Order Your JRPass
Back to Using the Japan Rail Pass

which pass should i buy?

goh
goh
almost 8 years ago
6 responses

Hello,

I 'm really confuse about the JR pass and don't know which to buy as it divided into Tohoku area, Nagano & Niigata area, and Tokyo wide pass. Also, various type of subway pass make me confuse as well.

I'm going to Tokyo for 11 days, the basic itinerary will be:

Day1: arrive at Haneda airport, stay at Koto-ku area for the whole trip

Day 2: Yamanashi (Lake Motosu / Lake Kawaguchi)

Day 3: Kawagoeshi

Day 4: Tokyo city area

Day 5: meet my friend at Narita airport and go to Hitachi seaside park from the airport (will stop at Katsuta Station and Hitachi Station)

Day 6: Higashi-Koganei, Mitaka

Day 7: Kamakura or Yokohama (haven't decide)

Day 8: Hakone or Nikko (haven't decide)

Day 9: Karuizawa

Day 10: Tokyo city area

Day 11: Depart from Haneda Airport

It will be great if anyone could suggest which JR pass should i buy! Thank you very much!

avatar
Daniel-san
18832 posts
almost 8 years ago
Expert

Hi there,

This is an interesting itinerary but also what that is hard to match a JR Pass to. I am slightly wondering how much flexibility you have. You could for instance bundle the 5 most expancive routes in a 5 day period and then use a Tokyo Wide Pass.

For instance from day 2-6. To maximise savings, it would be nice if you could visit Karuizawa on day 4 or otherwise Nikko.

Then pay for normal tickets for the remaining days, that do not require that much travel.

Hope this helps,
Daniel

goh
goh
6 posts
almost 8 years ago

Hello Daniel! Thanks for the reply!

I try to avoid main attraction in Tokyo city hence it is quite hard to arrange the transportation by myself!

My time is completely flexible except meeting my friend at Narita airport on day 5. However, Hitachi seaside park is still an option only as i need to check whether the 'baby blue eyes' is still blooming during my trip. Could you suggest anywhere else i could go directly from Narita airport?

Also, what pass would you suggest if i bundle the most expensive routes in 5 days? I thoughtTokyo wide pass is only for 3 consecutive days, and JR east pass (Tohoku area or Nagano & Niigata area) is for any 5 days within 14-days-period? By the way, i have no idea which 5 routes is the most expensive one!

Thanks for your help again!

avatar
Daniel-san
18832 posts
almost 8 years ago
Expert

Hi again!

Most travel from Narita Airport goes directly to Tokyo, however you could use the Narita Express to Yokohama or Omiya as well. Alternatively you could go up to the Hitachi seaside park right away and save travel time later on (but this trip may be planned together with your friend?).

As for the JR Pass, I think I must have mixed up the JR Tokyo Wide Pass with the JR East Pass in validity period. Though the same idea remains, you could use it for the 3 days that you are travelling the most. The 3 most expancive routes would be Tokyo - Karuizawa (11,820yen return) Tokyo - Nikko (11,160yen return) and Tokyo - Hitachi (9,580 return / trip via Narita Airport would cost more) followed by travel to Kawaguchiko.

Considering these prices you could also opt for the 5 5 days within 14-days-period JR East Nikko/Niigata area pass.

Also, you can check ticket prices here: www.jrpass.com/farecalculator its still a feature in development, so your feedback is welcome :)

Hope this helps,
Daniel

goh
goh
6 posts
almost 8 years ago

Hello!

I found the 'baby blue eyes' is no longer blooming when I visit Japan, so i might not go to Hitachi anymore.

Hence, does Nagano & Niigata JR east pass valid and suitable for the routes to Hakone, Kawagoeshi, Lake Kawaguchi?

Also, i tried to use the website to check ticket prices, but i think it is quite basic and doesn't include any other details of the routes.

Thanks! :)

avatar
Daniel-san
18832 posts
almost 8 years ago
Expert

Hi again!

I think going for a Tokyo Wide Pass and use it for the 3 most expancive routes would be the best option.

Thanks for the feedback, the website is designed to compare ticket prices with the cost of a JR Pass, in that way it is also quite basic.

Kind regards,
Daniel

goh
goh
6 posts
almost 8 years ago

Hello again Daniel-san,

I have amended my itinerary with transportation tickets, could you please help me to check whether the ticket can be use on the routes? And is it worth to buy JR Nagano, Niigata area east pass?

Day 1: Haneda - Tokyo city area (subway ticket 72hrs(1)+ haneda airport return ticket)

Day 2: Kawaguchiko (subway ticket 72hrs(1) + JR Nagano, Niigata area east pass reach Otsuki Station + ticket to Kawaguchiko Station)

Day 3: Kawagoeshi (subway ticket 72hrs(1) + JR Nagano, Niigata area east pass)

Day 4: Tokyo city area (subway ticket 72hrs(2))

Day 5: Narita airport - Yokohama - Tokyo city (subway ticket 72hrs(2) + JR Nagano, Niigata area east pass)

Day 6: Hakone (subway ticket 72hrs(2) + JR Nagano, Niigata area east pass)

Day 7: Higashi-Kaganei, Tokyo city area (Tokyo day tickets which include JR routes in city area?)

Day 8 : Kamakura / Enoshima (subway ticket 72hrs(3) + JR Nagano, Niigata area east pass)

Day 9: Tokyo city area (subway ticket 72hrs(3))

Day 10: Tokyo city area (subway ticket 72hrs(3))

Day 11 : Haneda airport (subway ticket 72hrs(3) + haneda airport return ticket)

Thank you!

avatar
Daniel-san
18832 posts
almost 8 years ago
Expert

Hi there,

I do think that it would be worth considering to buy the JR Nagano, Niigata area east pass. The price of the pass is 18,1000yen, while a return ticket Tokyo - Nagano alone is 16,000yen. In other words it would be easy to make savings.

One thing to keep in mind though is that the JR Nagano, Niigata area east pass does not cover the Shinkansen to Hakone and you can only use local railways to get there.

Hope this helps,
Daniel

goh
goh
6 posts
almost 8 years ago

Thank you for your reply!

Probably the last question, can I use JR east pass as a "hop on hop off" ticket to stop at any JR station at anytime? Or I have to make a reservation before departure?

avatar
Daniel-san
18832 posts
almost 8 years ago
Expert

Hi there,

Yes, you can do that! Some trains do need reservations (Narita Express, Hayabusa and Kagayaki Shinkansen) but all others can be boarded at any time and you can take a non-reserved seat.


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 17323 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