JRパス

Hi!

Good idea to base in Osaka - you can see so much of Japan that way!

Here are some answers to your questions:

1) Is it better to use the pass on 1st day-Kansai-osaka or last day Osaka-Kansai?

It's not really going to matter here as the cost savings are the same. It will depend on how you feel after your flight really. Based on you travelling back from Tokyo on the last day (see my answer to 2), this would mean you use the pass on the last day.

2) How would you propose our planning to be?

It's a tough one, but I would recommend travelling back to Osaka KIX on the last day from Tokyo.

As you are travelling for 1 week, you should try to reduce your big travelling days as much as you can to maximise your holiday time. The last day travelling back may be a little bit tough, but any day with a flight is always a bit of a write-off.

The good thing is that the JR trains are incredibly punctual (2010 average delay when delayed was 20 seconds...), so as long as you plan your route to give you good time at the airport to board, you should be fine (use http://www.hyperdia.com to plan). Also, it means that the boys will enjoy more of Tokyo, and you'll have a more relaxed few days in Osaka, Nara and Hiroshima at the start of your trip. If your flight is in the morning, you should maybe consider leaving the night before however.

Harajuku the street is open all day, but in the early evening starts to come alive with bars and cafes and so on. There's lots to see at pretty much all times of the day!

Hope this helps!

Hi there,

1) JR does not go direct to Kansai from Tokyo. So I must take the JR from Tokyo and stop at Osaka than only take another bus from Osaka-Kansai? Than I better leave on Sunday evening :)

Yes, there is no direct train, and so the journey to the airport will take around 4.5 hours from Tokyo (route plan). If your flight is early then you may be best leaving Tokyo on Sunday :).

2) The JR pass also includes normal trains and some JR buses? Where do I get the info?

Yes, the JR Pass covers travel on all JR trains, buses and ferries with only a few exceptions (Nozomi/Mizuho shinkansen and the ferry to Korea). Full JR Pass validity is available online, and we have a video on how to use the hyperdia trip planning website for JR Pass holders available online.

3) What would you expect the temperature to be end jan? A friend told me it might be - 8 deg! In winter, its going to dark early right? 4pm? Places of interest will close early also.

It will be pretty chilly at that time of year, but also there is not much rain. Here is the weather for the last year in Tokyo and Osaka to give you more of an idea what to expect. In January, sunset is around 4:50pm, so you will want to plan a little of your day around that. Places of interest should still close at their normal times (usually 5-6pm).

Hope this helps!