Order Your JRPass
Back to Itinerary check

Help with itinerary Osaka-Kyoto-Takayama-Tokyo

pash
pash
over 8 years ago
3 responses

Hi all,

This is a pretty last minute trip (flying out next Saturday) and I am having trouble with transportation, not knowing if I should get the JR pass considering I am crossing over the Alpine region in Takayama. Could someone please advise transport options for each stop, and whats the best way / time to get by? Please help

Day 1 - 5th Sept (Saturday): Osaka

Day 2 – 6th Sept (Sunday) : Osaka

Day 3 – 7th Sept (Mon): Nara & Kyoto

  • I know I can take a train here right? what time from Osaka?

Day 4 – 8th Sept (Tues): Kyoto

Day 5 – 9th Sept (Wed): Kyoto

Day 6 – 10th Sept (Thurs): Kyoto – Takayama / Matsumoto - Kamikochi

I plan to go to Gero Onsen from here and explore the town in one day and stay over, is it possible? Also, how do I get from kyoto to Takyama / Matsumoto - what's the easiest way considering I need to go to Tokyo the next day.

Day 7 – 11th Sept (Fri): Takayama / Matsumoto to Kawaguchiko/Hakone/ Tokyo

From Takayama, how do i go to Tokyo? Is Kawaguchiko or Hakone in between, if yes how do I get there and how long it takes?

Day 8 – 12th Sept (Sat): Tokyo

How do i get around to Tokyo from Hakone / Kawaguchiko - is JR pass the best option or can i use other transportations?

Day 9 – 13th Sept (Sun): Tokyo

Day 10 – 14th Sept (Mon): Tokyo

Day 11 – 15th Sept (Tues) - Tokyo

avatar
Daniel-san
18835 posts
over 8 years ago
Expert

Hi Pash,

Saturday is coming up quickly, so I checked your itinerary what the best option would be when it comes to tickets and passes. I see that you are traveling from the Kansai to - Tokyo with a stopover at the Japanese Alps and possibly Fuji. Together this does not add enough in travel costs to a point where you could make savings with a JR Pass and therefor I would suggest buying normal tickets during travel.

Looking further at your itinerary, going from Takayama - Matsumoto takes about 4 hours by train travel. You should ask yourself if you want to spend this amount extra on the train. Though it is easy to travel from from Matsumoto directly to Tokyo (Shinjuku). An alternative is to travel from Takayama via Nagoya and then to Tokyo. Hakone is also on this route and would be easy to add in. Kawaguchiko is located too far from Takayama to realistically include it.

Travel within Kansai (the area where Kyoto, Osaka and Nara) is located is pretty cheap and trains depart frequently to any of these cities. You could just go to the station and get on the next train.

Hope this helps,
Daniel

Hope this helps,
Daniel

pash
pash
3 posts
over 8 years ago

Hi Daniel,

Thanks so much for your prompt reply. Couple of clarifications:

1) if i take this route 'An alternative is to travel from Takayama via Nagoya and then to Tokyo' = I don't need the japan rail pass right?
2) If I am buying normal tickets few minutes before departing at the station, during this period, are there chances of tickets getting sold out? Not sure if early sept is considered peak season.
4) For normal train / bus tickets, where can I find the timetable? and is there any particular name for it? what's it called, the normal train?
3) Also, how do I get from Kyoto to Matsumoto / Takayama?
5) If I would like to try the bullet train, just once, when should I try according to my itinerary, and how much would it cost per person? Must i book tht online?
6) Lastly, i arrive Osaka airport at 10.30pm, would trains shut by then? Is it easy to access the train, or how far it is from the airport?
7) To reconfirm, there will be me and my friend travelling, so if we take the normal trains, even if its the two of us - it will work out cheaper yes? There is no such thing as discounted rates for two people should they decide to take Japan rail pass, right? Correct me if I am wrong.

Do let me know. Thanks a ton.

pash
pash
3 posts
over 8 years ago

Hi Daniel,

Sorry one more thing:

8) From Tokyo to Hakone, someone mentioned that the only way to get there is to book the Romance car (link below) - and it needs to book online? Is that true, or what other options I can have tht works out cheaper?

http://www.odakyu.jp/english/romancecar/

avatar
Daniel-san
18835 posts
over 8 years ago
Expert

Hi Pash,

Sorry for the late replay!

1.) Yes, while the JR Pass covers this route - you don't need it.

2.) Generally buying tickets before departure is no problem, only on national holidays is it really busy. Though it can't hurt to get your tickets reserved in advance.

3.) You can find time tables and route information using www.hyperdia.com

4.) Going from Kyoto - Takayama, take the Shinkansen to Nagoya and Ltd express from there to Takayama/Matsumoto.

5.) The bullet train works like any other express train in Japan and tickets can be reserved at the station. You could use it from Kyoto on the way to Takayama/Matsumoto or on the way to Tokyo.

6.) Trains stop service around midnight. Resuming the following morning around 6 am. Kansai airport is about 60-90min travel from Osaka.

7.) The JR Pass is an all you can ride ticket and you can make very good savings if you use it for a certain amount of travel. There are also regional passes but I don't see any that would be useful to you.

8.) The romance car costs a but more. It is cheaper to take a normal online train. The Romance car is basically a luxury scenic tour train.

Hope this helps,
Daniel


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 17329 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