Order Your JRPass
Back to Itinerary check

14 Day Pass or 7 Day Pass + indiv tickets?

nysean
nysean
about 9 years ago
8 responses

I'm traveling in Japan (!) from April 2nd to April 15th and trying to figure out whether I should just buy a 14 day pass to totally cover my 14 days of travel - or if i might do better economically to get a 7 day pass and buy individual tickets to complete my journey. Here is my itinerary:

4/2 - Narita to Tokyo
4/5 - Tokyo to Kanazawa
4/7 - Kanazawa to Kyoto
4/10 - Kyoto to Okayama
4/11 - Okayama to Naoshima
4/13 - Naoshima to Tokyo
4/15 - Tokyo to Narita Airport

Option A - By a 14 day pass to cover 4/2 - 4/15
Option B - By a 7 day pass to cover travel from 4/5 - 4/11. Buy individual tickets for Narita Airport to Tokyo, Naoshima to Tokyo, Tokyo to airport?

Which option costs less?

Toraneko
Toraneko
1303 posts
about 9 years ago

Not a huge difference, but you would recoup the costs of a 14 day JR Pass with your itinerary and save some with the pass. Not to mention there is some convenience of not having to constantly get in line to buy train tickets.
In addition, you are spending a lot of time in Tokyo, and you can extend your savings more, as well as broaden your trip by taking a day trip from Tokyo to Nikko or Kamakura/Enoshima.

I am sure you are also aware that you will be traveling during the prime time of cherry blossoms, so many places will be a LOT more crowded than usual.

Kanazawa is a really nice place to visit, and be sure to see the Kenrokuen Garden - widely regarded as Japan's finest historical garden. While in Kansai, be sure to take at least half a day and go to see Nara from Kyoto as well. Okayama has one of Japan's Top 3 gardens as well, in addition to Kenrokuen, called Korakuen - definitely go to see it. There is another beautiful, yet largely unknown garden not far from it as well - Handayama - which does not have the tourist hordes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zAI3_N7NEM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGQ8o7k9GbA

These sites can also give you a lot of good info:

https://www.jnto.go.jp

https://www.japan-guide.com

nysean
nysean
8 posts
about 9 years ago

Thank you so much for your great info! One more question if you don't mind. You seem to be very knowledgable about gardens in Japan. I'm an avid gardener and - if possible would love take some type of one day Japanese garden seminar/lesson (something like Japanese Garden Design 101). I have friends who've traveled and taken one day cooking lessons in foreign cities so I'm hoping to find the same thing for gardening.

Does anyone know of instructors/organizations that provide that type of lesson for english speaking tourists? I'll be in Tokyo, Kyoto, Kanazawa, Okyama and Naoshima.

Thanks

Toraneko
Toraneko
1303 posts
about 9 years ago

Hi,
I have heard of a few a ways back, which I can't clearly recall now...although whether it will fit in your itinerary or not is another question, plus I presume you want to have it in English. There are a couple of resources that you might check out, and they may be able to help you more:

http://www.japanesegardening.org/talk/

http://www.bgci.org/garden_advanced_search.php?action=Find&mode=&ftrCountry=JP&ftrInstitutionType=All&ftrKeyword=&x=58&y=11#results

The 2nd has a great collection of gardens, many of which are research oriented, so they may be able to assist you.

Happy travels.


Looking for more information? Search the forum

Select Category

Instant Quote

Starting from $343.00 for 7 days of unlimited Japan Rail travel

Can’t find the answer?

Learn from over 17323 questions about the Japan Rail Pass, or ask our Japan Rail travel experts

Ask Question

Get pocket Wifi in Japan

Get pocket Wifi in Japan

Visit us on Facebook

Get inspired for your visit to Japan by following us on Instagram and don't forget your own shots once you are there.


Find out where to buy the japan rail pass online.

Order your JRPass Now!

We have special prices for children and great first class options. See all tickets or see our range of Regional Passes