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21 days Itinerary check

Leigh
Leigh
about 8 years ago
6 responses

Hi,

Need your help and advise in finalizing our 21 day - trip,

Target Date: Dec 16 - Jan 5' 2017,
Travelers: Dad, Mom, teenager Daughter & 8yr son,

is JRs pass worth buying for the below travel plans?

Day 1: Arriving at Narita Airport - to West Tokyo - staying in an apartment in Komae ..... JRs pass OK?

Day 2: Komae - Shubuya & Shinjuku - Komae
Day 3: Komae - Asakusa & Odaiba - Komae
Day 4: Komae - Ginza - Komae
Day 5: Komae - Kamakura - Komae
Day 5: Komae - Kamakura - Komae
Day 6: Komae - Nikko - Komae
Day 7: Komae- Yokohama - Komae
Day 8: Komae - Onsen - Komae

Day 9: Komae - Mt. Fuji - Komae
Day 10: Komae - Tokyo Disneyland - Komae

Day 11: Tokyo to Kyoto
Day 12: Easter Kyoto
Day 13: Easter Kyoto
Day 14: Kyoto - Arashiyama - Kyoto
Day 15: Kyoto - Northern Kyoto - Kyoto
Day 16: Kyoto -Nara - Kyoto
Day 17: Kyoto - Himeji - Kyoto
Day 18: Kyoto - Mount Koya - Kyoto
Day 19: Kyoto - Osaka - Kyoto
Day 20: Kyoto - Kinosaki - Kyoto
Day 21: Kyoto - Travel back to Narita Airport to catch and Afternoon flight

I'm not really sure if my Itinerary is possible and if places are accessible with JR Pass... I would really appreciate to have your feedback.

Thank you very much

avatar
Daniel-san
18835 posts
about 8 years ago
Expert

Hi there,

Looking at your itinerary, I think going for a 14 day JR Pass is the best option. You would get the best coverage by using it from Dway 8 - Day 21. I would also recommend swapping Mt.Fuji or Disneyland with Nikko, in order to get the best savings possible with the JR Pass.

Furthermore, the JR Pass will cover nearly all of your travel. The only part not covered would be travel between Osaka and Mt. Koya. To be more presice the Nankai Express is required for travel between Shin-Imamiya station in Osaka and Gokurakubashi, the station for Koya.

Fuji may also require additional travel, depending on where you visit, for more details see:
http://www.jrpass.com/blogs/itinerary-tip-mt-fuji

Hope this helps,
Daniel

Leigh
Leigh
6 posts
about 8 years ago

Really Appreciate your help Daniel..

But how about my Day 1 to 8 (Tokyo stay) and Narita to Tokyo (Express) ? what kind of pass can you recommend? Is it much cheaper than the 21 Day JR pass? considering that most of the places are far from the central (well I haven't been there so I'm really not sure if all the places from Day1 to 8 are accessible by Metro)

And please let me know if Komae area is accessible by Local train - we will stay there during our entire Tokyo trip....

Thank you Daniel and hoping to receive a reply from you soon...

avatar
Daniel-san
18835 posts
about 8 years ago
Expert

Hi again!

For a 21 day JR Pass, it is something you can consider but I am not sure if you would make savings with it.

The price difference between a 14 and 21 day JR Pass is 12,600yen. That's 1,800 yen worth of travel per day in Tokyo. Which is still a high amount for local travel.

Otherwise you could look at day ticket such as the Tokyo Metro day pass or the JR Tokunai ticket.

Hope this helps,
Daniel

Leigh
Leigh
6 posts
about 8 years ago

Hi Daniel,

You've been very helpful to all my queries... Thank you

Unfortunately, I haven't finalized our trip due to a ton of options. Now that we heard about the Hekkaido - Shinkansen our family would like to include this place for at least 3 days....

Please help up organize our trip and Iron our schedule, below are the things that we need to consider and any travel plan suggestion will be highly appreciated..

Travelers: 4 (Mom, Dad, teen Daughter & 8yr old son)
Date of travel: Dec 15 2016 - Jan 06 2017
NR of Days:
Arrival: Narita or Osaka Kansai
Departure: Narita or Osaka

Places 3 BasesTokyo , Sapporo & Osaka
( If Sapporo place is part of the unlimited ride of JR pass)

Would appreciate to know your side trips suggestion for Tokyo & Osaka considering JR pass access

JR pass holders: Yes definitely

Traveler type: Budget Travelers and will only stay on Air BnB apartments

Thank you Daniel and looking forward to receiving your precious reply soon

avatar
Daniel-san
18835 posts
about 8 years ago
Expert

Hi Leigh,

It seems you want to explore all of Japan! I think it would make sense to travel up to Hokkaido once you arrive in Tokyo and then slowly make your way down again to Tokyo or Osaka. The JR Pass covers travel between all these places.

As for cool side trips to make:

From Tokyo visit: Nikko, Kamakura, Yokohama or even Fuji.

From Osaka: Kyoto, Nara, Kobe, Koya-san and even Hiroshima are great day trips.

Keep in mind that travel around New Year gets very busy, so reserve your tickets for that period days (3-5) in advance.

Hope this helps,
Daniel

Leigh
Leigh
6 posts
about 8 years ago

Hi Daniel,

Please check if my itinerary is realistic,

Dec 16 arrival at Narita Airport

Dec 16 to 21

Early morning of Dec 22 - prepare an 11hour trip to Sapporo

Dec 22 - Dec 27

Dec 28 from Sapporo to Osaka ?

Dec 29 - Jan 06' 17

Jan 06 Kansai Airport back to Dubai

What kind of JR pass can you recommend?

Thank you

Leigh
Leigh
6 posts
about 8 years ago

Sorry Dec 22 to Dec 27 - Tokyo

avatar
Daniel-san
18835 posts
about 8 years ago
Expert

Hi Leigh,

Yes, I this would work. The trip form Tokyo - Sapporo is "only" 7 hours with the opening of the new Hokkaido Shinkansen.

The bigger drake is transport from Hokkaido to Osaka, this is nearly 11 hours by rail. You may want to consider booking a flight for this, the JR Pass does cover the full route.

I would use a 14 day JR Pass here if you plan on making the full trip by rail.

All the best,
Daniel

Leigh
Leigh
6 posts
about 8 years ago

Thank you very much Daniel for helping me Ironing out my travel plans...

Dec 16 - 21 Tokyo
Dec 22 - 27 Sapporo
Dec 28 - Jan 6 Osaka

When do you think is the best date to activate our JR passes ?
What's the best transportation from Narita to Tokyo?

Really appreciate your help

avatar
Daniel-san
18835 posts
about 8 years ago
Expert

The key to use it the JR Pass well is to cover as much travel as possible with it. You will be good as long as you cover Tokyo - Sapporo - Osaka with it. From there see what other day trips and will make and fit them within the 14 day JR Pass pariod.

The best way for me is the Narita Express from Narita Airport into Tokyo. Its a direct ltd. express train that does not stop anywhere but Narita and the major stations in Tokyo.

Hope this helps,
Daniel


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