pass for 750 yen or using suica?
What about another city? Will Jr pass pass cover for the local trains for each city or there is an extra fees to buy train tickets or bus?
Thanks in advance
Hi Queenie,
Yes a 14-day pass will be more than worth it based on your itinerary. Just use a Suica card in Tokyo. Your suica can also be used in Kyoto and Osaka for local travel.
Just a few notes.
– You’re doing a lot on day 2 in Osaka. It’s doable, you’ll just be busy.
– If You’re going to Himeji castle, there’s no point in going to Osaka castle, Himeji is MUCH more interesting
– Besides steak and a robot statue, there’s not much to do in Kobe. That being said, since you have it paired with Himeji, you should be good.
– 2 days in Kyoto may not be enough, I would consider adding a day and maybe dropping one from Yokohama
– If you’re spending extra time in Kyoto, you can likely drop Kamakura and edo wonderland
– The backend of your trip with all the day trips is a bit much, you’re going to be travelling too much, you’ll be exhausted.
These are just my own casual observations, you can ignore me if you think you can do it.
Hi Barry,
Thank you for your information.
If you were saying that our backend trips a bit too much specially we are going with our parents. So what do you think that we should skip and what should we do then?
Since all the hotels are booked ?
Do you think is worth to go to Himeji and kobe? We all are vegetarian.. but is it worth to check the city tho?
Or we should take jr and go to Kyoto since u mentioned 2 days in Kyoto won’t enough?
What about shirakawago? Small little town.. is it worth the time to go there or we should just explore Kanazawa or Takayama ?
Thanks again!
Hi Queenie,
I would personally just cut back on some day trips. Tokyo has A LOT to see, so you could just wander the different neighbourhoods and check out the various museums. I spent 9 days in Tokyo the last time I was there and I didn’t even see everything I wanted.
As mentioned, I would also dedicate more time to Kyoto.
Himeji castle is nice, but note there are no elevators. I don’t know how old your parents are, but it’s all stairs. Kobe has a few things to see in the city, but it’s relaly not that exciting. You could spend that extra time in Osaka.
Shirakawago is nice but so are Kanazawa and Takayama. Of those 3, pick one. The bigger issue is that you’re still packing in A LOT of travel. I’m in my mid 30’s and just reading your itinerary was exhausting.
Hi there Barry! You seem to know a lot! Me and my partner is coming from South Korea and taking the ferry to Fukuoka 🙂 we then intend to spend 14-17 days in Japan traveling up to Tokyo with day trips and are researching if a 14 days Jr pass might be worth it. Our itenerary looks like this atm:
Fukuoka (2 days) – >
Hiroshima (3 days with ferry to Miyajima) – >
Himeji (1 day) – >
Osaka (3 days, day trips to Nara and Kobe) – >
Kyoto (3 days, maybe some day trip) – >
Tokyo (3-5 days) (flying to Hongkong after this)
Sadly our to “long trips” are very far apart (Fukuoka-Hiroshima and Kyoto-Tokyo) and since we are traveling one way we have a hard time deciding if its worth getting a 14 days Jr pass.. It seems really nice to have the freedom with the pass but I don’t know if its wise to go for that. Sadly we won’t be able to get all the way to Tokyo in just 7 days I think.
What would you recommend?
Cheers
Amanda and Carl
Hi Carl,
A one way fare from Hakata (Fukuoka) to Tokyo is ¥42,300 whereas a 14-day JR pass is ¥46,390 so you’ll easily be able to get your money’s worth and I’m not even counting your side trips. The convenience alone makes it worth it IMO. You would still need an IC card for local transit.
Here are a few notes about your Itinerary.
You don’t need a separate day in Himeji. Just do Himeji/Kobe (Kobe is kind of boring) as a day trip from Osaka. You could add that extra day to Tokyo or Kyoto.
Since you’re already doing Hiroshima, Miyajima, and Osaka as separate day trips, you might as well spend 3-4 full days in Tokyo. Kanzawa or Takyama are good day trip options, but no need to set it in stone, just see how things go when you’re there.
There is A LOT to do in Tokyo.
Hi Barry,
fantastic job!
I have a question regarding my itinerary:
I stay in Tokyo from November 17th to November 22nd. On November 23rd I go to Osaka and stay there until 29. I plan.to do 3 days Osaka and 3 days Kyoto in that span. Then on 29 to 30th, one night in a ryokan in Hakone. and back to Toyko for last 2 days
Do you think the Japan rail pass 7 days is worth it?
Thanks for your help
Hi Lan,
You’ll just come out ahead with the JR pass with that route but note you’ll still need to pay for local transportation in those cities. Kyoto only has two JR lines. Osaka has a JR line that goes in a circle, but it’s not always that convenient.
Hi Barry,
Bart from The Netherlands here! I came across your website while searching the best means of transportation during my trip to Japan from Nov 3rd – 19th. A lot of good and useful information but I am still wondering what is the best itinerary for me, with or without a JR pass?
I will travel with my girlfriend from Tokyo on Nov 7th to her family in Nagoya, we will stay here a few days and then travel on Nov 12th to Kyoto. Here we are planning to stay either 2 or 3 days, and here the difficulty to chose for either a JR pass or single tickets begins for me:
If we are leaving on the 14th the JR pass will probably not be valid anymore to travel to Osaka / Kobe (since we are then on our 8th day and the JR is only valid for 7 days). Might as well stay another day and leave on the 15th for Osaka, buying a single ticket? I have no idea where to find the expenses for that trip, though.
After the 14th/15th of November we will probably travel with local transport. On the 19th I am leaving back from Osaka to Amsterdam, so I also don’t have a roundtrip back to Tokyo.
A lot of information but my question thus is, what should I do:
– Buy a 7 day JR pass
– Buy a 14 day JR pass; or
– Buy single tickets for each trip?
Hope you can help me out! Thanks in advance
Hi Bart,
It sounds like you’re better off doing one way tickets unless you play on making a run to Hiroshima and back while in Kyoto. To calculate one-way tickets, use Hyperdia- http://www.hyperdia.com/
You would have to use a suica card for local transportation in the cities or the raku bus in Kyoto.
Hi Barry,
Thanks so much for your quick reply! I just checked Hyperdia and indeed, turns out one way tickets are the best option for my trip as it stands now. Thanks again for the tips!
Cheers!
Hello Barry,
We are flying into Haneda Airport on January 23rd, and going via bullet train out to Lotte Arai resort in Myoko on Jan 24th, where will stay a week, then back to Shinjuku for 4 days. We want to be able to do some travelling whilst in Shinjuku to sight see and get alot of activities done, but most likely won’t be doing much travel whilst out on the ski resort for a week. What do you recommend for our travel options? A JR pass is so expensive if we won’t really be needing it!
Hi Shanelle,
Since you’re based in two locations and one for a full week, you’re likely just better off buying one way tickets on the Shinkansen. As for within Tokyo, just use a Suica or Pasmo card. It won’t save you money, but it’ll be easier to get around.
Hey Barry,
Just planning my trip to Japan and a little confused on transport and if the JR pass is worth it.
Flying into Osaka for 4 days doing day trips to kyoto and hiroshima then spending 5 days in Tokyo. Is the pass worth it?
Hi Roly,
A Roundtrip to Hiroshima from Osaka will cost you 20,460 yen while a one way ticket to Tokyo is 14,140 which makes a 7-day JR pass worth it since it’s ¥ 29,110. The pass itself will have limited used in Osaka/Kyoto/Hiroshima, so just use an IC card or the bus for those destinations.
https://www.moneywehave.com/kyoto-tourist-bus-the-raku-bus/
https://www.moneywehave.com/hiroshima-and-miyajima-in-one-day-from-kyoto/
Hi Barry,
Great information, thank you. I will be heading to Japan in June from the 4th-13th. We land at Narita and were thinking of the following itinerary;
4th Narita Express to Tokyo
5th Tokyo
6th Train to Kyoto
7th Kyoto
8th Day Trip to Nara
9th Day trip to Osaka
10th Train Back to Tokyo
11th Tokyo
12th Tokyo
13th Narita Express to Airport
Will the 7 day pass cover all of these trips? I was curious to see if I can use the pass to get a round trip narita express ticket and use the return portion after the 7 days on the 13th. If not is the pass still worth it? Thank you!
9th Train to
Hi Jeff,
You would just about break even with a 7day pass even if you don’t use the Narita Express with it. The convenience alone would be worth it.
Hi Barry,
I am travelling to Osaka from Kansai Airport for 5 nights and then going to Kyoto for 2 nights, Tokyo for 6 nights and back to Osaka for 2 nights and may go to Nara for a day trip. Do you know it is worth buying the JR pass in this case? Thanks
Hi Sally,
If you get the 7-day pass and go to Tokyo and back within that time frame, you’ll probably come out just ahead.
Hi Barry,
So just the transitioning from Tokyo back to Osaka? Would using the JR pass be more efficient and faster than the local trains? Thanks again
Sally,
The JR pass can be handy in Toko since the JR Yamanote line will get you to almost every major tourist attraction. Within Osaka and Kyoto, it has limited use. If you do a run to Hiroshima during this trip, then a 14-day pass will be worth it. It would also almost cover your entire stay.
Hi Barry,
Would the total cost for the local trains be cheaper than the JR pass if i was to buy the 14 day pass ?(basically my entire japan trip) Thank you
For the 14-day pass, it would only be cheaper if you went Osaka, Hiroshima, Tokyo, and back to Osaka. You can basically compare by checking the cost of all your individual trips via http://www.hyperdia.com/
Even if it’s a minimal amount of savings, the convenience of the JR pass is often worth it.
Hi Barry,
Is purchasing the ordinary jr pass alright or do I need to purchase the regional pass
Im going to osaka for 5 days, kyoto for 2 days, tokyo for 6 days and then back to Osaka for 2 days
Hi Barry,
My sister and I are travelling to Japan in December.
Flying into Tokyo (6 nights), move to Osaka (1 night) move to Kyoto (3 nights)
Flying out of Kyoto.
I have been told JR Pass is the way to go, however, after reading the comments perhaps one day tickets are a better option.
Thank you
Hi Lilli,
Unless you’re planning a day trip to Hiroshima when you’re in Kyoto, the odds are individual tickets will be more cost effective for you.
Hi Barry
Loved your article but I am still a little confused.
Itinerary is as follows:
Tokyo (5 nights as base camp to look around tokyo, Mt Fuji, Snowy Monkeys) –> Osaka (base camp for 4 days)
Osaka –> Kyoto –> Osaka
Osaka –> Nara –> Osaka (departing flight from Osaka)
Is it best to get a JR pass? or should I buy individual tickets? Whats your suggestion?
Thank you so much 🙂
Hi Matthew,
The odds are buying one-way tickets are better value. You can use a Suica/Pasmo reloadable card for convenience, but it won’t save you any money. You’d then just need to buy tickets for your longer journeys.
Hi,
Need your advise on my itinerary below to decide buy 7 days or 14days pass or not at all .
Day 1 – KiX – OSAKA
Day 3 – OSAKA- Kyoto
Day 5 – Kyoto – NARA – Kyoto
Day 7 – Kyoto – Tokyo
Day 10 – Tokyo – Osaka
Day 13 – Osaka – KIX
based on above , would be spending 3 to 4 days in Kyoto and Tokyo. Osaka is 3 days each for the 1st leg and last leg.
What other options should I have other than JR
hi Barry,
Based on what I read , perhaps easier for me to confirm with you my understanding . based on the above itinerary I provided , it would be more worth to buy 7 days pass . From Osaka – Kyoto -NARA, more worth to buy the iC card and RAKU card ?
Buy the 7 day pass and activate it on the day i leave Kyoto to Tokyo and then to Osaka . Within Tokyo and Osaka, I can also use the 7 day pass and It will cover the same period until I leave Osaka for KIX .
Is my understanding correct?
thank you so much.
Hi Valerie,
Unless you’re making a side trip to Hirsohima, a 14-day pass won’t be worth it. You’d likely break even with the 7day pass if you used it for the return trip to Tokyo and within Tokyo.
Within Osaka and Kyoto you can use an IC card or the Raku bus https://www.moneywehave.com/kyoto-tourist-bus-the-raku-bus/
Thanks Barry for the information.
it is of great help.
Hi Barry,
Planning a week in Japan and trying to see as much as possible!
Flying into Tokyo, spending 4 nights here over New Years Eve,
We’d like to check out Kyoto, Okayama, Hiroshima after New Years. Doing each for a day or so and returning back to Tokyo for our flight out.
After reading many of the posts here it seems the JR pass would be worthwhile for us? But I’m wondering if we need to be purchasing any additional transit passes for our 4 days spent in and around Tokyo?
Thanks so much.
Hi Taylor,
How many days total are you doing in Japan? a 14-day pass pays for itself if you make the roundtrip from TOkyo to Hiroshima. If you can do all your train travel in 7days then obviously get a 7day pass. That being said, there is A LOT to see in Kyoto so I recommend allocating 2-3 days there if you have time.
You wouldn’t need an additional pass beyond the JR pass, but you would need an IC card which can be used in almost every major city.
Ah we are only going to be there for 7 days and I think now realizing Hiroshima might be too ambitious for our short time frame unfortunately since we’ll be in Tokyo before and up to New Years Eve then have from the 1st-4th at night available for other travel. Best to head to Kyoto then for those days?
Taylor,
It’s doable, but you just need to be realistic about what you plan on seeing in each city.
Here’s a rough one week guide I wrote https://www.moneywehave.com/one-week-in-japan/
But yeah, if you’re there from the 1st-4th, that means you’d arrive in Kyoto in the late morning of the 1st. That gives you time to see one part ok Kyoto. On the 2nd, you could spend the entire day in Kyoto. On the third, you could make a run to Miyajima.
https://www.moneywehave.com/?s=miyajima
The 4th could be spent exploring Kyoto again or making a side trip to Osaka or Nara. To be realistic, you may be tired of temples by this time so Osaka may be a better choice compared to Nara.
Hi Barry,
I’ll be flying into Osaka (2 nights) , travel to Kyoto (4 nights), one of the days in Kyoto will be a day trip to Nara, then travel to Tokyo (2 nights). Depart fr Tokyo. Is it worth getting the 7 days pass?
Hi Nicole,
It would be cheaper to buy one way tickets. You can use an IC card for trips within Osaka, Tokyo and parts of Kyoto. Within Kyoto, it may be easier to use the Raku bus. Nara has an all day bus pass you can purchase.
Hi Barry,
Would really appreciate some help as i cannot wrap my head around this JR Pass and if i would be saving.
I’ve booked a 15 days trip to Japan in Jan/Feb 2019.
Flying into Osaka – Kobe (2 nights), Hiroshima (1 night), Kanazawa (2 nights), Tokyo (3nights), Kyoto (4 nights), Then back to Osaka to spend the remaining days.
I’m assuming the 14 days JR Pass would be cheapest? would the JR pass alone get me too all destination above?
I would be very grateful for any advice.
Regards
Gareth
Hi Gareth,
A 14-day JR pass is the best value for you and would get you to all the places you’ve listed. Note that Kobe doesn’t have much to see. You would still need an IC card and Raku Bus pass for some local transit, but the JR pass will be good on any JR owned line.
Thanks Barry for the information and clearing things up.
Good Evening Barry,
Could you please tell me what would be the cheapest way for me to travel from Narita airport to Akihabara? Can I get the tickets at the station? I was told it’s very difficult to travel around in Japan and I’ve never been before. I am staying in Tokyo for 5 days only, including 2 day conference. Is there much to see in Akihabara?
Thank you so much for being so helpful here.
🙂
Maggie
Hi Maggie,
The easiest way to get to Akihabara from Narita is to take the Narita Express to Tokyo station and then take the JR Yamanote line to Akihabara station. You can purchase your N’ex ticket in Narita. You’ll need to buy a reloadable IC card (Pasmo or Suica) to use the JR line. I believe you can purchase that in Narita, but you can also get it at Tokyo station from the automated machines.
Japan has the BEST public transportation in the world, it’s incredibly easy to get anywhere. All the metro stations are in English and the majority of Staff who work at train stations speak English.
Akihabara is the electronics town so there are a lot of anime shops and maid cafes if you’re into that kind of stuff. You’re better off just taking the train to some of the other popular spots e.g. Shibuya, Shinjuku, Harajuku, Ueno. The JR Yamanote line goes in a circle so it’s pretty easy to get to all of those locations without transferring. You should also go see Sensoji temple which is by Asakusa station (requires a transfer).
The Tokyo metro map is actually pretty easy to read once you understand it. At any given station, you’re looking for the line first e.g. “JR Yamanote” or “Ginza line”. You then look for the platform towards the next stop that you want to go to. E.g. If you’re Akihabara station and you want to go south to Tokyo station, you’d look for JR lines and then the sign that probably says “Tokyo, Shimbashi” since are the next major stops
This is so much help!!! Thank you ever so much Barry! 🙂