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JR pass or not??

travelislife
travelislife
over 11 years ago
2 responses

Hi, my girlfriend and I are looking to undertake the following trip:

27/12/12 Osaka International Airport to Kyoto
1,030 Yen (using bus to Osaka station, is the bus covered by JRpass?)
29/12/12 Kyoto to Hiroshima
10,990 Yen
30/12/12 Hiroshima to Gifu
15,070 Yen
31/12/12 Gifu to Numazu
8,060 Yen
02/01/13 Numazu to Haneda Domestic Airport
5,000 Yen

Total for 1 person: 40,150 Yen

I have taken the above information from Hyperdia.com with regard to cost.

So I think I am better off purchasing a 7 day JRPASS at 28,300 Yen rather than the above individually. My issue though is, am I going to be able to book these seats in advance using the JRPASS? I understand it will be a very busy time and thus don't really want to wait till we arrive at Osaka to make all the bookings.

Also do I have to pay anything extra with an Ordinary JRPASS to reserve seats?

avatar
mari
1950 posts
over 11 years ago
Expert

Hi there!

Here are some thoughts for you:

  1. You can use the Haruka Express from Osaka International Airport to Kyoto if you are a JR Pass holder, so I certainly recommend this method to you.

  2. Your costs look good - I can certainly recommend a JR Pass for you. You are right though that it will be busy over new year period (31st-2nd). I highly recommend reserving all your tickets on arrival at Kansai Airport as there is no way for JR Pass holders to place reservations before arriving in Japan on the lines that you intend to use.

  3. Seat reservations are 100% free for JRPass holders, (but must be made in person in Japan). If there are no seats available, there is always the option to stand, but seats will be a far better option!

Hope this helps!

travelislife
travelislife
2 posts
over 11 years ago

Thanks for the tips Mari. That is disappointing that you can't book in advance, though I thought I had read somewhere that it was possible. I have a friend in Japan who could help me out if that is possible? I am worried about not getting seats as we are on a very tight schedule.

Is always interesting with Japan, they are so advanced in some things and then appear to lag behind the rest of the world in others.

avatar
mari
1950 posts
over 11 years ago
Expert

Hi there!

It is possible if you have a Japanese speaking friend to reserve seats using eki-net. If you can do this for your travel around new year I would really recommend it as soon as you can.

I guess certain things are geared more for Japanese. Also, as JR Pass seat reservations are free, I suspect that you may have to make the reservation in person may be to prevent misuse of the service...

Hope this helps!


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