Hi!
My girlfriend and I plan to visit Japan in July between the 9th and 14th of July this year, staying at a hotel located near to Shinjuku station.
Our grand plans so far involve going to Disneyland one day, Universal Studios another day and Kotyo on yet another day. The rest of our time is LIKELY to be spend wandering around Tokyo itself.
Am I correct in saying that there's not any way to get from Shinjuku to Universal Studios or Kyoto using the Japan Rail pass WITHOUT having to pay additional fees? HyperDIa.com seems to be suggesting we would HAVE to use at least one Shinkansen line each way at a cost of about ¥5000 each (which, for a return journey for two people to Universal and then the same to Kyoto, is an extra ¥40000 all in!).
I'm confused because Google searches return a lot of people saying you can avoid Shinkansen trains for journeys to Universal or Kyoto and "it's entirely covered by the JR Pass" and "only takes about 20 minutes extra" but the only non-Shinkanzen routes I can find seem to take about TWO HOURS longer!
Anyone have any advice on getting from Shinjuku to Universal and from Shinjuku to Kyoto? Should we get the JR Pass or would we better off without it?
The Shinjuku to DIsneyland trip seems mercifully straightforward with the JR Pass, though if I'm wrong and anyone thinks I should expect problems there then all help and advice is appreciated with that too.
Thanks! :o)