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Which JR Pass should I buy for my trip?

dorothy
dorothy
over 7 years ago
6 responses

I need your advice on which passes i should buy for the following itinerary. 6 of us will be travelling together from Oct 23 to Nov 2. On Nov 3, two people will depart by train for Kansai International Airport. On Nov 4, one person will depart by train for Kansai International Airport. The remaining 3 people will continue on their journey to Tokyo.

Oct 23 Osaka to Takamatsu (Shikoku)
Oct 24-27 from Takamatsu to Seto Islands (to visit Setouchi Triennale exhibitions held on islands in the Seto Inland Sea)
Oct 28 Takamatsu to Matsuyama (Shikoku)
Oct 29 Matsuyama to Okayama City
Oct 30 Okayama to Hiroshima City (round trip)
Oct 31 Okayama to Kanazawa City (Ishikawa)
Nov 01-02 Kanazawa

Nov 03 - 2 people will depart Kanazawa for Kansai International Airport. 4 people will stay in Kanazawa

Nov 04 - 1 person will depart Kanazawa for Kansai International Airport. 3 people will stay in Kanazawa

Nov 05 - 3 people will depart Kanazawa and would like to take the following itinerary:

Nov 05 Kanazawa to Unazuki Onsen Station
Nov 06 Stay in Unazuki
Nov 07 Unazuki Station to connect with the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route to Ogizawa and continue to Omachi
Nov 08 Stay in Omachi
Nov 09 Shinano-Omachi to Karuizawa
Nov 10 Karuizawa to Tokyo

I hope you can help me plan this rather complicated itinerary. I'm thinking of using the Setouchi Area Pass and the JR Pass (7-day Pass for 3 people, and 14-day Pass for 3 people).

Can the JR Pass be used for the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route?

Thank you very much for your help. I really appreciate it!

sincerely,

Dorothy Tan

avatar
Daniel-san
18835 posts
over 7 years ago
Expert

Hi Dorothy Tan,

To start with your last question first. The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route is not included in the JR Pass and costs about 10,000yen for one way.

When it comes to the JR Pass, I think it would make more sense to look at a 21 day JR Pass instead of a 14 day JR Pass + Setouchi Area Pass, as the cost of a 21 day JR Pass is less than the cost of a 14 day JR Pass + Setouchi Area Pass. As well as just a 14 day JR Pass for the other 3 people. As this is still cheaper than buying separate passes.

The rest looks like a very nice trip and you will get great value out of your JR Pass by visiting Shikoku, Hiroshima and Kanazawa.

Hope this helps,
Daniel

dorothy
dorothy
6 posts
over 7 years ago

Hi Daniel-san,

Thank you very much for your quick reply. Your suggestion to use 14-day and 21-day JR Passes sounds good. However, i have one question: Can the JR Pass be used for travel on ferries from Takamatsu to the islands of the Seto Inland Sea? We will be going to some of these islands: Naoshima, Teshima, Megijima, Ogijima, Shodoshima, Oshima, Inujima, Honjima, Takamijima, Awashima, Ibukijima.

Many thanks for your help.

Dorothy

avatar
Daniel-san
18835 posts
over 7 years ago
Expert

Hi Dorothy,

The ferries are not included but generally only cost a couple hundred yen (that's a couple of Euro, Pounds or Doller depending on where you are from). You'd still had to do a good amount of ferrying before a pass would pay off. It may be worth it to count up the amount of travel you plan to do and make a comparison.

Have a great trip!
Daniel

dorothy
dorothy
6 posts
over 7 years ago

Hi Daniel-san,

Thank you for your helpful advice. I will make a comparison as you suggested before I purchase the passes.

best regards,
dorothy

dorothy
dorothy
6 posts
over 7 years ago

Hi Daniel-san,

I'm taking your advice and will purchase the 21day JR pass + Ferry pass, instead of the 14day JR pass + 5day Setouchi Area Pass.

I have another question, please. You had informed me that the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route is not included in the JR Pass & costs about ¥10,000 one-way. I have just picked up a brochure from JTB Singapore and it offers a Rail Pass for Central Japan - "unlimited rides on JR express trains to and from Nagoya, and on all transportation within the Alpine Route". It is the "Alpine-Takayama-Matsumoto Area Tourist Pass" costing ¥17,500 for adults. Availability period is April 16 - Nov 13, 2016. My question is: Can I use my 21day JR Pass for this route or do I have to purchase this additional Central Japan Pass?

Another related question: Is it possible to travel with all our luggage on the Alpine Route which, according to the brochure includes ropeway & cable car rides & 15mins on foot. This will be part of our rail journey from Ishikawa to Tokyo. How do other tourists do it?

I sincerely appreciate your assistance and look forward to your advice.

Dorothy

avatar
Daniel-san
18835 posts
over 7 years ago
Expert

Hi Dorothy,

The ticket you prefer to is a different ticket than I was talking about. This is the ticket I was talking about before:
https://www.jreast.co.jp/e/tateyama_kurobe/faq.html

The difference between these two tickets is that one includes the Alpine route and trains in the area, while the other is only a ticket for the alpine route.

Most people use a luggage forwarding service to travel the route. See:
http://www.alpen-route.com/en/transport_new/baggage.html

Hope you find this useful,
Daniel

dorothy
dorothy
6 posts
over 7 years ago

Thank you Daniel, for your helpful response.

much appreciated!
Dorothy

dorothy
dorothy
6 posts
over 7 years ago

Hi Daniel,

I'm thinking of taking the train from Kansai International Airport to my hotel.
Can the JR Pass be used for the Nankai Line to Namba (Osaka)?

Many thanks!
Dorothy


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