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best JR Pass for my trip

hansey
hansey
about 7 years ago
8 responses

Hi, my itinerary to visit Japan from May 8 - 15 is flower parks and Alpine Route.
08 May ... arr. Narita 07.25.... take train to Ueno Iriyaguchi
09 May ... take train to Hitachi Seaside Park and Ashikaga wisteria park.
overnight at Ashikaga 10 May ... go to Fuji Shibazakura Festival, Gotemba ?,,,, back to Ueno/Tokyo?
11 May .... Tsukiji fish market
12 May ... take train to Nagano for Alpine Route...
overnight at Toyama 13 May ... shirakawago?
14 May ... explore Tokyo
15 May... fly back home.

This will be my first time to buy JR Pass....
I desperately need advice on which Pass is best to buy....
I was looking at 5 random days of 7 day pass but I get confuse between JR Pass and JR East Pass
PLease also advice on question marks in my itinerary

Thank you very much.....your advices will be most appreciated.

avatar
Daniel-san
18816 posts
about 7 years ago
Expert

Hi there,

All of your travel is within the JR East area, so you could opt for a JR East Pass. Mostly travel to Nagano and Toyama will be expensive and going there with a pass will be most efficient.

As for places to go, everything you name is worth visting. The best advice I can give you here is read up on each place and see if it interests you enough to include it.

Enjoy Japan!
Daniel

Toraneko
Toraneko
1303 posts
about 7 years ago

Hi,
The JR East Nagano Niigata Area Pass gives you 5 days within 14 to travel as you like - the flex pass gives you a lot more breathing space.
However, if you want stay in Toyama City after the Alpine Route, it is not covered under the pass.

One other thing - it will take you about 3½ hours to get from the Hitachi Seaside Park to the Ashikaga Flower Park - you are going to be spending a long time on trains. Instead, if you can you might consider going to them on different days. In addition to seeing the Hitachi Seaside Park you could also stop in Mito and see the Kairakuen, which is one of Japan's traditional Top 3 gardens. You also can see the Oarai Isosaki Shrine which is very beautiful by the sea.

You also might be interested in seeing the Showa Kinen Koen as well as some traditional gardens and parks in Tokyo.

Good luck.

hansey
hansey
8 posts
about 7 years ago

Thank you so very much.

I will definitely look at those alternatives and re-arrange my itinerary.

I also need to ask: when using JR Pass for the day does it means it covers regular commuter train like say to travel from Ueno to Tokyo Ginza, Shinjuku, Tsukiji market?

Is there any 7 days JR East Pass?

If not that means I need to buy Suica as well?

Should I buy Nex ( from and to Narita) ?

Thank you very much

hansey
hansey
8 posts
about 7 years ago

Thank you....the Keisei Skyliner looks great....
I arrived 07.25 in Narita by JAL....so I am thinking of taking the Keisei to Ueno, leave my luggage, then hop on and off the Metro for Ginza, Akihabara, etc..... how is this compare to the 100yen bus?

I leave in Jakarta ( Indonesia).., the agent here doesn't sell JR East, only 7-day JR Pass.
So I think I should buy it in Narita upon arrival...., the difference is only 1000 yen ..., buying it outside Japan is 17.000 and inside is 18.000 yen.

I hope the JR office in Narita opens early.

I also plan to buy the Tateyama Alpine Pass to travel from Nagano to Densetsu Toyama including the tourist bus for 9000 yen one way.
So I will be using JR East to Nagano and Tateyama Alpine to Densetsu Toyama..... if I still wish to stay overnight in Toyama
what is the most efficient way?

Again thank you very much

Toraneko
Toraneko
1303 posts
about 7 years ago

Hi,
The ticket office at Narita opens at 6:30 AM.
As for going to see the sights as soon as you get to Tokyo, if you took the 1000 yen bus you could put your bags in a station locker, see Tokyo, and pick them up later when you go to your hotel. Alternatively, if you want to drop your bags off at your hotel before you check in (and they'll keep them for you - please check), then Ueno is 4 stops on the JR Yamanote line from Tokyo Stn.
As far as getting to Toyama, there is only one way from Tateyama Stn, and there are many hotels in Toyama. From there the next morning you'll need to pay for a bus to Shirakawago. From there, you can take another bus to Takayama, and then board another bus for a 2½ hour ride (3190 yen) to Matsumoto, where you can start using the JR Pass again. The only other choice would be taking the bus back to Toyama, and paying for the bullet train (40 minutes; ¥4,530 unreserved seat) to Joetsu-Myoko Stn, where you can ride the bullet train back to Tokyo on the pass. Be aware for the buses you need to make reservations. Shirakawago only takes a few hours to see. Takayama and Matsumoto also have some good sights, but you have very little time unless you'd want to sacrifice your time for Tokyo.

The bus company's website is here so you should look through it for fares and schedules.

hansey
hansey
8 posts
about 7 years ago

Ok.... thank you so much...
I think I will just skip Shirakawago this time...., and head back to Tokyo from Toyama..

This means take the 40 minutes 4.530 yen bullet train to Joetsu-Myoko Stn and continue with JR Pass.

If I take the 1000 yen bus..., can I go to Tsukiji Market afterwards?... which station to put my suitcase?

Thank you

Toraneko
Toraneko
1303 posts
about 7 years ago

Hi,
By the time you get to Tsukiji, it will likely be after 9 AM and the place will be getting very quiet - you could eat some fresh sushi at the restaurants there, but little else. If you want the tour, you'd need to try to sign up for one and be there about 4 AM. I'm not sure if you'd like that. You can see what happens at the Tsukiji Fish Market and decide for yourself.

As for lockers, you'll find them in nearly every station. More info on them is here.

hansey
hansey
8 posts
about 7 years ago

Thank you so much Toraneko,

Your answers have helped me to shape up my itinerary to most efficient time and cost wise.

I think I will go to Tsukiji on the day I arrive anyway....I have been to Japan 3 times..., and always want to visit Tsukiji...but
couldnot...:).
I know it would be nice to watch the Tuna Auction as well..... but I am not an early bird person also....so I will skip that and
just be contend with just strolling around and have nice sushi , fresh seafood and fruits for lunch. Guess I would have a couple of hours before 2 pm.

One more question.... I decided to visit Hitachi Seaside and Ashikaga in one day then stay overnight near Ashikaga station hence I can enjoy the light up without haste.
So how to do it from Ueno Iriyaguchi station ( near my hotel) ?
I suppose take early morning train to Hitachi Seaside park and then to Ashikaga Park.

You said it takes 3.5 hours from Hitachi to Ashikaga .... I decided I would like the train that much...:)
I also like to visit Gotemba after Fuji Shibazakura Fest..., which train to take? JR Pass?
. should I stay overnight at Kawaguchiko?

Thanks again

Toraneko
Toraneko
1303 posts
about 7 years ago

Hi,
Well, it will be an ambitious trip. Please look at the Hitachi Seaside Park access page. You can go up to Katsuta Stn on JR. From there, the bus is probably the better way to go. Otherwise there's a private rail line and 30 minute walk from Ajigaura Stn. Expect to take about 2 hours to get there from Tokyo.

From there, you can see how to get to the Ashikaga Flower Park here. Actually with a good connection, you could get there in about 3 hours. The Park is about a 15 minute walk from Tomita Stn. If the wisteria are in bloom, you will truly see something unforgettable. But there will be a lot of people there with you.

Gotemba is on the other side of Mt Fuji from the Fuji 5 Lakes. The JR Pass won't help you unless you want to kill the whole day going the long route. See here and choose from the 5 Lakes in the drop down menu. A Fuji Hakone Pass might help you.

Enjoy.

hansey
hansey
8 posts
about 7 years ago

Thank you very much Toraneko....
Very excited now for my trip....:)


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