JR Pass and ICOCA card

Hi Kay,

I see that you plan to travel all over Japan. Remember that the ICOCA card is just a prepaid travel card and does not offer any discount by itself. It is pure for convenience. It is valid nation wide. Since you are flying so much, I think that it would be best to buy normal tickets for your travel, as a JR Pass should be considered if you travel longer distances by train. The same applies for Hokkaido, depending on your travel a Hokkai railpass could be worth it but only if you do a good amount of travel within Hokkaido and it would not be put to best use if you just visit Sapporo with it.

If you do have a JR Pass, the route Tokyo - Gotemba is completely covered by the JR Pass.

Hope this helps!
Daniel

Dear Daniel

Thank you for your reply.

So it seems the best solution is to get the ICOCA card. Will also planning to get the Osaka 2 day Amazing pass since it provided free transportation and attractions to some of the places.

In Hokkaido, we are just planning to go to Sapporo and Otaru (maybe maruyama zoo too). Will be worth to get the JR Hokkaido Pass for 3 days since we are planning to go back and forth? If not, then we will get the ICOCA card.

As for in Tokyo, we are still considering because so far we are only planning to go to Gotemba, Disneyland, Odaiba, Fujiko museum, Hakone Shrine, Meiji Shrine, Shinjuku and Shibuya. Any suggestions?

Thanks and regards,
Kay

Dear Kay,

Taking the Osaka Unlimited Pass sounds like a good idea to me too.

In Hokkaido just buy normal tickets to Otaru, its very close to Sapporo and using a Hokkaido pass would not be a very good deal.

In Tokyo, I think that going with the ICOCA pass is probably wisest too. You'll be using different kinds of transports, including the JR, Metro and Monorail. These all are separate systems and there's not a discount system which includes them all. For visiting Hakone however, you may be interesting in a Hakone Free Pass.

Hope this helps,
Daniel

Dear Daniel

Thank you so much for yor reply..

Will get the osaka amazing pass and ICOCA card..

Just one more question, if we are using the ICOCA card, can we use it to gotemba? can we reserve seat? since its take almost an hour and half to reach.

Regards,
Kay

Dear Kay,

For Gotemba I think that it would be best to just buy normal tickets. As part of the journey is traveled by Shinkansen and you can't use the ICOCA card there.

Regards,
Daniel

Dear Daniel

Thank you so much for your feedback.

Sorry for the trouble cause.

Thanks and regards,
Kay