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Use of JR Pass and Itinerary Check

rajanada1
rajanada1
over 6 years ago
1 response

Hi
I am travelling to Japn in Oct 2017 and appreciate if you advise on teh below please with respect to JR pass etc

From a transportation perspective we are planning to stay in the Shinjuku area when we arrive at Narita. We will be staying there for 4 days including a day trip to Hakone.

1.What is most convenient and cost effective way to get to Shinjuku without having to switch trains especially when we have luggage. If we need to switch trains, then we will but where should we be getting off and catching the other train to Shinjuku Station.

2.We would like to stay somewhere near Shinjuku Train Station. Any ideas of accommodation which is not too expensive say, $80-100 Australian dollars. If we can buy a travel card or similar from Narita, that would be great as we can use it for traveling around Tokyo over the 3-4days. Is there a particular card which we can use from the Shinjuku Station for the next few days and how does it work? We will be buying the 7 day JR pass and we would like to start using it to go to Hakone on Day 4.

3.Can we activate the JR pass when we arrive at Narita although we are using it later on Day 4?

•Day 1-3 Tokyo Sightseeing. Various places using train pass or something similar. Please advise which card would be the best including travelling from Narita to Shinjuku Train Station? •Day 4 Day trip to Hakone and back to Tokyo. Which train should be catching from Shinjuku Train station? Once in Hakone, how do I get around to see Mt Fuji and boat ride of Lake Ashi? •Day 5 Kanazawa From Shinjuku Station, where do I have to go to catch the Shinkansen to Kanazawa using the 7day JR pass? •Day 6 Kanazawa to Toyoma and back to Kanazawa. What bus and where can we catch a bus from Kanazawa to Toyoma? Is there a return bus ticket if JR pass cannot be used? Does the Nohi bus do this trip? •Day 7 Takayama. From Kanazawa early morning we would like to travel to Shirakawago with our luggage and later in the afternoon from Shirakavago we would like to go to Takayama. What bus and where should we catch the bus from in Kanazawa? Also, can we leave our luggage somewhere while we visit the Shirakavago village? How and where can we catch a transport to Takayama? Can we use the JR pass or the bus is not part of JR pass? •Day 8 Takayama to Hiroshima. Is there a JR train we can use to get to Hiroshima from Takayama. Or we need to back track to Kanazawa and then to Hiroshima? Or would be better we got to Takayama first on Day 5 via Kanazawa and work our way up? Upon arrival visit Atomic Bomb Dome, Shukkeien and Hiroshima Castle. •Day 9 Hiroshima. Visit Miyajima Island •Day 10 Kyoto. Hiroshima to Himeji to visit the castle. Can we leave our luggage at Himeji Train Station? From Himeji Train Station to Kyoto Station. End of 7day Rail Pass •Day 11-Kyoto •Day 12 Kyoto •Day 13 Osaka. Kyoto to Osaka early morning, which means we will have a full day in Osaka. Any suggestions of a convenient location we should stay so that we can catch a bus or train from our accommodation to Kansai International Airport on Day 14. We need to be there by 8.30am to catch the 11.00am flight? Appreciate if you could advise on the above please.
Thanks
Raj

avatar
Daniel-san
18830 posts
over 6 years ago
Expert

Hi there,

1.) The best way to Shinjuku from Narita Airport is using the Narita Express, this is a direct express train that is comfortable and has special compartments for luggage. You can use the JR Pass for this or just buy a normal train ticket.

2.) Shinjuku is quite an expensive place to stay, I don't have specific recommendations. Generally, the best thing is to look at global booking websites and find a place that suits your budget.

3.) Yes!

4.) The same question here seems to come back a lot, what train to use where. I recommend learning to plan with Hyperdia this way you can find any route/timetable and more. It's a great tool for planning with the JR Pass. We also have a useful interactive map with all JR lines included and you can find the best route that suits your needs.

For travel to Shirakawago, the Nohi bus is not included. There are coin lockers available at Kanazawa station but also at the bus station in Shirakawago. In general, all train stations have coin lockers to store your luggage.

Hope this helps,
Daniel


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