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Using the new JR passes - which one?

Pen Lennon
Pen Lennon
almost 8 years ago
4 responses

We are a family of 4 arriving in Tokyo 14 December. We are 6 days in Tokyo, then 10 days in Kyoto. We are planning day trips from both Tokyo and Kyoto.

A 7 day pass could get us from Narita airport to tokyo on 14 december (day 1) and then to Kyoto on 20th (day 7). We would do some day trips from Tokyo (eg Nikko) in that 7 day period.

We then travel from Kyoto to Nozawa Onsen on 29th December, and back to Tokyo on 4th January, flying out from Narita on 9th January. We are planning day trips (eg Hiroshima, Osaka, Kanazawa).

Would a 7 day pass be worthwhile?
or even a 14 day pass to cover day trips from Kyoto?

Thanks so much

Penny

avatar
Daniel-san
18832 posts
almost 8 years ago
Expert

Hi Penny,

While its easier to say to know your full day-by-day itinerary, I do think that a 14 day JR Pass is the best option, given that you'd use it for travel to Nikko, Kyoto, Hiroshima and Nozowa-Onsen. These are quite long trips and will cost a lot without the JR Pass.

You can find ticket prices via our Fare calculator.

Hope this helps,
Daniel

Pen Lennon
Pen Lennon
4 posts
almost 8 years ago

Thanks Daniel

a 14 day pass wouldn't take us to Nozawa as that trip is on day 16 of our holiday. We wouldn't use it in Nozawa until we left to travel to Tokyo on day 22 of our holiday.

a 21 day pass would not stretch to cover our travel back to Tokyo on day 22.

IDEA! We could get in from the airport on day 1 with a single ticket, then activate a 21 day pass on day 3 of our holiday (with our first day trip from Tokyo) which would expire on day 24 of holiday. We then have 4 days left in Tokyo doing local sightseeing before flying out on day 27 of our holiday. This would mean that our JR pass would get us Tokyo - Kyoto - Nozawa - Tokyo with lots of day trips from Tokyo and Kyoto.

Also - Can we get direct from Kyoto to Nozawa by JR Train, or do we travel Kyoto-Tokyo-Nozawa?

Thanks, I really appreciate your assistance :)

avatar
Daniel-san
18832 posts
almost 8 years ago
Expert

Hi again,

IDEA! We could get in from the airport on day 1 with a single ticket, then activate a 21 day pass on day 3 of our holiday (with our first day trip from Tokyo) which would expire on day 24 of holiday. We then have 4 days left in Tokyo doing local sightseeing before flying out on day 27 of our holiday. This would mean that our JR pass would get us Tokyo - Kyoto - Nozawa - Tokyo with lots of day trips from Tokyo and Kyoto.

This is an option as well! Maybe I read it wrong but I thought you'd travel to Kyoto - Hiroshima and Nozawa. By activating the JR Pass on the day that you'd go to Kyoto, there'd be enough time to travel to Nozawa as well.

Can we get direct from Kyoto to Nozawa by JR Train, or do we travel Kyoto-Tokyo-Nozawa? One transfer at Tokyo station is required.

Hope this helps :)
Daniel


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