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I've done the math, but I still can't decide...

brian-san
brian-san
about 9 years ago
1 response

Hello!

My girlfriend and I have been going back and forth on our use for a JR Pass. We don't think a 14 day is necessary and after adding up the cost per ticket it seems really comparable to get a 7 day for part of our trip. Our Itinerary is as follows:

Day 1 Arrive at Narita and head to Tokyo (Meguro Station)
Day 2-4 Tokyo
Day 5 Travel from Tokyo (Meguro) to Fujieda
Day 6 Fujieda to Nara then Nara to Osaka (to spend the night)
Day 7 Osaka to Kyoto
Day 8-10 Kyoto
Day 11 Kyoto to Koyasan
Day 12 Koyasan to Osaka or Kobe
Day 13 Osaka to Kansai Airport

It may be a little confusing, but we haven't decided on how much time we want to spend in Osaka considering there's other places like Kobe that are nearby. We also are aware that our trip to Koyasan is not on the JR Line. I guess our question is, even if the dollar amount is comparabel, with regards to potential mistakes, missed trains, or confusion, is the JR Pass worth spending a little more than the ticket price for the sake of convenience?

Thanks!

Toraneko
Toraneko
1303 posts
about 9 years ago

Unfortunately for your itinerary since you are not returning to Tokyo, neither a 7 nor a 14 day pass would pay off. If you still want to buy it because you think it is more convenient, that is up to you - only you can decide if the price differential is worth the convenience.
However, within a 7 day period, if you were to travel from Tokyo to Kansai, and also do a day trip to Hiroshima/Miyajima (which is much more interesting than Kobe anyway), then it would pay off quite well.
As for getting from Tokyo, if you are arriving on or before Mar 13, you can use a special discount ticket for the Narita Express (1500 yen). Otherwise, look into a cheap 1000 yen bus or the Keisei:

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2359_nex.html

http://accessnarita.jp/en/home/

http://www.keisei.co.jp/keisei/tetudou/skyliner/us/fares/index.html

If you are going to Tokyo, you can largely skip Osaka during the day. But Nara is a must-see place and if you can, the newly renovated Himeji Castle is Japan's finest.
When the Kyoto temples/shrines close around 5PM, you can easily zip over to Osaka and enjoy the night life there. Dotonbori is a must see place. And the views from the Umeda Sky Bldg and Abeno Harukas Bldg are spectacular.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COJ_MeXbeow

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xb1wuyAGgyQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AyUZmGbW8g

For Koyansan, be sure to look up this travel guide:

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4900.html

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2358_012.html

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4904.html

For other helpful info, see:

http://www.gotokyo.org/en/index.html

http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/regional/tokyo/index.html

http://www.ar.jal.com/world/en/guidetojapan/city_information/tyo/see/akasaka/

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2164.html

For Kansai:

http://www.kyoto.travel/

http://www.ar.jal.com/world/en/guidetojapan/city_information/uky/see/central/

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2158.html

http://narashikanko.or.jp/en/

http://www.osaka-info.jp/en/

http://www.kansai-japan.net/en/


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