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Which Pass Package should I buy?

benwwh@email.com
[email protected]
almost 13 years ago
1 answer

Hi JRPass Friends, I will be traveling Japan with my wife & 4 yr old son from 24 Jan 2012 till 6 Feb 2012. Can you give me some advice how should I buy the pass package?
The itinerary as follow:
25 Jan: Train from Narita Airport to Shinjuku.
26 Jan: By Train/Bus around Tokyo central.
27 Jan: Train to Nagano, to Yamanouchi.
28 Jan: Train from Nagano to Nagoya, to Furukawa, to Shirakawago.
30 Jan: Train from Furukawa to Nagoya, to Kyoto.
31 Jan – 1 Feb: By Train/Bus around Kyoto.
1 Feb: Train from Kyoto to Tokyo.
2 – 3 Feb: By Train/Bus around Tokyo central.
4 Feb: Train to Disneyland.
5 Feb: Train to Ghibli Museum.
6 Feb: Train to Narita Airport.
Thank you for your help.
Best regards, Benjamin

avatar
mari
1950 posts
almost 13 years ago
Expert

Hi Benjamin,

Looking at your itinerary, you'll be in Japan for 13 days. Lets take a look at your itinerary and see if the cost of tickets is greater than either a 7 day rail pass, or 14 day rail pass. Then see if / where to buy a japan rail pass.

  1. Narita airport terminal 1 > Shinjuku(jr): ¥2910, (87mins, 89km)
  2. Shinjuku(jr) > Tokyo: ¥190, (14mins, 10km)
  3. Tokyo > Shinjuku(jr): ¥190, (15mins, 10km)
  4. Shinjuku(jr) > Nagano: ¥6720, (114mins, 219km)
  5. Nagano > Nagoya: ¥6930, (180mins, 250km)
  6. Nagoya > Takayama: ¥5670, (150mins, 166km)
  7. Takayama > Nagoya: ¥5670, (145mins, 166km)
  8. Nagoya > Kyoto: ¥5240, (37mins, 147km)
  9. Kyoto > Tokyo: ¥13020, (161mins, 513km)
  10. Tokyo > Shinjuku(jr): ¥190, (15mins, 10km)
  11. Shinjuku(jr) > Tokyo: ¥190, (14mins, 10km)
  12. Tokyo > Tokyo disneyland station: ¥190, (14mins, 10km)
  13. Tokyo disneyland station > Tokyo: ¥190, (14mins, 10km)
  14. Tokyo > Mitaka: ¥380, (33mins, 24km)
  15. Mitaka > Tokyo: ¥380, (35mins, 24km)
  16. Tokyo > Narita airport terminal 1: ¥2740, (58mins, 79km)

TOTAL: ¥50800 for 16 legs

Please note that couldn't work out what you mean by "Furukawa", so I substituted Takayama (which is a nice spot too!). Also, I added 2 JR trips for the days in Tokyo when you'll be travelling around. Also, please note that you can get the [bus from Takayama to Shirakawago here], but it is a non-JR service so is an additional charge.

Based on your costs you'll certainly save money by using either a 7 or 14 day rail pass, but as all your main travel costs happen between the 27th Jan and 1st Feb, I recommend you buy a 7 day pass for activation on either the 26th or 27th and pay for your other tickets separately.

This will give you an overall cost of:

¥28,300 (7 day rail pass) + ¥7360 (separate rail tickets) = ¥35,660

(for comparison, a 14 day rail pass is ¥45,100 and all separate is ¥50,800).

Also, as your son is under 6, he can travel for free on the JR system as long as he doesn't occupy a seat if the train is busy.

Hope this helps and you have a great trip!

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